October 2013 Medical Mission trip

We had an amazing medical mission trip in October! 

We examined over 300 children at two Children's HopeChest CarePoints- Project greenlight which is located in Addis Ababa and our CarePoint,  Mesert Christos in Kombolcha.  We also examined and treated some ill children outside the sponsorship program and about a half a dozen parents.  

Kombolcha CarePoint

Children at Project GreenLight

We shared the gospel of Jesus, played games, washed their feet, examined and treated them. 

 Everyday we provided a snack of bananas for the children.  We treated fevers, cuts, strep throat and more.  We also removed items and cleaned out their ears.  Several children were referred to a hospital or clinic, including a child who appeared to have broken his arm while we were on-site.

When we arrived in Kombolcha some of the children had your photos- holding them up and asking if you were part of the team.  One boy was carrying a musical greeting card that was enclosed in his March care package.  Sponsorship matters, the children know your name and asked about you. Most of the messages they gave me were similar- "thank you for being my sponsor!  Please come to visit." 

If you provided medical supplies, helped financially or prayed for us- THANK YOU!!! You helped support an amazing team who ministered to many. Our next trip is March 8-18 2014 which will be structured much like a Vacation Bible School. 

Our team

Eight years!

Igor has been home eight years!!  He wanted 5 Guys for lunch and mac & cheese for dinner.  We celebrate 8 years with you as our son.

it's been a while!

This summer was so much fun.  Here are a few memories.

Igor's first sleep away camp

Merone's gotcha day!

Igor turns 11 yrs old!

Merone turns 4 years old

Merone's first bike ride!

pool time with aunt Christy

fun at the lake

fun at the lake

Henry's first solo kayak trip

fun at the lake

Merone loves sand

Igor loves the waves

Henry tries skim-boarding

and now school has started... here's my poem for my children as they drifted off to sleep:

Twas the night before schools starts when all through the house, 

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 

The school clothes were hung on the closet door with care,

In hopes that the school bus soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of new I-pads (school provided) danced in their heads.

School starts tomorrow, it is all bitter sweet... 

welcome 2013-14 school year, I hope it's quite neat.

Thank you God, for my Daughter

Rob wrote this post:

Merone had a sad look on her face - we disrupted her world pretty dramatically when we adopted her and she was powerless to voice any kind of opinion. Even the language she had was taken from her. This look on her face is a good teaching tool for adoptive parents. We do something good - give orphans permanent homes. But in doing it, we have to acknowledge the trauma they have been through, the extreme losses they have suffered. We adoptive parents bring hope to them, but it must be a hope that is willing to take time, be patient, and honor the pain they are in and the pain they've been forced to endure. I see all of that Merone's sad eyes, in June 2011.

Two years ago...

Guess who has been home for TWO YEARS???  We celebrated with Tibs and Doro Wat.

Look who turned 11 years old

Happy Birthday Igor!!

Kombolcha reflections

Here is the next installment of reflections from sponsors who have visited our care point in Kombolcha.   Their experiences have deeply moved me over the last year.    I hope you get a better sense of the journey, the transformation of sponsors and the children from these updates.

This is from Les who went on the March 2013 trip. 

This was my 1st mission trip internationally, 1st trip anywhere I think without a construction element of some sort.  I was going to spend time with the children, play some games, show them and tell them that they are loved by me, by us and by Jesus.  I had prayed over the decision to go, sought God in the time leading up to the trip, there were many conference calls to discuss the trip.  I was ready, or so I thought.  There were tests of my patience (long lines, crowds, delayed luggage, no water at the hotel), but what overwhelmed me was the joy and love of the children once we got to the care point.  They didn't care what we were bringing, they were simply happy we had come….and happy is such a weak word to describe it.  They wanted to spend time with us, sit with us, hold on to us, play with us, laugh with us.  I share with you, some of the many memories that remain with me, burned into my soul.

When we first arrived, I remember the kids surrounding me, 10 or 15 or more.  All wanted my attention.  We played some simple hand clapping games, laughed, shared hugs.  Emotionally exhausting but physically energizing.  Sitting with them later that day they wanted to hold my hand, touch me, be near me.  They were curious about the hair on my arms and laughed at the sweat pouring off my head.  Another memory is Matthew, Derek, I playing keep away with a volley ball.  We'd toss it to each other high above our heads and the kids would jump on us to get the ball.  I decided to lift the kids above my head so they could get the ball, soon they all seemed to be around me, pointing to say "me next" until my arms ached.  The games we played were simple - bean bag toss, jump rope, hop scotch, pin the tail on the donkey - and we had labored to pick the right games.  But the kids didn't care what games we were playing.  Again, they only wanted to spend time with us, to feel special, to say without words "look at me, watch me", to be loved.

The last day was tough.  The kids were more clingy.  They knew we would be leaving, we knew we'd be leaving and each of us were trying to steal extra minutes together.  The week had gone by so fast.  Hugs lasted longer, tears were wiped away only to be replaced.  For me the tears were knowing I'd miss the children's smiles, laughs, knowing they were returning to their daily existence and I mine….each sad in its own way.

By worldly standards Ethiopia and its people are poor, lacking what the rest of us define as necessities.  The children we saw running along side the bus, the children we spent time with at the camp, the children you / I sponsor, though had a beautiful, simple joy that week, something I am poor in.  Part of me is back in Ethiopia playing with the children, sharing a love that breaks all language barriers.  Part of Ethiopia is here with me, I didn't declare it through customs though.  It exists in my mind, heart and soul, changing me.