28 - August 11, 2010
10 Americans went to Ethiopia with an organization called the Mocha Club. Unquestionably, it has moved me beyond words and changed how I view the world around me. A prayer that our team consistently prayed was that we would not only be moved, but be changed by what we saw and the people we met during our 2 weeks in Addis, Nazaret and Ambo.
The first few days we spent with the Women at Risk in Nazaret, Ethiopia. Every one of these women were former prostitutes. One of the days we surprised the women with a Spa day. They had their nails painted (they LOVED the glitter apparently) and were given facials. During this time, Beth, Gwen and I washed clothes for the women and children. No washer and drier, no washboard, simply a bucket for soap and a bucket for rinsing. Those hours gae me a new perspective on how easy we have it here. The amount of clothes we washed took 2.5+ hours and equated to about 1 full laundry load. These women go through this every week. On their hands and knees scrubbing. Many of the women support themselves by selling scarves. Our group brought back 250 of these scarves to be sold online. www.mochaclub.org If you buy one, chances are my friends and I brought them back!!! :)
The second week of the trip we spent with Compassion children and the Street Boys. On our final night, I had the privilege of sitting with Danny, Gaytar (2 of the boys) as well as Beth and Anna Marie (2 teammates). Beth asked Danny what he wanted to do when he grew up and Danny answered that there was essentially nothing he could do because he was trapped and no one loved him. Beth and Anna Marie sat there and unabashedly poured out the gospel of Love to these boys. They made it known how much we love them and had come from across the world for them and this moment. Danny and Gaytar heard that as much as we love them, that they are loved so much more by Jesus and how special they are to the Lord. To simply go there and leave it at that moment is not enough - for any of us.
I have so many more stories to tell you - funny (driving on a mountain side to Wenchi), touching (how the Lord is doing a miraculous work there) or just plain ridiculous (our Japanese stalker situation)... If you want to hear more, email, text, or call. Whatever!
We have seen and are now responsible. Ephesians 3: 14-21... "...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen"
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