At the beginning of the month here in Ethiopia, we stayed at a guesthouse where we met Hope. Hope is a 20-year-old American Christian gal that has been living here for the past 10 months. It has been such a joy getting to know her and experience her excitement and passion for this country. She works with the organization Ordinary Hero and last week we got to go with her to one of their outreaches in the mountain community of Entoto.
Once every month Distribution Day happens. This is the day where the families that Ordinary Hero sponsors gather to get their limited supplies for the month. Each child supported receives a bar of body soap, cooking oil, and teft – the grain used to make injera, the staple food in Ethiopia.
It was astonishing to watch children as young as my nieces (ages 3, 5 and 8) come to collect their month’s supplies. It was also inspiring to watch the families help distribute the teft equally to one another with joy and patience. I love the culture here where everyone looks out for each other and helps one another like they’re family even if they are not. It seems no one is a stranger to one another.
The day was a mix of handing out supplies, playing with kids, learning from Hope, and realizing the sheer joy that a simple smile can bring someone. Enjoy a peek into my day with the families of Ordinary Hero, and read more about the organization here.
