Our Story
A Story of Faith, Family, and Hope
In 2004, God began a journey that would change countless lives.
Just before a trip to South Africa, our founder, Sharon Clack, was awakened in the middle of the night by what she later described as the closest thing to an audible voice from God she had ever experienced. The message was simple and unmistakable:
"Call the Carpenters."
Steven and Mariann Carpenter were friends Sharon had not spoken to in years. Yet in obedience, she made the call.
That single act of faith connected Sharon and her youngest daughter, Tirsha, to a small children's village in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that was caring for children orphaned and made vulnerable by the AIDS crisis. The needs were overwhelming, but so was the love, dedication, and integrity of those serving the children.
Even before departing for South Africa, Sharon shared the opportunity with a small group at Conejo Valley Community Church (now Limitless Church). Within five minutes, $10,000 had been pledged to help the children.
It was a powerful confirmation that God was opening a door.
When Sharon and Tirsha arrived in South Africa, they encountered both heartbreaking need and extraordinary hope. They met children who had experienced unimaginable loss, yet were being cared for by people who believed every child deserved family, dignity, and a future.
The experience was life-changing.
Upon returning home, Sharon gathered a small group of committed supporters and established what would become LoVE USA. The vision was simple: create a direct connection between compassionate people in the United States and vulnerable children in Southern Africa, ensuring that support would reach those who needed it most.
Over the years, God continued to expand that vision.
Mission teams began traveling to South Africa. Churches, businesses, foundations, and individuals joined the journey. What started with a handful of people quickly grew into a community of partners committed to transforming lives through family-centered care, education, and opportunity.
From the beginning, Sharon often said that our dream was to "plant more lilies."
As God opened doors, LoVE expanded its support beyond a single village. One of those opportunities was a struggling children's home known as Makaphutu. The challenges were significant, and rebuilding would take years of investment, leadership, and prayer.
Today that village is known as iKhethelo, which means "Chosen Ones." The name was chosen by the children themselves and reflects the heart of the ministry: every child is known, valued, and deeply loved.
The vision continued to grow.
Tony Clack (Sharon’s son), Sharon, Mariann & Steven Carpenter
Sharon with kids from one of our children’s villages
Our first mission trip
Today, LoVE also partners with Lirhanzo Children's Village in Zimbabwe, extending care and opportunity to even more children and families. In addition to providing full-time residential care, Lirhanzo operates primary and secondary schools that serve more than 700 students, many of whom walk miles each day to receive an education. For these children, education is more than a classroom—it is a pathway to hope and a brighter future.
Through every season, LoVE's story has been one of transformation.
We have seen children move from abandonment to belonging. We have seen villages strengthened, communities impacted, and futures restored. We have celebrated victories, faced challenges, adapted to changing needs, and witnessed God's faithfulness every step of the way.
In 2021, Sharon passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Her absence is deeply felt, but her vision lives on.
Today, her youngest daughter, Tirsha Thornbury, who stood beside her from the very beginning of this journey, carries forward the mission and legacy of LoVE. Together with an incredible board, staff, volunteers, and supporters, she continues to champion the belief that every child deserves family, faith, education, and opportunity.
Today, LoVE provides full-time residential care for more than 180 children across three Children's Villages and educational opportunities for more than 700 students.
Yet our mission remains the same as it was in the beginning:
To be the voice of LoVE.
To advocate for vulnerable children.
To connect people with opportunities to make a lasting difference.
And to remind every child that they are seen, valued, loved, and never forgotten.
Because every child deserves the chance to thrive.
And because we believe there is always a way when people come together in LoVE.
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley is the home and safe haven for children who have been marginalized by a broken society. Since 1993, we have been giving these children a second chance in life by investing directly into individual children. The vision of the organization is to raise children into young adults who are achieving their God given potential.
Lily is situated in KwaZulu, South Africa where orphans live together as a family with other children and a house mom in beautiful cottages. However ‘normal’ these children look, they all arrive at Lily in desperate condition; abandoned, malnourished and many test HIV+ on arrival. The individual case histories are tragic, but once at Lily, they find hope and happiness along with quality medical care, proper nutrition, and good education, in addition to the love, discipline and security which comes from belonging to a family unit. Their lives are now filled with singing, dancing and much love.
We offer full time residential care for up to 120 orphaned or vulnerable children and youth who have been infected or affected by HIV/Aids, in a homely environment.
We believe that investment in children and education is the key to changing the future of South Africa. A nursery provides care for children through three years of age to allow housemothers to attend to household chores. There is a preschool on the premises, and the older children attend local schools or one of our schools when possible.
Miracles happen at Lily and many of the children who tested HIV+ on arrival, test negative after a few years. The % is far higher at Lily than the international rate for this phenomenon.
iKhethelo
iKhethelo was founded in a private home in Durban in response to the plight of street children. As the AIDS pandemic grew, so did the need for a residential home for orphaned and vulnerable children, and the project moved to larger premises in a semi-rural area. Then in 1995 a 50 acre farm was purchased with funds raised by the Rotary Club of Hillcrest.
At first the original farm house was renovated, and then three small cottages and one medium size cottage were built. The project was named The Makaphutu Children’s Village in 2001 and by 2004 a further seven larger cottages were constructed. Despite some well-meaning people, corruption crept into Makaphutu and the children there were being mistreated rather than loved. So, in 2006 Makaphutu Children’s Village was taken over by Lily of the Valley and began to receive support from LoVE USA. Since then Makaphutu has been renamed iKhethelo because the name Makaphutu means “Mother of Phuthu” which is a staple food of the poor. This reminded the children and staff of a soup kitchen rather than the loving home it has come to represent. iKhethelo means "The Chosen Ones" and these children truly are unique and chosen by God and by us!
At iKhethelo we rescue orphaned and vulnerable children from a place of danger and neglect and give them a place of safety and unconditional love in our family. In this loving community we teach and model a new set of values based on Christian character – including kindness, integrity, joy, courage, service and a love of learning. On this foundation a sense of confidence and self-worth and dreams grow! We lovingly coach and encourage our children to reach their full potential while providing them quality education, life skills and learning opportunities so that they become productive citizens and leaders within their sphere of influence. Our aim is to be a resource and model of how to love and nurture vulnerable children – to our community, government, other NGOs, and the Church. We desire to partner with others to be a catalyst for justice and compassion for the poor and needy.
Lirhanzo
Lirhanzo Children’s Village (LCV) is a purpose built home for orphaned children situated in remote south east Zimbabwe. Its closest town is Chikombedzi, half an hour away.
LCV is run with love and care by a group of local Zimbabweans who care for approximately 50 children from new borns through to the age of twenty-one (21).
Shelter, clothing, food, schooling and further education and training are provided for the children.
In addition to the children who call Lirhanzo their home, we also support the school started at Lirhanzo which now educates 310 children from the surrounding community. Lirhanzo is giving these children a chance at a better future as we provide education that far exceeds what has previously been available. Many kids walk for miles from their homes which are little more than mud huts. Often the only food they eat is given to them by the school staff. Lirhanzo School is now a registered and recognized place of education in Zimbabwe. We have teachers who live on site and recieve a $200/month salary. We are hoping to increase this as soon as possible.
It is incredible what can be done with a very little in Zimbabwe. We have a thriving vegetable garden which is watered using a pump and generator that brings water from the river. There are animals and large outdoor spaces. The homes for the children are set up near the school, which has 2 buildings, with multiple classrooms. Lirhanzo is an oasis of life and hope!
One of many LoVE Fundraisers
Lirhanzo Children’s Home in Zimbabwe