Loving and Giving Hope - YL Ethiopia
We are so excited to have a guest writer, Moges Beressa, International Regional Director from Young Life Ethiopia, contribute to our blog! For additional information, check out this blog written by Moges and Suzanne Williams (Southern Div Capernaum Coordinator) about Moges' vision for every leader in Ethiopia praying for a relationship with a kid with disability!
It was 10 months back when we found this rehabilitation center in the capital city Addis Ababa. The center is run by a local NGO called ALEMACHIN. This organization works for the whole country helping kids who are born with deformed hands and legs. A hospital near by the center (Paulos Hospital) does all of the surgery for kids and the rehabilitation center takes care of them until they fully recover. But, as we observed many of them stay forever because their parents or relatives never
come back to get them.
These kids were left by their parents or relatives and used to beg by the side of the road for their whole life. While they were there they were abused, left alone and no one took responsibility for them because of their disabilities. As a call we have for every kind of kid in the mission, it was a great opportunity to serve them. The first time when we went, it was really so touching and heart breaking, seeing kids with sadness, confusion, never having experienced love and without hope. It was really breaking our hearts. We are grateful for Hanna, our disability champion, who put a lot of effort in to let these kids be visited and loved. What a tremendous work Hanna and Jerry did this Ethiopian year, loving and giving hope for hopelessness each week!
After this, we were all in tears especially when we saw kids laughing, with a beautiful smile on their face, dreaming and saying I want to be a pilot…etc, knowing there are some who now understand that Jesus loves them unconditionally and takes care of them. What a beautiful scenario! I remember when I talked to one of the kids, he was speaking my tribal language and he was smiling and laughing after I spoke with him with a few words that I know. It was a great reminder to him that he
is never alone, with joy on his face and love in his eyes.
Last May we were praying for the chance to do camping where they are staying since it’s hard to move them to another place. By the permission of the organization we decorated their bedrooms, dining rooms, club house, play ground and we did a two day camp. It was so amazing and a great time! We had such a big number of kids who had never heard of Jesus or what He had done for them. By the end, it was so beautiful when we saw them fall in love with Him forever.
It was 10 months back when we found this rehabilitation center in the capital city Addis Ababa. The center is run by a local NGO called ALEMACHIN. This organization works for the whole country helping kids who are born with deformed hands and legs. A hospital near by the center (Paulos Hospital) does all of the surgery for kids and the rehabilitation center takes care of them until they fully recover. But, as we observed many of them stay forever because their parents or relatives never
These kids were left by their parents or relatives and used to beg by the side of the road for their whole life. While they were there they were abused, left alone and no one took responsibility for them because of their disabilities. As a call we have for every kind of kid in the mission, it was a great opportunity to serve them. The first time when we went, it was really so touching and heart breaking, seeing kids with sadness, confusion, never having experienced love and without hope. It was really breaking our hearts. We are grateful for Hanna, our disability champion, who put a lot of effort in to let these kids be visited and loved. What a tremendous work Hanna and Jerry did this Ethiopian year, loving and giving hope for hopelessness each week!
After this, we were all in tears especially when we saw kids laughing, with a beautiful smile on their face, dreaming and saying I want to be a pilot…etc, knowing there are some who now understand that Jesus loves them unconditionally and takes care of them. What a beautiful scenario! I remember when I talked to one of the kids, he was speaking my tribal language and he was smiling and laughing after I spoke with him with a few words that I know. It was a great reminder to him that he
Last May we were praying for the chance to do camping where they are staying since it’s hard to move them to another place. By the permission of the organization we decorated their bedrooms, dining rooms, club house, play ground and we did a two day camp. It was so amazing and a great time! We had such a big number of kids who had never heard of Jesus or what He had done for them. By the end, it was so beautiful when we saw them fall in love with Him forever.
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