Maruf’s Choice
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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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.
YAY! I remember him and have lots of photos of him from our visit! Rejoicing with you! ~joy
How beautiful is the body of Christ. Welcome Maruf!!.. More great news for the Bridges’ ministry. No doubt that these gifts make the sacrifice seem timely and valuable.
He must increase!!
Here are a few more photos from the Orphans Refuge trip (June 2009) showing Maruf and Abezu.
http://picasaweb.google.com/joydriven/WhoIsMaruf
Maruf is the “cigarette smoker” on the far left in the dramatization the 3 boys are doing of typical street-kids’ lives. Ashinafi and Asrat also recently confessed faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior–so it’s neat to look at those photos of the 3 of them now.
God is at it again. Just try and stop HIM. How wonderful that Maruf is a child of the Lord and now knows it. Very touching.
YAY Maruf!!!! How exciting! Welcome to the family. I’m giving you an imaginary hug.
Keep up the great work guys! God’s got His hands all over this.
Karen
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!! Wonderful, as only God can do! I am so overjoyed with Christ’s blessing in Maruf’s life! I am so glad Maruf made the choice for Jesus Christ! So glad! The Lord God will make his name known in all the earth, and he has blessed Maruf with life! I can’t wait to see him again!
Praise the Lord for Maruf’s choice to follow Jesus! We will be praying for him and all the other children, love Beverly
What a mighty God we serve!!!! Thank you for sharing – praise God!
Joe, I am so thankful for the work you are doing in Ethiopia! I pray God would continue to bless you and your family as you serve Him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Nega and the rest of you staff and families. Yay Jesus!