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Saturday, August 21, 2010

Eyasu's Hope


Imagine farming for a living in Southern Ethiopia. You are raising your 4 children with the help of extended family as your wife has passed away. Your brother and his wife live in the same village and have 4 children of their own, with one on the way. Your brother passes away and you begin to care for his children and their pregnant mother. 4 months after she gives birth to her 5th boy, she too passes away. You are now responsible for 9 children, one of them an infant. You work hard to provide for them, but it is difficult. You do your very best, but the baby is sick, really sick. Weighing only 16 pounds at 23 months old.
You ultimately relinquish this child in an effort to better provide for his needs, to save his life. This is a painful decision, evidence is shown in your eyes 13 months later when you see him again with his adoptive family in Addis.

You return to your village that is lacking in clean water and the only school for your children and nephews to attend ends in the 4th or 5th grade. You most likely think of the child that is no longer there, but hope he is healthy, happy.

What you don't know is that the family that adopted your nephew has a burning desire to do something in your country, has been praying for an opportuntity to give back, to provide sustainable help in someway since their first trip to Ethiopia two years ago.

You don't know that they have been divinely appointed to partner with an organization called A Glimmer of Hope. That they traveled with them to the Southern Region of Ethiopia to see the work they are doing. The family was told they didn't work in Sidama and doubted if they would any time soon, or ever. This organization does their due diligence and very carefully chooses what development associations they work with in country. Most of their partnerships are in the north, only recently working in the Dawro zone, in the Southern Region.

You don't know that a few details have changed to allow Glimmer to explore new areas in the south to work in and Sidama is one of them. You don't know that Gladney was instrumental in helping Glimmer know exactly where you live. You don't know that a car drove as far as one had ever driven in your district and then the occupants of that car walked an hour through beautiful, mountainous terrain.

You don't know until you see this.

A group of men walking towards your home.

You then begin to see HOPE. Hope that the water source your village currently uses will be replaced with crystal clear, clean water! That your children, the biological siblings of your nephew, and the children of your kebele will be able to get an education. You now see the bigger picture, the beautiful story of redeeming what was lost. Turning ashes into beauty. That your family is now knit perfectly together with a community of people in the States that simply can't NOT do someting to help.

Can you imagine???

More details to come, more amazing characters that have been permanently woven into our lives, and how YOU can help, coming next. We simply can't do this alone. We have a peace that those who are led to help, to change the lives of those from Gorche and Sidama, will come along side with us on this incredible journey!



41 comments:

Erica said...

Tears. Our God is a great big God. His perfect plan is far greater then ours ever could be. All because HE first loved us. Love you sister.

Traci said...

We're in. What can we do?

Janell said...

I'm loving HIS story Emily. Thanks for praying and then saying YES to God. Can't wait to read more. janellrink@blogspot.com

Kristi J said...

ahhhhh...i love it...amazing..kj

Christy. said...

I am choked up right now, what a beautiful story of how God works!

Bereket was 16 pounds at 26 months and his story shares similarities to Eyasu.

What a mighty God we serve and how comforting to know that He sees the whole picture laid out, before we can even dream it!

The Stums said...

This is a page turner, girl. Keep writing!!

becca albertson said...

tears!!!!!!!!!
oh boy. amazing. this needs to be a book. yes, it does!
love love.
becca

Birdie Pearl said...

Emily- tell more! I have tears in my eyes as I read this. Our God is AMAZING and the story of your family and your obedience to God is inspring.

Shawn and Jami said...

Love it Emily!!!! Looking forward to hearing more:)

Roeh Family Update said...

Goose bumps...hanging on the edge of my seat to hear more...and to know what we can do. LOVE your heart girl! Beauty from ashes, for sure:)

Joy

Heather said...

oh WOW! THIS IS THE BEST STORY EVER--- A TRUE STORY. Our God is so GOOD!!! Amazing. We can't wait to hear more... and opportunities to help!

Gayla said...

LOVE this. LOVE. LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!

My daughter is from The Sidama Zone. Please keep posting so we can all know how we can help!!!

Sara said...

Wow. I couldn't imagine. Thank you for writing so I can.

Cindy said...

This is amazing! Cannot wait to hear more!

Anonymous said...

love, love, love. And awaiting news of how we can help. I can't WAIT!!! xoxo

Amy said...

LOVE this Emily. I am so emotional reading the story unravel!

I have been reading your blog in google reader.. and am just now noticing your NEW fancy BLOG! Very big time... Very nice. :)

Sydney said...

Oh my. We just got the kids down and I was clicking through my blogroll and was NOT prepared for the tears that were ready and waiting to flow. How amazingly beautiful is this story- next chapter please!
(oh, and we are ready to help!)

"Are These Kids All Yours?" said...

AMAZING!!!! ONLY GOD!!!!

Sha Zam- said...

ANy idea of anyone/ group / interested in or could be persuaded to work in the Wolayta Area?

Wes and Layla said...

Wow! This is so inspiring, Emily! I wish we could meet up in Ethiopia, but I will be gone by October! Wishing you the best of luck with your endeavors! Our Little Man is from the Sidama region, too. You are doing great things! :)

Amy said...

So amazing! Our son is also from Sidamo ... Thanks for sharing. Amy Elder
www.ourtable4six.blogspot.com

Kim said...

I cannot even talk because the steady stream of tears have made a giant lump in my throat.
Oh Em ... keep writing.
I cannot wait to see read more of HIS story and how HE is using your family!
The ripple effect of adoption is amazing!
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

The B Family said...

Praising God and looking forward to the next installment and watching all of these pieces come to fit perfectly together! So exciting!

Ann Marie said...

Only God. Only God!

Annie said...

Beautiful and Wonderful and Amazing.

Julie said...

HI Emily,

We are waiting for an embassy date so that we can return to Ethiopia to get our son who was also born in the Sidama region. We would be very interested in hearing more. We are planning on taking our other kids back to Ethiopia some day, and I think it would be neat to go to the area from where our son came.

Oh, I love how God works.

lefevre1228@gmail.com

Holli said...

only God. amazing.

Cassandra Britt said...

Beautiful. We would love to be a part of Eyasu's Hope. Helen still loves to look at her buddy, Eyasu on your blog!

The Porter Family said...

AMAZING!!!

solas4me said...

Our God is an Awesome God!!
Looking forward to see what more he has in store for your family and the people he has called you to minister to. All for his Glory..

The Darlings

Jackie Harmon said...

Amazing God story! I love it! Can't wait to find out how I can help!

heather said...

wowowow.
Emily.
wowowow.

Jen said...

Goose bumps and I even know the story:0 Still waiting to get details about Bella from Gladney.

Hauswife said...

REDEMPTION! RESTORATION! GLORY TO GOD! Em, I'm in tears! Wow, God is so GOOD!

The Busters said...

Wow, what an amazing post. Our guy is also from Sidama and their stories are very similar so this has me all teary. So inspired by your family!

Gwen Oatsvall said...

you know i can't wait for this !!! we are all in here at 147 headquarters ... love ya sister !!!

Cloverland Farm said...

what an incredible story. & what a blessing that you all can be so intimately involved in something(s) so life changing. how absolutely thrilling!

Julie said...

Amazing!

HoodMama said...

Beautiful!!! Tears! I love this!

Cheryl said...

Emily! This is so amazingly AWESOME!!! I am so excited! I LOVE how the Lord is using your family in Ethiopia! Bless you for your faithfulness! GLORY to His name! Woo Hoo!!! This is exciting!

Kristy -Mom To 9 Blessings said...

Oh, what an amazingly beautiful story. An then to follow this post with your amazing Abe story. I love love love your family and your heart for the Lord. I LOVE that you see with kingdom eyes past your son to his family and village left behind and that you clearly see what a true miracle your precious Abe is today! Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us!
Love & Blessings, Kristy

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"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27
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