One more week…

As I look over the past two and a half months, I am in awe of the work that the Lord has done this summer in Ethiopia. The changes that Bethany has undergone in the past few months have been a strengthening process for this organization and I feel honored to be apart of the work being done here. Children are being placed into loving homes and given a second chance at receiving love, which they deserve.  It has been a beautiful thing to witness children blossom under the love and attention from their parents, which they so desperately crave.

I can’t even begin to describe the emotions and relationships that run deep here. I have formed bonds with children, families and Bethany staff and experienced a side of the Lord’s heart, which I did not know before coming to Addis.  God’s hand of mercy and compassion is evident in the eyes of children who are joined with families, and even more than that- for those who continue to have joy and strength in the midst of insurmountable odds.

 I have seen the work and labor of many who serve internationally and those who have poured their time and hearts for “the least of these.” It is a humbling honor to work beside such people at Bethany and I couldn’t of asked for a better team of people to work with. I have cried and laughed over these past few months, and felt such peace about where I am and how God has placed me here. If I haven’t shared with you about how I came to work with Bethany, it was a pretty incredible story about how He placed me here for this summer. I did nothing to deserve this, at all. God literally shut all the doors for every opportunity I was pursuing and opened the door widely for Bethany. He has blown me away with how every detail was worked out regarding housing (at Cherokee House), placing the office nearby for me to commute to (Zenebwork-Tor Highloch), placing four new social workers at Bethany who are absolutely amazing (Blen, Mahlet, Hanna & Senait) and incredible families whom I have gotten to spend time with over the past few months, to witness this journey of meeting their children for the first time.  It has been such a joy.

The Lord is at work in Ethiopia and I am so glad to be sharing this opportunity with you. Thank you so much for your prayers and notes of encouragement. It has truly blessed my heart in ways I can’t even describe. I am so thankful for my time here and hope to return in the future. I pray the Lord has begun to spark a love for orphans in your life, as He has done so in mine. We are all adopted as His children, through the love of God and I thank you for joining me in this adventure of allowing orphans to experience that love firsthand, through the act of adoption.

 

Please continue to pray for those who are fatherless and orphaned, there are so many…