Hi Friends and Family,
It is hard to believe that my time in Africa has come and gone and what an AMAZING journey it was! The purpose, the experience, the times of struggle and the moments of joy influence such change in my heart. Africa has a way of putting life back into perspective and challenging the way I live, think, serve, and give. For this I am grateful.
The mission of this trip, to love the fatherless and to embrace the orphans as though they were my own, has left me with a deeper appreciation for both my parents and my heavenly father. Both would do anything for me, they love me unconditionally, and are the vessels for the love and compassion that I have for the millions of orphans in Africa.
In the past two weeks I have been in two countries, seven orphanages, with thousands of kids and babies, in a village of lepers and I still can’t fully wrap my head and heart around all that we saw and did. So many moments are forever imprinted on my heart. Like the eleven year old boy, Dejeme, who before getting sponsored, lived in the trash dump in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dejeme and I spent two days together, he proudly showed me his 10 X 10 room, filled with 4 bunk beds where 12 teenage boys live, sleeping two boys to a bed. He showed me the kitchen with its simple roaring open fire, a large pot and rice for their next meal. The area where they wash their dishes happens to sit next to the open flow of sewer draining from behind their only bathroom, a hole in the dirt floor behind a piece of scrap metal. Many of us would look at Dejeme’s home, his life and situation and pity him, but he is beaming with happiness and pride. The bed he shares with his friend is the bed that he never had, the simple kitchen fire provides him the food that he used to dig for in the dumpster. The other children he bunks with is the family that he never had. My time with Dejene was precious, he shared with me his hopes and dreams, he brought me into his home and his heart and the day we left his village, I received a note from him. He addressed it “Dear Mom”, filled it with amazing words of inspiration and gratitude of our time together and signed it “Love your Son, Dejeme.” My soul was so deeply touched. I wept for this sweet little boy. I wept for his heart, his future, for the time that we spent together. I hope to return to Ethiopia one day and visit Dejeme, he has changed my life forever!
Throughout my time in Ethiopia and Rwanda we visited 7 orphanages, provided food, diapers, formula, livestock, clothes, shoes for 600 little feet, supplies and lots of quality time and love. Our purpose to visit these beautiful orphans is to give them one on one attention, to hold their hands, to listen to their stories, to pray for them and make them feel loved. They latch onto you as though they have never been held, it makes my heart break to see them so desperate. In the past two weeks I have been with thousands of kids that are the fatherless and I have found such a burning passion to help them, to serve them, to love them. It is my prayer to live out James 1:27
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”.
I feel that the transformation of my heart and my passion for these people is all part of God’s desire for my life and I am excited to see how my compassion and love continues to grow. I feel as though I am the mom to these thousands of kids and it is my responsibility to be there for them, whether it be emotionally, spiritually or financially. I need to help. I was shocked to learn that just $750 per year removes a child from the city landfill and places them into a private boarding school, a safe place to sleep, clothes, food and lets them know they are loved. Small change in our daily spending habits, can change a life forever. As Mother Teresa said, “Live simply so others can simply live.”
I know that I still have so much to learn about mercy and compassion and I continue to pray that my life is challenged and changed by their example. I struggle with knowing what to do next, it is overwhelming and emotional, but I have peace that my struggle is the beginning of something great for these kids. Letting them know that they are loved, that they are not among the forgotten, that they too have a future filled with hope, that is my prayer.
I am so grateful for this experience and for your thoughts, prayers and support. Without you, thousands of orphans would not have experienced the love and attention that our team was able to give them. May you be blessed for your generosity, you have made an incredible difference in so many of their lives. With much gratitude and love I offer you my thanks.
I hope you enjoy these sweet little faces and smiles as much as I do!
Wow, JT! Your words are moving me to tears. And the pictures! Speechless. I am so grateful that you have chosen to dedicate so much of yourself to this cause.
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