LIGHT TO THE LAMBS
Hope Is Where the Heart Is
After her experiences teaching and serving orphaned and vulnerable children in Jinja, Uganda, Emily Carpenter felt the Lord calling her to start Light to the Lambs in order for the name and gospel of Jesus Christ to be spread to all of God's littlest lambs - to provide the hope, light and joy that only HE can give - no matter what life throws their way!
Light to the Lambs exists to raise awareness and bring the light of Jesus to His littlest lambs and most vulnerable children in Uganda through custom handmade scripture art by design, where a percentage of the proceeds will go directly to meeting the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of God's precious children in Uganda who will grow up and not only change their communities, but the world!
HOW IT BEGAN
The Dream God Spoke into Emily's Heart
John 21:15-16
"Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you."
"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.
...
"Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you."
"Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.
In the Fall of 2017, when I was praying through whether or not God wanted me to come serve in Uganda this past year, God spoke to me the words, "I already told you what to do. Feed my sheep."
Well, just a few months ago, laying all alone on my mosquito-netted top bunk in the middle of Uganda - God spoke to me, again. But this time, He whispered the words, "Light to the Lambs."
He had continually met me in the dark times and loneliness of missing my fiancé while being over in Uganda and away from him for months, but this night - August 20 - it was different. God spoke to the deepest desires of my heart and spoke to life a dream that He had started in me long ago - even before I knew Him personally. From an early age, I have always been passionate about children and spent the majority of my life tutoring, helping with after school programs, going on various mission trips around the world, falling in love with orphaned and vulnerable children who will forever hold a place in my heart, spending my first two years out of college teaching preschool to under-resourced inner city children, and the past season of my life teaching orphaned and vulnerable children in Jinja, Uganda.
But the calling has always been the same - to love and serve His littlest children, His littlest lambs. To provide His light and His joy in the darkest of situations, to children who have no other hope and feel like no one cares about them.
I didn't know what exactly it was going to look like yet, but He told me to start a organization to reach children - near and far - called Light to the Lambs, and I believe the first step is making custom scripture art that will raise awareness and spread the good news of Jesus, both locally and abroad! And we will see where the Lord takes it from here...
THE MISSION
After listening and praying over what I believe God wants this organization to look like, "Light to the Lambs" will:
RAISE AWARENESS
The goal is to help spread news about the various needs of vulnerable children in Uganda, such as school sponsorship programs and other fundraising drives (for school fees, school supplies, uniforms, shoes, etc.)
ARTWORK FOR SALE
A percentage of the proceeds from my artwork - such as custom scripture canvases, framed paper, wood paintings, and greeting cards - will be used to fund raise and support the needs of vulnerable children in Uganda.
THE HEART BEHIND LIGHT TO THE LAMBS
I believe God wants me to start "Light to the Lambs" to share the hope, joy, and love of Jesus Christ through both word and deed. He taught me, in one of my most heart wrenching and toughest seasons of being alone all the way in Africa, the importance of being loved - and a small, tiny taste of what vulnerable, abused, and orphaned children face every day of their lives. Even the smallest acts of kindness, such as my fiance's church providing handmade dolls to the little preschoolers I fell in love with during my time in Uganda, make more of a difference than we can ever realize and make God smile. Sharing our resources and love in the name of Jesus Christ is what we are called to do. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. HE is what we need. He is the only true HOPE. So, most importantly, I want the name of Jesus Christ to be spread to all of God's littlest lambs - to provide the hope, light and joy that only He can give - no matter what life throws their way!
And, for now, this "spreading of light to the lambs" looks like creating beautiful scripture art to spread the good news right here in America, while giving back to God's beloved little lambs in Uganda.
"Do small things with great love."
Mother Teresa
