I had a crazy idea one day... it was to travel with a friend of mine from college to Ethiopia. This was crazy because I didn't have a passion for Africa, much less to travel there for orphans. How things change.
I followed Karen's facebook from before her trip last year to after her trip. Matt and I began to follow her blogs at that point and how much heart she had for the orphaned, part in due to her and her husband's recent adoption of 2 little boys from Ethiopia who had been orphaned. The fact that there were so many children in such desperate need touched my heart like nothing else ever had. I was being touched by the hands of God through my friend and her experiences she had in Ethiopia.
A month after her return to the states, she started working hard to get these kids sponsored. The children would be saved from death and poverty by a simple act of monthly kindness. Through Children's Hopechest, and the endorsement from Karen, we started sponsoring a child at one of the orphanages Karen had visited. She had met this little girl and assigned her to us. We would start making monthly donations of $34. It was a stretch since we already sponsor a little boy in Brazil and make lots of other donations locally, yet for some reason, Matt and I didn't hesitate in sponsoring this little girl. It was a must for us.
Since then, pictures would come from Karen as the orphanage team leader. We would get pictures of other volunteers traveling to Ethiopia via Hopechest. They first delivered school supplies, blankets, uniforms, then T-shirts. It was so touching to actually see our money at work! Due to the interest in the orphanage, projects like the uniforms started to evolve and these kids were receiving the love of God through people Karen had motivated and inspired.
Other projects are in the works or have been finished like a water well, a chicken coop, a swing set, a kitchen and a bathroom with running water. These projects cost so much less than it would cost here in the states and mean so much to the children receiving them. Now the best part... due to these projects being raised and volunteers going over to install them and deliver them, the kids of 2 orphanages are becoming self-sustaining. They will eventually get an education, learn the essential of farming and working the land, learn the basics to work and earn a living and most of all having the love and support from someone to get through it all.
I love this organization, Children's Hopechest, and what they are doing. I love that kids are getting the help they need and the love they long for. So, a crazy idea? maybe not so much. Nov. 13 I will leave with 15 others from around the country and meet in Washington, D.C. to embark on just a small part of this amazing effort to help those that God loves and yet watches as it break His heart. Maybe it's not so crazy at all!
