I wish I could say something profound but here is the simple truth: ETHIOPIA CHANGED MY LIFE.
Almost 2 years ago, I sat at a kitchen table and heard a story of a widower, in rural Ethiopia, who gave his 3 year old son up for adoption because he couldn’t feed him. A few months later, I sat at another kitchen table and heard a similar story of a widow, a fellow believer, who made the same difficult decision. My heart broke and I thought, “Am I doing anything? Am I being obedient to the 2,000+ verses in the Bible that say I need to care, to act, to remember that, ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.’ – James 1:27.” The answer was no but it needed to be YES! I needed to not be “polluted by the world”, thinking only of myself, my family and striving to live my life in comfort, ignoring that there were needs that I could meet because of the resources and abilities that God had given me.
In January 2011, I traveled to Ethiopia to visit Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FOVC). FOVC was started in 2006 by Desalegn Daka, who wanted to meet the needs of the poorest people in his community through education, food, medical care and income generating projects. In August 2011, I became FOVC’s sponsorship coordinator and I am overseeing the US side of a program that is impacting 118 precious little children in southern Ethiopia.
This past year, I’ve realized that James 1:27 holds the truth. “…look after orphans and widows in their distress…” - 49% of why I need to care, for the benefit of those on the receiving end and “…keep oneself from being polluted by the world” - 51%, it's about my heart. I need to care for many reasons; to meet needs, to learn, to keep myself humble, understanding on a deeper level that everything I have is a gift from God. I need to remember that I have just as much to gain from my outreach as do those on the receiving end. I am no better and it is only by the grace of God that I have what I have, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b.
June 1-15 I will be traveling to Ethiopia, along with my oldest son, to visit FOVC. Colin, is almost 12 and will be my assistant. He is thrilled! We need LOTS of prayer. If you feel led, please pray for our trip, for health, safety, productivity and team unity.
The cost of the trip is between $6,000-$7,000 (depending on airfare). I am trying to raise some funds to help offset the cost of the trip. You can see my online fundraising page by clicking here.
ETHIOPIA CHANGED MY LIFE and I cannot wait to go back!
Almost 2 years ago, I sat at a kitchen table and heard a story of a widower, in rural Ethiopia, who gave his 3 year old son up for adoption because he couldn’t feed him. A few months later, I sat at another kitchen table and heard a similar story of a widow, a fellow believer, who made the same difficult decision. My heart broke and I thought, “Am I doing anything? Am I being obedient to the 2,000+ verses in the Bible that say I need to care, to act, to remember that, ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.’ – James 1:27.” The answer was no but it needed to be YES! I needed to not be “polluted by the world”, thinking only of myself, my family and striving to live my life in comfort, ignoring that there were needs that I could meet because of the resources and abilities that God had given me.
In January 2011, I traveled to Ethiopia to visit Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FOVC). FOVC was started in 2006 by Desalegn Daka, who wanted to meet the needs of the poorest people in his community through education, food, medical care and income generating projects. In August 2011, I became FOVC’s sponsorship coordinator and I am overseeing the US side of a program that is impacting 118 precious little children in southern Ethiopia.
This past year, I’ve realized that James 1:27 holds the truth. “…look after orphans and widows in their distress…” - 49% of why I need to care, for the benefit of those on the receiving end and “…keep oneself from being polluted by the world” - 51%, it's about my heart. I need to care for many reasons; to meet needs, to learn, to keep myself humble, understanding on a deeper level that everything I have is a gift from God. I need to remember that I have just as much to gain from my outreach as do those on the receiving end. I am no better and it is only by the grace of God that I have what I have, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b.
June 1-15 I will be traveling to Ethiopia, along with my oldest son, to visit FOVC. Colin, is almost 12 and will be my assistant. He is thrilled! We need LOTS of prayer. If you feel led, please pray for our trip, for health, safety, productivity and team unity.
The cost of the trip is between $6,000-$7,000 (depending on airfare). I am trying to raise some funds to help offset the cost of the trip. You can see my online fundraising page by clicking here.
ETHIOPIA CHANGED MY LIFE and I cannot wait to go back!
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