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!!