Wil visits Merkato!

Wil Crooks, a partner with Children's HopeChest, led a Vision Trip to Ethiopia a few weeks ago. (Vision Trips are for church leaders who are eager to learn more about the needs of kids around the world how their congregations can get involved.) If you were at the kick-off reception we held in March, you will remember Wil as the all-around-cool-guy who so eloquently spoke to us about CHC's work in Ethiopia.

While in Ethoipia, the team visited our care point - the Merkato slum area! Wil got to spend the afternoon loving on and playing with about 20 kids from the sponsorship program. He and the team witnessed crushing desperation. The children in that area are particularly vulnerable to violence, neglect, and prostitution. Despite these incomprehensible hardships, their smiles are eager and eyes hopeful.

Would you consider making a difference in the life of one of them through sponsorship? Real change happens one child at a time. You can be the catalyst for that change.

Click here to see photos of children who are in need of a sponsor.

http://www.hopechest.org/community/merkato/sponsor/

Where Does Your Money Go?

We are so excited to be launching this sponsorship program. About 50 kids have been sponsored so far from the Merkato community in Addis Ababa. It is so exciting to know that many lives have been drastically changed already. Thank you sponsors!

We still have about 100 children who need sponsors. If you are interested in sponsorship, click on the link below and take a look at their profiles. We need your help!

http://www.hopechest.org/community/merkato/sponsor/

You may be wondering exactly where the $34/month sponsorship fee goes. 20% of the money is used to pay administrative costs for Children's HopeChest here in the U.S. They take seriously the responsibility of being good stewards of your money, and they use a lot of volunteer work to keep these costs at a minimum.

80% of every dollar goes to Ethoipia and is directly used to pay for the needs of the individual children.

Here is how the 80% breaks down:

In coming weeks we will be sharing more about what each of the individual components look like.

Madeline is 4

Is it possible that my baby girl is really four years old??? It has been a long time since I have written about my family, so I thought I would take this opportunity share a little update about my sweetie pie.

• Madeline amazes me by how quickly she picks things up and how eager she is to learn new things. She can write her name (and the whole alphabet!), she is starting to sound out words, and she understands simple math and can do problems using her fingers. Her memory and ability to learn impresses me.
• She loves to draw, and she and her daddy bond through his frequent drawing lessons.
• She is ALL GIRL - she loves all things pink and fluffy, loves to dress up, loves playing with her doll house, princesses, and ballet stuff.
• She has an adventurous spirit that nicely balances out her girliness. She loves climbing, running, and being outside.
• She is independent, self motivated, and a little on the shy side. I see myself in her in so many ways every day.

We had a Princess Party on Saturday, and she loved every minute of it. I have never been a girly girl myself, and I used to roll my eyes at things like tea parties, dress up clothes, and princess obsession. A few years ago I never would have dreamed that I would be joyfully arranging for a couple of the REAL Disney princesses to make an appearance at our house. I adore my girly girl, and it was such fun to see her eyes light up at the surprise of Sleeping and Beauty and Snow White pulling into our drive way. "So that's their car...." she whispered to herself in amazement as she watched them get out of their beige Volvo. :)

The cousins with the princesses - truly a "magical" experience :)

My Sleeping Beauty with the REAL Sleeping Beauty

Princess cake pops :)

A few family shots:

And, of course, birthday breakfast at Waffle House

We Need Sponsors!

Have you been thinking about sponsoring a child? We have 105 more children who are waiting for sponsors. Is God asking you to be one of them? Let me tell you a little bit more about the program….

All of the kids live in the Merkato area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – a slum area near the Merkato (market). The area is densely populated, and there is a high rate of HIV/AIDS. Prostitution is rampant – this area has the largest “red light district” in all Ethiopia. Many children are forced to work, prostitute, themselves, or live on the streets at an early age. The average income per day is less than 50 cents!

The children who have been enrolled for sponsorship range in age from three years old to fifteen years old. All of them who have sponsors will be given the life-changing opportunity to receive an education, receive daily feeding, and have access to health care. In addition, they will receive school uniforms and supplies every year. But most importantly, they will learn about Jesus Christ through discipleship groups at the local Protestant church.

Sponsors will have the opportunity to write to your child (via email that will be translated and given to them). We would also love for you to join us on a future mission trip to Ethiopia to meet your child and show them the love of Jesus in person. We will be helping to lead several trips over coming years.

Take a look at the photos of the kids who need sponsors by clicking on the link below.

http://www.hopechest.org/community/merkato/sponsor/

I have spent so much time looking at all of the photos. I love each one of these precious kids. This handsome guy is named Minase, and he is 7 years old.

Success!

Praise the Lord! We had a wonderfully successful kick off event on Sunday evening. It was such an indescribable blessing to see a room filled with 50-60 people who were eager to hear about Children's HopeChest and the kids in Ethiopia who need our help.

We are thrilled that about 45 children have been sponsored so far. BUT we still have 105 more who still need sponsors! It is a huge task, but we trust that God knows who each one will be.

The food table

A couple of my awesome helpers getting food ready

Love this couple!

Door prizes and Go Seek Love T-shirts

A beautiful sight - child profiles disappearing from the wall as families choose the children that they will sponsor. This brings tears to my eyes.

A few of the beautiful ladies from my community group

Benjamin and his best buds - twin boys from Ethiopia who are just like him - Crazy!

More info to come soon about how you can sign up to sponsor a child in Ethiopia through Children's HopeChest.

Tomorrow is the Day!

Don't forget - tomorrow is the Children's HopeChest reception! If you want to see better lives for disadvantaged children in Ethiopia, please join us and find out what you can do. You can make a huge difference in the life of a child.

Where: Grace Community Church (follow the signs to the Pine Room upstairs)

When: Sunday March 4th, 4pm-5pm

See you there!

Door Prizes!

Don’t forget about our reception on March 4th at Grace Community Church from 4 pm-5pm. You will have the opportunity to learn about how you can make a huge difference in an Ethiopian child’s life. We will be talking about mission trips planned to visit our sponsored children too!

There will be great door prizes!

- A Tom’s Shoes gift card

- Ethiopian coffee

- Books written by Tom Davis (CEO of Children’s HopeChest)

- Africa related T-shirts

Also, everyone who signs up to sponsor a child at the reception will receive a Go. Seek. Love. T-shirt!

Your chances for winning will be great, so come join us

Where: Grace Community Church (5711 Granny White Pike, Brentwood, TN 37027)

When: Sunday March 4th, 4pm-5pm