get ready for picture overload. i tried to narrow it down to just a few. i really loved everything about this trip and could sit and look at these pictures daily. as i said in a previous post, our team went to ethiopia through the james initiative, which is a local organization seeking to raise awareness and support orphan care. they partner with an ethiopian organization called onesimus which is kind of like a christian boys and girls club for street children. this ministry amazes me. not only do they provide a safe place for these kids to come and be loved on by people who love Jesus, but they also reach the community around them in several ways. the social workers at onesimus make home visits to see the parents (for the kids that have them) and provide support to them. they have 3 halfway homes where some of the street children live. they also sponsor a number of children to go to school because all education requires a fee to attend there. the staff and volunteers at onesimus are some of the Godliest people i have met, pouring out daily on these kiddos that would probably otherwise not receive love in a tangible way. they sacrifice their time and their personal living situations so that they can be a part of this organization. they spend and are spent each day loving on these kids, but you would never know it the way they come each day with a smile on their face and a joyful spirit. they are the hands and feet of Jesus. i cannot praise this organization enough for the work they are doing and the way they are doing it. i loved working alongside them for a week and hope that one day i will get to do it again.
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| the joy of these kiddos was CONTAGIOUS. please let me be joyful no matter my circumstances just as these kids are |
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| these ladies are the BEST. i loved working alongside them for the week. sidenote: i was more nervous to travel half way around the world with people i barely knew than i was about any other part of this trip. thank you God for these new found friendships! |
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| so much beauty in this picture. |
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| lots and lots of fingernails were painted after the girls saw the doctor...even some of the boys wanted their nails painted! at first we said no, but how could we even resist the sweet smiles and "please?" they would give. we drew the line at giving them pink polish though haha |
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| dr. daniel on the far left and nurses getamesay and tigust on either side of me. what a privelege to serve alongside others in my profession half way around the world |
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| "chew this up and take a drink" (insert ridiculous motions that i acted out to every child because i don't speak amharic. half of the fun of working in the pharmacy was laughing with the kids at how i tried to communicate with them. charades has never been a game i'm good at) |
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| one of my favorite pics of the week. this sweet boy did this through our van window as we were loaded up to leave the church at Korah. melt my heart. the feelings were mutual. |
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| as soon as we arrived at the church at Korah on sunday the kiddos latched onto us. korah is a community located near the local dump. the people who live here are very poor. this sweet thing was my buddy for the better part of the morning. i was in love with the full heads of curly hair on these little girls. so precious. |
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| ethiopians eat meals slowly and end with coffee. so much is centered around relationships. i loved this. i wish our culture allowed for more sitting with others and less go go go. also i will never complain about the opportunity to drink really great coffee after every meal. :) did you know that coffee originated in ethiopia? when in ethiopia, do as the ethiopians do right? so i drank LOTs of coffee. all things to all people right? haha |
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| i think i left my heart in this city. praying that i get to return one day. |
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