Yezelalem Minch

“The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.” ---- Samuel Zwemer

 

Yezelalem Minch is an NGO founded by an Ethiopian woman (Birtukan) and her husband (Nesibu). Birtukan was a sponsored child growing up through World Vision where her medical, nutritional, and educational needs were met. Growing up Birtukan always thought people who sponsor children were rich. After graduating from high school she began working for World Vision. It was during that time she was able to read many letters from sponsors. She recalls one letter that changed the way she thought of sponsors. In the letter the man explained that he was crippled and he didn't have much money, but that he had a strong love for his sponsor child and it would be his pleasure to help him. Birtukan told us that in Ethiopia if you are a crippled person you are considered extremely poor and it was at that moment she prayed, “Here I am, Lord! I have hands and I have feet. What can I do to help those in need?” It was then she feels God placed in her heart a vision to care for orphaned children.

Birtukan continued to pray asking God to use her to care for orphans. A while later she began to notice street children near her home. She took two of those abandoned children into her home to care for them (at this time she was still single, but dating Nesibu). Soon after taking in the first two children, she took in ten other orphaned children. (the two boys that stayed at the guesthouse with us last week were part of the original 10-15 children). While dating her husband she explained her vision and what she had been praying for and if that was something he wasn't interested in doing, she was not going to be able to marry him. Fortunately, Nesibu agreed with her vision that these children should not be left behind. They started by opening three group homes, which grew and grew to what it is today. They are now serving more than 1400 children.

We know God answers prayer!! It was amazing to hear Birtukan's testimony of how God has answered her prayer by calling her to love and serve the least of these. God planned from the beginning that he was going to work through her to give these little ones a chance. She was orphaned as a young child, grew up in poverty, but was given the opportunity to transform her life and is now changing the lives of others. The Lord has a heart for orphan children--and so does she!! (One year ago a newborn child was dropped of at the gate of the compound at Yezelalem Minch severely malnourished. Birtukan took her into her home and began the process to adopt her. Six months later that little girl became the newest member of the Birtukan and Nesibu family).

 

YZM's purpose and mission is to see that orphaned and vulnerable children in the community are cared for...we spent an afternoon playing with the children in the preschool program...the children in the program are ages 4-10



 

after spending time outside playing, they brought us into their classroom to play some more  

 

YZM provides a Saturday feeding program at three different locations, ensuring every child receives a nutritional meal each week

 

 

lunch was cooked and served in this room

 

Every Saturday during the feeding program, each child is given a medical check up

 

playing thumb wars while waiting for their parents to pick them up

 

these ladies are widowed and work for YZM...they prepare the lunch in the morning, serve the lunch to the children, and clean up afterwards

 

Nesibu and Birtukan thanking us for the donations to purchase sheep...

              the gratitude shown to us for presenting them with the opportunity to purchase sheep for their families was tremendous....thanks everyone for your generous giving!

 

After leaving the YZM office we drove about 40 minutes into the country to meet four of the 25 families that will receive the sheep  

 

Each family was able to go to the market in the morning to select their own sheep...owning these sheep is an opportunity to improve their standing in the community they live in

 

 

leaving the compound with their sheep

 

walking home with their sheep

 

we visited a family who had already been given three sheep from a previous donation

 

 

the sheep already reproduced!...they use the female sheep to reproduce and sell the male sheep in the market to help support their families...the owners bring their flock to a central grazing area, they can then count on the animals mingling with other flocks so they do not have to keep a male

 

 the home and sheep above belong to this young man and his family

 This is Johanna, Birtukan and Nesibu's adopted one year old little girl

 

 

 

**I'm trying to upload video footage we have of Nesibu and Birtukan saying thank you and footage of the families receiving their sheep--I'm having a difficult time doing that.  If I can figure it out(Angie has been trying to help) I'll post that in an upcoming post. **

 

Ethiopia has stolen my heart!!  (as if you guys didn't realize that already!)  My heart was broken by God for the children of Ethiopia as He lead us on a spiritual journey of adoption.  Adoption began for us because of the desire to add another child to our family.  Now I feel God is leading us to help where the need is greatest.  I have heard it said before, I need Africa more than Africa needs me.   I am beginning to understand what that truly means.  We all need Africa!!  We all need to have our hearts broken for the orphan, the widow and the least of these!  Ethiopia has over 4.5 million orphans and I have seen for myself the tremendous needs of the children who are living in poverty, children who desperately need someone to speak on their behalf.


My urgency to get back to Ethiopia is in God's hands.  God has heard my willing heart and now I need to pray like crazy and wait patiently for Him to lead.   I need to listen like I have never listened before as to what God is calling our family to do.  In the meantime, I will do all in my power to spread the word of the needs of the families and children living in Ethiopia.  There is certainly no turning back now!!


"Learn to do good.  Seek justice. Help the oppressed.  Defend the orphan.  Fight for the rights of widows."                                                                         Isaiah 1:17

**this was going to be my final post but I had it ready so I'm posting early.*
  

Meeting our Sponsor Children

We spent a couple of days during our trip meeting our sponsor children. We sponsor these children through an organization called Compassion International. Compassion is a Christian based ministry that is devoted to freeing children from the cycle of poverty. Because of our sponsorship, these two children are able to attend school (uniform, books, and tuition are paid for) where they are receiving a proper education (math, reading, science, Amharic, and personal hygiene). Their medical needs are taken care of and once a month food is delivered to each of their homes (for example, flour, oil and maybe a few other basic items). Compassion also partners with a local church in their community where they are learning about Jesus. We have been given this GREAT opportunity to visit with the Compassion staff, meet these children and their families, and spend two full days with Atkelt (our Compassion host, who is married to a Denver, CO native (Lisa) who has been working in Ethiopia for the last five years.  Lisa has recently started a sponsorship program, and has 46 children who are currently being sponsored.... more on her in a little bit!) What a blessing!! Atkelt explained to us that most of the children never meet their sponsor families, so for them and their families this was a special day and for us too!! Abel (Nathan's) and Dirshaye (Emily's) are no longer just faces on our refrigerator door, they are our sponsored children! The best gift we can give to these children are letters and pictures from home (we already received a letter from Abel, and I can't wait to get our pictures developed so Nathan can write back). Atkelt says the children check their mailboxes often for letters from their sponsor families and it's a big disappointment when there is nothing there, so I better stay on top of mailing letters out!! There is no greater joy than knowing that we are giving these children a chance. A chance to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually!!

 

 

meeting Abel at the Compassion office

he is showing respect by placing his hand under his elbow 

 

teaching Abel one of our favorite games on Steve's phone

 

the church Abel will soon attend...it is under construction right now

 

Abel's mother was so thankful and so happy to have us in her home...

It was a special day for them and she wanted to thank us by preparing us lunch...

a bean sauce over Ingera

 

This is a bread made only for special occasions

 

Abel and his mom

 

All of us plus four Compassion staff squeezed into this tiny room

 

spending the afternoon at an arcade...

Atkelt said Abel will never forget this day!!

Even though Abel lives in Addis, he never gets the opportunity to go to the mall

 and play in an arcade!

 

Abel is enjoying an ice cream cone for the first time!!

 

 before leaving the mall, we purchased him his own soccer ball...yellow, his favorite color

 

This is Dirshaye...I'll never forget her big beautiful smile...she smiled the entire day!!

(she traveled 8 hours from the country to come and visit us, she stayed 2 nights in a hotel in Addis)

 

Dirshaye greeted me by running from the car into my arms with a big hug and a kiss on my cheek

(me, Dirshaye, her Dad, Emily, and Steve)



 

Dirshaye is teaching Emily one of her favorite games she plays with rocks 

 

 

 playing a game of basketball (Dirshaye was really good, very athletic)

 after spending the morning at the compound playing and getting to know each other,

we took Dirshaye and her father out for lunch

 

then to the Lion Zoo

 

 off to the arcade to spend the rest of the afternoon

 

 the guy in this picture is Atkelt

 

enjoying an ice cream cone for the first time, including her father and the social worker...her dad actually threw the cone away, he didn't realize you can eat that too!!

 

one last ride on the go-karts

Wow!!  What an awesome two days!!  Our kids had a blast making great memories with Abel and Dirshaye.  It's one thing to sponsor a child and write letters back and forth, but to actually get to meet them and spend the day with them--truly an experience we'll never forget!!