How many now?

20 Children Sponsored and counting!!!

We are so close to having the 55% it takes to start sponsoring at Kechene.

My boys actually got to help me this morning to choose children for sponsors. Caleb started to see what an honor it is to pair families up with these children. "For us, it's like, Hey let's choose him, he's a cutie, but to them, it's their life and their hope." Well said, Caleb.

Thank you to all of you who have sponsored already and if yo

u would like to, let me know. We will get you connected right away. These kids will be so excited to know they are loved from afar and help is on the way!

Children yet to be sponsored...

There are 40 children yet to be sponsored...

They look so happy, yet it's joy! They are joyful for their school, their friends, their wonderful teachers and their new sponsors that are starting to sign up with them. They are truly excited for the assistance and love they receive when they are sponsored. These kids have not been sponsored for over 2 years. The food has run out, the walls are falling apart, the teachers are not getting paid, and there was not hope in sight... until this Nov!

I visited Kechene Care Point and told them that we will find them sponsors to assist with education, food and nutrition, love and support, and sharing of God's word with our letters and pictures. Their mood changed. They suddenly showed hope and excitement.

Here are just a few of the children yet to be sponsored. Some are living with both parents who are unable to care of them due to sickness and disabilities while others are single orphaned, living with only one parent due to death and illness. There are a few who are true orphans, or double orphaned without any parents. They are living with a family member or neighbor.

Please consider sponsoring. Let me know if you are interested and I will let you know who will be loved by you or your family. Check out the "Sponsor" button on my blog for more info and go to www.hopechest.org for more information about the organization.

Sponsorship off and running...

I am so excited to report that we have 15 children who have been sponsored as of today!

These children will soon be receiving monthly donations from their sponsors to assure that they are fed twice daily, that they are educated by 5 amazing teachers, that they are written to, that they have medical attention when needed, and that they learn about Christ's love for them through their "new" family. A huge thank you to the sponsors. What a Christmas present this is for the children at Kechene Care Point and their sponsor families!

Here a few more who have been sponsored this week!

$34/month, HOW?

Where can I find $34/month to sponsor in MY budget?

I asked the question of those that are planning on sponsoring how they were going to find $34/month to sponsor a child long term. These were their responses...

"I am going to drink water at work instead of my 2 cokes and save $1.00 a day. It will be better for me as well."

"I decided to take my lunches 1 more time a week instead of eating out."

"We disconnected cable and are saving more than $50/month leaving extra money for a dvd here and there. We rent movies more from the library."

"I am going to take on a part time job on-line to pay for my sponsor child. This is the chance I get to be a MOM for the first time!"

"As I thought about sponsoring a child, it quickly occurred to me that if I bring my lunch from home vs buying it at work for even 1 week of the month then I will have saved the $34."

"We shopped around for cheaper home phone service. We found a plan that is saving us $46 a month!"

"...we have budgeted for this. We have also included our (adult) son in our sponsorship. He has agreed to co-sponsor our "sponsor daughter" and he is really excited to do so."

"We were paying for something every month that we aren't needing anymore so we are replacing it with sponsoring a child."

"My husband suggested we fast for a day a month to think and pray for our sponsor child."

"We are going to dedicate one meal a week to our little guy at Kechene and have a meatless rice dish. We will remember him each week and save the money for sponsoring him."

"I am about to start a very part time job as a homecare pediatric nurse for an angel of a little boy with severe special needs that was adopted from Ethiopia. What an honor to get to love on him. I announced to my husband last night that since I will now be a “working woman” again (which is laughable since we have 9 kiddos in our home and I homeschool one of our 10 year olds as we navigate her special needs) that my first action will be to sign up to sponsor a child. "

"We are going to start a exercise program at the "Y" and every time we use it, we get money off of our insurance. We get $36 off each month if we use the "Y" 12 times in the month. That's about the savings for sponsorship!"

When I was visiting Kind Heart and Trees of Glory Care Points in Ethiopia, I remember a point at which I stopped the business of the day and activities and just watched as children ate their rice. I couldn't help feeling so ashamed about my selfless life of luxuries. I know we are Americans and this is our culture, yet when we are confronted face to face with a child that otherwise would not be eating and growing strong and seeing them enjoy a meal as these kids did, I realized we can give up a little comfort so these kids can eat.

For us, one of the luxuries we gave up was cable to sponsor a another child, Biz. Since then, I have often had these questions go through my mind...

How often did we actually watch cable? How often did we really gain any real satisfaction from the programs we'd watch on cable? How many lives were saved from watching the games on tv? How does my having cable, or any other luxury really make God's job any easier?

The answers were pretty clear when watching the kids eat and nourish their bodies just so they could learn for the rest of the day. It was their only meal that day and it was because their sponsors gave up a little bit of their own comfort for a little bit of time.

Kids at Kind Hearts enjoy their meal provided by their sponsors.

Kids at Kechene waiting for sponsorship; food, education, love and family.

40 Shoes and Counting!

40 shoes for Kechene and counting! Just go to http://littlegoody2-shoes.blogspot.com/

You can order necklaces via Sami on her blog, or you can donate to the Kechene Shoe Fund by going to www.hopechest.org and go to GIVE button and choose "designated gifts", put the amount in the area for donation amount. Then, very importantly, you will put in the reference number, "ET2101000". Then in the notes area you will put, "Kechene Shoe Fund". The money will go directly to our shoe drive!!

A huge thank you to Samantha for her hard work with making these cool necklaces for folks who want to support the kids at Kechene and their incredible need for shoes! I just bought a few, including one for Matt to hang in his vet truck window! (His idea, of course).:)

Great News for Kechene Orphans!

Great news! I learned today of a new friend who has been making necklaces for the orphans of Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory. She has raised enough money to cover the costs of shoes for both locations! The shoes are $18 each. They are made of leather and will last quite a while.

As you've seen in some of my pictures, the kids really need shoes and this is also true for Kechene!

These kids need shoes! The great news for them today is that our new friend, Sami, has raised so much from her necklace sales that she will be donating the extra funds to Kechene for their shoes! What I didn't mention is Sami is an 11 year old from St. Louis, MO. What an amazing young lady! So, thank you, Sami! This will be a welcomed sight for the little ones at Kechene!

If you would like to add to the sales and get some great Christmas presents, or even win one, go to her blog for purchase information. www.littlegoody2-shoes.blogspot.com

Sponsor advocates for Children around the world

Great Article from Appleton, WI Post Crescent: (I can so relate with what this woman is saying)

Cheri Duchrow of Neenah enjoys volunteering locally but also has found a way to reach out internationally.

Since 2003, Duchrow, 53, has sponsored five children through Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry.

"I started out by thinking that this would be a good thing to sponsor a child, that that would be right," Duchrow said.

"These kids are saving me and have changed me to view what is really important in life," she said. "As much as we think we are sponsoring them and helping them, they are helping me see the world."

Duchrow said the experience has changed her life.

"The truth of it is this is my calling and this is God's purpose for me, and I can see that," she added.

She has had a couple of opportunities to visit two of her kids.

"Getting to meet them, getting to know this organization and the message they have, this has made the world a smaller place," said Duchrow, an IT project leader at Miron Construction.

"Living in the United States we do get desensitized," she said. "The stuff I have seen there has just broken my heart. When we don't see it, I think we forget. These (children) are my extended family members."

In addition to a monthly donation, sponsors can write a letter to the child, which means more to them than anything else, Duchrow said.

"You offer encouragement to them, let them know someone loves them," she said.

Duchrow enjoys how Compassion brings hope to the children and the community.

"You see all this poverty and devastation all around you and in the middle of it is a building that is a Compassion project and you open those doors and you see all the hope," she said. "In the middle of this poverty is this hope, this faith and joy that is indescribable."

Duchrow has become an advocate for Compassion, spreading the message about the ministry as well as the importance of volunteering.

Fellow employee Jill Kordus has learned a lot from Duchrow. She had heard of child sponsorship programs but never knew anyone who did it and even doubted the legitimacy of the organizations.

"I was surprised to learn how organized Compassion International is," she said, noting that a donation ensures "children who want a better life are given the chance."

Duchrow has inspired many in the office with her stories and pictures of her kids, Kordus said.

"She has changed the lives of not just the five children she is sponsoring but many more as she shares her experience and knowledge with those around her and inspires many more to become a sponsor," she said. "I admire that Cheri can see the need to help our neighbors so far away that others may forget."

Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101208/APC0902/12080428/Sponsor-advocates-for-children-around-world#ixzz1881QTkHe

What is Sponsorship?

Being a sponsor is a long term relationship with a child who is in need of the basic necessities. In this case with Hopechest and this Care Point, it is having a supportive relationship that will care for a child in their environment, Kechene School.

It is a long term commitment of $34/month via www.hopechest.org website. By sponsoring, you are promising to donate the $34/mo. for as long as you can (at least a year), to pray for the child and correspond via the website so that your relationship builds and eventually the school/children will become self sustaining. The other real benefit to this long term relationship is the change in the child when they know they are loved, prayed for and written to regularly by you, the family. I've seen the benefits of this first hand with our sponsor daughter, Bizuayehu. She was a sad little girl who had lost both her parents and is now, since sponsorship, a sweet and joyful little girl. She has hope and a future.

Biz before sponsorship 11/09

Biz after sponsorship November 2010

The initial task is to take care of basic necessities like food, water, the teachers and supplies for learning. Eventually, the coordinators, Matt and I, will begin fund drives that will work towards a goal for the school; new uniforms, school supplies, books and Bibles, business endeavors, etc.

These goals will come with time, but are their future and their hopes.

How it works:

1. Let me know you are interested by contacting me via my email gretabcg@hotmail.com and informing me of your interest (boy or girl)

2. I will assign you a child and give you their profile; picture, name, age, situation and health, and directions for how to give monthly/sponsor.

3. You will then sign up on www.hopechest.org on their GIVE page and follow the easy directions. It is strongly advised to set up an automatic withdrawal from your account so as to not forget the payments.

4. Matt and I will keep you updated when new pictures or information become available.

5. Write to your sponsor child through mail or email. I have been able to send pictures electronically as well as letters.

6. Every Nov., a team from the U.S. travels with Hopechest to the care points represented, including Kechene. If interested in this trip, contact me and I can get you more information. Next Nov. is a great time to send a care package to your sponsor!

Adoption isn't for everyone and it isn't the answer for EVERY orphan in Ethiopia. Sponsorship is a wonderful alternative and something we can all do from home. There are 5-6 million orphans in Ethiopia alone. Because Ethiopia is a 3rd world nation, this is not something that will go away anytime soon. The children are dying daily of starvation, disease, and loneliness. We have the resources and means to providing some hope to them. Please join us and help sponsor a little one. Be a mom or dad to "the least of these." We are their hope!!

Amazing changes in kids!

I wanted to share my team leader's blog with you. This is Karen Wistrom's entry from tonight and so when I read it, I was reminded so quickly what she saw compared to those of us who were not with her the first time she met most of these kids. She was able to see such change from such devastation and lack of hope. I am only posting the last part of her blog tonight, but you can read the rest if you'd like from her blog site to the right of this message in my favorites (Karen's blog). Quite the visual for what sponsorship does!!!

There was something very different about the kids this year, compared to my visit last year. It was very obvious that the kids were healthier and more energetic. Nutritious food had filled in the hollow spots in their bodies and provided energy to play and run, and learn in school. Food and clean water had allowed their immune systems to better fight against illnesses and sickness. But there was more ... and it took me a day or two before I fully realized what it was.

It was HOPE. Laughter filled the schoolyard. The little boys had swagger and the little girls had confidence. The children were gushing with affection. Hugs and kisses were distributed freely. Confidence and self-esteem enabled them to look directly into our eyes, with big smiles and big hearts, ready to receive our love and affection. So this is what HOPE looks like!! Feeding a hungry child fills the stomach, but love and prayer fills the heart. And these kids have hope overflowing in their hearts.

If you are interested in sponsorsing one of the new children at Kind Hearts or Trees of Glory, please contact me at kjwistrom@yahoo.com. We have 60 new children and only about 10 of the kids are still in need of a sponsor family!

I'd like to show you what HOPE looks like ... These are some of the HOPE-FILLED kids that attend Trees of Glory care-point ...

This is Dereje's original sponsor photo (above).
Below - this is Dereje in November as he received his package from his sponsor family!

This is Konjit's original sponsor photo (above).
Below - This is Konjit showing us a photo of her sponsor family!

This is Cheru's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - We watched this stoic and serious young man,
become giddy with joy as he laid eyes on his sponsor family.

This is Ashene's original sponsor photo (above).

Below- We all watched with tears when Ashene met his sponsor father face-to-face!

This is Adanu's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - This is Adanu as she received gifts from the sponsor family
that she know loves her and prays for her!

This is Chala's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - Chala is able to attend the care-point because of his sponsor family!

This is Kube's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - Kube hugs the gifts she received from her sponsor family!

This is Dege's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - Dege is all smiles as he sees photos of his sponsor family!

This is Birtukan's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - Birtukan tells me about her sponsor family and show me their photos!

This is Meseret's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - Meseret with quiet confidence as she looks at photos from her sponsor family.

This is Birtukan's original sponsor photo (above).

Below - This giggly, exuberant little girl was overjoyed at the
gifts and photos from her sponsor family!

Here is a photo of our amazing travel team who made an incredible investment to travel to Ethiopia to demonstrate love and family to our precious kids at Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory!!! This is the team that made sure that each and every child felt loved and special!!

Sponsorship kickoff

Hey everyone,

Profiles of the chi

ldren at Kechene

School/Care Point should be here before the end of the week! I am so excited to get this kicked off! If you are interested in sponsoring, I will have a booth on Friday night at the Dickens play at Hidden Valley at intermission. I would also be available through an email if you are wanting me to hold a boy or girl for you.

Sponsorship is $34/month for the nutrition, spiritual growth and education and support of a child in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I can tell you from first hand observation that the children have wonderful teachers and caring adults at the school who look after them...but the money is running out. Thanks to so many of your donations and our future sponsorships, they'll be ok! We sent money to cover 2 months of food and one month of teachers' salaries today! With sponsorship starting, the children will continue to get food, water, continued education and support from their teachers and project workers.

I would like to direct you to this amazing video that sums up what I experienced and felt as I shared a few days with these kids. You can look it up in my favorites to the right of this blog.

Again, if you feel called to do this, let me know. If not, maybe this isn't the right timing or not your calling. That is ok. I was at a time when I didn't feel moved towards this, but rather towards other things that were also important. Just wanted to share and give you an opportunity to let me know if you'd like me to save a little one for you.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHJ6-YhSYQ

Just thought I'd add a sponsor's thought on their latest news from their little sponsor girl. Take a look at this...

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Best Before and After EVER!

We began sponsoring Adanu at the Trees of Glory care-point in July. The picture below was taken in June.

This next picture was taken in November. Just five month later!

I can not get over the difference. I had e-mailed Karen, our contact with Trees of Glory, telling her I couldn't wait to get a new picture of Adanu when she (Karen) went to visit in November. I wanted to see Adunu's smile! And I couldn't wait to take that sad picture down.

But I had to leave it up on the fridge. It's lower now, and to the side of the new picture. But I can't get enough of seeing those two pictures next to each other.

What a difference sponsorship makes!

In the new picture Adanu is holding the care package we sent with Karen. All the love we could stuff into a gallon size ziploc bag. A new shirt, other small gifts, and letter and a picture of our family.

Here are the kids at Kechene who we are ready to start bringing hope through nutrition, prayers, education, and just plain love...

Below: I am ashamed to say that I did not see this little boy's shoes or notice them when I was visiting. I did notice, however, after this picture was sent to me by Karen. She captured the essence of the situation in one single picture of a pair of shoes

Below: The pants on the boys were all missing zippers and were of uneven size using rope at times to hold them up.

Below: This 8 year old lost his Dad. He is single orphaned and crippled. He is now sponsored!!

Below: This little guy was not so sure about this picture thing, but humored us.

Below: We live right here, in a tiny little town where people will pray for you, support you, and love you!!!