Part 2...

On Thursday night Lola’s threw a gathering where they cooked a sheep that had been slaughtered earlier that day.  The children sang songs for us, and Abebe even surprised me by having the kids sing Happy Birthday to my son, Gabe, in Tigrinya because it was his 9^th birthday on Sunday.  He also gave us each a “thank you” gift that was a scarf, letter, picture and prayer request.  This is something that I will never forget-- the generosity of people who have so little material wealth but choose to represent God by serving us humbly and with humility and kindness and a JOY that was contagious. 

Then, Abebe said that he had an important announcement.  When we first met the 3 month old baby, we were told that he arrived at the orphanage without a name.  His mother had died in childbirth.  In Ethiopia, babies without names are sometimes called Mamoush, which is what the staff at Lola’s had been calling this baby for the last month.  Well, we started talking with Abebe about potential names but we knew that most Ethiopian names had a meaning behind them.  So, we asked Abebe what the word for love and faith were.  And then we asked what about Hope?  He said “Tesfa”.  Everyone loved the name, so Abebe officially changed the name of baby Mamoush to Tesfa that evening.  It was a very powerful moment when we recognized that there was hope for a future for these children, for a life without pain and hardship… hope that they seek and receive love from God the Father, who is the Father to the Fatherless. 

Once all the painting was completed, we praised God for all that he had provided to us over the past 5 days. 

The dining room had been painted, and the murals consisted of the Lord’s Prayer in English on one wall and in Tigrinya on the opposite wall.  There were giant flowers and butterflies and bees as well. 

Saturday was our final day there.  Painting was done, so we were able to have breakfast at Lola’s and just play with the kids.  That was wonderful! 

We had also been planning to do a foot washing ceremony for the women at Lola’s who served us all week.  Each woman in our group took a woman from the staff at Lola’s and washed her feet while one of our team members read the scripture that went along with this very powerful activity.  You could see that the women were very moved…and so were we.  My heart flooded with all of the kindness and goodness that we experienced over the course of the week.  We asked the Lord that he continue to provide each of them with the strength to stay healthy and to be able to care for the kiddos the best that they can.  We also gave each woman a necklace with 3 beads representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as well as an umbrella (the rainy season started right after we left and an umbrella is a luxury many women do not have!).  At the end of the ceremony the women said “I love you” to each of us. 

Then we had to say goodbye to the kiddos.  That was HARD!  There were a lot of tears, mostly from our team but also from the children.  We made our way back to the hotel, and gathered all of our bags. 

On the way to the airport we were talking to Abebe were talking about farming.  We asked how they farm on such rocky soil, and Abebe responded “God is good all the time!”  This is so true!

So, thank you to each of you for your prayers, financial, emotional and spiritual support.  Advocacy is an important part of orphan care, and I feel that God is calling me to be an advocate for Lola Children’s Home.  My plan, God willing, is to present to as many people and groups as I can to educate and advocate for the children at Lola’s.  I pray daily for the staff there, as well as Abebe, that they continue to seek the Lord, and to prayerfully receive God’s will for their lives.  I also pray that the Lord heals the scars that the children have from their past lives, and that their faith and devotion to the Lord continues to be strengthened.  If the children can be taught to rely on the Lord during the tough times, then they will be able to get through anything put in front of them with grace, peace and joy! 

If you would like to learn more about Lola Children’s Home or to make a donation, please visit:

http://www.lolachildrensfund.org/

Part One: Details of the Trip

Well, blog friends, I thought that I had posted the blog from my trip, but apparently it never appeared on the official blog site.  So, I am re-posting it, but in separate parts so that it is not overwhelming!  My sincere apologies for not catching this error earlier...I am still not sure how it happened.  Anyway, below is the first "part" from the trip. 

My trip to Ethiopia was much more than I had ever anticipated and I feel so privileged and blessed to have the opportunity to go and serve the orphaned children at Lola Children’s Home.  Throughout the entire trip I saw God at work. From the people that I met in Addis and Mekele, to the interactions between my team, everything was done to glorify God. 

We departed Washington DC for Addis at noon on Saturday, May 21^st.  Our team had just officially met each other, outside of the telephone and e-mail conversations over the last few weeks and we were off on a 15 hour flight to Africa. 

On our way to the hotel, we saw Addis.  The poverty was overwhelming.  I felt completely immobilized, and unsure of how to process everything that I was seeing.  There were children running around with no shoes, homes (truly shacks) made out of corrugated tin materials.  They were simple lean-to’s that served as homes or storefronts.  People milling around on the street.  Crippled, lame, hungry.  The disparity between where I had just come from and where I now was felt like it was too much. 

The flight the next morning to Mekele was pretty uneventful, except for my bag being searched and them finding SCISSORS in it!  Somehow I forgot to put those in my checked bag!  Sorry Ethiopian Airlines!

Abebe (the Director of Lola Children’s Home) and Yonas, his good friend, assistant and fellow orphan, greeted us with big smiles and hugs at the airport!  When I mentioned that I was a friend of a friend, Abebe gave me a huge hug and said he had been praying that I would come! 

The scenery in Mekele reminded me of biblical times.  Horse drawn carts, men shepherding sheep and goats, as well as cattle down the side of the road.  Mountains in the distance.  The road into Mekele was paved, but all of the side roads were either dirt or cobblestone.

We were off to Lola’s!!  As soon as we walked in we were met by the children…and they were all so beautiful! 

The kids played suitcase races with our luggage for the first hour!  Then we did a craft where they decorated a plastic bowl to make a drum, and we gave them pencils for drumsticks.  They were at this activity for over an hour…which is amazing at that age. 

There are currently 13 children at Lola’s and the ages of the kids were 3 months, up to 10 years. 

Abebe introduced us to the children, and had them come around and shake our hands.  I just wanted to kiss their little faces!

Each has a story.  For some, their mother died in childbirth, and their father could not provide for them.  Others, were a causality of poverty, in that their mother could not provide for them so she became a turned to a life of crime and the children went to an orphanage because they did not have any family to care for them.  Another child was brought to the orphanage because his mom tried to harm him when she found out that he was HIV+.   These burdens that the kids carry with them broke my heart…and I know that they broke the Lord’s heart. 

At Lola’s, there are children that are HIV+.  All were receiving ARV treatment 2 times per day.  This medication is provided by the government.  If the children are able to receive this medication, they can expect to have a normal, healthy life.  HIV, when treatment is followed appropriately, becomes a chronic yet manageable disease, much like diabetes.  The children at Lola’s that were HIV+ were beautiful children of God.  They were full of energy and as healthy as the HIV- children.

And so began our painting expedition.  We were tasked with transforming (all according to God’s agenda) the dining room, baby room, big kids room, adult and kid’s bathroom with paint and murals.  We also were asked to paint the outside of the compound walls, and to move dirt and rocks to make way for the playground that we donated to Lola’s.

For lunch, we ate at Lola’s everyday.  This was the highlight of my day because we were able to talk to Abebe and hear his story and his vision for Lola’s. 

Abebe realizes that most of the children will not be adopted because there are currently 163 million orphans in the world.  His focus is on orphan care.  He wants to make sure that each child receives:

·         An education (the best school for children 8+ costs $8/month)

·         Knowledge of the Lord and Christ our Savior

·         Money when they leave the orphanage (accomplished by setting up a bank account for each child)

·         Vocational training (his dream is to obtain land from the government for a dairy farm.  This would provide a sustainable income for Lola’s, as well as provide training for the children so that if they did not go to university they could leave Lola’s and find a job to support themselves).

Additionally, Abebe realized, that God willing:

·         He would like to build a clinic and hire a full time nurse to staff it.  This clinic would be accessible to the community as well as Lola’s.  The cost is $100/month to hire a full time nurse.

·         He would like to educate the children that are 8 and under at Lola’s.  To hire a quality teacher, the cost is approximately $100/month.

More to come.....

Home!

First, I have to apologize for taking so long to blog about my trip.  Yes, I have been home since Monday afternoon, and I had good intentions of writing on Wednesday or Thursday, but somehow the days have gotten away from me!  I have also been having some technical difficulties with uploading my pics, and I truly want to have both my words and the pictures to share at the same time.  So, I'm hoping to get my blog-on tomorrow at the very latest, as the pictures are uploading as I type! 

The trip to Ethiopia was even more amazing than I could have ever imagined.  All glory goes to God, because we saw him at work everywhere!  All of the loving on the kiddos, painting, rock moving, and ditch digging that we did was for Him--and we were so happy to be there and in the moment!  The team that I went with from All God's Children were also fabulous, and it was obvious that God knitted us together for this trip.  We each had different talents that we were able to share to glorify His name! 

So, check back tomorrow and I will (hopefully) have all of my technically difficulties worked out :) 

Love and Peace,
jen

Taking off!

Well, I can hardly believe it, but tomorrow morning I fly to Washington DC at 6am and then our flight to Addis Ababa departs at noon!  I am so excited!  Yes, I am nervous, for many different reasons, but I have faith that this is exactly where God wants me to be going and that puts my heart at peace.

I had hopes of blogging and uploading pictures while there, but there is mostly dial up service where I am going and it is not very reliable service.  So, I have decided to journal my trip and then post once I am home with pictures.  I know so many of you who have offered prayers...thank you!  It is like a warm hug whenever I hear those lovely words! 

I will be missing my family like CRAZY, but I will be loving the orphaned children like CRAZY too!!

Peace and blessings,
jen

Another success!!!!

So much fun was had tonight at the Wii MarioKart Tournament!  We had 12 kids play, and they all were great sports and so kind to one another!  Drew L. won the overall tournament, and Drew V. took 2nd place.  Rumor has it that alot of the kids were practicing before they came (I love that!!!). 

Craig did a stellar job as commissioner of the tourney--thank you, my love!  We would still be setting up the systems if I was left to manage this myself (seriously, folks!)

The grand total for all of the fundraising for the playground (between the bake sale, balloons, and Wii Tourney) is.....drum roll please......$564.31!!!  WOW!!!  Thanks to everyone one of you who baked, sold, purchased, ate, donated, played and ate some more!!  Without you the children in a village in Northern Ethiopia would not be getting a playground, but now they will be!!!  When I started fundraising, I was told that the cost of the playground was $1,200, and that $600 had been raised already.  I know that the others have also raised additional funds, so we will likely be donating the playground as well as a tv and dvd player!!  God is so very good!

Please continue to pray for me as I begin packing and getting ready to leave.  I will be updating the blog as often as I can pre and post trip, but because of the lack of internet accessibility, I will not be able to update while I am there. 

Happy Tuesday!!!
jen

So much to learn....

Here's a bit of information about me that you may not know.  I am one of the least technically savvy people around, and I think I am OK with this.  I do not have an MP3 player, or a nook or smartphone.  I do have a digital camera and a camcorder, but that is the extent of my savviness.

Other things I want to learn:
How to sew.  When my grandma passed away, I was given her sewing machine, and I truly want to use it, but I need a lesson.  So, I asked for a gift certificate to a local sewing shop that gives lessons, and I got it...for Christmas.  I truly just need to find the time and go...maybe I will set it up for after my trip!  Nat and I have big dreams of sewing together and making skirts and American Girl doll clothes.  Can't you see us doing that??!

How to knit.  Again, I need to find someone to teach me and then I just need to do it!  Crafty stuff just does not come easy to me. 

How to blog better.  Yes friends, but I am a sorry person when it comes to the blogging world.  I may try to import a picture into this post...we'll see if it actually shows up!

I love that my kids are learning all the time.  They come home from school and show me how they taught themselves to use a yo-yo, how to paint, sing, learn a new game, or a card trick.  Kids amaze me in that respect.  As an adult, it feels so much harder to push yourself to learn something new.  But the reward from doing it is just as great!  That feeling of accomplishment is just as sweet when you're an adult.  The thrill you get when you can share a new talent is priceless.

Here are some pics of my littles perpetually learning:

Gabe putting a puzzle together at the Children's Museum in Atlanta.

Nat getting ready to sing at her Kindergarten concert where she sang 1st Grade, 1st Grade to the tune of "New York, New York" (so cute!):

And Nat painting our basement walls this past winter day...

And finally, Audrey learning to ride her bike:

God is with each of us when we learn something new, and he is so pleased when we do it to benefit his greater good.  So, if you want to learn to sew, perhaps you can use it to sew clothing for children in Africa.  Or, if you learn to paint, you could use your talent to paint a mural on a local shelter's wall to brighten someone's day.  There are so many different ways you can use the talents that God gave you to serve others.  Enjoy learning along the way!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
jen

PS - tonight is our Wii MarioKart Tournament fundraiser at the Breakaway Cafe.  It should be fun!

Why go?

Thought I would share a longer version of the testimonial that I wrote for my church bulletin to share with you my my reasons for going on the trip to Ethiopia...

Are you open to the will of God on your life?  This was a question that I was confronted by while reading Richard Stearns’ A Hole in Our Gospel.  In this book, we are challenged with helping those who live in extreme poverty.  As I poured through the book, my  heart was broken when I read the statistics regarding those living in extreme poverty who struggled daily to eat even just one meal, locate safe and clean water, attend school and have access to health care.  I began to question whether or not I was neglecting God’s desires by not serving our “neighbors” who just happened to live at a different latitude.

As I continued to read, research and contemplate the circumstances in countries with extreme poverty, I felt a gentle nudge to begin exploring mission trips.  What an intimidating thing to consider as a mom of 3 young children.  I tried to talk myself out of it, but there it was, everyday in my heart and on my mind.  So I began to learn about the available trips, and over the course of a few months I contacted several potential groups organizing trips to visit orphanages in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  The first trip I contacted was already full, so they added me to their waitlist and told me they would call if a spot opened up.  Two groups told me that they were only accepting members of their church for the trip.  And I didn’t receive a call back for the other three.  My prayers throughout this process were for patience and guidance because I certainly didn’t know which trip God wanted me to go on, or if this is something that I should even do.  And as each of these doors closed, I realized that I could be disappointed, or I could be thankful that God was guiding me.  I chose the latter and kept praying and listening. 

Then one day while at church, I was encouraged to talk to another member whose daughter had gone on a mission trip to Ethiopia.  As I introduced myself to her, I realized that there was an instant connection.  After listening to me share what had been put on my heart, she offered to set up a meeting between me and her daughter.  I met with her daughter a week later and she shared with me about her experiences in mission work in Ethiopia, and how she had been working with an orphanage called Lola Children’s Home in Mekele, which is a village north of Addis.  The Director, Abebe, had been orphaned as a child while living in Mekele, but had moved to Addis and had lived in an orphanage there until he “graduated”.  After leaving the orphanage, Abebe had persevered and had obtained a college degree in social work.  His mission in life was to set up an orphanage in Mekele so that HIV⁺ orphans in his hometown would have a place to live and receive the appropriate medications to treat their disease.  This dream came to fruition last year, and my new friend had been there to help him establish the orphanage.  I felt compelled to partner with Abebe and his vision, but I felt constrained by the fact that ALL of the available mission trips only went to Addis.  I thought that this was not an option, but of course, God’s plans are always greater than what I can even consider!

My new friend also shared that she was going back to Mekele two weeks later to visit Abebe and to bring medical supplies to the orphanage.  I asked if she would be able to inquire about recommended mission trip organizations while there.  So, I waited (somewhat patiently) for the 14 days that she was gone, and when I received an e-mail from her I was very excited.  She shared that her trip went well, and that she did inquire about reputable organizations and was told that I should look into All God’s Children International (AGCI).  When I first read this my heart sank.  I knew that I had already been on their website and that it was marked as CLOSED.  I thought that this door had already been closed on me.  But, I decided that if God was putting this in front of me again, that the least that I could do was to call AGCI. 

So I called AGCI, and spoke with Rebekah, the Ethiopia mission coordinator.  I inquired about the trip and whether it was possible to still register.  Her response was an uplifting, “YES!!!”  Then she proceeded to explain the trip was included 5 days in Mekele at Lola Children’s Home.  I was completely overwhelmed and in disbelief when I realized that she was saying that I had an opportunity to go and serve God at an orphanage that I felt I already knew through my new friend!  I shared with Rebekah the unlikely coincidence (which, I know was all part of God’s plan) and how I knew of Abebe and she shared her excitement with me.  I KNEW, without a doubt, that this was the trip that God wanted me to go on!

As I booked a 10 days mission trip as a mom of 3 children, I realized that I felt no anxiety—only peace knowing that God is walking with me.  I also understand now that there is no perfect time for serving others.  At every stage in life there will always be challenges to overcome and barriers to cross.  No matter what you current situation, God can make a way for you.  It is not about doing things for God, but being with God: living in His presence, hearing His voice and direction, and being available to serve him — through His strengths and gifts, not your own.   

On this mission trip I will:

·         Fly from Washington DC to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 20^th and return on May 30^th.

·         Spend 2 days at Hannah’s Hope Orphanage, loving on the children there and doing crafts and games with them.

·         We then fly up to Mekele, and spend 5 days at Lola Children’s Home. 

·         We will also be working with an organization called Rachel’s Faith, which empowers women by teaching them vocational skills (like basket weaving, embroidery, salon skills) so that they can take these skills back to their village and make a living.

My hopes for this trip are to:

·         build, clean, and serve as much as I can while I am there visiting the orphanages.

·         love on the orphaned children (this is my favorite part!).

·         listen to the needs and prayers of the orphanages, and see if there is some way to support them in the future.

·         worship God in a new community with new “neighbors”.

I know that God will be directing me while I am there.  I know that my life will be changed after this experience and I am looking forward to sharing  this experience with others so that we can continue to foster these relationships with our “neighbors”.

And so I leave you with a closing question that I continue to ponder.  Bono, from the band U2, states “We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies. But will we be that generation?” (Foreword to The End of Poverty (2005) by Jeffrey Sachs).

Are you open to the will of God on your life?

Happy Thursday,
jen