Honoring an Advocate

  By Randall Johnson

Nicci Feathers, a short term missions visitor to Onesimus, spoke about her trip to the Kiwanis Club of Germantown, TN, on May 24, 2012.  She shared passionately about her interaction with the children and how she immediately fell in love with them.  She shared specifically the story of Fikedu and Alemayu, two boys who found their way by God's providence to Onesimus and were ministered to.

Fikedu was a boy who initially would not warm up to the team.  He was very stand-offish and was obviously struggling to trust adults, especially these foreigners.  But when Nicci went again a year later, Fikedu was a changed person.  He had come to faith in Jesus Christ and was ready to share his story about losing both his father and mother to death and his grandmother sending him to Addis to live with an aunt.  The connection with his aunt did not take place.  He was only five years old and was forced to live on the streets.  The director of Onesimus, Nega, found Fikedu and invited him to the drop-in center, where he has been thriving on the love of the staff and the Lord Jesus.

Alemayu's story was shared in video as he was reunited with his mother.  He had been living in a rural community near Chencha when he was kidnapped and taken to Addis to work in a factory.  He escaped three years later but did not know how to get home.  He ended up at Onesimus, where Nega and Jonathan Bridges were able to piece together his story and make an attempt to restore him to his family.  This they did successfully, and the video captured them walking down the slope to his house from which his overwhelmed mother came and embraced her lost son and all those responsible for bringing him safely home.

Nicci did a great job of relating her passion for this ministry and her hopes of one day being a teacher at Onesimus.  She thanked the Kiwanis membership for their support of K-Kids at Germantown Elementary, who recently presented TFC with a check for $1,800 for Chicks-for-Change.  Cicely Jordan, who co-sponsors K-Kids with Nicci, and is also a teacher at Germantown Elementary, was presented with a plaque and letter from The Forsaken Children for her efforts at raising the $1,800 and encouraging these children to open their hearts to children around the world.  Kelly McGugan, who is leading a team from Central Church in Collierville, TN, to Addis this June, made the presentation.

K-Kids Part II

  By Randall Johnson

K-Kids, a group of select 2nd through 4th graders at Germantown Elementary school who have joined with the Kiwanis Club to serve underserved children, presented Heather McGugan of The Forsaken Children with a check for $1,800 on Friday, May 18.  This was the culmination of their work to promote "Chicks For Change" and raise money for the chicken hatchery in Chencha, Ethiopia, that our own Jon and Jess Bridges have started.

The purpose of this hatchery is to provide sustainable support for our partners in Ethiopia who work with at-risk children.  So it is a perfect match with the stated purpose of the Kiwanis Club and for the K-Kids group at Germantown Elementary school.

 

The children went above and beyond expectations and brought great joy to Ms. Jordan and Ms. Feathers, their sponsors for K-Kids.  Ms. Feathers is Nicci Feathers, who has been to Onesimus, our partner in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and worked with our children there.  She is planning on returning in June with a team from Central Church.

 

We are very grateful to the K-Kids group at Germantown Elementary and say thank you on behalf of the children of Ethiopia who will be beneficiaries of this generosity.  Together, we can make a difference.

Right Here, Right Now

"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.'" Genesis 12:1

Our pastor from our little church in Sanford, NC, Joshua Dickinson, and his family (wife and 4 children) boarded a flight on March 28th to Dakar, Senegal, in West Africa. They will spend a year in French language school before moving to a more remote location and living with the Mandinka, an unreached people group in Senegal.

Our pastor from our home church in Collierville, TN, Ernie Frey, announced a couple of weeks ago that he and his family (wife and 3 daughters) will be leaving the pastorate for full time mission work in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, beginning in August of this year.

We have been extremely blessed to sit under the teaching of two pastors who share our passion for missions and who live what they preach. They always encouraged their congregations to listen to God's will and calling on their lives, and then go do whatever He says. It just so happens that both of these families were called to full-time missions in Africa.

I can't wait to read the next blog post from the Dickinsons! And I have watched the podcast of the Frey family addressing the church about their calling to Ethiopia several times already (each time I’m in tears!).

I am excited for these new adventures and opportunities for these families. I am thrilled that they have heard clear direction from God and are taking action to accomplish His will for their lives. But, in many ways, I am jealous that they are “on the field”, doing the work that God has set out for them, while I’m “stuck” in Sanford.

You see, I already know that Ethiopia is where God has ultimately directed my family. We are just in a holding pattern as we finish a few things God directed us to accomplish in the states before returning to Africa.

I struggle almost daily with wanting to hurry things along. I just want to get to where I think God really wants me – to be ministering to the street kids IN Ethiopia. “Why are we still here? Why are we not back in Ethiopia?” “Come on, God! Let’s get to it.”

I believe God has a really good sense of humor. I also believe (or should I say believed) that He is gentle in His rebuke and correction of my thoughts and behaviors…

A couple of ladies from my church and I recently began a Bible study. Our leader, Sarah, decided to use the Priscilla Shirer Bible study The Resolution for Women based off the movie Courageous. The book encourages women to make 13 resolutions that will positively impact their relationships with God, their spouses and their children (if applicable), and the world around them.

Sounds really great, doesn’t it? When Sarah contacted me with the book she had chosen, I thought, "Awesome! I love Priscilla’s studies."

Then I read the first chapter and the first resolution:

I do solemnly resolve to embrace my current season of life and will maximize my time in it. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a spirit of contentment.

SAY WHAT?! I thought God was gentle with me! There is no way I can sign my name on THAT dotted line.

Since returning to the US (probably even before), I have lived in a spirit of discontent, constantly wanting to get to the next thing, cross something off the list, and get something done. All along I have not fully engaged in the world around me. I’ve been anxious to get to the next thing – anxious to get back to Ethiopia.

Doing God’s work in Ethiopia is a wonderful calling. Not always easy, but wonderful nonetheless. However, God has lessons, experiences, opportunities, and moments for me RIGHT HERE in Sanford, NC. These are the things I am missing as I long for “the land [he has shown] me.”

There is a reason and a purpose for why I am here right now instead of there.  I did eventually sign the dotted line. I resolved and committed to be satisfied in THIS place at THIS time.

God, help me to embrace where you have me, living and ministering in the here and now.

Rewards Day!

A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to attend a very special celebration honoring the academic achievements of many of our beneficiaries.  It was a Saturday morning, and, in addition to our beneficiaries, the Drop-in Center's compound was packed by the Onesimus staff, several teachers, and even some government officials. The half-way home kids put on a skit.  We heard encouraging words from one of the local government officials and several of the Onesimus staff members. Soft drinks and special cultural bread were served, and gifts were given to the top academic achievers. Fifteen boys and girls ranked in the top 10 of their classes - not bad for a bunch of former street kids. Several of the students were first in their classes. Tamrat received special honors for actually being first from his entire section.  Everyone had a good time at the celebration.

I hope that you enjoy the pictures below and will join us in celebrating the special achievements of this very special group of kids.

Two Worlds Collide

The minute I left Ethiopia last June, I began praying for God to show me every way possible I could advocate for the children I loved so dearly from thousands of miles away. I wanted everyone I knew and loved at "home" to love and care about the children the way I did. I shared stories with anyone who would listen. I longed for everyone to understand the great need that was in Ethiopia, even if their own eyes had not witnessed it. Some listened. Some did not. But, God continuously poured opportunities into my lap.

One of those opportunities was sharing in a place I least expected. As a public school teacher, I never dreamed that I would be able to share my stories with the children at school.  Luckily, God had things planned long before I ever traveled to Ethiopia.

In August of 2010, I became co-sponsor of our school's service club, Kiwanis' K-kids.  This club participates in a variety of service activities on a local, state, national, and international level. So, because of God's amazing provision, I was able to introduce the children in Ethiopia to a group of 50 4th and 5th graders here at home, sharing ways that they could help them!  I can't describe the way my heart swells to watch the kids I love here working and serving the kids I love all the way across the world. It is humbling, in fact, to know that God wanted this!

In October, I was able to share photographs and stories, and it was heartwarming to answer their questions and share with them how different things are in other places for children their age. Then, as a club, we decided to participate in the Chicks for Change campaign. They were so thrilled!  We collected empty milk jugs from the local Starbucks to use as our containers. Then the kids started collecting their change!

Also, our K-kids hosted a school-wide Chicks for Change campaign. Letters went home with over 800 students about Chicks for Change and its goal. Eight hundred new families learned about TFC and the work that is taking place in Ethiopia. God is so good. All week I watched as the change poured in! Each day the number grew and I thanked God for His provision and sovereignty.

Truthfully, I am overwhelmed by the way God has provided in allowing my two worlds to collide. I pray that He will continue to allow me to advocate for the children I love so. Listening and watching my students' excitement about being involved is absolutely amazing. Giving back is a good lesson for someone of any age, and, as they give to the children in Ethiopia, my students receive an invaluable lesson. My prayer is that God will continue providing ways for hundreds of people to learn about and support The Forsaken Children. Truthfully, I never dreamed that my students here would be able to help serve the children in Ethiopia. But, God allowed it and the GES Kiwanis K-kids were able to raise $1,828.38 for the Chicks for Change campaign. To God be the glory!

"'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then, the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:35-40

The 2012 change campaign is called Give Me Five.  Your change gives hope!  Please read more here.

Things to Come

It is so amazing to me when I am able to look back at my life and see the guidance of God's hand. Jon and I have joked for years that the time we spent in our primitive log cabin was the beginning of this incredible journey the Lord has started for us. We certainly didn't see the rural country side of Ethiopia anywhere in our future when we started the construction of the cabin or throughout the year or so that we lived there. Now, we can't help but see how the life that we lived way out in the countryside of Lee County, NC will mirror much of the way that we will live in Chencha, Ethiopia.

 The Kota Ganate Hatchery is set to break ground this summer and that means that our family will leave the relatively western comfort (when I say relatively I mean that it!) to head to Chencha and live on site with the farm and hatchery. The property granted to us by the local government in Chencha includes several small houses (Onesimus compensated the owners for the homes). It is one of these houses that will become our new home.

 Jon has casually been trying to prepare me for what our first months might be like after the move down south. In order to make the transition more positive he has been comparing it to the happy times that we had at the cabin. Recently, he mentioned that the house we will probably move into doesn't have any plumbing. His spin, “it will be like when we hauled water at the cabin.” He is right, we did haul water and groceries. We also spent our evenings reading by the small light of olive oil lamps. We loved it. I can honestly say my one complaint of our time in the cabin was the heat and humidity of the North Carolina summer. At least in Chencha I won't have to contend with any temperatures above 80°.

Another huge difference between our time in the cabin and our time in Chencha will be that during our time in the cabin we weren't parents. Dawit will certainly add a new level of challenges while adjusting to rural Ethiopian life.

For now I'm holding onto Jon's comparisons of our time off the grid in NC. We really don't know what our move will be like. Jon will preview the house next week and Dawit, Britta and I won't head down until probably May. No matter what awaits us in Chencha I know that God has been preparing us and that He will continue to guide us.

 “even there Your hand shall lead me; Your right hand shall hold me fast.”  Psalm 139:10

Moving on Along

It is so exciting to finally be at this point. When we topped the $30,000 mark last month we got the green light to move forward with this project. It seems like we've waited so long for this moment and it is finally here. This month has been really busy. Tarekegn, Kota Ganate's onsite manager, traveled to Addis Ababa and we've spent a lot of time together planning for the ground breaking that should take place in just a few weeks. We have been pricing and purchasing equipment, negotiating with building contractors, and doing lots of planning. Tarekegn and his assistant brought three of their staff to a local agriculture research station to receive training about hatchery operations.

This has all been great, but my favorite part is the tinkering. Of course, some equipment must be purchased, but in order to reduce costs and increase sustainability we have decided to make a few critical pieces ourselves using primarily locally available materials. The first of these are the incubators, hatchers, and brooders.

The first creation is a brooder. These are used to keep young chicks warm until their feathers come in. The first picture is in actual use. The second picture shows the working parts, which are a simple heater coil and temperature control. Everything was bought locally except for the temp. controller, which I brought from the US. The temp. controller more than doubled the cost. The next model will be all local and cost less than $20.

                     

This is the beginning of the incubator. I contracted a local cabinet maker to build the housing. I just received it on Monday.  Laid out in front are the heater, ventilation fans, and water pan. These are all installed now and testing is underway. Temperature and humidity controls are working like a charm. We are still working out how to get the ventilation and air circulation just right. Then we'll install the egg trays and do a real test.

In just a few days I'll be heading to Chencha to help break ground for the hatchery building. I'll also be bringing 300 chicks with me for a broiler grow-out trial. This trial will give is an opportunity to give our staff extra practical experience, to collect growth and economic data for the area, and to start training some local farmers.

There is so much going on here it's hard to list it all. Suffice it to say that with God's help and yours this project is moving on along in a big way. I am so excited to see what the next few months will bring.