Ethiopian Friends

My friend, Tiebebu, is an orphan living in Addis. He is one of the sweetest and most genuine kids I've ever met. He has such a kind, loving, heart. I can't imagine the pain he feels knowing he was abandoned, and no one wanted him.

Debora works at Mission Ethiopia. I first met her while she was preaching it up during Mission Ethiopia's daily devotional. Her passionate tone, and intense body language while she preached was something I will always remember. Debora's love for Jesus shines when you see her.

This is my good friend Mikias. Mikias was our translator. This trip I really got to know him. Growing up, Mikias was thrown in prison multiple times, stoned, and mobbed out of his own home for loving Jesus. But that didn't stop him from telling others about what Jesus had done for them. Every time we would eat, Mikias would make me eat his meal first. He always gave me his drink. If I said I was cold, he would take off his shirt and give it to me. Mikias knows how to love like Jesus loved. I miss him so much.

Kasa is a leper. He has no fingers, but still makes rugs. He is one of the men that work for Mission Ethiopia. Every time I passed by his work station he would wave and have a huge grin on his face as I yelled, “Kasa!”. His wife recently died. Kasa loved her so much. As he told are team about it, he started to cry. He is one of the few men that haven't left their wives. He is struggling to pay his rent (less than $20 a month), so the women at Mission Ethiopia are chipping in to help him.

I feel in love with these two souls- Tigist and Temeshen. They are full of so much energy and fun. Tigist would always make sure the kids wouldn't steal my things. She would yell at them and defend me. When my hair fell in my face she would always gently push it behind my ear. Every day in Korah I never left her side. I miss her so much. Their father abandoned them and their mom works for Mission Ethiopia, so I know she is getting food. I am grateful for Mission Ethiopia being in their lives.

Beza works for the guest home through Mission Ethiopia. She is one of the better off Ethiopians but has one of the most generous hearts. One lady we met was only 18, got raped, had a kid, and her family left her. They had no food or clothes and were clearly dying. Beza took the clothes in her closet and gave them to this lady. I love her so much.

This is my friend Meskyrem and her mom, I hung our with them everyday. Meskyrem is best friends with Tigist. She has an older and younger sister. Her father left them. Meskyrems mom luckily got a job working with Mission Ethiopia. Without it she would most likely be begging and sorting through trash. Meskyrem is such a leader, I see so much potential in her.

The person in the blue shirt is Anguach. I got to visit her closet size home while I was in Ethiopia. She has only been working for Mission Ethiopia for two weeks. She was in a bad car accident were her husband for 20 years died, along with her new born baby. Anguach is like the mom to her small street. Children came and went and she provided them with food. The community of Mission Ethiopia has really helped her bring healing. She also makes amazing coffee(:

Our van just started to roll out of Korah. These three little girls, Tigist, Meskyrem, and Lydia, I hung around every day. Tears were streaming as I said goodbye. I couldn't stand leaving them, how many other people have they seen leave? I took out my camera in an effort to make them smile. This is the picture I snapped.

Tigist

What do you do when this little girl hands you some of her popcorn to eat?

This beautiful girls name is Tigist. My friend Ann Rae feel in love with her last year. Tigist's parents both died. She is now living with her grandmother who happens to be handicap. Because of this, she doesn't have a job. No job, means no money, which means no food.

Tigist walks in Anguach's small closet size home, and sits on Corey's lap. You can not take the smile of this girls face. Her pants are so big, they are falling off her body. While the red shirt she is wearing she's worn for days. She grabs my hand to hold- a sign of friendship in there culture.

Anguach is a women who recently started working at Mission Ethiopia. We are her first home visit. She starts the coffee ceremony. Roasting the coffee beans, and preparing the popcorn. Once the popcorn is done, she gets up and passes it out to everyone. Tigist grabs a hand full. I wonder when the last time she ate. I wonder if this is all she will have today. All these thoughts enter my mind.

Tigist starts to eat a little, but is trying to feed Corey and myself with her popcorn. Her popcorn. This little girl, who probably doesn't know when her next "meal" will be, is feeding us well feed Americans. How many children her age are sharing their food? Especially in Africa.

I had this memory come to me again in a dream. I woke up like it was a nightmare- my heart sunk in my chest. It was probably guilt. How much food we have is sickening. But not just that, I can't tell you how many times I've seen people, at lunch time at school, refuse to give someone their food- because it's theirs, they own it. But now I see, we don't own food. Food owns us.

Tigist has had days were she's starved. She experienced hunger like we never can imagine. But food doesn't own her. This five year old, not knowing when the next meal will come, feed us Americans. Why? Well because I think she has a better understanding of what this life is all about. She wanted to feed us because she cared about us, she loved us. She saw past her need, and was looking out for ours.

Tigist need for food is so much larger than ours could ever be, but still she shared. I have so much to learn from this girl. Now, tomorrow I embark on a fast, from food.

Jesus, 
Please show me my heart. Show me my need for You. Just like Tigist, help me look past my need for the people around me. Through this fast let me learn Your heart. Reveal to me Your Will for my life. Put inside me a passion. God you are a consuming fire, consume my inner thoughts, the depths of my heart, and consume my dreams. Father, Your Will be done. Open up a door for me to walk through, but don't open one if you don't want me to walk through it. Thank you for putting Tigist and this story on my heart. Thank you for showing me my poverty. Thank you for the example you set for me, Jesus. Your Will be done in everything. Prepare us for what you want to do in us this summer. I love you.
Kirstin.