by Joy Casey
Yigesu is a memorable man. I met Yigesu and his son in a remote town in Ethiopia, and I have not been able to quit thinking of him. I meet a lot of people and see and hear many heart-wrenching stories, but there was something extraordinary about this man. Maybe it was his kind face or the way he lit up when he talked about Jesus. Maybe it was his tattered clothes and hand-made crutch that belied the twinkle in his eye.
He was one of many waiting to be interviewed for YWAM’s
Adoption Ministry 1:27 program, but he stood out to me. He had nothing of material value, not even a house to live in. His clothes were dirty and full of holes and it was pretty obvious that food was not plentiful. His son was with him and was sick. I found out his wife died nine years ago after giving birth to a brain damaged girl leaving him to cope with a child who will never walk or talk. Life has not been especially kind to Yigesu, yet his love for the Savior supersedes his humble station in life.
Rarely does a casual meeting remain with me months after the encounter. What was it about Yigesu that has caused me to examine my own relationship with God? Do I claim faith because the lifestyle is comfortable for me? Do I presume upon God to give me what I want so I can be comfortable? Do I love Christianity or do I love Jesus apart from all the trappings? Could I love God fully if everything of consequence were taken away, or would I mumble and accuse and become a martyr full of self-pity and self-
righteousness? Meeting Yigesu has been a good thing. His response to circumstances brought me face to face with the words of Jesus, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
I suppose it is only natural to want to help this man and his two children. The church can preach all it wants, but if it doesn’t reach out and touch and heal and give hope to the less fortunate, it does not accurately represent our Lord.
Remember when I said Yigesu did not have a house to live in? It is true. He and his two children curl up under a porch at night. I asked the pastor we work with in Dembidollo to give me a bid of how much it would cost to have a house built for this family. For $2,500 Yigesu can have a one room house* with a cement floor, a door that closes and a sturdy tin roof that will last him a lifetime. For $300 more, we can buy three bedframes, mattresses, pillows, blankets and sheets and matts for the floor. For a further $200 he can be furnished with a charcoal stove, pots, pans and a water filter.
A family in the U.S. has “adopted” Yigesu and his family through
Adoption Ministry 1:27 so he is assured of healthy food every month and medical attention when warranted. Edosa, his son, will be able to attend school regularly, too. But if you would want to contribute to help pay for the “extras” (I think we would consider them necessities) for Yigesu’s family, we would be so grateful!
*Due to rising inflation, building material costs have increased dramatically along with food prices. Materials also cost more in Dembidollo because of its remote location.
If you’d like to make a contribution toward Yigesu’s house or the things needed to furnish it, you can do so by going to our website
here and clicking on the ‘DONATE’ button at the bottom of the page. There you can designate that your gift be used for Yigesu’s needs.
If you’d like to sponsor a family in Ethiopia who are at risk or who are willing to take in an orphaned child, please visit our
Adoption Ministry 1:27 webpage
here.
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