Hey! Sorry for the lack of communication this month, we have zero access to WiFi. Here’s a brief update on what we get to be a part of while in Ethiopia.
This month, we are working with an organization called, HopEthiopia. We are living on the compound, which rests on about 10 acres of land, and consists of about 8 different houses. Our whole squad takes up 1 house, while the 7 remaining houses are occupied by the children that live here. Those children being orphans, about 30 in total.
Surrounding the compound is nothing but beautiful, green pastures that go on for miles and miles. The pastures are vast, breathtaking, and full of God’s beauty. Walking outside of the compound, you will see people of all ages, both young and old, snapping their whips forcing their livestock (cattle, horses, donkey’s, and goats) to fall in line and obey their commands. They use the cows to plow the fields. They don’t have modern day tractors or equipment. Horses and donkey’s are used as a means of transporting for both people and goods. And goats are the main source of protein.
While driving to HopEthiopia, I have never felt more joy and love from a community of people in all my life. I guess everyone in town knew we were Americans, or Ferenji’s (Fer-en-gees), as they call us, based on the mile high luggage that was strapped to the top of the bus. Children ran out to the edge of the street with smiles that stretched from ear to ear waving as if their greatest hero had just arrived. People flooding out of their workplace to wave and scream, “Helloooooo!”
When we arrived at the compound, before the doors of the bus were opened, the children ran for what seemed to be a mile as they anxiously awaited for the bus to come to a stop. They ripped open the double doors disregarding our bags that filled the bottom of the floor, and they catapulted themselves into our arms. I had about 3 children in my lap before I could even get up and get off of the bus. Can you say, “heart completely melted within seconds.”
Wasting no time, we jumped into ministry quickly.
At HopEthiopia, we get to love on the sweet kiddos, along with a few manual labor projects. We have teams that help teach in the schools. We play soccer and volleyball with the kids. We get all snuggled up, pop some popcorn, and have movie nights every Friday. You can imagine the chaos that never stops, considering the amount of children that run in and out of the house all day long. However, I’m totally okay with it considering the love, joy, and laughter they bring to me every single day. We also have teams that partake in the brick building project. Here, we sifted rocks for about a week and a half. The dirt that we had sifted formed a huge mound that reached a height of about 10 feet tall. We shoveled the dirt into a machine, and mixed in both water and cement. Then, we shoveled the dirt mixture into another machine which actually created the bricks. Having had created hundreds and hundreds of bricks, we then carried a brick on each shoulder (some stuffed about 6 bricks in their backpacks), half a mile both ways into a vacant home. These bricks will be used to build houses, schools, training centers, etc… We also get to participate in drawing water from the well for the locals. This well is the only source of clean water in town. HopEthiopia so generously welcomes people from all over to come and fill up jugs full of clean water. Through this, we are able to build relationships with the community through helping load water jugs onto their donkey’s.
My heart has been so blessed while being here at HopEthiopia. Our days here are long, and most nights I lay down feeling completely wiped out, but it’s all worth it. God’s hand is so evidently on this ministry, and I’m grateful to have had the privilege of bringing kingdom to the people of Ethiopia.
