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I returned from Africa one month ago. It was a difficult and wonderful trip. Ethiopia, in her vastness and beauty is a thorn in my heart. Kenya, even in the chaos of Nairobi, brings me joy. The feelings come because of both the challenges and fulfillment of reaching out to orphans and children that have lived in destitute situations. To see them rise above their desperate situations once they are offered a chance is a gift more precious than any possession one could own.
I landed on American soil discouraged from the suffering I saw among refugee children. I have been continually questioning, “What am I supposed to do with this information?!”.
With time the sadness started to ebb away. I now am able to recall some of the priceless moments we had upon on this journey…
One such moment was watching James, one of our American team members. James, had a dreadful childhood growing up. Pain from those events caused the doors of his heart to slam tightly shut.
Then, there is Hagos, an Eritrean refugee. Hagos, a Christian, had barely escaped with his life from Eritrea after being threatened with beatings and prison. His charge??
He attended a prayer meeting. Religious persecution is a part of daily life in Eritrea. Hagos ran for his life and has lived in a refugee camp for nine years. He is a man that could have shut those heart doors tightly to protect himself from pain. Instead his heart is open and full of light and life. Jesus, the light of the World shines from Hagos. He has his share of hardships as he does not know if his family is dead or alive. He misses home. He is not allowed to work in the local economy and survives from meager rations…yet he has this amazing faith and joy that bubbles out of him and he has the desire to see others experience the same.
James was in tears while listening to Hagos’ story. He realized he was not alone in suffering but that there are others who have it worse, yet possess joy. This, as well as other experiences, and the love of God transformed James before our eyes. His hardened heart melted and we watched as if a balm was being applied which was bringing healing to his wounds. He called home and told his wife,
Lost shoe
When you are an unaccompanied refugee and you lose a shoe you wait. There is not an extra pair on the shelf and there is no mom to go buy another pair. “We are rich, we have everything we ever need and let us never complain again!”. He gave generously of his money to those in need, and he joyfully offered a helping to everyone around. He left Ethiopia not only knowing He is loved by God but feeling it as well. He left determined to find his estranged family and to make amends. On this trip he found forgiveness for himself and for others which is a priceless gift.
Some of the other priceless moments on the trip were:
Distributing new t-shirts, a bar of soap, toothbrush and toothpaste to each child in the Transition Center and refugee camps. You would have thought we were handing out bars of gold instead of bars of soap by watching the expressions of the youth. Some of the little boys that got the soap immediately ran behind the dorm, stripped down, soaped up, rinsed with their bucket of water and came out shiny and clean wearing their new t-shirts. They then proceeded to go and "hide" their small bags of goodies beneath a water storage area, in the branches of trees, in a hole in the ground or wherever they thought they
could keep it safe from being stolen. There are no dressers or drawers or boxes or anything to store their few items.
Delivering "One World Futbals" (www.oneworldfutbal.com), which are almost indestructible. If you want to find a way to bring instant joy to the boys in the orphanages and the slum...drop a soccer ball in front of them. If you want to see amazement, drop one that is almost impossible to puncture!
Donating Luci lights (www.mpowered.com)...solar powered lamps that weigh only a few ounces and collapse into a one inch disk. When we delivered one to a family in the slums their 13 year old boy exclaimed, "Wow, now I can do my homework in the evening!". Without electricity lights go out when the sun goes down which is around 7 p.m. year round. The gift of light is valued greatly and we were able to deliver 100 of these lights! As I write with light of my bedside lamp that there are are over 100 people that are also able to read in the evening because they now have light. There are widows and orphans that have switched from candles to solar and are loving it!
Shoe shopping with 7 of our sponsored girls in Kenya. What do you get when you take 7 girls into a shoe shop? Chaos and giggles! They all needed new school shoes which are standard hard, black shoes and I allowed them to pick out a pair of cute shoes as it is rare for them to get anything that is brand new. 13 pair for $200 was pretty good but the bliss it brought those girls is a feeling I will forever cherish. I understand girls...I understand!
Welcoming 36 new girls into the Talitha Koum Rescue Center was another highlight. Joyce is one of our new girls. Her mother recently died and she was sent to her grandmothers to live. The grandmother is old and frail so Joyce was then sent to live with an uncle in the slums. A friend asked us if we could take Joyce as no one in her family had the funds to send this orphaned girl to school. We were honored to offer this 14 year old girl that has suffered enough a place at the rescue center. She can now sleep peacefully knowing she has a safe place to stay and
HOREC children
These are some of HOREC's children walking home from school. all of her needs are going to be met.
Thank you to all who donate to ITHM to help us rescue the orphans and destitute children. Together, we are investing in treasures far more valuable any jewel or holiday or IRA. These are investments that are changing the world!
We are focusing this summer on raising funds to purchase a van for HOREC orphanage. Thirteen of their
forty children suffer from HIV/AIDS and must be taken to the hospital on a monthly basis for check ups. They do not all fit in the orphanage car that seats
five. It makes transportation difficult as the kids are not strong enough to walk to the point where they can get public transportation. Also, when they are feeling weak from their medicine they often miss school as it is over 1 mile away and they are too weak to walk. If we can get them a van then the kids have a daily ride to and from school as well as reliable transportation to the hospital. It would be great to get a vehicle soon as the rainy season will soon be upon them. It will also help the other little
One World Futbol
These little guys at HOREC orphanage were so excited to get to play with the new balls all by themselves while the big kids were at school. kids as walking in the rain and mud to/from school proves to be a challenge. A good used vehicle costs around $18,000 and a new van costs $30,000.
If you want to donate towards the van or to our general fund which helps with various needs please make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE check to:
ITHM
23223 S. Warmstone Way
Katy, TX 77494
OR, you can donate on-line at www.facebook.com/ITHMinc and click the "Make a Donation" button.
Thank you greatly!
Also, thanks to everyone who donated for supplies in Ethiopia! Land breaking is supposed to happen this week to build a dorm for the refugee girls. It will even have beds, which is a step up from what they have now! I can just picture the comfort they will receive transitioning from a cement floor to a mattress!
Thanks again!
Jennifer Phillips Lawrence
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