Ato, Zenebech and their precious children (Yishak is on the far left)
January 2012
I remember blinking back tears as I read their names, Yishak, Zeritu, and Loyite. It was early 2012, these were the new children added to the sponsorship program, it was my job to find them sponsors. I couldn't believe the level of poverty displayed in that picture. I had been to Shanto, Ethiopia before, I had seen firsthand the needs but this picture was different.
It didn't take long, the children were sponsored, I was thrilled! About a week later the news came, Yishak had died, he was 9 years old. His death was a result of unsafe living conditions, if only they had received help sooner. Here is what FOVC's director, Desalegn, wrote about meeting this family,
"The level of poverty that Yishak’s family faced was beyond desperate. Their home was a nearly collapsed hut in Tomtome village in the Shanto area. They had nothing to eat. The two parents were seriously sick. I thought the whole family would die. They truly needed a miracle."
Fast forward to March 2013, I traveled to Shanto, met Ato, Zenebech and their 3 living children. I stood in the small "police hut" they had been renting since their home collapsed the summer before. There was barely enough room for the whole family to lay down, let alone be safe at night from hyenas and dry from the rain. I also saw the beautiful lot of land they farmed, where their hut once stood, and was the spot they could rebuild if only...
March 2013
I desperately wanted to say, "It's OK, I'll go home, raise the money and FOVC will build you a new home" but I couldn't. I've learned that it is important to not make promises unless you are 110% sure you can fulfill them. There were many unanswered questions as to how this project could be funded. I left that day with a very heavy heart.
A few months later Dan and I began the process of getting our house ready to sell. As we gutted and redid our kitchen I often thought about Ato and Zenebech, praying they were surviving the rainy season in their tiny rented "police hut" that wasn't even designed to be a home. It's purpose was for the local police to be able to get out of the sun and cool down.
Dan and I had lived in our home since 1997. We had been praying for a couple years about selling and moving. We finally felt like the time was right, however, it was definitely a year long process that began the summer of 2013. We prayed, trusted and waited on God for all the details to come into place. At the same time, 7500 miles away, Ato and Zenebech were doing the same thing, praying, trusting and waiting on God for all the details to come into place. They were often on my mind as we prepared to sell and move.
Over the winter we were making the final preparations before listing our home and Zeritu's sponsor, Kristy Neeley, was raising the funds needed to make this new house project a reality. Partners With Ethiopia agreed to participate in this project with FOVC, the funding was the final step.
In April 2014, our home went on the market and the funds for Ato and Zenebech's new home were wired to Ethiopia. All the praying, trusting and waiting paid off. We received a full price offer on our home after 11 days on the market and Ato and Zenebech received the news, their new home would be built in May.
Ato and Zenebech in from the their partial constructed home.
May 2014
Dan and I prayed for so long about moving. We had a specific school district in mind, lots of things on our wish list which included a home on a wooded lot, something we thought would be impossible at our price point. However, we found the perfect house. It was priced too high for us but we put in a low offer and got the house! It felt miraculous on so many levels. So many details had to fall into place for us to move and it all worked out. Our prayers had been answered.
In June 2014, we moved into our new home, I still wake up each day in awe of what God clearly provided for us.
In June 2014, Ato and Zenebech moved into their new home. I imagine that they still wake up each day in awe of what God clearly provided for them.
"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 12:48
This house project was definitely a life changing event for me. I don't know why God chose to place me in North America in 2014 but I believe Luke 12:48 applies to financial abundance. My faith in Jesus, His instructions to care for the poor, compel me to make a difference in this world.
UPDATE December 14, 2016: My latest fundraiser is called GIVE HOPE. We are raising funds for our UNsponsored kids in Shanto and Dale, Ethiopia. Go to hope.give2pwe.org to make a child's Christmas extra special!
In the words of Ato and Zenebech, “Everything is done through God. I have no words to express my heartfelt thanks to FOVC and all who contributed to the construction of this house. As you all know, I had no shelter. I used to live in a local community policing center ’senteriya’. When I remember those life challenges, tears come out of my eyes. I never want to remember those days again. My oldest son died due to unsafe living conditions. But now, because of you, I am living happily and safely with my little children in my new house. Now I am very happy to have such a good house! My tears are swept out and my prayers are answered. God bless you all.”
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