My Afternoon With Fekadu

(Fekadu and Ruth) It was a Thursday. Our week at the drop-in center was coming to a close. The last day of the medical clinic was in full swing and patients and children were everywhere. I spent the week entertaining and loving on those precious children, helping in the pharmacy, and doing whatever I could [...]
Off to a Good Start

What a great year this is starting out to be. To think that just a month ago I was so discouraged. We had immigration troubles which forced us to return to the US in early December. We then had more trouble from the Embassy in Washington, DC, which forced us to extend our stay. At [...]
Heartbreakers

When our heart ache and frustration is aligned with God’s heart ache and God’s frustration; that’s when vision comes and we are thrust into ministry… A number of years ago a couple of ordinary guys had their hearts broken 100,000 times over on the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It turned out that God’s heart was breaking as well.
R&R

It’s so quiet here today. A group of kids came in to eat lunch and then they were off to school again. It seems strange and unnatural, but it is so necessary. Working with street children is overwhelming. Nega describes it as the hardest thing he’s ever done and he’s had some hard jobs…
Christmas – A New Perspective

Both Nibyu and Begidu have experienced the life-changing salvation of Jesus Christ, which I believe has truly saved their lives. This Christmas, they are brothers, living life not in the abundance of things or creature comforts, but in the abundance of God’s love.
Checking in With Metu

By Randall Johnson, TFC Board Member When asked to share something that applied to this Christmas season, I could not think of any better story than that of Metu’s. Her story encapsulates the beauty of Jesus’ work in a desperate life through God’s gift of salvation. Her real name is not Metu, but that is [...]
Why Sports Ministry?

Can you imagine living on the streets and sleeping on an unforgiving dirt sidewalk? Imagine that every night you sleep on the streets you have to keep one eye lid open just to protect yourself from potential violence. Now imagine a kid living like that. What would they do? How would they protect themselves? One can understand that a life like this, over time, would result in distrust in people and an aggressive behavior.
DownLine Team: Closing Days

The following is an update from DownLine 2011 Team, a small group from DownLine Ministries in Memphis, TN, who will be serving as short-term missionaries at Onesimus Children Development Association and throughout Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in September 2011. We’ve invited our ministry partners to post their trip updates and prayer requests here on the TFC [...]
T’ibs Recipe

Ethiopian food is wonderful and easy to prepare! Most Ethiopian cuisine consists of a spicy vegetable or meat stew served over injera (a wide sourdough flatbread). T’ibs is both an everyday and special dish served in Ethiopian homes and is often served in order “to pay a particular compliment or show especial respect to someone.” [...]
Blue or Red?

Twenty screaming kids ran to my box of crayons, fighting for the perfect handful of colors. I had never seen such enthusiasm, such animalism over crayons! I tried to contain the chaos by placing the box high above my head and asking the children to sit back down.

Gift Giving

Gift giving opportunities abound throughout the year. Whether it’s for a birthday, a holiday, to say thank you, or simply to let someone know you’re thinking about them… you can give your friends and family a gift that will help provide LASTING HOPE for Ethiopia! Check out the opportunities you have below to help The [...]

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Onesimus CDA

The Onesimus Children Development Association is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Addis Ababa that seeks to rescue Ethiopia’s children at risk, ensuring they remain in or return to a loving home by providing holistic programs that meet their physical, emotional, developmental and spiritual needs. Onesimus works with two primary groups of children: those who are [...]

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Kota Ganate

The Kota Ganate Agriculture Project exists to create an in-country source of revenue for the Onesimus Children Development Association, strengthen the surrounding communities and their families through Christ-centered ministry, and heal and preserve the endangered yet rich land of Southern Ethiopia, making Kota Ganate and Onesimus a model of sustainability for all of Ethiopia. A [...]

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Give

Great News! We have raised $31,010 for the Kota Ganate Hatchery! Let’s keep the campaign going until the end (June) and see how God provides. To donate to Chicks for Change, proceed with the checkout process above choosing “Chicks for Change” as your designation when asked.

Updated Goal: $50,000 (click here for Chicks for Change update explaining how extra funding will help)

Watch Alemayu’s Reunion With His Mother
Alemayu, an 11-year-old boy, was taken from his home in rural Ethiopia when he was 7-years-old to work in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s Capital. Seen here is the moment he sees his mother for the first time after being gone for 4 years. Thanks to The Forsaken Children and especially their partner, The Onesimus Children Development Association, Alemayu is now living with his family again.

Chicks for Change

Off to a Good Start

What a great year this is starting out to be. To think that just a month ago I was so discouraged. We had immigration troubles which forced us to return to the US in early December. We then had more trouble from the Embassy in Washington, DC, which forced us to extend our stay. At [...]

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December – Remember Abi

Before moving to the halfway home Abi spent almost all of his time on the streets. Today he is typically extremely helpful and responsible. In fact, Abi typically places within the top five of his class.

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November – Remember Hannah

Before moving into the halfway home Hannah spent the majority of her time on the streets, which was becoming increasingly dangerous for her as she matured into a young woman.

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October – Remember Begidu

Begidu is extremely affectionate and loves to laugh. In fact, if you want to laugh at a joke told in Amharic (Ethiopia’s official language), let Begidu tell the joke and his facial expressions will do the trick!

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September – Remember Bereket

Bereket lives with his mother, uncle and twin sister, Rahel. He is very playful, which often gets him into trouble with his school work (can’t sit still!).

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August – Remember Meaza

Her mother and father are both blind and were unable to keep Meaza at home. She spent the majority of her time on the streets during the first ten years of her life.

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July – Remember Daniel

For a seven-year-old Daniel carries some big responsibilities including taking care of his younger brother when his mother is working.

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Chicks for Change – Where’s the Change?

You cannot miss this one! Biruky, Noah and Eden show how easy it is to find change for their Chicks for Change Jar. Myra shows how she celebrates her siblings’ Chicks for Change success!

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Counting Your Chickens

by Jonathan Bridges I sat on the bank of the Concho River this week with a young man who just graduated from college. We lounged in plastic lawn chairs loosely gripping fishing rods, not expecting to have to use them. We talked idly and seriously off and on as darkness fell on us. I remember [...]

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A Chicken in Every Pot

It takes a normal Ethiopian’s full day’s wage just to buy a dozen eggs and the average Ethiopian may work a full week to earn enough to buy a whole chicken. So, what would a small flock like ours mean to a family in Ethiopia? Significantly more than it meant to us. It would mean a dramatic improvement in nutrition and livelihood.

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