Zor-zor
March 11, 2010
Zor-zor: To wander; to walk here and there with no real objective in mind.
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| Alemayu at Drop-In Center |
I think that this word, from the local language of Chencha, is an apt description of me as a child. My childhood was blissful freedom and room to roam. I was full of boundless energy and boundless curiosity. To attempt to confine me within doors must have been a miserable experience. The open woods called to me and I was bent on heeding that call. Over countless acres I would roam, content to miss both lunch and dinner. This was my domain, as many miles as I could cover and still make it home before dark. Within this domain I knew every fallen log and who had taken up residence there. I knew every bend of every creek and exactly which rock would yield a pinch from a crayfish or a glimpse of a salamander. The deer trails were my highways, always leading to newer and greater discoveries.
I would loose myself in this world. Time, a concept that I was all too aware of in the classroom, was unknown to me there. I was free and I was at home. A number of times I would find myself straining to see as I searched beneath the swift,clear water of some meandering creek. The sun had gone down on my wanderings and I was expected home.
Upon my return I would receive an adverse reaction from my parents, worry on their faces and anger in their voices. This was always surprising to me. For me the solitude of the woods was the safest place. I couldn’t possibly understand their fears.
I share a certain familiarity with the children of Ethiopia’s countryside. They are first class wanderers. They seem to be born with a natural intuition for the longest and most indirect route home. Their freedom is often restricted slightly more than mine was, as there is water to fetch and livestock to tend. However, cows and sheep seem to be surprisingly good wandering companions and there are many distractions on the way to the spring.
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Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had the opportunity to connect with one of these kindred spirits. His name is Alemayu and though it wasn’t apparent at first, I could sense some connection with him. As his story unfolded I understood that he too is a wanderer. However, his wanderings of late have been confined to the city streets.
Just two years ago Alemayu was free. Through the green hills of southern Ethiopia he would ramble far and wide, his only occupation to follow his fathers cows and sheep. He was bounded only by the steepest hills and deepest streams. Here the breezes and the springs flowed cool and clean. He knew no fears. His only cares were what wonderful new things might be waiting just behind the next hill.
One day, as he was out with his father’s animals, his life took a dramatic turn. He happened by a road, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. As he pondered where this road came from and where it might lead he heard the distant roar of a car’s engine. For curiosity sake he waited for the car to arrive. As it drove past, to his amazement, it suddenly stopped. Two men climbed out and greeted Alemayu in the customary manner. Then one of the men grabbed him and forced him to the car. The other man rummaged in the back and pulled out a large burlap bag, of the sort that is used commonly here to transport grains or potatoes. He struggled to free himself, but a boy of just 9 years was no match for two grown men. They forced him into the sack and tied him to the luggage rack on the top of the car. In this manner he traveled to the city, a full days drive if no stops are taken in between.
When they reached the city he was introduced to his new home and family, a textile mill and dozens of other boys just like himself. He spent his days at the loom laboriously working to make another man rich. There was little food and less rest. Beatings were not uncommon. By some chance he escaped and found himself trapped in yet another unpleasant world. Instead of fresh air he choked on diesel fumes. Instead of clear streams he found only filthy puddles. This is his life on the street. I now understand the fear that I saw in my parents eyes those many years ago.
Tomorrow Alemayu will be traveling with me down the same road that he traveled two years ago. His home and family are near to the town of Chencha where I’ll be spending the next few months. Over the next week we will attempt to find his family and reunite them. Our hope is that Alemayu will once again be free to zor-zor.
Jonathan Bridges
In a Perfect World – No Halfway Homes
March 10, 2010
Just yesterday I sat in amazement as a mother of one of Children’s Home Ethiopia’s beneficiaries came into the office and blasted the staff because her daughter had ignored her on the street. Not only did she pitch a fit to these staff members who are responsible for her daughter’s education, daily lunches, and general wellbeing, but she also had the audacity to express her desire that God strike down her little girl.
It turned out the incident where the mother felt ignored was a total misunderstanding. After overhearing her mother’s rants, this 13-year-old girl tearfully knelt in front of her mother to apologize for the misunderstanding. I had to bite my lip as I thought of the injustice in this situation – here this girl was, trying to restore the relationship with her furious and irrational mother. Shouldn’t the tables have been turned? Shouldn’t the 13-year-old girl have been the irrational, emotional wreck and the mother have been the voice of reason and reconciliation?
Of course such a scene is not the case for all of CHE’s beneficiaries. More often than not, I am amazed by the love and care these children receive from their desperately poor parents. But, there are those children, who need to be rescued from their own parents. The new girls’ halfway home started for children with such stories. The girls who reside there were basically pulled out of situations that were dangerous to their development and to their chances of ever leaving the streets. An abusive drunk for a father, a mother who steals her child’s clothing, and parents who let their young daughter roam the streets until the wee hours of the morning are some of the situations that the new halfway home’s residents are coming out of.
As I consider each girl who is at the new home, I have a swell of conflicting emotions from deep sadness to excitement. God has made these girls to be incredible young women despite their former home lives. One girl is brilliant and consistently top of her class. Another lights up any room she enters with a smile and her kindness. And still another has the ability to effortlessly make anyone laugh. I feel incredibly blessed to know everyone of the girls at the new home. And to think, their parents may never know what they’re missing.
In a perfect world there would be no need for halfway homes. Unfortunately this world is far from perfect, so I am happy to be a part of what Children’s Home Ethiopia is doing for the vulnerable children of this fallen world.
Thank you to everyone who gave to The Forsaken Children to see this Halfway Home become a reality!
Please pray…
- For the girls at CHE’s Girls’ Halfway Home. Pray especially that they will feel God’s incredible love for them through CHE’s amazing team.
- For God to radically change the hearts and lifestyles of their biological families.
- For Ethiopian foster families that will one day be able to provide these and other children with the families they need.
The Way, The Truth, and The Life
February 27, 2010
Picture if you will a dirty older street boy about the age of 19 years. He’s a rough and tumble youth and the designated leader of a gang of street boys ranging in age from 11 to 19 years. This boy, we’ll call Abebe, gets all kinds of ideas in his head for his “little” group of followers. This week his idea revolves around a prostitute.
Abebe decides one evening that he will bring a prostitute to their usual hangout and each of the boys can pay to have their turn with her. The price is set per boy and the protection of choice- a plastic bag.
This young girl, possibly a child herself, spends the evening allowing upwards of 15 boys violate her for 10 Ethiopian Birr a piece. (Today’s exchange rate is 13.5 Ethiopian Birr for every 1 US Dollars.) Do the math & you will see that she “earned” approximately 75 cents for each boy. That night she sold herself for $11.25 and 15 possible chances of contracting HIV/AIDS.
Folks, we aren’t talking about consenting adults! We’re talking about children- some only 11 years old. Innocence repeatedly lost! Lives constantly shattered! These kids consistently allow themselves to be abused and actively engage in abusing others. They see and do things that are absolutely unimaginable to us as adults.
This is a true story told to a CHE staff member by a drop-in center boy during a one-on-one session last week. This is the way of the street, the truth for hundreds if not thousands of boys and girls in Ethiopia, and the life that will most likely continue for their children and their children’s children.
Let’s put this into perspective for most of our contexts – these boys are supposed to be playing Little League, riding bicycles or skateboards, and pulling girls pony tails in school. The girls should be going on date nights with their dads, taking gymnastics, and dreaming of being teenagers.
Jesus answered, “I am the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE.” John 14:6
I have never believed more strongly in this scripture than I do today. Jesus is the ONLY way out for these children. Jesus is the ONLY truth that will set them free from the bondage of the streets. He offers the ONLY life that will change these patterns and help these children LIVE the way God intended a child to live.
Join us as we storm the gates of heaven on behalf of these children of Ethiopia. May God by his grace and mercy open their eyes to his truths, lift their bondage and set them free!
He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. Psalm 72:13-14
Love… A Choice?
February 12, 2010
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| Amonyesh at the Drop-In Center |
Do you know how some children are just lovable the first time you lay eyes on them? I have that experience a lot here in Ethiopia as I meet the children that CHE ministers to. There’s Begidu, who may possibly be the cutest little boy ever or Metu who instantly charms you with her smile and jovial personality. Love for them just came easy for me, despite some of their very unlovable behaviors.
There are other children though, who seem hard to love at first. Maybe it’s their appearance, or their expressions, or their defensiveness – I’m honestly not always sure why. One such child for me was Amonyesh. I remember the first time I met her. She came into the Drop-In Center one day in 2008 and wanted me to push her on the tire swing and I did not want to (I know, how childish!). I was already playing with some of the other children, but I decided to stop what I was doing and push her on the swing.
It was that way up until about a month ago; always choosing to show her attention and love despite not really wanting to. Then, one day in January she came up to me with her big smile and asked me to treat her already healed wound (a common occurrence at the Center, especially for Amonyesh) and something changed. I actually felt love for her. As I faux-treated her healed wound I noticed how sweet Amonyesh was and how funny she could be. I felt like I had been missing something the whole time I’d known her. I honestly do not know what changed other than the fact that I had persistently chosen to show her love despite not feeling like it and finally the feelings followed.
Just last week I got the chance to visit with Amonyesh’s mom and two sisters in their small one room home. Amonyesh told me that she wanted to be a doctor one day so she could help poor people in Ethiopia. I asked her what influenced this decision and her response surprised me. She said it was because of people, like me, who helped her with her wounds and when she was sick. All those times when I begrudgingly cleaned her minor (and I mean very minor) wounds really had impacted her. In that instant I had an ah-ha moment and the saying, “Love is not just a feeling, but it’s a choice,” finally made real sense to me. Thank God I had chosen to love Amonyesh when I had not wanted to, otherwise I would have missed out on finding her friendship and even playing a part in inspiring her to also love others.
Home… Well, Halfway There!
September 17, 2009
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| Happy at home! |
We have a Halfway Home!!! For those of you who haven’t heard, Children’s Home Ethiopia has had 5 children living temporarily at the Drop-In Center. These children were ready to be off of the streets, but needed a transition home prior to being reintegrated into a family. For some, there are no existing family members available or those who are available are ill-equipped for the task of raising a child. Others simply need to learn how to live within the confines of a home and with a family before they can successfully take that big step into their families’ homes. So, in many ways the Halfway Home is a re-parenting phase for these children.
For 3 months the Drop-In Center has housed CHE’s Halfway Home. This was not an ideal location for the home because of many reasons:
- The Drop-In Center and CHE offices are located here, so space was very limited.
- The Drop-In Center is right in the middle of the ghetto, if you will, therefore the children had direct contact with the streets that they once called home. Separation is key in the rehabilitation process.
- CHE’s Halfway Home Parents had no privacy. Their position is already demanding, so the added pressure of living at the Drop-In Center where many children come and go all day was overwhelming for them.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, CHE was able to rent a Halfway Home in the outskirts of Addis Ababa. I visited with the children at the new Halfway Home just the other day and was blown away by how this home accentuated their changing lives. The thing that stood out the most to me was how normal their home lives now seem – They eat dinner in a dining room rather than a spare office, they can walk outside their compound and play with other neighborhood children, they sleep without the constant noise of the inner-city (busy streets, car horns, club music, etc…), and the list goes on. Also, Abazu, the Halfway Home House Mother, looked at peace where previously the stress of living at the Drop-In Center showed in her countenance.
I am excited about this new phase in the life of CHE and the lives of the children living at the Halfway Home. I expect God to use this location to heal many wounds, restore many families, create new families, and to be a light to the community of God’s redemption in the lives of broken human beings.
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| Studying at the dining room table |
Trust Takes Time
September 3, 2009
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| Yohannes having fun at Drop-In Center |
Just yesterday I heard shocking news – one of the boys living at CHE’s Halfway Home, Yohannes, revealed his true history. Previously Yohannes had told us that he had been abandoned in Addis Ababa by his father and had since been on the streets. The reality came out about one week ago when Yohannes told Nega, CHE Director, that his mother, father, and siblings all lived in the countryside. He had run away from home in search of a better life in Addis Ababa. Of course, this better life was not realized, but rather a meager existence on the streets became his life.
I am not so shocked by his true story, but rather I am shocked by how long it took him to trust the CHE staff with it. For close to a year they have been showering Yohannes with love, providing for his physical needs, and basically parenting him. What I understand now better than ever is that building trust takes time and trust produces honesty. For some reason Yohannes had not fully trusted the CHE staff with his true story until this past week. Maybe now the reasons behind his lack of trust will come to light and further healing will take place within him.
This experience is profound. What does it tell us? There is no such thing as a quick fix when working to restore a child’s life. There are so many elements involved and building trust is paramount. What will come from this for Yohannes? That answer is impossible to answer with certainty, but my hope for him and his future success has increased significantly.
Please pray for Yohannes and for Sodo, CHE team member, as they are currently traveling to meet with Yohannes’ family.
Maruf’s Choice
August 10, 2009
For some time now the staff of Children’s Home Ethiopia has been praying for Maruf, one of the boys in the halfway home. Since coming to CHE’s Drop-In Center Maruf has been challenged to consider where to put his faith, in Allah, the god of his family or in the one true God and His son Jesus Christ. About a week ago Maruf stormed out of a devotion time that Abezu (the halfway home’s house mother) was leading and went to sleep. That very night he was tormented with dreams about whom he would choose to follow. The next morning he told Abezu about his restless night and that soon he knew he had to make a choice.
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| Maruf |
Today Maruf made his choice. After stating that he knew he had to choose Christ last night during prayer time at the halfway home, today he joyfully confessed Christ as his Savior. Feeling a bit skeptical, Abezu had her eyes on him during church today. She was overjoyed to see him lifting his hands in worship to our Lord and Savior. At that very moment she began trying to call Nega and anyone else she could think of who had been praying with her for Maruf’s soul. Eventually she reached Zede, CHE Drop-In Center’s former night guard, who is now living in Chencha, Ethiopia and working as a guard for the Kota Ganate Project. Just 20 minutes ago we (Karyn, Jonathan, Nega, and I are currently in Chencha visiting Kota Ganate) sat speechless as Zede relayed the exciting news.
I had to pass the news on ASAP so you can praise God with us for His work in Maruf’s life. Please continue to pray for Maruf as he grows in his faith.
What a Trip!
July 9, 2009
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| Sammy and Nega Prep the Bus |
About 80 anxious children from Children’s Home Ethiopia’s SAFE Project and 10 even more anxious staff and volunteers boarded a bus on Saturday. They were headed to an Addis Ababa park to celebrate the end of the school year.
Most of these children had no idea what to expect – special outings like this are not a normal part of their lives.
When they arrived at the park they excitedly ran off the bus and seemed to bounce with delight down the path to our reserved spot.
It Was a Full Day
It began with introductions of all staff and volunteers and there was not a dull moment the rest of the day. I was blown away by Elias, our preacher, who held the children’s attention with every word he spoke.
“Even Karyn and I were captivated by Elias’s presentation of who Jesus is, and we could only understand maybe 1 out of every 10 words.”
It was thrilling to see about 10 of the children raise their hands when Elias asked who wanted to know and follow Jesus!
The Feast
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| Elias telling the story of Jesus |
Next came the feast that Abazu, CHE’s cook, cleaner, and house parent, prepared with the help of many volunteers – even Karyn was able to pitch in (usually they refuse us foreigners to do such kind of work, so her acceptance spoke volumes of how we are becoming part of this community).
Every plate was piled high and then we still had enough food for a second meal later in the day. We even managed to feed some of the onlookers and park staff.
Oh Yeah…the Baboons
The kids were more than thrilled to get a look at the baboons that live at the park. I think most of the adults could have gone without seeing them – they’re not the prettiest or friendliest of the monkey family to say the least.
After getting their fill of obscene baboon behavior, the children (okay, and the staff and volunteers) played to their hearts’ content on the park’s playground.
“From the their expressions, I’m almost positive the slide was the first one many of these children had ever seen – PRICELESS!”
The amazing thing about the day was that it did not rain. We are in the midst of Ethiopia’s rainy season, so this was a miracle in itself. Karyn and I are so thankful to have been a part of this wonderful trip and to be representatives of the organization, The Forsaken Children, and it’s donors that provided the funds that made it possible.
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| Probably the first time on a slide | Karyn & Ribika helping with the feast |
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| Me introducing the family | Nega and Sammy having some fun with the kids |
A TFC Supporter’s Timely Visit:First Impressions…
February 1, 2009
I traveled to Ethiopia this week for the first time in life…
I spent 17 hours of flying time wondering…
- “What will I see?”
- “Will I be able to eat?”
- “Can I handle the emotions of seeing all of the poverty?”
- “How will I handle seeing my family’s sponsor child at Children’s Home Ethiopia?”
On several occasions, I would just start crying on the plane. The anticipation and uncertainty of how I would handle these things was too much for me at times.
On the 2nd day here, it was time to go to the drop-in center to meet the kids, the staff, and my family’s sponsor child. I couldn’t wait.
Walking through the door was an experience…
All of the kids came running up to us, hugging and kissing us. It was awesome. However, I could not find Edalawit, the child we sponsor.
Nega finally found her. Making eye contact with her and seeing the smile on her face was priceless. I gave her a big bear hug and didn’t want to let go. For the next few hours we took tons of pictures, played games and just had a blast.
When it was time to leave, I could tell Edalawit was sad, but I had them tell her I would be back on Saturday and she smiled. I gave her a hug and said I would see her Saturday.
Saturday: Time to See Edalawit and the Other Children…
When I got there, they gave me a big welcome and gave me flowers and an “official Ethiopia welcome.” It was great. The children are so full of life and energy and we played for a couple of more hours.
As the afternoon wound down, I went to meet Edalawit’s guardian and to give Edalawit gifts from my family. It was so great to meet her family and see her eye’s light up when she opened the gifts. She lives in a 1 room shanti with 4 adults and a toddler.
As this was our final moments together, it was all I could do not to cry. I did not want to cry because I did not want Edalawit to cry or get upset. So, with a big frog in my throat I gave her one final hug and we left. I told her I would be back with family to see her again.
So here I am today…
…Sunday, writing this story trying to summarize what I experienced in a few paragraphs. There are many things I have learned, seen, felt, and experienced while I was here in Ethiopia and I would say the following is the best attempt by me to summarize the key ones I want to share:
1. I, and anyone who meets the CHE children, are blessed to be a part of these children’s lives. They make me a better person. To see the spirit and energy they have in the conditions they live in is amazing.
2. God’s work is being carried out every day in Ethiopia. The drop-in center and SAFE projects are wonderful outlets for these at-risk children. Nega and his staff are doing a great job with the resources they have and, by the way, they need more resources.
3. There will always be work to do in Ethiopia, the problems are so big and the resources are so small. TFC/CHE and the many other NGO’s that I saw are the main source of aid for these children. We can never stop being Advocates for these children.
4. The most important thing I experienced is that these children want to be loved. They want a hug and a kiss, and they want to sit with you or just hold your hand. They want to know your name. They want to play. They don’t care about much more than that, and that is very humbling to me.
This experience will never leave my heart or my mind. I thank God for putting me through this emotional/spiritual train wreck over the past 7 days. I don’t believe I will ever be the same.
~ Chris Farrell-TFC Board Member & Edalawit’s Sponsor
A Day Out These 24 Children Will Not Soon Forget
January 14, 2009
I thank the Lord for our trip to Debrezeit! We made it!
We were 24 children (12-13 official Drop-In Center beneficiaries and 10-11 SAFE Project beneficiaries) and five staff and three guests! Indeed it was hard to control children. They are movable and cannot stay at one place.
Let me start one day before the trip…
All the staff was busy helping Abezu (Cook). It was an enjoyable time to have fellowship.
Early in the morning Mitu (Drop-In Center beneficiary), Emu (Staff), Soddo (Staff), Bisrat (Staff) and I went to the office. While they were arranging 
things, Bisrat and I went to pick up the children to bring them to the Drop-in Center. I drove all over Addis Ababa to bring far and late children. At the end we could not find two children (Nibrete and Edalawit). Nibrete went to beg with his mother and Edalawit went to countryside with her guardian for her guardian’s treatment.
Then we had breakfast together, gave clothes to all Drop-In Center children, passed out some rules for travel, and prayed.
We rented a big bus for all of us!
While we are going we stopped at some places and told the name of places and showed some new things to the children.
We arrived to Kurfitu (Debrezeit) and went near to the lake and stayed there for a while. All of them were excited to see a lake. We had a fun time with drama, Bible stories, songs, football (soccer), basketball, and jump ropes. We even visited an agriculture project where we saw cows, chickens, vegetables, and many other interesting things.
We came back to Addis Ababa around 6:00 p.m. and did one thing. Guess what?
We killed a sheep for a special dinner!
It was really fun to see children around the fire in the night. Each child got a chance to share about his life testimony and how they were exited about the trip. All of them thanked God and the children in America who gave them these gifts.
Yes, it was exciting! We had a bottle of Highland water for each child on the trip (this is a huge deal, because many of the children have never had bottled water and even some children beg for old Highland bottles); we brought a lot of Kollo (a special Ethiopian snack made from barley) to eat.
On that night I drove all the staff and some children to their houses. I realized that CHE staffs are from different directions. Emu, Mitu, and I came to the house at 10:00 p.m. in our time.
Wow, it was the busiest day and a wonderful day!
~ Nega Meaza
CHE Director, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
