We are coming home with half as many bags but what we have given is far less than what we have gained. We can't wait to share the stories and the love we are bringing back. A piece of us will always be in the land of injera, spice and coffee.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Ciao
We have said our final good byes to our old and new friends in Ethiopia and are now at the airport awaiting our delayed flight. Thank you for joining us on our journey and for your prayers! We have loved our time in this beautiful country! We have seen God so clearly in the amazing, strong people we have met. What a blessing to be in their presence and to hear their stories of struggle and triumph.
We are coming home with half as many bags but what we have given is far less than what we have gained. We can't wait to share the stories and the love we are bringing back. A piece of us will always be in the land of injera, spice and coffee.
We are coming home with half as many bags but what we have given is far less than what we have gained. We can't wait to share the stories and the love we are bringing back. A piece of us will always be in the land of injera, spice and coffee.
Culture
Culture
Ethiopia is a beautiful place with beautiful people. It is the people and their stories that have captured our hearts, but we have also enjoyed the chance to experience this culture. Our favorite exposure was a visit to Emebet's home. She prepared traditional Ethiopian food for us-six or seven different dishes some like stews or sauces, made with beef or vegetables or beans. These were served with injera, the characteristic Ethiopian bread. Injera is like a light pancake with a somewhat sour taste, full of air bubbles. It is made from a grain called teff, and it is gluten free :) Injera is served rolled up. You unroll it and tear off a piece, which you use to pick up the other food. It takes the place of silverware. Very different from what is typical to Americans, but tasty and kind of fun! The team was impressively open-minded about the food and the eating style.
There is no Ethiopian culture experience without coffee, and more specifically a coffee ceremony. We learned about the steps in a coffee ceremony and got to participate with the preparation. We helped roast the green coffee beans over a charcoal fire and then grind them with a mortar and pestle. We watched the coffee pot be prepared and the water heat til it was steaming. Then, Emebet poured the ground coffee directly into the coffee pot and let it heat some more. When it was ready, she poured a little cold water in so the grounds would go to the bottom. The best part of the coffee ceremony is the final step-the drinking of the coffee. It is so dark and a little thick, typically served with sugar. Mmmm...
We had more hands-on time with preparing the holiday bread, difo dabo, outside over an open fire. The bread dough, prepared the day before, is wrapped in banana leaves. The team was surprised to learn that cow dung is one of the mandatory ingredients (for the fire), prized by Ethiopians for the distinct smell it puts off. There was a lot of laughter and joking as we processed that one! After less than an hour of cooking, the bread is a large beautiful circle loaf. The guest of honor or the oldest person present (Chas, in our case-we will let you decide if he was chosen for his age or his honor) makes the first cut and the bread is shared. Believe it or not, it is delicious!
Injera making was part of our experience also. This batter sits for several days before it is poured onto a special large round electric griddle and covered with a lid. It is ready within 5 minutes! We have had lots of opportunities to practice patience on this trip, but we didn't need it waiting on the injera to cook!
Emebet demonstrated how to take cotton, straight from the field, remove the seeds, and spin it by hand into thread/yarn for weaving. Bethany tried her hand at it, and she demonstrated that it is an acquired skill! We also saw basket weaving starting with just reeds. Our time there was ending, so we didn't get to try that ourselves.
It was so special to experience Ethiopia in a real home. What a treat!
Another treat was our supper at a cultural restaurant, where the food, the instruments, the music, and the dancing were all traditional and very entertaining. The dancing was like nothing we had seen before, and I'm not sure what word to use to describe it. Maybe impressive? Definitely unique...
We will remember parts of the culture that we observed independently-animals in busy city streets, love of color and flowers, genuine hospitality, lengthy and somewhat chaotic travel, and many other things.
Beautiful place, beautiful people, beautiful trip. All made by our beautiful Savior.
Ethiopia is a beautiful place with beautiful people. It is the people and their stories that have captured our hearts, but we have also enjoyed the chance to experience this culture. Our favorite exposure was a visit to Emebet's home. She prepared traditional Ethiopian food for us-six or seven different dishes some like stews or sauces, made with beef or vegetables or beans. These were served with injera, the characteristic Ethiopian bread. Injera is like a light pancake with a somewhat sour taste, full of air bubbles. It is made from a grain called teff, and it is gluten free :) Injera is served rolled up. You unroll it and tear off a piece, which you use to pick up the other food. It takes the place of silverware. Very different from what is typical to Americans, but tasty and kind of fun! The team was impressively open-minded about the food and the eating style.
There is no Ethiopian culture experience without coffee, and more specifically a coffee ceremony. We learned about the steps in a coffee ceremony and got to participate with the preparation. We helped roast the green coffee beans over a charcoal fire and then grind them with a mortar and pestle. We watched the coffee pot be prepared and the water heat til it was steaming. Then, Emebet poured the ground coffee directly into the coffee pot and let it heat some more. When it was ready, she poured a little cold water in so the grounds would go to the bottom. The best part of the coffee ceremony is the final step-the drinking of the coffee. It is so dark and a little thick, typically served with sugar. Mmmm...
We had more hands-on time with preparing the holiday bread, difo dabo, outside over an open fire. The bread dough, prepared the day before, is wrapped in banana leaves. The team was surprised to learn that cow dung is one of the mandatory ingredients (for the fire), prized by Ethiopians for the distinct smell it puts off. There was a lot of laughter and joking as we processed that one! After less than an hour of cooking, the bread is a large beautiful circle loaf. The guest of honor or the oldest person present (Chas, in our case-we will let you decide if he was chosen for his age or his honor) makes the first cut and the bread is shared. Believe it or not, it is delicious!
Injera making was part of our experience also. This batter sits for several days before it is poured onto a special large round electric griddle and covered with a lid. It is ready within 5 minutes! We have had lots of opportunities to practice patience on this trip, but we didn't need it waiting on the injera to cook!
Emebet demonstrated how to take cotton, straight from the field, remove the seeds, and spin it by hand into thread/yarn for weaving. Bethany tried her hand at it, and she demonstrated that it is an acquired skill! We also saw basket weaving starting with just reeds. Our time there was ending, so we didn't get to try that ourselves.
It was so special to experience Ethiopia in a real home. What a treat!
Another treat was our supper at a cultural restaurant, where the food, the instruments, the music, and the dancing were all traditional and very entertaining. The dancing was like nothing we had seen before, and I'm not sure what word to use to describe it. Maybe impressive? Definitely unique...
We will remember parts of the culture that we observed independently-animals in busy city streets, love of color and flowers, genuine hospitality, lengthy and somewhat chaotic travel, and many other things.
Beautiful place, beautiful people, beautiful trip. All made by our beautiful Savior.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Children
Bonding over a game of marbles and over coloring books. Kicking soccer balls, blowing bubbles. Smiling and laughing. Holding babies. Hugging children, clapping hands. That is how we spent our time at Miskeye orphanage Friday morning. There were only about 25 children, so we got to spend more one-on-one time. We gave the children notes from people at our churches, and asked them to write a message for us to take back. One 8 year old boy wrote in Amharic, "I don't know how to write very well." Jadyn encouraged him to draw a picture, so he did that too. He loved playing "don't let the ball touch the ground." An older boy spoke and wrote good English. He wrote "God will never let you down" on his card. Such amazing faith!
Yet another great experience with children was at Life Through EDU (stands for education) on Saturday afternoon. This program was started by an Ethiopian in partnership with an adoptive family from Indiana. The ministry provides food and educational support for 19 children. To read their stories, go to www.lifethruedu.org. The support comes from individual sponsors in the US; Alison is sponsoring 3 of the children, and she was able to meet them! We served as the mailman, bringing letters and pictures and stickers from the sponsors. You should have seen the children's faces as their names were called to come up and receive their mail! Such joy! Mitchell led a fun and funny time of playing with a big parachute-so many giggles! Ben entertained with his loon call, and engineered the assembly of "buzzer button" toys for each of the children. Mitchell got up close and personal putting on soccer ball tattoos. Chas' beard was a big hit, as usual. Several girls got great delight from braiding Jadyn's and Bethany's hair. It has been so encouraging to us to see the way children are being helped, especially as we are overwhelmed by seeing the great need. There are lots of options for joining in the effort and making a difference, and we can speak from this week's experience-it is definitely more blessed to give than to receive!
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35
Yet another great experience with children was at Life Through EDU (stands for education) on Saturday afternoon. This program was started by an Ethiopian in partnership with an adoptive family from Indiana. The ministry provides food and educational support for 19 children. To read their stories, go to www.lifethruedu.org. The support comes from individual sponsors in the US; Alison is sponsoring 3 of the children, and she was able to meet them! We served as the mailman, bringing letters and pictures and stickers from the sponsors. You should have seen the children's faces as their names were called to come up and receive their mail! Such joy! Mitchell led a fun and funny time of playing with a big parachute-so many giggles! Ben entertained with his loon call, and engineered the assembly of "buzzer button" toys for each of the children. Mitchell got up close and personal putting on soccer ball tattoos. Chas' beard was a big hit, as usual. Several girls got great delight from braiding Jadyn's and Bethany's hair. It has been so encouraging to us to see the way children are being helped, especially as we are overwhelmed by seeing the great need. There are lots of options for joining in the effort and making a difference, and we can speak from this week's experience-it is definitely more blessed to give than to receive!
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35
Connection
Today we had the honor of meeting six families that receive sponsorship through America World, our sending organization. In a small school room, lit with sunlight, they sat with us and told us their stories. It felt like a sacred place.
Tagay walked through the gate holding the hand of her 4 year old son and carrying one child on her back and one in her arms. At first glance, it appeared that the babies were very close in age, and I wondered if they were twins. When she handed Natanim to me, it was quickly obvious that he is quite ill. He is so thin, with sunken in eyes and poor muscle tone. She explained to us that he has had problems since birth. Because of his disabilities, his father left them and her family has shunned them. They all wanted her to give him up and told her he is a curse. She cried as she talked. She handled him so gently and held him close to her face, kissing him and saying, "He is my gift from God." Her youngest child is a 3 month old girl, who looks healthy and happy. Tagay works braiding hair, and she has to leave the children at home while she is working. We told her that she is doing a beautiful thing, keeping her child and working to provide for all of them. One of the most touching moments of the trip was when Jadyn said to Amy, our interpreter, "Can you tell her that we don't think she is cursed?" She cried, and we cried. We were able to give her cloth diapers and wipes and clothes, and most importantly, our love and prayers for help for her family. Please stop reading right now and pray for Tagay and her children, especially Natanim, who especially needs God's healing touch.
Teklewold came as a single father with his daughter Hanna, age seven. Hanna's mother left them, and now Hanna lives with his mother, her grandmother. Hanna is in grade 1, and they have been sponsored for the last 4 years. He explained that the grandmother couldn't come to visit with us because "she is old." Teklewold currently works as a day laborer, but that work is sporadic and doesn't pay very well. He asked us to pray that he would get a job. We did, and we will; will you pray for him too?
Jeware and her 13 year old daughter, Hanan, left their home in southwestern Ethiopia eight years ago and came to Addis Ababa. They have struggled with some medical issues-Hanan has some type of heart issue, maybe congenital heart disease, and Jeware had surgery last year and has not completely recovered. She previously did sewing to support the two of them, but more recently her ability to do that has been limited because of her health. Their biggest need right now is for good housing. They are renting a small room and sharing a kitchen, and their landlady is not at all kind to them. They cannot afford any other housing, so they stay. They are Muslim, but they were happy to let us pray for them. Together we asked God to give them a better place to stay and to bring them health. Please join us in praying for them! Jeware had a smile that lit up her whole face.
Yetnayet and her nephew Isubalew sat quietly, listening to the others, until it was their turn to share. Isubalew is 11 years old. Yetnayet is his aunt, and she has been caring for him because his father and mother are mentally ill. They have 2 younger children who are in an orphanage/foster care. Isubalew was wearing his best clothes for the occasion of meeting with us. He was very polite and reserved. Yetnayet works as a dishwasher, and her request was that we would pray for her health.
Tsedale is 21 years old. She has been cut off by her family because her daughter Bilen, who is 16 months old, was born out of wedlock. Bilen played with the other children and with the team members while we talked. She is a precious little girl! Tsedale told us that she has worked as a housemaid and that she currently works washing clothes. She is very thankful for the sponsorship through America World, and is worried about what she will do if the sponsorship ends. She asks for prayer for good housing. Pray with us that she will experience God's love and know that He has not cut her off. Pray for safe and affordable housing for this young woman and her daughter.
And then, Birtukan. Birtukan my special friend, who I met last year. Her story is written in our blog from last year (teamethiopia2015.blogspot.com). It is a great story and worth your time to read it. Birtukan told her story briefly today to our team, and she said, "God has a reason for everything. God has a reason for people to meet." I believe that! There are no accidents. God knows each one of these people. He has not forgotten them. He loves them. He brought us together today, so we can pray and so we could speak His love. We are hoping He will use us to meet some of their physical needs. What a privilege we were given to share in their stories today!
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Yetnayet and her nephew Isubalew sat quietly, listening to the others, until it was their turn to share. Isubalew is 11 years old. Yetnayet is his aunt, and she has been caring for him because his father and mother are mentally ill. They have 2 younger children who are in an orphanage/foster care. Isubalew was wearing his best clothes for the occasion of meeting with us. He was very polite and reserved. Yetnayet works as a dishwasher, and her request was that we would pray for her health.
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Thursday, June 2, 2016
Coffee and Children
Chas starts our blog today:
We are not able to share photos from the orphanage so please enjoy photos of coffee, the view from our guesthouse and the food (bags of rice, pasta, lentils, etc) purchased for the children.
Coming from the perspective of one of the five males on the trip and the oldest person on the trip, I am mentally and physically exhausted, but in a good way.No, the day was not over yet! We spent the afternoon at the Tsion orphanage. We played and played with the children there. Soccer, beach ball volleyball, nerf rockets, bubbles, coloring, frisbee, jump rope, nail painting. Laughter and smiles and fun! Some of us held babies and amused the nannies with our attempts to speak Amharic. We were able to buy $600 worth of food for the orphanage. Thank you to all of you who helped with that!! The visit was a blessing to us, and we hope it was a blessing to them also.
As a man, I would never have thought I could be broken down so far. This experience has broken my heart and soul. It has broken me down to uncontrollable tears, but with prayer and support from the other team members I have made it this far. It is amazing the love of Jesus Christ. He has healed me every night and renewed my spirit like in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint."
Yes, it has been gut-wrenching at times, but the Lord never forsakes us. Every morning I remind myself of Ephesians 6:20-30. I dust myself off and with a renewed heart provided by the Lord's grace, I armor up and head out for the next series of challenges.
Yes, we have had some weariness, so it was very fitting that this morning we got to visit the Robera coffee factory. This plant receives the raw coffee beans from more remote areas all over Ethiopia and processes them and ships them to markets around the world. They also roast some beans there on a smaller scale, for more local use. The sun shining on us, the smell of roasting coffee in the air-we were loving it! Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. Thank you, Ethiopia!
We then had the privilege of visiting the Hamlin Fistula Hospital, a hospital founded 40+ years ago for the sole purpose of alleviating suffering from fistulas caused by birth trauma. This is a very prevalent and devastating problem in places where there is not access to trained birthing attendants. This particular hospital is the first of its kind in the whole world, and the work they have done and are doing is inspiring and amazing. Many thousands of lives have been completely changed by the care they received free of charge. The best part was walking through the maternity ward, where women who have had their fistulas cured surgically have now returned to deliver a baby by C-section.
pain, sorrow, stillbirth ---- physical damage, perpetual leakage and associated stench ---- isolation from all social interaction, hopelessness ---- surgery, cure, healing of body and of emotional pain ---- return of continence and confidence and productivity (reminds me of the garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair from the writings of Isaiah)
We are not able to share photos from the orphanage so please enjoy photos of coffee, the view from our guesthouse and the food (bags of rice, pasta, lentils, etc) purchased for the children.
Carrying donations
Bags of grain
More donated food
That's a lot of coffee!
View from the balcony of the guesthouse we are staying at
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Cup
Today we visited Kibebe orphanage, run by the
Ethiopian government. It is difficult to know how to describe the
experience for you. Hannah has captured it so well...
It is easy to become overwhelmed with emotion when walking through orphanages. Some days tears come from places in your soul you didn't even know you had. It's easy to identify with verses like Psalm 69:3 "I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God." Last night my eyes hurt from crying so much. I didn't think if I would be able to handle another day in an orphanage no matter the circumstance. But God is good and He renewed my spirit. Today while visiting with the children it would have been easy to become overwhelmed and live in a constant state of crying out to the Lord. Standing in the midst of 80 children you can't help but think, "How can I make a difference?" Then one grabs your hand and wants to show you their new gift of a small coloring book. For that moment to that child calling you momma you are making a difference.
Many times, when we told to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we associate that with work. We feel the need to constantly be doing something. However, there are many times when we need to be still. So that is what I did. I sat on the ground and had this child on my lap, which quickly turned into 4 or 5 on my lap and all around me. Every time they showed me their scribbles in their new coloring books with their new crayons I exclaimed "Go Bez!" (Good Job). The smiles I got in return where priceless.
Some children didn't get a coloring book though. One child smiled at me as he showed me his treasure. His four, small white cardboard containers that separated the crayons in the box. I was at a turning point, I could again cry out to the Lord or I could give what I had. I had my smile and my joy. I cheered and clapped for his victory of making a bracelet! I was in that moment giving what I had-my one cup of water. "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." Matthew 10:42
After a heavy morning, it was refreshing to take a trip outside the city to a wildlife refuge. We were able to hike through a forest and see lots of cool animals. Everyone on the team enjoyed the chance to unwind, especially Will...
I liked when we saw the baboons, and they were funny. I liked when we saw the lions; they were special because they had black manes like Scar (from the Lion King). I liked when Scar roared a little and showed his big teeth. I liked when we saw the cheetahs and another lion and one lioness.
Formula for the orphanage
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Collision
Where Stories Collide
That is the motto for Storyteller Missions, and I can tell you, there's been a lot of colliding today! There has been so much deep emotion and so much connection, and all of the team members are a little (or more than a little) overwhelmed.
The verse that I think of is "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18. We are seeing and even experiencing brokenness, but we are also witnessing the nearness and provision of God.
We spent our day in Korah, a very poor part of the city adjacent to the garbage dump. We visited several ministries that are empowering and serving, focusing on people's value and offering them opportunity to help themselves. It was inspiring! So many lessons for us to take home.
Some details from Ben's perspective...
Today was a very busy day. This morning we helped feed the kids and some of the moms in Korah through the organization "Hope for Korah". All the people who come get a cup of tea and a berta pancake (a bread full of nutrition). It was very fun to serve and interact with the kids. After that we went and had pop with the elders [older men who have significant deformities from leprosy]. They were very nice and one even sang us a song. I thought that the song was very good. The translator told us the song was about how the Lord is good and puts us in the place meant for us. We went to a place where they were teaching moms to be self sufficient and start their own artisan businesses. I thought it was incredible how the ladies could make beads out of paper and glue. I thought it was nice that the organization didn't give them money but helped them make it themselves. There was a very similar thing we also saw that gave women the chance to make bags and other cloth products to be sold so they can raise their children. You can tell that they are very proud of their work.
Now from Jadyn...
If anyone were to ask me how today went, I would say that I left my heart at Korah. I truly love interacting with all ages- from baby to elder. Today I was able to interact with every age. There were two organizations, "Hope For Korah" and "Carry 117"- coming from Isaiah 1:17. "Hope for Korah" truly impacted me, (please go follow them both on facebook and check out their websites). They both have a hand up mentality rather than a hand out, trying to help these significantly poor families who most are without fathers and caring for multiple children all while trying to attend to daily needs. "Hope for Korah" is much larger, and was truly inspiring and overwhelming all at the same time. These families are really striving to work and earn money. The products we all purchased today were products that were made by the women in the compounds and the money raised goes to their bank accounts to help build their future and develop skills to go out on their own. They forever have my heart, what beautiful programs and mindsets these people have all while incorporating our "Good Good Father" into their ministry.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Compassion
COMPASSION
a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Not just a word. Not just an organization that releases children from poverty through child sponsorship. We lived compassion today.
Natanim
Simon
Yonas
Yosef
Erimyas
Hiwot
Nardos
Eyob
Dagmawit
Lelisea
Robel
Gemeda
12 beautiful children and their guests gave us the opportunity to follow Jesus' example. "And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them."
For us that took the form of learning about Compassion's work at a child center, visiting Natanim's home (all 11 of our team fit inside, but barely), hugging, giving gifts, riding rides at an Ethiopian amusement park, eating lunch at a rooftop restaurant and playing at a mall arcade. All the while, we had the very moving experience of connecting with a child and communicating how special and loved they are and watching them sparkle and shine as they received our love. Each member of our team was deeply impacted. We all now have a new understanding of
Compassion.
Here's Matt's experience...
Before this trip, and probably today, I was skeptical of Compassion-type organizations. My only real exposure to Compassion was from occasionally receiving a pamphlet with a few sad looking kids from around the world who were in need of sponsorship. Sponsoring a child involves a monthly donation of a set amount with the option to exchange letters with your child. This all looks great on paper I thought, but what really happens to the money donated? How in the world does one specific child halfway across the world really get this money? It all seemed rather sketchy. You have this poor, sad child in need and I am just expected to send a check in the mail every month and somehow the problem is solved? No way. I wasn't falling for that.
Well, today changed my mind and my heart. Little did I know that to sponsor a child was far more involved than just sending a monthly donation. When a child receives a sponsorship it opens up so many opportunities for them. It allows them to get an education, receive medical care, stay with their family and most importantly hear about Jesus. I saw first hand today one of Compassions' project sites today and met the leader who explained just how much it means to the children to receive sponsorship. We also had the opportunity to visit the home of one of the little girls who is sponsored. Later in the day we actually got to meet Yonas, a 17 year old young man who my fiancé Bethany and I just started to sponsor a couple months ago. I realized then that he was more than just a picture in a pamphlet. He is a very sweet, kind and fun loving child who was so grateful to meet us and so thankful and appreciative after only a couple short months of sponsorship. After today I can say that I am now a believer in Compassion and am really looking forward to continuing my relationship with Yonas. I can tell you firsthand that you will be just as blessed as the child you sponsor.
a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Not just a word. Not just an organization that releases children from poverty through child sponsorship. We lived compassion today.
Natanim
Simon
Yonas
Yosef
Erimyas
Hiwot
Nardos
Eyob
Dagmawit
Lelisea
Robel
Gemeda
12 beautiful children and their guests gave us the opportunity to follow Jesus' example. "And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them."
For us that took the form of learning about Compassion's work at a child center, visiting Natanim's home (all 11 of our team fit inside, but barely), hugging, giving gifts, riding rides at an Ethiopian amusement park, eating lunch at a rooftop restaurant and playing at a mall arcade. All the while, we had the very moving experience of connecting with a child and communicating how special and loved they are and watching them sparkle and shine as they received our love. Each member of our team was deeply impacted. We all now have a new understanding of
Compassion.
Here's Matt's experience...
Before this trip, and probably today, I was skeptical of Compassion-type organizations. My only real exposure to Compassion was from occasionally receiving a pamphlet with a few sad looking kids from around the world who were in need of sponsorship. Sponsoring a child involves a monthly donation of a set amount with the option to exchange letters with your child. This all looks great on paper I thought, but what really happens to the money donated? How in the world does one specific child halfway across the world really get this money? It all seemed rather sketchy. You have this poor, sad child in need and I am just expected to send a check in the mail every month and somehow the problem is solved? No way. I wasn't falling for that.
Well, today changed my mind and my heart. Little did I know that to sponsor a child was far more involved than just sending a monthly donation. When a child receives a sponsorship it opens up so many opportunities for them. It allows them to get an education, receive medical care, stay with their family and most importantly hear about Jesus. I saw first hand today one of Compassions' project sites today and met the leader who explained just how much it means to the children to receive sponsorship. We also had the opportunity to visit the home of one of the little girls who is sponsored. Later in the day we actually got to meet Yonas, a 17 year old young man who my fiancé Bethany and I just started to sponsor a couple months ago. I realized then that he was more than just a picture in a pamphlet. He is a very sweet, kind and fun loving child who was so grateful to meet us and so thankful and appreciative after only a couple short months of sponsorship. After today I can say that I am now a believer in Compassion and am really looking forward to continuing my relationship with Yonas. I can tell you firsthand that you will be just as blessed as the child you sponsor.
**We have so many photos to share but are having difficulties with the wifi...hope to be posting lots of pictures soon!!
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