* Sorry...three blog post in one day might be a all new record in blogging land BUT the rest of my week looks a little crazy and I wanted to get you all updated.
The above picture is our sweet friend, Yonatan. What a blessing to know him and hear his heart. Were always praying for him as he grows in Jesus. We asked him to manage the money for the gym and work with the pastor on getting it built. We paid him to do this for us. He is letting me know on Facebook, the progress. It's not that we don't trust Tesefaye (the pastor) but we thought it would be nice for him to not have anything to do with the building part of it. Also Yonatan speaks really good English and Tesefaye understands and speaks it, but not to well. I wanted to make sure everyone was clear on what we wanted done.
If you have been following my blog long enough you know that these little girls live right beside the dump. Their dad is gone and their Mother drinks every night because she is overwhelmed with her life. So these sweet little girls are all on their own. Tesefaye told me that the other night one of the twins fell asleep by the fire and her little bottom burnt. So sad. What these little girls have went through just makes me speechless. When Tesefaye told me their whole story I had no words, only tears. They have a brother but he is always at the dump, looking for food.
I brought them these little dolls and my mom gave them the balls.
Ok, is the gym progress. The above picture is the starting of the foundation. I don't know much about building but it sure doesn't look like the way we build things here in America.
Britton thinks they took everything down except for the sticks....so happy for them!
Wish we could be there to help! The night I got to Ethiopia, Yonatan and I had a talk about the money, what we wanted done with it and where it came from. When I had lunch with Tesefaye later that week, Yonatan was able to translate my words to Amharic. I will never forget Tesefayes face when we told him our plans. He just put his face in his hands and cried. I remember from our trip before, the joy and the pride they had in their church, that the Seattle people built for them. That's how we knew the rebuilding of their gym would mean so much. He thanked me over and over and OVER. Probably twenty times. I kept telling him that we (Britton and I) did not give them this money and he understood , but he was thankful for what we did to help raise it. It is a very humbling experience and I want you all to know how grateful Britton and I are that you cared enough and believed in us enough to carry through with this project. We understand it is a little harder to give when you aren't physically connected. You put your trust in us and for that we are grateful. We had a prayer over the money and he prayed for our Cornerstone family and each person that gave. He prayed for each one of you in his broken English...it was very special and sweet. I wish you all could meet him. What a dear dear person he is. The following is his letter he spent at least a half an hour perfecting it and making sure it was right :)
September 21, 2011
(Some of the writing don't sound right but I am going to type it just like he wrote it)
What a great love and encouragement for me and my community heard from you. We are so excited about all the thing that the Lord has done for us through your family and your church. We are really blessed. The Lord has given us a family who have given unconditional love and compassion.
I have never forget the love that Britton and Kristy had gave for my community while they was here. That bounderyless love always on my heart and my needy helpless communities heart. Really I think they have done what the Lord has commanded us to do through his Holy Bible. They have been a spoken person for the hurting people in my Village. I hope the Lord reward their good job.
With many Love and Greeting, God bless you and your family, Tesefaye Tekeste
*Now you know Britton and I take no credit for what God helped us do. Believe me, if you had walked in our shoes the day we visited the dump you would have came back with burdened hearts just like we did.
*Lord willing, next year sometime Britton is planning to go back and see the building and spend a week with our church family at Kore. We will always be taking donations. We are able to wire money to Tesefaye so if the Lord lays this on your heart, we can wire it or Britton can take it when he goes. Also I know probably most of you sponser a Compassion child BUT Tesefaye is a manager through a program that sponsers children from Kore. I would be more then willing to hook you up. BTW Tesefaye makes $100 a month. He gives half of it to the youth pastor that teaches 400 children on Saturdays. So keep him in mind when you give....overwhelming to think he gives half away when he is already so poor. He still eats out of the dump.
What a blessing it is to be part of this community. May God bless each one that has a giving heart. May we continue to give and give and give until it hurts. Thats where the true blessings are are at. We love you all!
Prayers please for my brother. We really REALLY miss him! Looking forward to seeing him soon! He is being deployed to Afghanistan the first of December for 8 months. He has a two week leave in a month.
ALSO.....Gracie does NOT have TB!! We are praising the Lord for this!! So besides the parasites...she is lookin' healthy.
Gracie and Camille at Church. So good to have them together :) Now we just need to have some play dates so they get to know each other.
Here is the completed gym! I am so excited for them! Britton and I did a little excited dance ;) We wish we could be there SO bad!!! We know they will put this building to good use.
Yonatan on the left and Tesefaye on the right. They are having a little celebration to open the gym soon. Looking forward to getting pictures of that!
