Today was our first day "on the job" in Ethiopia. We headed out to Dale. The NGO that I am helping support, FOVC, is working in two villages, Dale and Shanto. FOVC and I are partnering with Children's HopeChest for the Shanto location. However, Dale is much smaller with 22 children, and I am coordinating it independently. These children have lost one or both parents which makes them extremely vulnerable, lacking food, and not able to attend school because of the expense.
The intent in visiting Dale was to check-in on the program, deliver sponsor care packages to the kids, and be able to give a firsthand report to the Dale sponsors. We spent about 3 hours at the compound. The children made cards for their sponsors. I love giving these children markers and blank paper, they make the most beautiful drawings.
After crafts we helped serve the children lunch. One piece of this program is for the children to have a nutrious lunch everyday. For a vulnerable child, a daily meal is a luxury, this piece of the program is significant.
After lunch we passed out the care packages. The kids were excited, there was lots of giggling, and showing each other what they got. I also loved that many of the sponsors sent pictures, the children seem to really appreciate pictures.
We finished up by giving out gifts to the staff. They surprised us with gifts in return, I was humbled.
They asked me to close our time in prayer. I thanked God for the help these precious children are receiving, thanked Him for the many sponsors who give, and the faithful followers of Jesus in Ethiopia who take James 1:27 to heart, that caring for orphans and widows in their distress is pure religion and I believe helps give us perspective, helps us from being polluted by the world.
We finished up our time in Dale by doing a home visit. I really wanted to visit this precious woman, her name is Senait, she is a widow who has opened her home to 2 extra children, one being Ayehush (pictured here) who was abandoned as a baby. I plan to share more of this story later...
Tomorrow we head to Shanto and I am SO excited! I cannot wait to see my 150 precious little friends there and see how much they have grown. I've been told that the new hotel where we are staying in Sodo has internet access and I am hoping it's true! In years past our time in Shanto has been internet free. I really hope to update here and on social media everyday. I love sharing this ministry and work. Being involved with this has changed my life so much and I love sharing the stories, pictures, and perspecitve with others.
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