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

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Obi Kale Heywet Student Center

110 km southwest of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Today was another GREAT DAY! We traveled 70 miles to Obi, our destination for meeting new people and the older children. It was so nice going through the beautiful country side and seeing people and their children working in the fields together toward a harvest that will eventually be so beneficial to them. This section of the country today seem to be a bit better than what we witnessed yesterday. Everything seem to be greener and cleaner. We finally saw some elderly people, which we saw none of the day before. The animals even looked healthier.

The roads were very busy with unusual sights. We almost hit a herd of cows crossing the road and a mule lying in the road. The people were just as bad and the cars and trucks just seem to make their on lane. Sometimes a two lane road would become a four lane road. It was amazing, and I am glad I was not driving. The rains came once again and the mud with all the terrible smells, if you can just imagine, with the animals and no facilities for humans sticking to our shoes.

On the way back to Addis Ababa, we stopped in town to help out the economy by letting some kids clean our shoes. BOY! They know how to clean shoes. (Cindy)

Once in a lifetime meeting

Ric McClary (GM - The Light Radio Network in Vermont), one of our fellow Compassion team members, seemed nervously excited this morning. Ric couldn't wait until we arrived in Obi. Everyone who sponsors a child through Compassion International has the opportunity to visit their sponsored child. But not everyone can make the journey. He actually got that opportunity today to meet 'Rhinia'. Ric and his family sponsor her through Compassion International. Rhinia lives here in Ethiopia near the Obi site. A shy Rhinia was escorted by her father for this special moment.

A Compassion child sponsorship provides the material and physical needs of a child, plus the spiritual needs as well...through Jesus Christ. (Verne)

Heading ‘West’ from Addis Ababa

Holeta Mulu Wongel Child Development Center (ET-403) is about 44 km from the capitol city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. One of the added programs that this center offers is the Child Survival Program which helps pregnant mothers living in the area. This specific program offers basic education regarding health, disease prevention and routine care. So, Compassion is already there to help the unborn child and his or her family. The average wage earner (adult) makes around $18.00 a month.

Fresh mud quickly became our ‘friend’ as we stepped out of our vehicle. Two inches worth of mud in some areas along the worn paths around the center. Mid August is near the end of the rainy season.

We were warmly greeted from the center’s CSP families, mainly women and children, who ran up to us with beautiful multi-colored roses that were actually grown close to the village.
After an extensive tour, we made our way into the church’s humble worship center. The smell of bold coffee and a huge loaf of barley ‘injera’ filled the air. The bread loaf was made by hand and baked in a clay oven over a wood fire. The coffee beans were grown near the village.
After a visit to some of the homes, we traveled back to Addis Ababa to meet with Dawit Hailu, the director of Compassion in Ethiopia.

‘These are the first store bought toys that these little ones have ever seen or played with…ever”. One 6x6 room at the center was used for child care (kids mostly younger that three) while the mothers attended health training classes next door. The room had a handful of toddler toys. Just the basics…balls, blocks, etc. It hit me. These kids don’t have store bought toys to play with at their own homes. Not even a ball of their own. I’m thinking, my two girls (Bailey and Mariah) have out grown more toys (that we still have boxed up in our basement) than hundreds of children in poverty will ever see. But, you should have heard the laughter and seen the smiles beaming from that room.

Editor’s Note: The drive to the center was very interesting. ‘Mickey’ our driver for the week was wonderful! It was everyone else that we worried about. Maneuvering through traffic is never the same overseas as it is in the states. Traveling in Ethiopia is no exception. The biggest vehicle has the right-of way. Whether they truly have the right-of-way or not! And who let out all of the animals into the street? (Yes, we have photos coming).