Ethiopia 2011

I just wanted to write a quick note to give you more information about the upcoming trip to Ethiopia this summer and some of the projects that we will be working with.

Women At Risk:
This is a voluntary rehabilitation program where women come to receive help escaping a life of prostitution.  Many of these women are forced into prostitution due to poverty.  They have no other way to provide for themselves and their children.  They are broken.  Women at Risk deals with women mainly between the ages of 16 - 25 and ministers to them spiritually, psychologically and physically.  Through this program we are able to give these women hope and let them know just how much God loves them.  Beyond this, the program helps teach these women life skills which can provide them with alternate means of income.  Some women run a coffee house, while others make scarves and sell them etc.  These scarves are called "fashionABLE" because the give these women the ability to escape their former lifestyle.  These scarves are even available for purchase online!  If you're interested in checking it out go to:
http://livefashionable.com/
This website also shares the stories of the women who make the various scarves.  They tell you what they are now able to accomplish because of this opportunity.  Some of these include "I am ABLE to feel dignity in my work" and "I am ABLE to look forward to my future".

We will be working with about 45 of these women in Addis Ababa who have been in the program for a while.  Then we will also be traveling to Nazret, Ethiopia where we will be working with a smaller group of about 15 women.  These women will have only been in the program for about two weeks when we arrive.  I am looking forward to working with these women so much and I know that God is not only going to use our team to impact their lives, but they will impact our lives as well.

Kechene:
Kechene is an after school program and study center for orphans.  These children who have lost their parents come to this program to learn and it helps to keep them off of the street.  This program serves approx 200 children of all ages.

Little A Hope/Big A Hope:
This is a program ministering to the needs of children who are infected with HIV/AIDS.  There are about 30 to 40 children in this program.  Those ages 7 and under are in Little A Hope while those age 8 and above are in Big A Hope.


As I get more information about these programs and the official itinerary is nailed down I will update and let you know what is happening!  I want for you all to be a part of this experience and this journey and am blessed that you are considering walking this road with me.  I know that the month we spend there will be life changing and I'm so excited to see what God has in store!
I've felt the call to missions for so long now and I know that God is calling me to go.  And when He calls, all I can hope to do is answer, "here I am Lord, send me!".


Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Psalm 96:3