Mother's Day ...

 

It's Mother's Day and I'm teasing my youngest as he excitedly holds out an envelope for me to open. 

 

"What's it say Mom?!"  he asks and I pretend like I can't read it ...

"To Mom, love Jayden?" I ask ...

"No try again!", he says.  "To Mom, love Maea?"  I question.

I run through all the kids' names and finally say ... "I'm not sure what it says."

He snort laughs and says, "It says Wesley!" as pleased as can be. 

I read his note out loud and come to the last line. 

I pause for effect, his eyes on my face, and I make a frowny face and say "How come you called me "Smort", that's not very nice."  And he giggles ...

 

Then he hands me one more envelope and I unveil the necklace he made at school (Thank you Mrs. Sanderson!) and proudly clasp it around my neck.

 

 

We finish lunch and off the kids go, tummies full, without a care in the world, to play with friends and do the carefree things kids do on a sunny day ...

 

I take care of a few emails, catching up on questions from sponsor families, looking through photos to find a picture of a specific child for a new sponsor family ...

 

And my eyes pause on a photo and I think of these moms in Ethiopia ...

 

The difficult choices they have had to make.

 

The fear, gnawing at their hearts like the hunger gnawing in their bellies.

 

Some who have had to make the most difficult of choices ... to give up a child, choosing life for them by giving them up.

 

And others who have watched a child waste away from an illness that could have been cured by a basic antibiotic ...

 

or from malnutrition that has wasted their bodies ...

 

Sometimes when we meet the moms of the kids who attend Kind Hearts or Trees of Glory CarePoints, they weep openly as they recount their past fears.  Babies withering away, single moms alone in the world, no hope for their future and the future of their precious kids.

 

They want what all moms want ... healthy kids full of hope.  Opportunities for a better life.  A good education.  A care-free childhood without fear, without hunger, without hopelessness ...

 

And because so many moms and dads here have chosen to come alongside moms and dads there ... the kids at Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory CarePoints in Ethiopia,

 

all four hundred of them ...

 

... can finish lunch and off the kids go, tummies full, without a care in the world, to play with friends and do the carefree things kids do on a sunny day ...

 

and these moms smile with confidence because they have hope for their children's future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goosebumps rippled on my arms ...

Holding my hands, she struggled to find words.  To find words in English.

I asked again if I should get a translator.  And she shook her head firmly, "No."

She swallowed hard and we settled into the shade of the building, with the well visible just beyond the fenceline. 

Sun glaring, heat radiating from the dry ground, and the musical sound of water splashing, women talking and toddlers laughing.

As we watched, Simret's eyes continued to well up with tears.  I pulled her closer and said, "It's ok, tell me when the words come to you."

She started again ...

It was a familiar story, one I had heard bits and pieces of before, but there was more ...

Simret had left a good government job to come out into this arid, desert-like place alone.  To care for children, for orphaned and destitute children.  No running water at the time.  And no electricity. 

The government had an abandoned property, with broken and dilapidated buildings that could be refurbished over time.  A well was once drilled on the property but it had been abandoned, filled in and vandalized.

In broken English, starting and stopping and searching for the right words she explained ...

"I awoke one night to hear the voice of God. 

Telling me to care for His children. 

Children in this remote area that needed care, needed help.  Beautiful, precious children made in His image, who He loves. 

And the local villagers too. 

Widows and families living in such poverty with no hope. 

Poverty in spirit too, without knowledge or understanding of God."

Her voice hitched in her throat again and tears ran down her face as she gestured to the well. 

Water gushed and flowed from the taps.

"He told me," she said.  "He told me ... they will come to you for water."

And they have.  Trees of Glory has become an oasis, a sanctuary, in this dry desert place.

In this area that is predominantly muslim or animist (those who assign spirits and divinity to natural or inanimate objects like animals or trees or rocks or rivers), the CarePoint's Christian foundation was not always greeted with acceptance or warmth.

Initially there was some hostility, and some families removed their children when they found out Simret's Christian beliefs.  Choosing hunger, dirty water and no education rather than have their children exposed to Christian teachings.

But that was early, when the CarePoint was first being established.

Now with so many benefits for the surrounding villages ... clean water, access to medical care, counseling for young mothers, incredibly valuable education for children along with milk, chickens, eggs and produce becoming available in the local markets to supplement their own nutrition ... and Simret's respectful, gentle nature ... the surrounding communities have embraced the CarePoint and have befriended Simret as one of their own.

The women at the well turn and wave to Simret, cross their arms over their shoulders and give a little bow, a bob in her direction.  To me it looks like they are sending her a hug.  She puts her hands together as if to pray and gestures toward heaven.  They grin and nod and raise their own hands to heaven.

Simret gestures toward the little mud and stick structure being built at the center of the CarePoint.  A small building with a traditional thatch roof and a mud bench around the perimeter inside.  She is building a church because families have asked to be able to come and worship together here.

And then she goes on to finish what she is trying to tell me.  Something very personal and profound ...

She continued, "It has been fulfilled.  God told me ... "They will come to you for water...but I will give them LIVING WATER"."

Goosebumps rippled on my arms,

my throat closed up

and tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over.

It HAS been fulfilled.

As these families come to the CarePoint for water, Simret is sharing and living and demonstrating the Gospel to them and it is LIVING WATER ...water that doesn't just quench thirst once, but living water that fills and fulfills and flows like a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

John 4:5-14
So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. ⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)  ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

How things had changed here ...

Our footsteps kicked up little puffs of dust as we walked along the fenceline at Trees of Glory CarePoint in Ethiopia. 

I shielded my eyes from the harsh sun and my fingertips grazed my nose and cheekbones to see if I was getting a sunburn.  I felt in my pocket for a tube of chapstick to soothe my dry lips.  My steps jarred sharp stones loose from the dry dirt and they rattled down the slope.

Simret pulled me along by my hand, intent on telling me something important as we stopped to watch women filling large yellow jugs with crystal clear, cold water.  In this hot, arrid terrain, even the sound of splashing water was refreshing.

Women and small children gathered at the water-point, talking animatedly.  We watched as jugs were filled and hoisted on their backs to be carried home.  Water continued to gush from the spigots as toddlers washed their hands and put their mouths under the water.  Where the water hit the ground, it splashed and sprayed creating a cool mist.  I was mesmerized by the sound and the sight of water against this desert backdrop.

We paused in the shade of a building to watch and I marvelled at how things had changed here. 

A few years earlier, Simret had felt a calling to leave her government job, go out into the countryside and start this CarePoint for orphaned and destitute children.  The government provided the land and buildings ... and 84 children were assigned to her care... to feed, clothe and educate.

It wasn't easy.  No electricity, a harsh environment and water for nearly 100 children had to be carried on the backs of donkeys to the CarePoint every day.  A year ago, I could see the worry and the strain on Simret's face.  Today her eyes glistened with tears, a huge smile on her face as she pressed my hands in hers.

She had something important to tell me and I could see the emotion welling up inside her as she swallowed hard and pulled me close. 

To be continued ....

Balancing on a razor thin edge ...

Your prayers and concern and encouraging emails and texts have been very appreciated over the last few days.  Many of your texts simply said ... "I don't know the details of what has happened, but know that I am praying for you."  And we have felt those prayers ...

As of tonight, my mom is no longer in critical condition and is on the road to recovery!

Branches needed trimming. A 7' step ladder would do the trick.  Nobody home but her.  Lean a little too far from too close to the top ... landing on the concrete, on her back, unconscious with a shattered left elbow and a shattered right wrist.  Someone driving by saw the toppled ladder and her crumpled form and stopped to help.

Two nights in the hospital, surgery to rebuild the joints and one tough little woman is feeling broken and weak.  We just didn't yet know how broken.

Her condition continued to decline over the weekend until Monday morning dawned with her too weak to move or even breathe.  In and out of consciousness.  Trying to help her to the car to bring her to the ER only made her gasp for air.  Ambulance called and fear sets in for my dad and my sister who now realize the seriousness.

X-rays, CT scans, lab tests - multiple blood clots throughout her lungs, low platelets, elevated heart enzymes, too low oxygen levels.  Doctors and nurses talking in hushed tones and moving quickly.  She balances on a razor thin edge of life or ...

Prepare for the worst.  How do you prepare for that??  What's wrong? What's happening? Why the clots?  We don't yet know.  It's a mystery.  We're trying to get to the bottom of it ... and then a breakthrough.  And things start to turn around quickly.

I left work abruptly yesterday and drove the 3 hours to be with my family.  By then, things had started to turn. She was barely lucid, barely coherent, still struggling to breathe and suck enough oxygen into her lungs ... but the counts and charts and graphs were steadily improving.

Sitting in a quiet and darkened house last night, after phone calls had been made and everyone updated, my dad looked at me with weary eyes and said "I'm afraid.  I'm afraid to hope." 

I said, "I was there, I heard what you heard and saw what you saw.  We have good reason to hope." 

And he nodded, and slept well for the first time in a week.

This morning, she was sitting up in bed, nurses hovering close checking IVs and chart readings. Her eyes had sparkle and she was already worrying about my drive back home and for everyone to get back to their work and families and how much coffee my dad was drinking. 

Trying to get her to smile, I told her if she was ready for a big burrito or pizza, I would hide one in my purse and sneak it in for her.  She wrinkled her nose at me. 

My brother, dad and I leaned in close around her bed this morning after the doctor consult to share the good news with my mom,  My sister walked in with wide eyes at her obvious progress overnight and I said, "This is nothing, she's already been jogging the halls and dancing in her bed.  Show her your shoulder shimmy, Mom!"  She furrowed her forehead at me in disapproval and then smirked and gave us a shoulder shimmy as we burst out laughing.

She's got a long way to go ... but she's on the mend.

Thank you for your prayers and please keep her and her outstanding team of doctors and nurses in your prayers as she continues her recovery over the next six weeks.

"My heart is encouraged and challenged ..."

Tobi Wright recently travelled to Ethiopia for her adoption and she was able to visit Trees of Glory CarePoint and spend time with the staff and kids.  Here is her update from her recent trip ...

My husband David and I were in Addis a few weeks ago to meet the son we are adopting. We planned a visit to Trees of Glory as part of our time in Ethiopia. We took lots of pencils for the kids (for their schoolwork) and with Hilena's (HopeChest staff member) assistance we also bought 2 lambs and 2 bags of bananas and mangoes for the children.

 

I've been following Karen Wistrom’s blog, Family From Afar, for several months and wanted to do something to bless Simret because of her service to the precious children in her care.

The drive through the countryside was beautiful. We chatted with Hilena about Simret and the ministry. We saw men farming rocky fields and young children herding sheep and goats.  

Simret and Hilena gave us a tour of Trees of Glory. We were amazed by all God has done! 

This building housed water storage tanks to provide clean water for the children of Trees of Glory and the surrounding community.

 

This is the spacious library.  Simret is praying for chairs to fill this room and school books.

 

The church building where Simret teaches the children about Jesus and leads them in worship.

 

Precious children walked toward us as they made their way to school.

 

 

 

Many chickens provide fresh eggs for the children each morning. Several cows are on site to provide the children with fresh milk.

As we walked, Simret reached out her hand to steady me on the rocky path. There are many words that describe Simret; compassionate, loving, selfless, joyful, gentle, beautiful inside and out.

 

 

The Lord truly shines through these obedient women. God has given them their hopes and dreams for the TOG children. They desire to seek out His plans for these precious little ones.

We met a few cooks and teachers. It was a privilege to see them lovingly serve the children, each of them doing their job so well. The children were calm and happy, a picture of well-loved children whose needs are being met. 

 

 

Although we had packed a lunch, we were served a delicious traditional meal with injera and enjoyed visiting with Simret and Hilena more as we ate. Several children sat in the dining area to eat their lunch. The children are fed in shifts.

This little darling quietly walked in and stayed with us for awhile. So sweet! We also saw some older girls moving around tending to their responsibilities. Simret acknowledged each child with love and acceptance.

 

After lunch we were given the treat of Ethiopian coffee with fresh cow's milk, yummy Macchiato.

Many of the children were attending school. They were delightful! They were attentive to their teacher and were obviously happy to be there. The teacher was a kind man and led them in a song for us. It was so nice to see them enjoying their time in school.

My heart is encouraged and challenged by Simret’s willingness to serve selflessly, to pray faithfully, to believe fully and to obey without hesitation. It was a privilege to spend time at Trees of Glory and see how God is pouring out His love and healing power on the children from the community. He is making Himself known to their families. God is using the lives of Simret, Hilena, the staff of TOG and HopeChest, the sponsors and volunteers to see that His children are cared for.