SPECIAL DELIVERIES

We had the special privilege of meeting some kids that have been on my fridge since this summer. One of the best parts about sponsorship is that it's contagious. Once we signed up with Children's Hopechest, we couldn't stop talking about sponsorship and the difference it can make for one child. It's true, we can't solve the orphan crisis or eliminate poverty on our own, but we can change to world for one child through sponsorship and once we knew this to be true, we spread the word. Thankfully, several family members and friends of ours now sponsor kids at Trees of Glory. I love it that we all have kids at the same care point.

So when we decided to go to TOG, we offered to take care packages to the kids of our friends and family. We were also hoping to meet our own sponsor child, Meseret, but unfortunately she was not there that day (second trip and still we haven't met her--we're hoping that the third time will be the charm:). I was also hoping to meet my mom and dad's sponsor child Zewditu and my aunt's new little girl, but they were also absent. Hopefully, we'll get to meet them all next time.

Although we were disappointed about Meseret, we were delighted to meet these next few kids.

Here is me meeting my friend Heidi's little girl Tigist. Her little face just lit up when she saw pictures of her sponsor family. She is a beautiful girl and has changed so much from her initial sponsorship picture.

Here Fikre showed her how to use markers and explained what some of the other things in her bag were (remember this is rural Ethiopia and a lot of these kids have never had things like coloring books and markers).

Or chap stick

This is another one of my friend's girl Hiwot-she's one of the true orphans and lives at TOG

Nick has friends that he grew up with that just got assigned this sweet boy Musse, also a TOG resident. This first picture shows him listening intently to Girma reading him his very first letter from his sponsor family.



His eyes widened and the sweetest smile you've ever witnessed spread across his face as Girma showed him pictures of his sponsor family and named them one by one. Remember, he is a true orphan and he now knows that there is a family out there that is dedicated to supporting and loving him (even if it is from a distance)-just priceless.


sporting his new shirt and sandals (along with his pajama pants:)



And here is Nick's "little brother" Mitiku" who is sponsored by his parents. They sent him a backpack full of love-which he definitely cherished.

If you've ever wondered if $34 can really make a difference, the picture below should answer that question for you. Mitiku swung his arm around Nick as if they'd always know each other and when we were finished giving him his gifts, he said those amazing words again, "God bless you." Such wisdom and faith from these sweet children.

For more information specifically about Trees of Glory, contact Karen Wistrom at kjwistrom@yahoo.com and for information about Ethiopian sponsorship in general, contact Children's Hopechest at http://www.hopechest.org/.

BE THE HOPE FOR ONE!!!

TELL THEM TO COME

This is Fikre-one of Hopechest's in country staff members who guided us around and translated for us. Nick met him on his mission trip last September, so it was nice to meet up with an old friend.

His words "tell them to come" really stuck with me. We were talking about sponsorship and Hopechest and he said, "It's not just about the money. People think it is too far to come all the way here. But it means so much more when you actually show up and spend your time. The children understand your presence more than the money. It shows them that you really care."

Wow! That was pretty powerful. So I told him I would pass that on. I know my life has never been the same since my first trip to Ethiopia and I would recommend going to everyone. After speaking with Fikre, I know even more how important it is that we "VISIT orphans and widows in their distress."

If you've ever thought of going on a misison trip or visiting your sponsor child, GO-you'll never regret it. If you've never thought about--I pray that you would. It could very well change your life.

GOD BLESS YOU

Before leaving for Ethiopia, my two most eager helpers helped me sort and stuff letters for about 60 of the kids at TOG who didn't get personal letters from their sponsor families. I received about 40 letters from across the country filled with love and pictures from sponsor families and we wanted to make sure that all the kids whose sponsors weren't able to send a letter would at least know that they were loved by us and of course by their heavenly father.

My aunt who has a new little cutey at TOG donated mentos for the whole crew-which the kids absolutely loved. She and another sponsor family also generously donated cash that we used to buy bananas and bread for all the kids at TOG. We even had enough to purchase bananas for another Hopechest orphanage that we visited on our way back from TOG (more on that in another post).

Each child received mentos, a pen, stickers and scripture.

Our banana and bread stop was a great experience. The government has made several positive changes since the new administration took office last year. One of these is a cap on banana prices. Bananas are to be sold for no more than 5 birr per kilogram. That's about 16 US cents for every 2.2 lbs of bananas-or 8 cents per pound. Like I've said before-it takes so little--such small "sacrifices" on our part to make a big difference for others around the world. That's why I love sponsorship and what Children's Hopechest does.

Now for the most fun part of the whole TOG trip--meeting the kids and staff. The thing I want you to notice most in these pictures is the JOY. This place is filled with JOY and it was awesome to be around. I love seeing how happy Simret is for these kids to receive letters from their sponsor families. She has so much love for them and it is so evident how much she and the other staff members care for them.


Fikre was our trusty tour guide and translator-awesome guy and friend.

Girma is seen here in the background helping this sweet girl fly an airplane lovingly constructed by her sponsor family. I just love this picture-check out his intensity!

Joy and the love-what a gift!!!

Looking at a picture of his sponsor family-his face just lit up!

Sweet siblings

Brothers

Loving his mentos!

Aren't they great? One after another, these kids came in to receive their letters from "home." It really makes a difference for them to hear words of encouragement and to know that someone is rooting for them and praying for them.

One after one, they spoke these words, "God bless you." "God bless you."

God bless me? I'm already so blessed-blessed to just be around the beautiful hearts of children with a faith stronger than most. Blessed to be able to witness unexplainable joy and contentment in conditions and circumstances that most of us can't even imagine. Blessed to be in the presence of people who've devoted their lives to living out the gospel.

Yes, we were blessed beyond words to spend time with our friends in Ethiopia.

To them I say, "You are the true blessing."