ET02Sam

As if I hadn't already been blessed enough, I got icing on my cake !!
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When I was in Ethiopia in 2000, I visited the local Compassion, International office.
It is located at Mekanisa Church..... by the refugee camp.

The program and the children impressed me so much that I wanted my husband and I to sponsor one of the children.
We were assigned Samrawit Tazezew and began exchanging pictures and letters.
Little did I ever dream of getting to meet her......but.........

Samrawit, a very quiet young girl, is twelve years old
She became a Christian this summer....the first Christian in her family.
Her ten year old sister, Mesle, does not have a sponsorer.

I cannot express to you the emotion I felt as I visited with her..

I could hardly believe it when she gave me this picture she had painted for our family !!

Now you see now why I feel like the trip was just for me.
I don't feel that I had anything (of myself) to offer to these beautiful people,
but they gave SO MUCH to me!!

My last day in Addis I spent several hours on the grounds of the compound alone soaking up the last moments of the trip. I did Bible study, observed the interesting tropical birds and took pictures of the lush tropical plants. The sky was its usual cloudless blue and the sun was warm.

These young men spoke to me through the iron fence and engaged me in conversation. I included their picture to show the typical attitude of the people of Addis.

In their broken English they said over and over, "We love Americans ! America ees beu-ti-ful.....SOOOO BEU-TI-FUL !!"

"I want to give you a prayer request.Here in Ethiopia more than 15 million people are under serious hunger problem because of draught.They have not enough food,water and medicine. They lost their children and cattle. Now the people migrate from countryside to Addis Ababa. Please pray for this country."

I have been asked about how one could become involved
in some of the needed, worthwhile projects in Addis.
Below is some information for you.

If you would like to sponsor a child like our beautiful Samrawit, you may contact Compassion International at :
Compassion International
PO Box 65000
Colorado Springs, CO 80962-5000
1-800-336-7542

The Mekanisa Church has also begun a sponsorship program.
To get information about their program contact:
Meet the Needy
875 Old Rich. Hwy.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907/458-7187
907/479-0645
meettheneedy@yahoo.com

Another project begun by our missionaries is the Jholdas Project.
They train and assist locals to begin their own businesses.
A busniness in Addis can be funded for $1,500-$2,000.
For more information about this project, you may contact:
Union Baptist Association
PO Box 92467
Houston, TX 77292-4267
713/957-2000
http://www.ubahouston.org