Selam

This weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting a new friend from Ethiopia, here in our own town. She works for "Global Cows" (see the link http://globalcow.com/) but was assigned to a farming client of ours here in southwest Wisconsin! Not only is she from Ethiopia, but she was an orphan who was raised by an orphanage/boarding school for those without parents or who could not support them. Selam's mother was mentally ill and her father had died. She eventually was on the street trying to survive with her mother. The government spotted her as "vulnerable" and took her to one of their government orphanages. There, she received sponsors from Europe and an education. More importantly, she received a "family" through her amazing teacher and his family.

Unfortunately, the government orphanage did not share her sponsor letters with her or allow her to know them. This made me so sad. This was a chance for the sponsors to share their love with her and develop a relationship with her. She really missed that.

With Children's Hopechest, they are able to direct the correspondences, letters and photos to get it to the right people so the little ones, like Selam, can get the most out of having a sponsor. There was more from her story...

The others in the orphanage, however, did not do as well, and therefore are presently not able to support themselves in Ethiopia. This concerns her greatly and, thus, is driven by their lack of resources and future so she is working hard to be able to go back to Ethiopia and help her fellow "orphans".

The people of Ethiopia are so much like this. If one is more blessed than others they reach out and help their fellow neighbor or friend. I was so touched by her story since I have seen kids like her as an orphan through the children at all the care points I visited with Children's Hopechest. They all had a story like Selam's. However, the amazing thing is this...

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO HELP THEM NOW!

We can change their lives forever with our $34/month or $20 for a uniform. How easy for us to make this decision and how much hope it gives the little one-- the little Selams.

As a family, we are looking forward to hearing more about her incredible story of survival and her fight for her future. She is going to be ok, as she says, but her friends from the orphanage are the "little ones" who may not have had the relationships or sponsors that Selam had. They are in her heart everyday and in my heart to help now. We do have the chance to change their story.