Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Our final day
Categories: Uncategorized
Bittersweet…
We are leaving Ethiopia in a few hours, looking forward to getting home, but sad to leave our new friends…
Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Categories: Uncategorized
Income Generating Opportunities
Today we were able to visit a couple IGAs (income generating opportunities). These are small businesses that are formed to give jobs to people that live in Korah so that they can make money to support their family.
The first one we visited raises chickens and is able to support around a dozen families.
The next one we visited was in the leper hospital. There lepers make beautiful embroidered bags and clothes, leather products, wood crafts and many other beautiful items.
Unfortunately we were unable to take any photos or videos there, but the people were so loving and we were able to purchase several things to support their great work!
Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Journey to the Country
Today we took a 2 hour trip out of Addis Ababa and into the countryside village of Duber, Ethiopia.
She grew up in a well-off family in Addis but her parents always worked hard to help other children in need and that trait was passed along to her. Several years back she felt called to leave her successful job in the city and start to care for orphans and other children in need out in the countryside. Amazingly God provided an abandoned 27 acre piece of land with several buildings for free from the government.
She began with only 3 children and had to trust God on a daily basis to run the center and to provide for the children. Over the next several years she grew to over 20 orphans and around 120 kids that receive support.
Up until last year the facility did not have running water or electricity but God was faithful to provide all of their needs.
Now they have a large well that provides all of water they need.
The children not only get food from this location but they also have a school on site.
Then we played with the children and a few of us had the chance to pray for Simret and ask for God’s blessing and provision for both her and for her work there…I don’t think any of us had a dry eye when we were finished.
Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
So I got sick again…
So I went to a hospital for the first time yesterday, in Africa… Probably not what you would think would be the best first experience in a hospital but it was actually pretty cool, very nice staff, and they were able to figure out what the problem was and fix me up pretty quickly. Stuff has been pretty crazy the last few days, but I’m feeling much better now. so I thank you all for your prayers and support.
Benjamin Thomas
Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Categories: Prayer Requests
Visiting a Girl’s Orphanage and the Market
First off thank you all for praying for my brother, he is feeling better but we ask for your continued prayers for his health as well as for the rest the team.
Today we took a ride to a girls orphanage in Addis.
They grow their own food their and raise cows for their milk and chickens for eggs.
The facility once held around 120 girls but now is home to around 330 girls. In the dorm that houses girls aged 9 – 12, four girls share each bed.
The girls were so sweet and followed us around and sang songs to us…it broke our hearts to leave them.
We met with a social worker who is responsible for more than 100 girls and must raise his own support. His support was for one year which is almost up and he is not sure what will happen next when his support runs out.
We then travelled up to the highest peak in Addis, Mount Entoto at 10,500 feet above sea level.
As we drove we saw several women carrying large bundles of wood to the bottom of the mountain to be sold for about $3 per bundle.
On the top of the mountain is a palace built by Meleik II and also a beautiful Othodox Cathedral.
We also visited a chapel hewn into limestone over 700 years ago.
We then proceeded down the mountain to an organization that provides work opportunities to the men and women that once carried wood. There they are able to weave baskets and cloth for scarves.
The men working there were all too happy to give Mike and I a chance to try our hand at weaving scarves.
From there we travelled back into the city to end our day with food and wonderful Ethiopian coffee from the rooftop seating area at Tomoca coffee.
Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers!
Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Categories: Uncategorized
Prayer Requests
We thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers. Please keep my brother Benjamin in your prayers as he has not been feeling well. Please keep the health of our entire team in your prayers as the combination of altitude (we are at 7,700 feet above sea level), heat, the dry air and the various other things we hare exposed to can take a toll on your body.