Letters from Ethiopia...

The children sent letters to their sponsors from Kechene to America and they arrived last week! What a joy it has been, this past week, to hear about the letters received by the sponsors of these precious children in Addis Ababa!

I have heard story after story about how much the children who are receiving the gift of sponsorship have BLESSED the sponsors! It is so amazing to see God's hand in on this whole thing. It has been truly wonderful to see the gift these children at Kechene so far away have given to the sponsors from all over the country; Wisconsin, Texas, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and Virginia. When reaching out to help the kids at Kechene Care Point, it has been the sponsors who have felt the overwhelming joy of giving up a little something for a child they are sponsoring so far away. I have heard so many times how it was an instant love when they saw their child's profile picture and now they are praying for them, sending them words of encouragement, and sponsoring them with their money and support. I am so moved every time we sign someone up.

The other side of this great news is that there are still around 11 children who have not been sponsored yet. They are watching the others as they get letters and opening up pictures of their families from afar. When I asked our Ethiopian friend who grew up an orphan in an orphanage if these children know that they are not sponsored yet, she said that they just don't get the letters and it is sad when others get them and they don't. I have a feeling of urgency to get these last children sponsored. If you know of anyone who wants to sponsor and have just not done it yet, please encourage them to contact me so we can get the last 11 signed up. When we have all 56 children sponsored, they will ALL know someone loves them from afar! What a happy day that will be!!

I also learned recently, that not only are we supporting these 56 children, but there are another 76 children who are too old for the school, but while attending the government school, are getting services from Kechene. It is the ONLY place they may be receiving food, medical care, and other basic needs. The TUITION fee goal we are working towards will help to assist these extra 76 children who won't ever be sponsored, but will continue to seek the support the Kechene can give. They may be relying on this care point for their basic needs that the government school can not supply.

I was humbled by this news to think that there are another 76 children that have been saved from malnourishment, from loneliness, from not knowing God's word, and from the love and support of the teachers there at Kechene. What a blessing this care point is to so many children in this very poor neighborhood. Thank you again, sponsors, for taking care of not only 56 children, but 132 children! Praise God!

Again, my contact information is gretabcg@hotmail.com Please let others know about the impact that sponsorship has on the children of this very destitute area. I have learned so much recently about this not only from going to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and meeting these children, but also from our relationship with an orphan from Ethiopia who has grown up in a sponsorship program. It really works; for the child and the sponsor!

Visitors!

Selam with Tyler

We had a great week with family in Texas last week for Spring Break! When we got home, we had Matt's sister, Elizabeth, stay with us with their new baby. It was so fun to have a baby in the house again! He is so content and happy to just be around everyone. Good thing, because we had a busy week.

Selam, our new friend from Ethiopia, came over Wed. for the day and just hung out with us; cleaning cupboards, shopping, and preparing our meal with us. We all had so much fun just being together! It was clear, Selam LOVES babies!

UNIFORMS!

So excited to report these pictures and news that the children at Kechene Care Point in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia got their uniforms! Here are the pictures!! Look at those smiles!

Update on current project progress

I am pleased to announce that sponsors and generous donors have now gotten Kechene to the goals of Shoes, Uniforms, T-shirts, Textbooks, and Health Examinations for all the children! I am so happy to see this! God is working through so many people and showing the dedication that this group of people have for the children at Kechene!

Lands' End, various sponsors, and donors are responsible for following their hearts and reaching out to the 56 children at this care point. I only wish I could see the look on their little faces each time we meet these goals. It's fun to share it with you all, though, and to let you see what happens when everyone gives up a little of our comforts for the basics of life these children need every day.

Children's Hopechest let me know today that they will inform me when all the uniforms and t-shirts are purchased. I will then have pictures to share, once again!! :)

Life 102.5 spring share-a-thon starts

A couple weeks ago, Life 102.5, a local Christian radio station, did a little interview about my story to Ethiopia.

A while ago, I had felt like responding to the station's call for those that are inspired by certain songs. I definately had been inspired by Brandon Heath's song, "Give me Your Eyes" (also the reason this blog is named what it is). So, I wrote out my story and how the song had reminded me to pray what I needed to pray. In addition to my small group, our pastor's messages, my Bible readings, and certain people encouraging me, the songs on Life 102.5 just seemed to be another thing that pushed me over the edge to find out what God wanted me to see. So, I sent the story to their station. Within a day, they called and wanted a message on the phone for the radio. I must have been a little wordy in my 2 min. call. hehe. But, a few days later, the station manager had called me and asked for an interview on camera for the Share-a-Thon, or wherever they could use it. I was happy to help and yet also knew that it was good to share the experience with others.

So, to the right of the newest entry, I posted the interview to summarize the amazing experience God has led me on in the past year. ...and if Life 102.5 has inspired you, they are doing their Spring Share-a-Thon this week and it's a great time to help them out.

A humble reflection...on missions.

I am presently reading a book about missions written by a brilliant author who is from India and who is a true "MISSIONARY." I am somewhat embarrassed as I read the book to realize that so many "missions" really aren't missions at all, including what I did in November. I am stepping back and analyzing really what it means to be a missionary.

A missionary risks their life for the sake of Jesus Christ. They speak of the Gospel and share their heart to others about what Jesus has done for them. They may do this at various times in their life for long enough periods of time to establish a relationship with the people they are with. They sacrifice so much of this material world for the sake of spreading God's word.

The most alarming and profound statements of the book are quoted below. They are not words easily written or spoken. They would offend so many, but then again, so many are not hearing these words, including me. They are observations from a 3rd world resident observing our world of materialism and lack of gratitude. They are reflections after being absolutely in a DAZE by what he saw here in our country.

Here are the some words from the book, "Revolution In World Missions," by K.P. Yohannan

*Why do you think God has allowed you to be born in North America or Europe rather than among the poor of Africa or Asia and to be blessed with such material and spiritual abundance?

*In light of the superabundance you enjoy here, what do you think is your minimal responsibility to the untold millions of lost and suffering in the Two-Thirds world?

You have been born among the privileged elite of this world. You have so much while others have so little. Think a moment about the vast difference between your country and the nations without a Christian heritage.

*One-fourth of the world's people lives on an income of less than a $1 a day-most of them in Asia. The gross national income per person in South Asia is only $460/year. Americans earn an average of 77 times more-and Christian Americans, because they tend to live in the upper half of the economy, earn even more. In most countries where Gospel for Asia is serving the indigenous missionary movement, a good wage is $1 to $3 a day. While much of the world is concerned mainly about where its next meal is coming from, affluent North Americans spend most of their wages and waking moments planning unnecessary purchases.

*People of the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe enjoy freedom of choice Political freedoms of speech, press and assembly, freedom to worship and organize religious ministries, freedom to choose where and how to live, and freedom to organize themselves to correct injustices and problems both at home and abroad are accepted as normal.

*Leisure time and disposable income, although not written into law, free citizens of the Western world from the basic wants that make living so difficult in many other parts of the world.

*A large number of service networks in communications, education, finance, mass media and transportation are available that make it easy to effect change. Not having these services available is an enormous handicap to people in most other parts of the world.

*Finally, few domestic needs exist. Although unemployment is a serious problem in some areas, it is many times higher in nearly every country of the two thirds world. How many of us can comprehend the suffering of the millions of homeless and starving people in nations like Bangladesh? Overseas the problems are on a grand scale. Some nations struggle to help themselves but still fail woefully.

This list is illustrative of the many advantages of living in the Western world where benefits have come largely because of a Christian heritage.

I read this and felt the humble words sink in. There are people who "assist" and there are "missionaries." The missionaries are really working hard to change these countries to Christian heritages for these reasons. There is a place for all assistance, but God Bless The Missionaries and those that do all this with such sacrifice, such quietness, and risk for the sake of the Two Thirds World.

Out with the old and in with the new... SHOES!

They arrived!
All 56 children received their new shoes! I am happy to say that no one will have to wear shoes with toes pointing out of the front, heals that are so worn they are ripped, or shoes just too small. They are proudly wearing their new shoes. Thank you sponsors and friends of Kechene! The shoes were a hit!

Coming soon...

Pictures of uniforms and t-shirts!