I have a friend. His name is Abdii and he says “I love you” as if it is his first name. I used to actually shrug it off, figured it is one of the only English words he knows so might as well use it often right? This kid doesn’t know me, he can’t possibly love me. There are around 35 kids here and each of them I have grown to want to be a “someone” in their lives. But Abdii is a huge example of what I have learned so far in Ethiopia. I have never experienced what it means to be poor in something. Never truly known what it means to not have clean water or only one shirt. I can’t know what these kids have been through. I won’t dare to imagine placing myself in their shoes because it won’t change anything. It won’t give them parents or erase the harsh memories. I don’t picture the tears and loneliness. What I do see is the now. One time Sisay (another kid who holds a special place in my heart) said “Alex I have seen God move in being a Christian” the present is hands squeezing my face. Inviting me to drink coffee and have bread alongside them comfortably, like a family. It is figuring out how to ask to help with laundry, then having a house mom named Gitu kissing my cheeks as I poorly attempt to hand wash the curtains. It is laying down in the sun and dreaming of what we are all going to do when we are older. Making promises I will be back, to myself and the people. The bottom line is it is love. The cheesy love that calls for big moves and extravagant gifts. The simple love of smiling when you see someone and being invited for dinner. Abdii doesn’t have a job he is just a 12 year old boy. Abdii doesn’t have to get to know my favorite drink, we have seemingly nothing in common. Abdii didn’t have to beg his house mom to go to the store to buy me a mango juice. He did it because he loves me.
Let us all be the people who say we love everyone, then mean it.
I am still around 2,000 dollars of being short from my fundraising goal. The deadline is coming up soon and I prayfully ask for donations! Thank you for reading and being a part of this journey, it means an infinite amount.
