Burayu has Visitors!

    It is very exciting news to share with you that Burayu has visitors this week and next from some of you! Their first visitor is an adoptive family that has traveled to Ethiopia to meet their daughter.  They are going to visit the community of Burayu while they are near the capitol, explore the community, meet some of its leaders and even meet some of your sponsored kiddos.  It's moving to know that Burayu will get visitors from many of us even outside of the mission trips.  Ongoing visits helps the community to know that we truly do care for them, despite the ocean between us.
    Next week, Jeff Dood will be traveling to Burayu.  He is currently in Ethiopia putting his OB skills to task at Soddo Christian Hospital in the south.  Before flying home from the capital of Addis Ababa, he will spend some time in the "suburb" of Burayu.  Again, he will remind the people that they are important to us.  He will also be able to gather more information about the development and community for us that we can share with you.
   Stay tuned and check back for more updates from our Burayu visitors. Ethiopia loves visitors!

The Impact of Relationship

This picture says it all!!!

    Utilizing the “community-to-community” sponsorship, we leverage the power of one community of Christians making a long-term, transformational impact on Buruayu.  Ultimately, these relationships and resources empower orphans to survive, thrive, and succeed within their home culture.
    Understandably, some people have questioned how 1-2 trips a year to visit Burayu can form impactful relationships.  While travelling on our vision trip last October, we visited CarePoints open for sponsorship and others that have already been partnered.  The stark contrast that stood out most of all was not the lushness of the land or the infrastructure of the buildings.  The most striking difference was in the emotional neediness of their hearts.  The partnered communities did not desperately grasp at their survival, but were able think beyond their own self preservation to who they are and how they relate to their community.  This is where relationships begin to form and a movement toward sustainable change can begin.
    Truth is, trips rally great excitement both within Burayu and our sponsoring community.  Our visits, letters, prayers, finances and commitments all raise excitement and an interest in all things HopeChest.  Partnered communities begin to open their hearts to what Tesfa, Fikre, the Burayu leadership team and other CHC staff of Ethiopia have to share.  There is no one better than their own people to share the Good News that is Jesus Christ, disciple them in their God-given gifts and talents, and empower them to create sustainable change for their own community.  And yes, we will travel clear across the globe to foster these relationships.  While we are there attempting to let Burayu know they are worth every minute of the travel, I am certain that we will also be the recipients of Christ's great love.
    This photo says it all! We can undoubtedly testify that Tesfa, the CHC director of Ethiopia, loves these children with the heart of Christ.  The picture clearly demonstrates the caring relationship that exists between these children and their representative.  Transformation has begun.
    Join us on the journey that is Burayu.

We didn't choose Burayu...Burayu chose us!

    In October 2013, we ventured to Ethiopia with Children's HopeChest) (CHC) on a Vision Trip in search of a community with which to partner.  Knowing that we were going to be establishing a link to many adoptive families that travel in-country to complete their adoption, we thought we would select a community in the south near Awasa.  Many Adoption Associates familes travel south  to get a good perspective of more rural life in the country.  The southern area seemed like a natural fit.
    We visited multiple CarePoints in the south that still continue to warm my heart, make me smile, and even leave me thirsting for partners for them.  The smiles of the children, their songs, their hospitality and generosity was overwhelming and most certainly humbling.  As we headed back north, we knew it would be a difficult decision, picking the community there that would fit the gifts and talents of our community here, back in the States.  We had one more site to visit back near the capital of Addis Ababa before hoping a long plane ride home.  Burayu took us by surprise.
   Burayu wasn't the rural poverty with poor farmers able to provide food to the community just 4 months out of the year.  It wasn't the urban street poverty we see where children are begging or women are asking for food while trying to breastfeed the crying baby.  They didn't come with a large ceremony for us.  They were simple; and their lives spoke volumes.
    Burayu is a community of people off the beaten path, urban poverty.  The community that ensues behind the scenes of the bustling city life was unlike that of the capital or the countryside.  It was a lot of men, women and children living together, concentrating on survival, with no place to work the land for crops and currently few opportunities to invest in education or industry. God has called us to share the story of Burayu and Ethiopia with you.  There is so much more to come...and we don't even know what all that is yet!

 Thank you joining us in the developing story of Burayu, Ethiopia.  We can't wait to share more stories, updates, perspectives and lessons we are learning with you.  Come back regularly for updates!

And so it Begins...

Just days before Christmas we got word that we were ready to launch Burayu CarePoint and start finding sponsors. It has been under two months and you have stepped up to cover over half of the children in sponsorship already.  Thank you for you dedication and support.  Keep it coming, friends!  Your commitment to just $1.11/day goes so much father in the life of an Ethiopian child than you can imagine.  We hope you will be able to join us on a Travel Trip sometime to meet your kiddo and learn just how meaningful your giving is to everyone involved.  Thank you!