A beautiful offering.....

On Sunday, I received the sweetest gift. The best part about it was that it wasn't for me. It was for the orphans in Zeway. A sweet friend approached me at church today and handed me a Christmas bag. She went on to tell me that her boys, Rocky & Jude (ages 3 & 5) had been saving their tithe all year for the orphans in Zeway. She asked if I would make sure it got to them. What a beautiful offering. Bless their sweet little hearts. You bet I'll make sure it gets to them. My heart felt so full of joy that these sweet boys already had a heart for children they didn't even know.

As I was driving home, I was reminded of Mark 12:42...the widow who gave her coins which equaled just a few cents. No, these boys aren't widows and as you can see, there is more than a few cents.....BUT....they gave what they had. You know, there was a whole lot of gumball or hotwheel money in that Christmas bag.

The Tanner boys blessed my heart today. Thank you Rocky & Jude. I know the orphans in Zeway are thankful too. If God allows me to return to Zeway, I think I would like to personally hand this bag....just the way it is...to the director of Food for the Hungry in Zeway. I think his heart would be touched. Just as mine was.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

The Hope in Ethiopia partnership will be making ornaments this year that will feature a picture of an orphan and their beautiful artwork. When you purchase an ornament, you will be feeding a child for one month.
To purchase an ornament, simply click on the picture and it will take you to the website where you can make a purchase.

Thank you for your continued support of our Hope in Ethiopia partnership.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me....." Mark 9:37


Click on the picture to purchase an ornament.

Meet Denachew

I'd like to introduce you to Denachew. He is a sweet boy we had the privelege of visiting while we were in Zeway. Our team first met him when we visited his home and we painted his house. He was so eager to help and offered to carry our paint cans as we moved around the room painting the 4 walls that comprised his home. Denachew lives with his older sister Mesaye and they are both part of the Child Head of Household program through Grace and Food for the Hungry.

We were so blessed when we found out Denachew and his sister Mesaye would be at our CHH art day. During our visit, Denachew touched our hearts in a way we weren't prepared for. Several of the children drew individual pictures but Denachew had drawn several pictures in a series. Denachew was able to share with us he had drawn out Jesus betrayal, crucifixion and his resurrection! He told us that his neighbor had been reading him the bible and that he was learning about Jesus because of her. Here is one of Denachews drawing that he explained was Peter denying Christ and the rooster crowing.

As I began working on a special project for the orphans in Zeway, I began looking through their drawings and came across this picture. It occured to me that Jesus really is a universal "love language". He can build any bridge, close any gap and cover any language barrier for us to be able to love on these children. They are precious in His sight and I hope they are precious in yours.

The Hope in Ethiopia partnership will be making ornaments this year that will feature a picture of an orphan and their beautiful artwork. When you purchase an ornament, you will be feeding a child for one month.
To purchase an ornament, simply click on the picture and it will take you to the website where you can make a purchase.

Thank you for your continued support of our Hope in Ethiopia partnership.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me....." Mark 9:37

FH Podcast about Zeway

Check out the FH Podcast recorded at the Together for Adoption Conference explaining the holistic approach this Partnership is taking with churches in Zeway and Food for the Hungry. Dawit Kassaye from Ethiopia is highlight of the podcast.

FH Podcast

Dawit's answer to why he stayed in Zeway to care for the poor is especially inspiring.

Short Update from Zeway

We received an update from Rachael who went to visit Zeway this past week (she lives in Addis). She took a photographer with her from the States, and he was able to get some outstanding photos that we cannot wait to share with you!

Please be praying for Lydia. She is a 13 year girl with 3 other siblings. Her sister who is 17 is head of the household, but there is a strained relationship between the two of them. Lydia has been extremely sick for several months now and she in the hospital currently. She is doing better, but she has been there for 4 days.

We also received a picture of Eden. If you recall, Eden was one of the first children the July 2010 team visited this past summer. Eden's story is very traumatic and heart-breaking. Below is a picture of Eden as of yesterday.Continue to pray for Eden. There are still many obstacles for her, but it is so encouraging to see her with a face that beckons a future and a hope!

Highlights of the Partnership

A unique part of this partnership is that it is a community to community (c2c) model. We feel that it is important that the local community comes together to care for the community in Zeway. That is one reason why we have not offered sponsorships of single children. This is a great model too, but we are trying something a little different.

Why are we trying something new?

Because we believe that the Church can unify locally to care for the orphan. We should really be unified on most things, and orphan care is an easy common desire and concern.

We also feel that when the local community comes together, their support is magnified. Just as it says in the Book of Matthew that when 2 or more are gathered together to pray, God makes things happen. Also, when many people combine their gifts, ideas and efforts, great things are accomplished.

We also believe that when the Church in Zeway is unifed and supported as a community, their impact will be magnified.

We saw evidence of this first hand when the orphans gathered together to form grief and loss support communities. On one of the first meetings, one orphan stated "I thought I was the only one!" Now those groups are caring for one another, praying for one another, and being an extended family to others.

So how can you be a part of this community-to-community partnership?

A great place to start is to ask your small group, Sunday school, work friends, neighbors, anyone you are in a community with, to consider pooling your resources and supporting a community in Zeway. Go to the Food for the Hungry box to the left of this post to read more about donating.

We'll then send you a prayer book so that you can learn the names and faces of all the orphans in the partnership. We'll send you regular updates so that you can share them with your community. Your local community can pray together and rejoice together as we see community transformation through orphan care.

Hope for Ephrem & Tasfa Jewelry

God never ceases to amaze me. When He calls us to do something, He is there with us every step of the way. The Hope for Ephrem jewelry sale was a major success. Within 48 hours, all the funds were raised to provide for his entire month of live-in physical rehabilitation! Sales have continued to pour in and we've been able to take that extra money and purchase extra supplies for the Tasfa jewelry to feed the orphans in Zeway. So, should I have been surprised when we were asked at the last minute to sell the jewelry at the T4A adoption conference? No. Over $1600 was sold at the conference! We are humbled by the way God is allowing us to help care for our dear friend Ephrem and the orphans in Zeway.

You lived among the least of these. The weary and the weak. And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away. All my needs you have supplied. When I was dead you gave me life. How could I not give it away so freely? - Lyrics, Follow you by Leeland

Hope In Ethiopia at T4A

The Together for Adoption Conference is in Austin this coming weekend, Oct 1 and 2. Over 1000 people are expected from all over the country to learn more about how the Church can be a part of the solution for the global orphan crisis.

There will be two sessions that will focus on the Hope in Ethiopia: Zeway partnership. We are thrilled to be able to present to others what God is doing in Zeway, offer them the chance to come partner with us, and also encourage attendees with their own orphan care initiatives.

Please be praying for this weekend. Not only for the Zeway sessions, but also that more people's hearts would be broken, as God's is, for the orphan.

Hope for Ephrem

While we were in Ethiopia, we had the priviledge of meeting Ephrem. He was a social worker in Ethiopia who was paralyzed in a car accident. Although his story is tragic, God has been faithful and continues to place miracles in his life. I made a personal promise to Ephrem that I would keep in touch with him and that He would always be a part of our family. Although Ephrem is paralyzed, he recently began feeling pain in his legs and the doctors are hopeful that his nerves have started to heal! This is truly a miracle!! Ephrem needs to go to a live in rehabilitation center for this care. The cost is $700 per month. It has been the burden of my heart to help my brother Ephrem. We've been in prayer about this and I have decided to donate 100% of the profits from my Funky Fish collection to help Ephrem with his medical expenses. Please consider making a purchase and helping our brother Ephrem. If you can't make a purchase, please consider spreading the word.

To see the jewelry, please visit www.funkyfishdesigns.com or Funky Fish on facebook.

Thank you.

The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles.
^{Psalm 34:17}

Artwork in Grace Gallery

Be sure to drop by the Gallery at Grace Covenant Church to view the exhibit: Hope in the Faces of Zeway. During the summer team trip, the orphans in the partnership were offered paper, colored pencils and materials, and inspiration to create beautiful works of art. The inspiration were their own faces as they drew self-portraits.

There will be more to come on-line about the artwork for those of you who do not attend Grace Covenant, so please be looking for more information about the exhibit.

Enjoy a sneak preview of Hope in the Faces of Zeway: