Today started out very early. We woke up at 5 am to beat the traffic and go
to Trees of Glory. It was the first time we were on time for our departure all
week. We even were a little early,
you’re welcome Fekadu. We tell him we
are on Habesha time now because we are always running late. Today he was proud
of us.
After a rather eventful drive (a long traffic jam due to an
overturned beer truck and several near death experiences-thank you Fekadu for
only making them near death and not actual death experiences), we arrived in
time for breakfast with Simret. It was a
delicious traditional Ethiopian breakfast with almost all of the ingredients
coming from her farmland.
It is quite amazing to see all the ways that she has utilized her land. Nothing goes to waste. In addition to the cows, she now has horses, donkeys and goats and sheep. We even witnessed two baby sheep just minutes after they had been born interacting with their mother. She is down to 10 chickens but has plans to expand her flock to 500 once a new chicken house is built. The previous chicken house is now being used to house the oil press and for processing sunflower oil which they sell for profit. Another new project that we saw was her fishery. She turned the old concrete swimming pool into a place to raise fish to eat and also sell. Everything has a purpose.
It is quite amazing to see all the ways that she has utilized her land. Nothing goes to waste. In addition to the cows, she now has horses, donkeys and goats and sheep. We even witnessed two baby sheep just minutes after they had been born interacting with their mother. She is down to 10 chickens but has plans to expand her flock to 500 once a new chicken house is built. The previous chicken house is now being used to house the oil press and for processing sunflower oil which they sell for profit. Another new project that we saw was her fishery. She turned the old concrete swimming pool into a place to raise fish to eat and also sell. Everything has a purpose.
The children have all grown and are thriving. Most of them were at school and her own son
Mitiku even finished second in his class.
She is now taking in referred children from the government as needed and
had several babies and toddlers. Some of
them have medical needs that she is able to coordinate care for. She is currently
raising 47 children as her own in the dormitories and said she is praying for
100.
Simret said to tell everyone thank you for your continued
support. She knows that it is God who is
working through you to help them succeed at Trees of Glory. As usual, our time with her was refreshing
and we are always in awe of her ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness. This
care point is working towards independence and we pray that goal will be
realized soon.
Additionally, we got to spend time with our sponsor child
Meseret. We began sponsoring her in 2010
and she is now 17 years old and in grade 10.
She hopes to become a doctor and her favorite subject is Biology. A girl after my own heart. She looked wonderful and has grown up in the
past three and a half years since I last saw her. It was nice to be able to introduce Caroline
and Meron to her and for them to spend time at a place they have heard about
for so long.
The country side was absolutely beautiful and was a much
needed reprieve from the congestion of the city. Trees of Glory is living up to it’s name and
providing a much needed refuge for all of the children that it supports. Simret sights this verse as her inspiration
for Trees of Glory.
On the mountain heights of
Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a
splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in
the shade of its branches. Ezekiel 17:23
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