Care Packages being collected

In November, last year, I had the amazing opportunity to help pass out care packages to all the children sponsored by Karen Wistrom's team. We all had our own care package to give our sponsored child. We got to sit next to them, or put them on our laps, and share what our family had put together for them, specifically. We explained what they were getting, since some of the things were foreign to them, and what they would use it for; toothbrushes, underwear, hairties, stickers, matchbox cars, an other small gifts.

The interpreters tried their best to keep up and to put into Amharic words the best they could. This was an overwhelming task on so many levels. For one, it was amazing that we were actually sitting there with our sponsor child loving them and talking with them. For another, we did this with over 200 children! Some of the more emotional care packages to hand out were from other sponsors who were not able to be there with their child. Their words of love and prayers were overwhelming to read that many times, the tears would just come and not stop.

This year, someone else will read our family's care package letter and give our gift to Bizuayehu. Maybe they will also find it difficult to read as we love her so much, yet are unable to hold her or give her unending hugs.

Karen's team will be going in Nov. again, but this time, they will be delivering over 300 care packages!! What a task that will be! We were busy every day with 200. They will graciously visit Kechene, our care point, and take pictures of our little ones with their care package and with their loving note from a family like ours from afar.

For Sponsors...

If you are a sponsor, please send me your care package before Sept. 15 and I will make sure it gets to a team member going to Kechene. Because there are so many children this year and no one from our care point going with the team to get them there, we are limited to a small care package. Please wrap a t-shirt (size ranging from 6-10) around a family picture, letter and small gifts like a toothbrush, underwear, stickers, hairties, etc. and rubber band it twice like a burrito with your child's name on it and their reference number. I know this is very disappointing not sending more, yet the team also has so many other care packages ( just as small) that have to be delivered. If someone from our care point was going, we would be dedicating one entire suitcase to the care packages and there would be more room.

If you can't send a care package to me, let me know and I will make sure your sponsored child gets a package. We certainly do not want anyone not getiing one when the entire school will be getting the packages. Please contact me if you do not have my address and I will email it to you. gretabcg@hotmail.com

It will be so amazing to see all the children receiving their packages and hearing their letters being read to them. Below are just a few pictures of the experience they will get that the other care points had last year...

This was a little book I published from Snapfish of our family for Bizuayehu. We read it together and Misikir (left) interpreted for me. What a blessing this was to explain our entire family with her through this little book to her!

Tadeleche- Born Jan. 27, 2004

Meet Tadeleche...

She is a single orphan, which means she has only one parent living, her father. She would love a sponsor, someone to write to, someone to pray for her, someone to encourage her and someone to let her know they love her. Most likely, like all of the kids at Kechene Care Point in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, her mother had AIDS, Malaria, or another disease that can't be treated in this neighborhood. She died and now her father is having to not only care for his 3 children, but try to work. He may also be sick if Tadeleche's mother had AIDS. So, she is in a very desperate and vulnerable situation.

She has been able to come to Kechene to discover what she loves to do and who she is. She loves sports, dancing, music, singing, writing stories, cooking, and farming. She really just loves everything her teachers introduce her to.

I got to meet Tadeleche and she is a delightful little girl. If you are interested in sponsoring Tadeleche, please contact me and you can begin to change her life forever! For more information on sponsoring, go to my Sponsor Tab at the top of this page. It can change your life forever as well!

Abele- Born June 2, 2006

Abele is a 6 year old little boy who lives at Kechene Care Point in Addis Ababa. He lives with his 6 brothers and sisters with his mom and dad, however, he is very vulnerable. His dad may be sick or his mom may be sick and they are relying on their father's income, which he can not produce due to his sickness. Abele has found hope at Kechene. There, he is able to sit with other kids his age and learn Math, English, Reading, and the Gospel. He is able to play with other children and learn about manners, discipline, and friendship. He has found joys in life that the school has found is his favorites; sports, dancing, singing, writing stories, farming, and reading.

Abele has the basics that he needs at Kechene thanks to so many sponsors here in America pooling their monthly sponsorship. Each month, the $34 that each sponsor is giving to Children's Hopechest (www.hopechest.org) makes it possible for the staff at Kechene to do their jobs and care for the most vulnerable of Kechene area in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. However, Abele is one of the 7 that does not have a sponsor yet, so he is missing out on the letters once a month, pictures of his "family from afar" and the knowledge that someone loves him and cares about him here in America.

If you want to be that someone for Abele, please contact me and I will match you up with him. Contact me at my email, gretabcg@hotmail.com, and I will make sure Abele knows that he has someone praying for him and caring for him, personally. Thank you for considering being Abele's ONE!

Medical supplies are on their way!

The director's wife at Kechene Care Point in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia explained how there is always a need for medical care at the care point, but they are running short of supplies. Our fundraiser this weekend brought over $500 of funds to use for this need. Soon, we will be sending a huge box of supplies to the care point. The items will be purchased at a discounted price with the funds that we raised from baked goods, hand made jewelry, crafts, and t-shirts all sold at our local farmer's market and at our church. Thank you to all who helped us out! We will be sending the following:

Soap

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Black hair care products

Rubbing Alcohol

Peroxide

Cotton swabs

Cotton balls

Gauze

Band aids

Antibacterial ointment

Bactine (antiseptic wound rinse)

Sterile normal saline and water

Iodine

Mercurochrome

Hand sanitizer

Vaseline

A&D ointment

Epsom salts

Blistex

Aloe Vera gel

Lidocaine gel

Gloves

Protective pads (provides a clean working area when cleaning wounds)

THANKS!!

Again, a huge thanks to all who bought from our table, or donated for these supplies to be purchased. Soon, we hope to have pictures of a full shelf of supplies to treat cuts, burns, and other first aid care. A HUGE thanks to the Harris Family for holding the sale and collecting all the items to sell. Jenny is a nurse in Madison and will be purchasing the items for us. They also have a sponsor daughter at Kechene, Bizuayehu.

49 sponsored, 7 to go!

(Go to "My Story" tab above for an explanation about this mission)

Tsehaynesh, Abele, Tadeleche, Alayu, Embet, Berekete, and Biruktawit

These are the children still waiting for sponsorship. They are all vulnerable and waiting for a family from afar to write to them, send them pictures of their families, and support them while living in their own country. They are struggling to make it day to day, yet thanks to the generous sponsors so far, are able to get meals, education, medical supplies, uniforms, etc. to have a chance. They are just missing the most important part... a family that has chosen them to love and care for them from afar.

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To sponsor, and change a child's life and your life forever, contact me at gretabcg@hotmail.com

Tuition costs...

Picture this... children at your local school getting their education, 2 meals a day, great teachers, new uniforms, new shoes, new t-shirts and letters coming home from their sponsor who is helping to make all that possible. You feel so blessed that God has intervened and brought assistance to your very poor neighborhood and given your child/children the hope in getting an education and changing their lives forever. Your prayers have been answered.

However, your older child who is presently too old for that wonderful care point getting the sponsorships, is attending the government school. There is no food for him, no sponsorship, no new shoes, no new uniforms, or letters that come to them. The sponsorship and correspondences have been wonderful for your little ones and they have shared the letters with the whole family, but not getting a meal has been very difficult. They have a hard time learning and they are very hungry when they get home. There is nothing you can do...

Recently, however, you learned that the organization running your child's care point is raising money for "tuition." This will assist the program to help your older child get a meal with your younger children. Another prayer answered! They not only can get a meal, but they can visit the care point and go to the Bible classes on Saturdays and learn more about God and His plan for their life!

At the top of this picture, look carefully. One of the kids from the government school is looking on while he visits. He may have received food that day at Kechene.

This is the reality of our care point. We are happy though to update our "tuition thermometer" at $950! This was money that was left over from some of the other projects or money that people have wanted to put into this particular project. The kids from the government school are going to get fed and will have a place to come to get Godly advice and Biblical perspectives on their future. What a praise this is! 75 extra children are being touched by you and they are grateful for this safe place to come. Thank you!

(This will be on ongoing project. We will be continuing to add to our goal so that we are consistently adding to the tuition for these children to continue to attend Kechene. )

New pictures of T-shirts

I was surprised and elated to see that the children at Kechene Care Point got their t-shirts this week! These t-shirts will be a great thing to wear to show others where they attend school, get food, receive God's word, and get connected to their new families from afar! They will probably wear them on Saturdays when they are not required to wear a uniform. This is also when the children from the government school come to visit the care point for food and their Bible lesson. Such great look'n kids.