Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Wednesday night, August 13, 2008

Having Supper with Future Compassion Leaders in Ethiopia

Verne Hill (WBFJ News) - Live from Addis Abba, Ethiopia (Africa)

What's on the menu this evening?

Well, we are 'breaking bread' with a promising accountant, an architectural designer, an up and coming environmental engineer, an urban planner and a Doctor of Veterinary medicine.

Our Compassion / Ethiopia team (including Cindy and myself) was treated to a Five-Star meal with five LDP college students. As we dined on lukewarm Sprite, 'buna' (traditional coffee) and 'injera' (or sponge bread), the conversation spiced up with talk of hope, thankfulness and a peaceful cultural revolution all cultivated with compassion for the needy. Compassion International's LDP (or Leadership Development Program) is the next phase - an additional

investment - into a sponsored child as he or she completes High School. Graduates who were previous 'sponsored kids' and show exceptional leadership skills are recruited to participate in Compassion international's latest program. If these future leaders are chosen, they receive a college education, plus further Christian leadership training through Compassion.

I had the pleasure of sitting and chatting with Ms. Menderin Zewde, age 21, who is studying Accounting and Finance at the local University. Menderin loves to crunch the numbers. But says Politics is also on her 'wish list' of things to do after graduation in 2009. She tells me that life has not been easy but through dedication, determination and sponsorship through Compassion's Child Development program...she was at least given a chance. A chance. All because a family in America signed up to be her sponsor through Compassion International. The future definitely seems bright for Menderin and her fellow college mates as they make their mark in Ethiopia...all in the name of Jesus.

-Verne

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Destination: Gotera Kale Hiwot Church Student Center (ET-145)

South of downtown Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

This Compassion Project site is surrounded by extreme poverty. Sponsored kids live in sub-standard housing. Common health problems include pneumonia, TB, typhoid and HIV / AIDS.

by Cindy Davis - Live from Addis Abba, Ethiopia (Africa)

I am so amazed that children live their life in poverty with no running water, no sanitation of any kind and living in a space put together with anything and everything their mom can find to keep out of the weather and once put together is smaller than a tent that my family and I take camping. Even when we go wilderness camping, our luxuries are still better than what these children live in everyday of their life. After a weekend of camping we start feeling grubby and smelly and we cannot wait to get back home to the nice comfortable bed and the hot clean showers to wash all the grub away. These children do not have any of that. They live this way 24/7 everyday of their lives, no matter the weather. We have experienced walking in the awful muddy, unsanitary, very nasty smelling conditions in our shoes. These children go barefoot and never get a good clean, soapy hot bath. But yet they are so happy and just starve for attention and love. The mothers show so much love for their children but the children still want us to love and hug and play with them. I have given many hugs not only to the children but to the mothers this week. The mothers try so hard to make the situation they are faced with better for the children. If not for Compassion International, these children would not get the care they get in these projects we have visited. Not only the children are educated, but the mothers are also educated on how to take care of themselves and the children in better ways. They are also witnessed to and taught about the love of Jesus in hopes of accepting Him into their lives. Education and health aids are provided for these children. If they get sick they do get the attention and the medication needed to make them well again. This is possible through some of the money given through Compassion International. They give hope not only for the children but also for the family. I cannot turn these children away when they come to me and want me to shake their hand or cling to my legs or my arms or just want a simple hug. -Cindy

"And any of you who welcomes a little child like this

because you are mine, is welcoming me and caring for me."

Matthew 18:5