Did you know that in Ethiopia you can not adopt domestically or internationally? There are over four and a half million orphans living in Ethiopia with no where for them to go. No place of refuge, no sense of safety or security. Our squad has been living on a compound with an organization called Hope Ethiopia which (in the last 10 years) has been able to build homes for children to live in and call home. There are about thirty amazing kids that live here, go to school, and have a hired house Mom that takes care of them. There are so many things happening through this organization and it has provided many different ministry opportunities but most importantly, and most of all, their main mission is to…love.
I got the chance to spend some time with these boys and girls and it has been a lot of fun. Their joyful spirits fill the air and your heart. I grew especially fond of one of the little boys, Fedessa. He is three years old, one of the youngest on the compound. There was an afternoon where I found myself looking for something to do. I was walking around the property and spotted him carrying around a piece of rubber, just walking and entertaining himself. I yelled his name from afar. He looked at me, giggled, and turned away from me. As I kept walking, calling his name, he clearly kept ignoring me turning it into a game. I started to jog, then run and I finally reach him, pick him up in my arms and he bursts with his contagious laughter. The next thirty minutes or so were spent solely focused on him. He showed me his hiding spot behind his house and we sat on a pile of hay together under a big bush and played with sticks. He kept talking to me (in Aramaic) and I would respond in English as if I had a clue as to what he was saying. As I am sitting there with him, I kept thinking of how God calls us to be like a child. “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15. I was so interested in seeking adventure through the eyes of a three year old. I took the time to sit in hay, underneath a bush that had huge bumblebees buzzing around (that didn’t seem to worry Fedessa) just to spend some time with him. I wanted to be intentional, to show him that I saw him, that I loved him, and that the Father loves him too. Showing love can look like many different things and in this case, all I had to do, was sit.
I’ve felt so much love from the children as well. Showing love can be as simple as remembering a name. I was very impressed at how well the children remembered each one of our names (and there are a lot of us). To me, remembering someone’s name is a big deal and I only had to say my name once and these kids have got it down! One girl in particular, Meskerem, is a champ at knowing who you are. She is super special and one of a kind. Her memory with names is incredible. She excitedly greets you when she see’s you, and she will call you by your name each time. Her personality is big, but her heart is light, lovable, and hilarious. Spending time with her reminds me of how God knows each of us individually. In Psalms 139: 1-6 it says, “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I’m resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. I cant understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.” Occasionally, I will be out walking the property and I will see her playing on the swing set. I’ll hear a loud “MI-SCHELL” as she waits for me to wave to her. She knows exactly who I am, even from a distance. I get to feel the love of the Father in a child who remembers my name.
Love also comes in the form of a helping hand. Our first two weeks on the compound were very labor intensive. Most times, our ministry consisted of us cutting grass with a hand held serrated knife. It was very tedious work so I would set small goals for myself as the day went on. One day, I started at the volleyball court. The grass was about knee high in most parts. I started at one pole underneath the volleyball net, inching my way with each cut until I reached the other pole. With each handful of grass I would grab, I’d toss it behind me and once I was finished “mowing” down my path, I’d gather it all up and create a big pile. For some reason, the kids really enjoyed helping. I was taken by surprise when this little eight year old girl, named Gitu, came over and picked up my knife while I was taking a break (just when I was thinking about turning in early). She started giving it her all, one hundred percent, flying through the grass and chopping away like a professional. Her piles miraculously became nice and neat as where mine were thrown as if I was throwing dirty laundry on the floor. Instead of calling it quits early, I went and grabbed another knife and together, we finished cutting the patch of grass I had been working on. She kept looking up at me, smiling with an occasional laugh (I’m sure at how horribly I was cutting) and together we conquered that section of the field. It was a sweet moment I got to share with her. Now, looking back, I couldn’t help but think of the Lord’s faithfulness. Psalms 25:10 says, “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful…” He knew in that moment I needed someone to step in and help me out. How tender of a moment to have been shown love from an eight year old girl.
Ralph, the founder of Hope Ethiopia, arrived during the last few days of our stay. He has so much enthusiasm, dreams, and trust in the Lord about the direction that the organization is heading. It was incredible to hear his stories of their progress from the beginning to now, and their plans for the future. He told us there are scriptures covering the entire property (popsicle sticks with scripture on them in the ground), on the walls of all the buildings (before they were covered with paint), and on the rocks of the foundation (before it was covered with concrete). You can’t see it, but it’s there. The entire compound has been flooded with prayer. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” Philippians 4:6. You can feel in the atmosphere and hear in the stories of all the prayers that have been lifting up this compound since it first began. It really is a place that pours out hope. Though it’s only been a month, there are already so many great memories that I’ve made with these kids. I’ve been able to give love and also receive love in a much greater capacity. Our purpose over this last month has been to love on these kids and Hope Ethiopia’s purpose has been and will be to provide exactly what is says…hope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11.
…For those of you who are interested in knowing the different ministries we were a part of, here are a list of things we did around the compound this month for HOPEithiopia.
Cutting grass– cutting grass on the compound and bundling it up for hay.
Spending time with the kids– every day we spent time with the kids either helping with homework, playing soccer, volleyball, or playing on the swing set. Friday nights we had movie nights and one day we also got a put on a field day of relay races and water games.
Reforestation– we packed plastic tubes with soil so we could replant trees and also holed up the soil so the new trees could be planted.
Gardening-touching up the gardens surrounding the house, weeding, watering, etc.
Construction– mixing and laying concrete for one of the next children’s homes.
Cooking– helping the staff in the kitchen prep and cook for lunches and dinners.
Apple Orchard-hoeing and digging up old apple trees to be replanted.
Praying-spending the morning or afternoon in prayer for the land and for HOPEithiopia.
Sewing Room-where ladies come and learn how to sew to help grow a business.
(During our last week)
Veterinary Clinic– giving rabies shots to dogs and giving deworming medicine to sheep and goats.
Dental Care-teeth cleaning, pulling, and giving education tips on how to brush and floss teeth.
Eye Care-assisting with running tests to see if people have cataracts, glaucoma, cysts, and writing prescriptions for glasses.
