Finishing Up

from Joy Casey in Ethiopia

This is the day the Lord has made

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Today is my last Sunday in Ethiopia. I have been here for one month and I have two more days to finish up loose ends of this and that. Yesterday we took Jason and Jackie Sanchez back to Adama to spend the day with their sweet baby daughter in our Widows and Orphans Home. I met with a couple of birthmothers, Mark and Jeff took yet more pictures of the cutest babies in the world, and I also met with the architect of the new structure we are building for our sweet elderly ladies and children.

photo credit: Jon and Haley Ballast

Oh! We also got a new widow, and I had the privilege of spending some time with her and hearing her story. Tezera, our orphanage director, prepared an amazing lunch for all of us, and I have never seen such food nor tasted anything better! We all ate too much because our hosts kept piling our plates with food that we had to refuse because it was so good.

The Sanchez’s, Mark, Jeff, Abebe, Tezera and I passed up coffee ceremony due to time constraints because I wanted Jason and Jackie to see the maternity home and the construction site. Jason and Jackie kissed little Miss “A” good-bye (after taking hundreds of pictures and video!) and we all enjoyed our time with the pregnant women at Living Hope Maternity Home. I ended up buying some of their beautiful handmade bracelets and headbands. The new Widows and Orphans Home is coming right along, and the architect thinks we should occupy the building by the end of January.

But back to Sunday. Pastor Jason was invited by Pastor Abdissa of CHI to preach at his church this morning and Mark and I tagged along. What a fun morning! Jason did an incredible job sharing God’s word, with Pastor Abdissa interpreting. The worship was sensational and it was a sweet time with our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. Afterwards we went to lunch with Pastor Abdissa.

I am leaving Ethiopia in a few days refreshed in my spirit. Even though the days have been long and we have faced many trials, God has been right by my side and today has been an especially sweet time with Him. I miss my husband and family and it will be good to see them soon. I know Debi Musick, Liane Wolbert and our great office staff have held down the domestic adoption side of things and Superwoman Becky Burns has dealt with the Ethiopia adoption program with grace, intelligence, and integrity. God has blessed me beyond words with an amazing staff for which I am grateful, grateful, GRATEFUL!

The highlight of my time here in Ethiopia has been the opportunity to rub shoulders with the families God has led to adopt the children from our orphanages. Even though the government here does not always work efficiently which slows down the adoption process, and even though it is hard for the families to wrap their minds around the “why” of it all, every family has responded with faith that God has all things under control. It is the greatest privilege of all to work alongside such exceptional, godly families.

A Living Hope

from Joy Casey in Ethiopia

I spent most of last week in Adama (sometimes called Nazaret) at our Widows and Orphans Home and at the newly opened Living Hope Women’s Organization. Never heard of it? Let me tell you a little about the marvelous things God is doing and give you a hint of possible expansion to come.

Living Hope was birthed when Mike and Dinah Monahan from Arizona traveled with me to Ethiopia this past March. Dinah and Mike own Heritage House Publishing, a pro-life organization that sells goods promoting life affirming choices. Dinah also established a maternity home and three pregnancy counseling centers in Arizona. I shared with Dinah tragic stories of women who were aborting their children either through self-abortion or in the hospital, and the idea evolved that a maternity home and pregnancy counseling center here in Ethiopia was critical. I knew three awesome Ethiopian women with whom I had been praying for over a year who had this same heart for women and children and introduced them to Dinah and Mike. From that meeting, the seed of Living Hope germinated. Many details needed to come together, but through the hard work of Meseret, the director of Ethiopia’s Living Hope, the doors were opened in August 2010 and in no time at all, six abortion-vulnerable women were living there and the first baby was born in September.

This home is not just a shelter for pregnant women to safely give birth to their babies. The women are taught sewing, jewelry-making and knitting for which they get paid per piece. The goods will be sold through Heritage House and to YWAM’s adopting families when they travel to Adama. The goal is to disciple these women for at least a year, teach them a skill that can sustain their lives, and provide mentoring on how to start and maintain a business. We want to see these women prospering and living on their own, able to care for their child.

It is exciting work! Dinah and I had the honor of dedicating the home and Dinah and her team have spent this past week training the staff and teaching the young women. What fun they have had! One evening was spa night, and the gals got facials, manicures and pedicures complete with foot and arm massages. The cook prepared a fantastic meal and everyone had much fun together, celebrating in girl-fashion all God has done and is going to do in the lives of these women and their children. Eventually, another compound will be rented for these women to move to after they give birth that will continue them on the path of self-sufficiency and spiritual maturity. That will free up space in the maternity home for others that need this safety net.

YWAM Mercy Development in Addis Ababa has been helping five very young, vulnerable women who have given birth who are completely destitute. They have asked to place their children for adoption, but the rules of Addis Ababa prevent them from doing so. Dinah and I talked about the need in the teeming city of Addis for a similar home, and the YWAM director will partner with Adoption Ministry and the Monahans to provide shelter, training and discipleship to those five and others God sends to our door.

One of the sweetest moments of my life...

.
written by Dinah Monahan, from Ethiopia
Mike and Dinah have started the Living Hope Maternity Home in Adama

Greetings from Adama!

We arrived with our 420 lbs of luggage Sunday night after an easy flight.  Ambi*n is wonderful. I slept most of the way and, amazingly, was able to sleep again that evening we arrived in Addis. The next day, rested and ready to go, we joined Kara and her mom Donna from Into the Streets of Ethiopia (who we had networked with and who had so graciously brought things for our project) and we went to see Abdissa at the YWAM Children's Home.  Seeing Sammy, Ruth and Abdissa was like a homecoming.

While there, Abdissa arranged for us to meet Helen. Helen was the young woman who was pregnant and had a child and had been unable to even do the most menial labor because of a broken arm that had healed badly. The second pregnancy ended her only source of income, which was prostitution. Utterly desperate and unwilling to watch her child starve, she tried to kill herself three times... poison and hanging. God brought her path across Abdissa's and he shared what must have sounded like a hollow promise (or maybe a come-on from a stranger)...that there was a God who cared.  But he was also kind and gave her food out of the little he had and she came back. Each time, he spoke of God's love.

When we came last time, he shared her plight and it was what God used to open Mike's and my heart to opening the maternity home. This trip, I was able, through an interpreter, to tell her that story. I told her that her life has purpose and that God had used it in a mighty way. I told her how it had so moved us that we knew that He wanted us to make sure other mothers in her situation did not have to face such desperation and so we opened the first ever maternity home in Ethiopia. It was too late to help her but we also, through friends at home (Heritage House and clinic staff), made sure that she was taken care of. She was so overwhelmed, she buried her face in her precious baby's shoulder and wept. Helen now must face another challenge... she may have cancer. Please keep her in prayer.

She brought with her a beautiful girl with huge eyes who looked like she was twelve. In reality, she was 15. She was dressed in rags - a  t-shirt that was ripped in many places and hung on her and a skirt that had holes and was dirty. On her lap was a baby who I thought was maybe 6 months but was actually a year. He was a flirt... peeping out from under his blanket at Kimberly and I and beaming, then diving back under for the safety of mommy. Samrait lived on the streets with her baby. She is illerate. She was hungry and her baby was sick. Helen led her to Abdissa. And he, who has the kindest heart in this land that could overwhelm the hardest one, put her in the guest house they keep for out-of-town people and has a female staffer ministering to her.

As Kimberly and I sat there watching her chew her thumb and look at her lap in the face of we two white women, we had the same idea. "Let's take them shopping!" I said. I asked Abdissa to ask them if they would like to go shopping for new clothes, not wanting to cross some boundary or make a cultural gaff.  He looked at me like I was stupid and said, "Is that a joke? Is that a joke? They have never been shopping. Of course they want to go shopping!"  They thought it was for their babies but we quickly established it was for them. I think Kimblerly will agree, that was the best shopping trip we have ever been on in our lives.

Samrait especially was overwhelmed. I do believe she had never had this experience. She bought a pretty flowy skirt. Abdissa suggested a practical top but she eyed one with bling, white sleeves and a hood - very cool. She ran her hand over it while it was on the mannequin and I told her to try it on with the skirt. The truth is, it didn't match one bit, but in it she was a princess! Helen was very practical, choosing a jogging suit. Next came shoes. Samrait chose what I feared would be a terrible choice - shiny black shoes with a darling bow on them. But when I looked at them I was so pleased to see that they were Pum*s and had as good a sole as a tennis shoe - these would give her long wear and comfort. Helen again was reasonable, choosing tennis shoes. I think Samrait's hug and her "thank you," which was so full of awe and gratitude for something that she never in her entire life dreamed possible, was one of the sweetest moments of my life. You will be hearing more of these young ladies and the three young mothers God has brought into Abdissa's care as we figure out a way to help him feed them and their babies. So little goes so far here.

Meseret

Yesterday we went to Adama and our Living Hope Maternity Home. The girls and staff were out waiting for us and what a reception! It was so amazing to come back six months after we had talked to these precious women and find a well-run home and six girls. The director, Meseret, is a truly amazing servant of God. She is also an ardent defender of Ethiopian unborn babies. Two of the girls in her home are there because she stood outside the hospital, which does abortions (even though it is not technically legal), and talked to the young women. When they changed their minds, they knew that the price for doing so was to be kicked out of their families with nowhere to go. She brought them to the home. You cannot imagine how excited she was to see all of the educational materials we brought with us, including fetal models, graphic brochures with fetal development and of course "Precious Feet."

Today we see our precious grandbaby in the orphanage. Can't wait to hold him...if he lets me, that is. 
(Mike and Dinah's daughter and son-in-law are adopting a baby boy from our orphanage - they even got to bring him from Gimbie to Adama before they knew he would be their grandson!)

So much to do on all our parts but this has already be a wonderful journey and God has blessed it in amazing ways. Keep praying for health and stamina. Luv ya all!

Ministering to "the least of these"

I know that many of you faithful blog readers look forward to reading an update here from the team in Ethiopia.  As the one who gets to post these bits of news on the blog, I love them as much as you do!  (Maybe more, since my husband is clear across the planet with Mark and Joy for over three weeks.)  You could say that I'm checking my inbox "fairly frequently."  Liane and I talk on the phone often and share every bit of news we get!

What we have to remember:

1. This team is busy - they are going almost non-stop and I know from experience that after a few days with that schedule in Ethiopia, you have very little time or energy for writing.
2. The internet seems to fight you every step of the way.  If you're fortunate enough to get a connection, it can drop out randomly and sending pictures is a miracle!
3. This team is busy!

But this morning, I got a short email from Jeff.  I had asked him if he could find just a couple of minutes to jot a few personal reflections.  Here is what he sent, along with some photos I had to go along with his impressions.

It's hard to get used to the extreme poverty that exists everywhere - with few exceptions. The needs are monumental.  That's what makes the work of Abdissa, Sammy and Ruth (YWAM Mercy Development) so amazing. They are providing a future, food to eat and Jesus Christ for some of the "least of these." These are giving people.

Abdissa - YWAM Mercy Development

Ruth, Rebecca and Sammy
YWAM Mercy Development

And then I get to meet people here who are making a difference for pregnant women - in a beautiful facility - and teaching them skills to make an income.

Dinah and Mike Monahan
Living Hope Maternity Home

There are so many people who are making a difference in orphan's health and hope by adopting them or by providing formula for them.

Tezera Kebede - Orphanage Director

It is hard to play with the kids in the orphanage and not to want the best for them.

Not everyone is trying to change the whole world but watching people doing what they're called to do, being stretched greatly but staying the course anyway - it is rewarding to see. 

Jeff Burns

Sing to the East and the West

written from Ethiopia by Joy Casey, Adoption Ministry Director

Shout to the North and the South
Sing to the East and the West
Jesus is Savior to all 
Lord of heaven and earth!

Jeff, Mark and I sang this, along with other songs that declare God's praise, many times during the six days we spent in the three remote towns in Western Ethiopia where we have established Widows and Orphans Homes. Along with the rewards of seeing the children and the uniqueness of each place, came intense spiritual warfare that kept us on our knees. The closer we got to the Sudan border, the more intense the battle.

Tezera, our orphanage director, and Abebe, our country representative, spent long days meeting with various governmental heads and working through the massive bureaucracy that is the hallmark of working effectively in Ethiopia. Without prayer (and lots of it), I am convinced that very little headway would be made. Because of God’s grace, we found favor with the officials of Nekemte, Gimbie and Dembidollo and our orphanages are flourishing. It is hard for us Americans to understand how relational everything is in Ethiopia, and without solid relationships on many levels, nothing gets accomplished.

The trip is a rough one, road-wise, but also spectacularly beautiful. I love getting into the “real Africa” away from cities and observing day-to-day village life, harvest time with old-fashioned haystacks dotting the landscape, and the thrill of seeing families of baboons and black and white monkeys swinging in trees. The avocados are as big as grapefruit, and we bought bananas from a youth selling them for a penny a piece right from a freshly picked bunch. Unbelievable flavor!

The joy of my work is being with the children, and I like nothing better in this world than to enter one of our centers and see the progress of the children I left behind 3-4 months ago and then peering into cribs with tiny new people that I can hardly wait to get to know. We have several toddler boys now, and they are scared of us White newcomers at first. After sitting on the ground with them for awhile and letting them get used to me …. placing a small piece of candy first on their knee, then in their hand, and eventually into their mouth …. they warm up and allow themselves to be tickled and played with. What an honor to give hugs, kisses and tickles to these precious children god has assigned to us! Jeff got out his harmonica and played songs and the little boys had a grand time interacting with him.

Kara Portilla (from Into The Streets of Ethiopia) and her mother have joined us for a few days and tomorrow we will spend the day with the street ministry that YWAM has in Addis Ababa. We have three families who have come for their court dates this week and I love seeing them and introducing them to their children. Two of the families will be making the journey to Nekemte and Gimbie to see the orphanages where their children are from. It is a busy upcoming week!

Busy

I received an email from Joy and from Jeff- hooray!  (Can you tell I've been anxiously waiting to hear something??)  They were in Nekemte and planning to make the long trip to Adama from there on Friday.  They were bringing back a little six-week old baby and a toddler to our Adama Widows & Orphans Home.  I know that once they have a minute to spare, they will send me some good stories about their time in the west.  I do know that they faced some significant spiritual resistance there so your prayers for them are so appreciated and needed!

Part of their cargo for this trip was to deliver this:

A huge blessing to our orphanages has been all of the formula that our families traveling for their first court dates have filled their suitcases with!  We are so grateful to all who have donated, to the Monahans and the Portillas who have been raising funds for formula and to these families, willing to take less of their own personal items in order to bring cans of powdered gold to Ethiopia.  You probably know that many of the babies that we take into our orphanages are extremely malnourished.  We've seen miraculous weight gain after a steady diet of this nutrient-rich formula they so desperately need.

On Saturday, Kara Portilla from Into the Streets of Ethiopia, is arriving in Addis Ababa.  She and her mom will go with the team to visit several different outreaches YWAM supports - from YWAM's Mercy Development and the ministry to street children...

to the Koshe Project where there is ministry to young adults living at the huge landfill (dump) in this city...

photo credit:  Ordinary Hero

to the Maternity Home that Mike and Dinah Monahan have opened in Adama...

This team has been going non-stop ever since their feet hit African soil.  Joy has shared with me what a blessing Mark and Jeff have been to travel with - they pray together daily and have needed that in so many ways.  And I've heard that there's a lot of laughter going on too.  Neither of those two pieces of news surprise me one bit.  I'm so proud of these servants of Christ!  Together with Tezera and Abebe, they are accomplishing so much for this ministry, for our families here and for God's kingdom.

Please pray that they stay healthy, get enough sleep and have the stamina they'll need to finish strong.  Pray also for great favor wherever they go.  It will be a busy week.  We have three families in Ethiopia this week for their court dates!

 

A Three City Tour

I wish I could post an update from the team in Ethiopia but I've had no email or phone contact for several days now.  So... I thought I would share a map that I've 'doctored up' a bit to give you an idea where they are right now.

(double click on map to enlarge)

Last Saturday, Joy, Mark, Jeff, Tezera and Abebe loaded a ton of supplies into a 15 passenger van and left the capital city of Addis Ababa for their first stop of their "three city tour" of Western Ethiopia.  They took orphanage donations, formula and even flooring for some orphanage remodeling.  Mark said they looked a bit like the Clampetts heading down the road. 

YWAM has an orphanage in Nekemte and this is the city they stayed in on Saturday and Sunday.  Nekemte is a fairly big city.

They spent two nights in Nekemte, working at the orphanage, taking photos and video of the newest children, assessing children and meeting with local staff there.  They were planning on going to church on Sunday.

Monday morning, bright and early, they left for Gimbie.  I know you're probably not picturing a U.S. interstate but the road between Nekemte and Gimbie is, to put it mildly, a bit bumpy.  Bone-jarringly so!  It's a beautiful drive across some of Ethiopia's most scenic countryside.  Here are some scenes on the road to Gimbie.

The team spent two nights in Gimbie, staying at the Adventist Guest House there.  They spent time at the orphanage where there are plans to install new flooring and make other upgrades.   

Gimbie Widows & Orphans Home

Kids alongside the road

There is a ministry to the street children in Gimbie, called Abdi Borii, which provides the street children with tuition for school, school supplies, hot lunches, clothes, shoes, a place to sleep and medical care through the Adventist Hospital.  These are young children found living without any adult supervision on the dangerous streets of this town.  The kids must promise not to beg or gamble to stay in the program.   

Wednesday morning, the team left for Dembidollo, only a few short hours from the Sudanese border.  If the road to Gimbie is rough, the "road" to Dembidollo wouldn't even be considered a road - it isn't really even paved.  (The dotted line on the map is dotted for a reason!)  It's about a six hour drive.  Mark takes pillows to pad his body as they are jostled around in the van.   We don't have any pictures from Dembidollo - I can imagine that no one has ever felt much like holding a camera out the window on that trip!  I know Jeff will bring back photos from this part of the country.

After one night staying in a rather 'primitive' hotel (where the team took their own sheets), they'll be heading back to Nekemte for Thursday night and then back to Addis Ababa on Friday.  They will most likely be bringing back several babies to our orphanage in Adama.  Can you imagine it?  No car seats or baby carriers (except the human ones!).  I'm anxious to hear about who they're bringing back with them and what their stories are.  God has allowed us to take many abandoned babies into our care and match them with loving families here in the U.S. - we're so grateful to be part of their adoption stories. 

I hope to have some contact with the team - at least by Saturday! 

Please do join us in praying for their safety, health, stamina and wisdom "so that these servants of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" that God has for them to accomplish!  2 Timothy 3:17