Sweet Street Kids In Awassa

 Monday morning Kate, Keara, Gretchen and I piled in a van along with Kaela and 4 other volunteers and headed 5 hours down country to a city in Ethiopia called Awassa. We made a few stops along the way and saw some really gorgeous scenery such as mountains, houses made of mud and stick, big lakes,  tropical flowers and plants everywhere. It almost seemed surreal. 


In between ministry we have had the opportunity to visit lake Awassa and take pictures, go on a hippo spotting boat ride, visit the hot springs and late one night we went on a hyena hunt. Pretty sure at some point I would like to live here…just saying (especially after working with the kids this week). 


I am currently sitting in the hotel we are staying at where the electricity is known to go out at any given time, the walls seem so thin that I can hear every conversation outside and every car drive by like it’s in the room with me, we only get a certain amount of toilet paper at a time (pretty sure I had approximately 15 squares to start out with), the shower is a pipe coming out of the side of the wall that is freezing cold and the toilet rarely flushes (and smells really bad). Oh, and we each have our own room because there is a policy about allowing girls sleep in the same room together. I am not complaining…I am simply stating the many differences in a foreign country. This has made me aware of the kind of lifestyle that I am used to…how these small insignificant things can cause someone to become uncomfortable. 


I was humbled when we had the opportunity to meet one of the men who is heavily involved with the ministry here (Joseph) and he took us to meet a bunch of the street kids to share with after dark. We only stopped for 10-15 minutes, but during that time 35 or so kids (mostly boys) came up and shook our hands (some looked as young as 6 to age 15 or so). It was heartbreaking to see these kids sweet faces knowing that they don’t have homes to go to, no parents to look after them, no education and they have to beg or find small jobs to do to earn money just to survive. Most of the girls on the streets are either in the red light district or doing small maid jobs for other people. It’s so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that these little kids are out on the streets while I am in this safe hotel with access to buy food to eat, as well as being surrounded by people that I know will look after me. I pray that the ministry here will continue to flourish and that these kids will continually call to the Lord as His word remains true with the promise, “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” – Isaiah 58:9, then going on it says, “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11.  


Today we finished our last day of VBS with some of the other Awassa street kids. I can’t even begin to express the joy these boys have brought to my life and what a privilege it has been to serve them. I figured some of my plans would go out the window due to having no idea what to expect. No, not some…ALL! I played maybe 1 of my games with them and between trying to translate and confusion I gave up. Tuesday we got a beach ball to simply pass around, the boys lit up. It is amazing how much joy can come from something so small. 


Yesterday I decided that we needed to play some futball (once I found out that this was every one of their favorite things to do) and we had a BLAST! Even though I am not the best at soccer, the boys were still trying to pass the ball to me, always coming up and hugging or high 5’ing after a good play and one even gave me one of the shirts off of his back to wear during the game (it was a jersey for a team that is well known there). 


Today I had a toilet paper wrapping game where the kids had to wrap a team mate up who acted as Lazarus so they could understand one of Jesus’ many miracles through this, they were all laughing so hard (pictures to come soon), we also played some fun balloon racing games which they loved. 


The kids have been learning John 3:16 with motions so that they can remember the greatest sacrifice showing Gods love (many of the boys had never even heard this verse!!). They all seemed very eager to learn and listen. To God be ALL the glory! During the last few days the boys have had the opportunity to learn about Gods love through different Bible stories such as Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath and of course today we taught them about the power of the cross. 


I pray so hard for these boys as they have all taken away a chunk of my heart…not knowing what will happen to them, but knowing that God is reaching to them. Seeing their lit up faces and smiles as we worshiped together, learned together and played games together gave me hope for their lives…knowing that the Lord is at work in each one of their hearts. Although there was a language barrier, it was amazing how the Holy Spirit was at work and allowed us to communicate His love through actions, and the translators were amazing. Please team in praying for the street kids in Awassa. Every time one of them would pray they would pray to find a way off of the streets. I was so thankful to work with them, and especially to see the willingness and the hunger they had to learn more about the Lord. 


Our packed week of working with Women at Risk, Hospice, Strong Hearts and teaching English all begins starting Monday. Please pray that our hearts will stay strong but break where they need to be broken. 

Another African Adventure!

This morning my team and I leave to go 5 hours down country to Awassa to put on a VBS for street orphans, some who haven’t heard the name of Christ! We all kinda expect our plans to go out the window. Being a planner, I have all of the materials needed to play the games and lessons I’m going to help with. The people in this more rural area do not speak Amharic (so the language I have learned can’t be applied) and I’m pretty sure we will be doing everything under this giant tree outside also…the kids could range anywhere from 20 to a lot more (not sure what that means). We will be doing some street ministry…just walking along the road and sharing with people and at some point they will be showing the Jesus film (so pray for a good turnout and that the Gospel with be clearly spoken).

I have learned that my plans are SO insignificant compared to the Fathers. He has guided me to places that I would have never imagined…and to be honest, my life looks a lot different than I expected or even (originally) wanted it to look. Day after day He has been ripping away my comforts and replacing them with new understanding; and He’s constantly whispering to me through His Word so that I can begin to see through His eyes, so I can fall in love with Him more each day by being obedient and trusting in everything that stems from the cross. Every time I have failed (which I do all the time), He faithfully picks me up so that He is, once again at the forefront of my thinking.

A quote that I wanted to share that has been sinking in me over the last week has been a reminder of how we ONLY need Jesus. All of the work we feel like we need to accomplish should not be the focus.
 “It is not what we do that matters, but what a SOVEREIGN God chooses to do through us. He doesn’t want our success; He wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; He demands our obedience.” – Chuck Colson

Please also pray for team unity as some share different beliefs then our own (which leaves room for opportunity). We are going with a fun group…as one said “I’m pretty sure we will all have 6 packs by the end of this trip from laughing so hard.” Love my team, love the people I have the opportunity to work with.
So excited for God to use all of us! Praying that we will be flexible and willing with whatever He places in front of us!

More updates soon…I would make this longer but I gotta bolt!!

Learning to go with the flow

From a planners standpoint (practically what I went to school for), God has constantly been teaching me that even though I have my own expectations or even set plans that I believe are going to place, God can turn them around in an instant and have a pretty good reason behind it. Proverbs 19:21 has been striking me hard lately, “many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”


To be honest, this week was suppose to be our VBS week through Strong Hearts (the school that we will be working with) but it was cancelled due to school still be in session. At first it was hard to have a good attitude behind it because I’ve really wanted to go and spend time with the kids there. Right now our host missionary, the director of Strong Hearts and Kayla are basically remaking most of our schedule for the summer…so we still aren’t completely sure what we will be doing or when. 


I have to stop myself from getting discouraged and remember Proverbs 19:21, 16:3, 16:9, 19:33, 27:1, Isaiah 14:24, 14:27, etc. God has me right here in Addis, right now at 12:00pm for a reason. Right now He is allowing me to write out my thoughts and reflect on what He has been teaching me through all of this. 


I am learning to start to just go with the flow. My team mates and I have no control over what ministries we will be spending more or less time at. We understand that these ministries are already launched and we are simply here to be the hands and feet and help where needed. As I was just now flipping through my Bible I came to Philippians 2:12-16 which says: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life – in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” What a JOY and HONOR it is to be a part of this mission. God allows us to be a part of this amazing mission, He doesn’t NEED us, but He allows us to be a part of it for our growth and our good, and for His glory. 


As I am reminded of these verses, these truths, I am excited to step forth unto the unknown and be a part of what God is already doing here in Addis. Next week we are supposed to be going to Awasa to work with 20 or more street kids (orphans) there doing VBS with them. Pray as we prepare to share Gods love with these children, that God will use Kate, Keara, Gretchen and I as He sees fit, not as we do. Pray that we will be willing and remember that flexibility is the key! Pray for receptive hearts with the children and that we will find ways to show the love of Christ despite the language barrier. They will be speaking a whole new language there from what we’ve been learning and we aren’t even sure if we will have translators or how many, but God is good and if He wills us to go, He will make happen what should take place for His glory. 




In the mean time, we have really enjoyed meeting so many other missionary families, hearing of how God turned the impossible into possible to bring these families to where they are now. Some of their stories blow my mind. Just recently Dundee (the leader of Strong Hearts) spoke at the Hospice meeting we went to today and said, “when we pray here, it’s because we do not have…but God listens and He answers.” This is so simple but after hearing story after story…the faith that these people have is amazing. God wants us to not doubt when we ask Him, trusting Him with our whole hearts. He knows the hearts of His children and when we are being sincere or trusting (I Thess 5:16-18, Hebrews 11:1, 11:6, James 5:13-16). I see these scriptures being acted out and these promises being kept through the people that we’ve had the opportunity to get to know.


I will try and update again soon since we will be getting our new schedules again today. As far as I know we will be working with the same ministries that I had listed before, we just aren’t sure when these things will play out and how.


Hope all is well back in the States! Feel free to email me if you are curious about something or just want to talk more personally. I appreciate the prayers. I’ve been adding pictures on facebook but I’ll try to add some on here too soon  Love you all!

Too much to process!

I am sitting here trying to gather all of the several thoughts that have been racing through my head since we arrived late Wednesday night. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been here for almost a week. 


When walking the city streets and the dusty roads in Addis, it’s hard to compare anything to America. We had the opportunity to go to a Saturday evening service at a church through Strong Hearts and I could'nt stop watching the people, even kids around me cry out to God with all of their hearts in prayer, in worship. Although I couldn’t understand anything they were talking about – the sight of seeing these people fallen on their knee’s and jumping up and down absolutely overjoyed in the salvation that they have in Christ stuck with me. He is all they have! What an incomprehensible treasure they have!


Today we visited WAR (Women at Risk) Ministry and spoke with the women who work there. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be a part of this! Basically prostitution is HUGE here in Addis. This is a way of life for most women who are forced into marriage at a young age (sometimes 13 or 14) to older men who are abused and escape then using prostitution as a way to survive, when they have no skills or education. Some of these women have children as a result of this. WAR takes in 20-22 women every year who have a desire for something more outside of the vicious cycle. As we toured the center, we met some very dedicated women who served to share the light of Christ in these dark situations. WAR provides a safe place for the women to come, learn skills, go through Biblical counseling, take classes, and have a safe place for their children to stay and play while their moms learn to care for themselves, as well as their children. I still have goose bumps thinking about the 96% success rate that come from these women not turning back to prostitution and several giving their life to Christ through this ministry….how amazing is that!?!? We had the opportunity to meet some of the children there and our team introduced ourselves to the women we will be coming to hang out with, their faces were all lit up with big smiles in welcoming us    Can’t wait to begin!!


Tomorrow we will be visiting the Hospice ministry to tour the building which we will have the opportunity to be a part of with patience who have mostly HIV/AIDS and leprosy. We will mostly be sharing/praying with these patients during our visits. It will be hard to see, but I know God has been a huge part of this ministry, and I can’t wait to hear about what He is doing through the people there. 


We have had several opportunities to meet so many amazing missionaries here in the little apartment area that we are staying in - we just so happened to meet one couple with the most precious family (Dr. David and Julie) who had our team as well as another missionary (Nicoli from the UK) over for dinner last night. We actually met them because I somehow managed to lock myself in my room and couldn’t get out the following morning so Dr. David had to come to my rescue haha. It was so overwhelmingly encouraging though to see how God guides those to do His work. 


As I type this it is almost 1:30am here. SO much to tell but not enough time. I must get to sleep. 


Please be in prayer for our upcoming VBS that we will be doing through Strong Hearts (a lot of the children we will be working with have mom’s who are in the WAR program). My team and I need to plan this week and we were told to run with it. We want God to guide our hearts through the planning. 


God has blessed me with amazing team mates which is a big answer to prayer. We have had SO many moments of laughter, sharing and tears already. I am so thankful for a great team and unity in Christ – we already feel like family. 


Our memory verse for this week is Colossians 4:5-6, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Something that God has been teaching all of us. 


Thank you for the prayers! Language is still a barrier but I know that God will work through those obstacles as He see’s fit. We began language training Friday and have already had 2 lessons….lot’s to learn/memorize as we were told Amharic is the 4th hardest language to learn in the world…so please keep praying  


Love you all very much! I will try to update more soon!!

A few short days!!

Greetings from....Indiana! Yep, I'm still here for most of you who thought I was already in Africa :)


I have been at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center with my fellow Reach Interns! I have had the privilege of getting to know 36 other amazing men and women who are absolutely sold out for Christ, ready to go all over the world to do what God has called them to do.


Throughout this packed week of orientation we have shared heart felt testimonies, heard experiences from past interns, have played some pretty interesting/hilarious games to help us understand how to relate to different cultures, listened to many helpful speakers AND even went to a ropes course through SPICE to do some team building activities, which we rocked! 


On a side note, I have met my team for Ethiopia which I am super pumped to continue to get to know these amazing ladies (shout out to Kaitlyn, Gretchen and Keara). As we had the opportunity to take a personality test (which was characterized into animals)...I learned that we are composed of all 4: Beaver (Gretchen): the problem solver, Keara (Lion): the leader, Kaitlyn (Otter): the fun one and myself (Golden Retriever): the loyal one. YES DIVERSITY!!!


One more day left of orientation! Tuesday morning/throughout the afternoon myself, along with my team and the rest of the interns will be embarking on a journey that God has been preparing our hearts for during most of our lives.


The Lord has been faithful to continue to teach me so many things about my own heart, my imperfections and how much more I need Him on a momentary basis! This summer is going to have many challenges ahead, but I am so excited to grow in those moments of weakness. 


Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support!! Please continue to pray as we will be leaving here in a few short days for this journey. I will be updating once I reach Addis Ababa!!