Abneezer and You

    Let me tell you about a boy.  He is a boy that lives oceans apart from me, that I think about everyday.  I see a quiet confidence in his teary eyes as they look up at me.  I can't tell you exactly what he is thinking, but I am pretty sure I can see his heart through those eyes.  But what I can tell you is much of what those eyes are teaching me still.
    Abneezer is a young boy with what I would consider to be a very heavy weight on his shoulders and a quiet confidence in his heart.  He lives with his mother and sister in a small home they have put together on land they do not own.  They are squatting on government land in what you and I would call a 'lean to.'  At any given time, the government may come in and rightfully reclaim their space, leaving them with nothing.  My initial perspective was that they would be left with nothing.  But my initial perspective includes space...stuff...and food.  Abneezer's perspective is more mature. He is proud of his home and cares more about the happiness of his mother and sister.  When we met him, he smiled big and in clear English said to my husband, "Welcome to my home, sir."
    As our group entered his humble home, he was nothing but smiles looking up at us.  Maybe it was innocence of youth, but he certainly was aware of what his mother was saying to us at the same time.  Her story she shared with us was no light matter; we were all in tears.  Abneezer's mother and sister are ill, and they cannot afford the necessary medical care, nor is there easy access to it.
    We stood with our arms around each other crying, even though I can't say exactly what for.  I could have been crying for the harsh reality of her situation.  I could have been crying for the ache in her heart and because she was crying.  I could have been crying for the brokenness of my own heart and the silly complications I needlessly add to it.  Or it could have been all of these things.  As we cried, she spoke of her recent feelings of fear and loneliness in facing the future.  But then she continued her perspective... a group traveling across the ocean to meet her and the staff she connects with at Children's HopeChest in Burayu, she no longer felt alone.  She knew of a much larger community of people who care for and pray for her family, despite the ocean in the middle of it all.
    Abneezer's eyes looked up at us and seemed to say that he too understood they were not alone.  His eyes were blood shot from holding back the tears, but they still smiled at you with a strange peace in his heart.  I saw Abneezer again the next day at the Kale Hiwot Church CarePoint location.  He was our biggest fan for getting his picture taken again and again, often returning to the back of the line to await another turn.  But what was most striking was how throughout the day I would have a little hand come up from behind, grasp my hand and give a little squeeze.  He didn't need to be seen or given attention, as he was often already engaged in another conversation or activity with a buddy.  He would just reach out, simply hold my hand and exchange that smile behind his tear filled eyes with me as if to say 'I notice you are here.'  I love that little boy and he will always have a piece of my heart.  I am honored to have met him, to learn from him, and to help solidify his connection to the dedicated staff at the Burayu CarePoint.  His face and his grasp is a continual reminder to me to keep my perspective real and grounded, to value relationship and to smile upon one another in love.
   Abneezer's mother expressed that when she was invited to be a part of the Children's HopeChest Burayu Community, she was aware that the government was profiling kids most eligible for the program and that this could potentially trip up her housing situation as she squats on the government's land.  The risk of losing her family home was worth the risk compared to what they would gain from entering into relationship with Children's HopeChest.  I'm gonna say that again since it sinks in deeper with me every time I send a child's photo from the trip to his/her sponsor.  The risk of losing her home was outweighed by the reward of gaining relationship with Children's HopeChest.  Welcome aboard our community, my friends.  We are so glad you are here to join us.
     Meet Abneezer's family:

I am broken...and it is good.

Friends of Burayu,

Last week I returned home from our trip to Ethiopia and visits to Burayu with this team.  I love going everytime, but it's the return days that I reflect, wrestle, and grow the most.  We certainly have stories and photos to sort through and share with all of you, but for now I will share some of my story.

Making sense of my life on this side of the globe is different and sometimes difficult after leaving a piece of my heart behind.  This year, on my way up north to pick up my children after landing back on American soil 24 hours prior, I stopped by my sister's house just to give a hug.  She asked how I was doing and the only response I could think of was, "I am broken.  I am broken...and it is good."  This confuses me and makes perfect sense to me all at the same time.  I can feel weak, incapable, confused by my life circumstances and wonder if those same circumstances are a gift or a challenge after experiencing the simple joys of the Ethiopian people. Here's how I made sense of this dilemma in my hours in the car last week. 

There is a peace knowing that through the brokenness, comes a great fulfillment.  2 Corinthians speaks of Paul's thorn and God's grace: "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Two team members happened to choose the same verses for our morning reflections. In Matthew 6 it talks for 8 or so verses about the needlessness of worry.  A trip to Africa can bring plenty of opportunities to worry for me and my friends and family.  I know that worry cannot add a second to my life.  But for me, saying "do not worry" is only a piece of the puzzle.  Alone, it is a task of omission. For me it's incomplete. The more I try to omit, the more obsessed I may actually become about it.  For example, I read Jen Hatmaker's book, Seven.  She simplified her life in so many ways by omitting many options.  It is a concept I do like, but it did lead her to write an entire book about her relationship with stuff.  Our team also spoke about that certain and mysterious peace that passes understanding.  I cannot help but think that the peace is not something God can give us, but something that is always there, that I must reach out and grab.  I can omit the worry, but I must grab the peace.  Personally, I must put my focus on grabbing the peace and the ability to boast in my weaknesses as things come into play that I would like to omit...else I again become a complete failure in my attempts.

8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

There are many noble, good, pure and honorable things going on with our third world friends.  Years ago, my brokenness and failures would have shamed me and taken forefront in my life until I was successful at the daunting task of omitting those 'shameful happenings'.  Now I know, I am broken...and it is good, my friends.  Thank you to this year's team for laughing with me (and at me), crying with me, praying with me, growing and living with me.  I hope that you too will someday consider stumbling along this journey with us too.

BurayuCommunity@gmail.com

We Want You: Travel to Burayu

In the recent months, several adoptive families have been in Ethiopia to meet their children and had the privilege to visit Burayu, many of whom have sponsored and met their sponsored child.  Ask about their incredible experiences!  Now we are planning for other groups of us to travel and visit Burayu.  Whitney is traveling in August to help solidify some connections between Children's HopeChest, Burayu CarePoint leaders and Adoption Associates staff, along with the incredible opportunity to spend some time with 150 great kids.

Now it's your turn.  We want you to join us!  We are making plans to have a team travel in 2015.  Clear your calendars.  We are scheduled for the week of February 28th to March 8th time frame.  Travel will be that week, but nothing has been confirmed for flight details yet, though they are currently showing to be a very good deal at under $1000.  There are also some ground fees, but these flight deals may not last.  Email us at BurayuCommunity@gmail.com if you may be interested in joining us.  It is undoubtedly an adventure of a lifetime and we want to share it with you.

Changes in Burayu

Great news from the field in Burayu, Ethiopia thanks to your dedication and partnership!
1. Sponsored children pack in every week to the courtyard at the Kale Hiwot Church to gather for tutoring, discipleship, fun and games and a chance to build relationships and connections.

2. The CarePoint committee and volunteers have been organized. This is great, as it ensures that the community is involved vs simply the paid CarePoint staff.  Prior to staff being hired, the committee, church pastor and volunteers have been responsible for discipleship.  They will continue to help with this, even after the Project Coordinator takes over responsibility for discipleship.

3.  Two staff members have been hired – the Project Coordinator and the Accountant. A third staff member will be hired soon.  Salary and medical benefits for the two staff members cost about $254 per month.

4.  This week a disbursement of food (wheat and food oil) will be coordinated, as well as purchasing some much needed items of clothing, likely to include shoes. A little over $18 (including admin) per child to purchase clothing this month has been allocated.  Families will receive approximately 25 kg of wheat and 3 liters of oil.  If the budget allows, Burayu leaders would like to also send home supplementary food quarterly.

5.  The CHC field staff and Burayu leaders have put together an abbreviated annual plan.  Their Fiscal year will turn over in July, so these projects are short term, urgent priorities.  We will receive a new plan at the turn of there fiscal year that we will share with each of you.  In addition to those already mentioned, ongoing support items in the ‘shortened’ annual plan also indicate monthly funds set aside for soap/toiletries, medical treatment, and discipleship activities etc.

6. Your sponsorship is making a difference!  It takes time to get everything up and running smoothly at a CarePoint, but Burayu is well on its way, thank to your dedicated hearts.

7. Burayu has had American visitors over the past month.  The children love to have visitors, and now it has become even more special since many of them have received written letters from you.  Think about joining us on a trip sometime.  Everyone is welcome and you will love every minute of it.  We are beginning to plan for our first official trips over.  Of course if you are traveling for adoption or any other reason, we can arrange for a personal visit with a little notice.  You can see first hand how your investments are being put to use.   

Questions or comments, email Whitney and Sue at BurayuCommunity@gmail.com

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!