Here's the latest list of needs for our trip:
Carnival/Craft Supplies Needed:
· Face paint & small water color paint brushes
· Feathers
· Glitter
· Craft paint (for masks)
· Plastic Masks
· Paper Mache supplies
· Pop up laundry baskets
· Blow up beach balls
· Craft bags to decorate
· Barrel of Monkeys game (s)
· Fishing magnet games
· Punchy Balloons
· Medium-Large size balloons
· Watercolor
· Markers
· Glue
· Brown Lunch bags
· Squirt guns
Personal Hygiene Items:
· Antibiotic Ointment
· Gauze
· Anti-fungal cream
· Anti-Bacterial Gel
· Shampoo
· Deodorant
· Soap
· Toothpaste
· Chapstick
At this time, we no longer need school supplies, books, crayons or paints.
Thank you for helping the children of Ethiopia!
Let us know if you have any questions!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
First Supply List
WOW-our trip is full...and it filled quickly! 8 of the coolest and most giving women on the planet are headed to Africa in March of 09 with us! We're excited!! We've been corresponding with the ladies at Adoption Advocates International...and here's what Layla House & Opportunity House needs the most:
That's it for now. Remember to keep our trip covered in prayer please!
- Pajamas of all sizes
- Deodorant for the older kids
- White board markers
- Balls of all shapes and sizes
- Jump ropes
- Plastic dishes and food for play
- Good quality small scissors for children
- Baby bottles
- Cloth diapers
That's it for now. Remember to keep our trip covered in prayer please!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Jennifer's Musings
In Africa,
I cradled an infant with huge brown eyes that stared into my soul as he quietly & slowly starved to death...and I silently screamed “Why God?”
In Africa,
I choked back tears while I held a sobbing 12 year old girl as we watched a younger child leave the orphanage with his new family.
and I silently pleaded “Please take her too”.
In Africa,
I learned to avert my eyes from the throngs of young homeless children as they wandered the streets begging for food or money
and silently I prayed “Please God keep them safe”.
In Africa,
I watched special needs children that lay on the floor all day because the resources to care for them are nonexistent
and silently I wondered “What will happen to these very special kids?”
In Africa,
I met incredible people who have joyfully given up their comfortable American lives to care for the millions of orphans and silently I questioned "Could I give that same sacrifice?”
In Africa,
I witnessed the ravages of AIDS amongst the children most of whom have cared for their parents till their deaths
and silently I chastised ”Why are we all so ignorant of this disease?”
In Africa,
I shared in much laughter, joy and friendship with the older orphans who were patiently waiting their turn for a new life in America.
and silently I paid homage” Thank you to the families willing to adopt these older children”.
In Africa,
I remained silent, overwhelmed by the poverty, famine, homeless children, lack of medical care and AIDS epidemic.
But I will remain silent no more.
I cradled an infant with huge brown eyes that stared into my soul as he quietly & slowly starved to death...and I silently screamed “Why God?”
In Africa,
I choked back tears while I held a sobbing 12 year old girl as we watched a younger child leave the orphanage with his new family.
and I silently pleaded “Please take her too”.
In Africa,
I learned to avert my eyes from the throngs of young homeless children as they wandered the streets begging for food or money
and silently I prayed “Please God keep them safe”.
In Africa,
I watched special needs children that lay on the floor all day because the resources to care for them are nonexistent
and silently I wondered “What will happen to these very special kids?”
In Africa,
I met incredible people who have joyfully given up their comfortable American lives to care for the millions of orphans and silently I questioned "Could I give that same sacrifice?”
In Africa,
I witnessed the ravages of AIDS amongst the children most of whom have cared for their parents till their deaths
and silently I chastised ”Why are we all so ignorant of this disease?”
In Africa,
I shared in much laughter, joy and friendship with the older orphans who were patiently waiting their turn for a new life in America.
and silently I paid homage” Thank you to the families willing to adopt these older children”.
In Africa,
I remained silent, overwhelmed by the poverty, famine, homeless children, lack of medical care and AIDS epidemic.
But I will remain silent no more.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Will You Join Us?
We have tentatively set the dates for the next trip to Africa: March 27-April 4, 2009. We have a growing list of projects to tackle which include orphanage relief, visiting the Women's Hospital, numerous other orphanages throughout Addis, and a trip to the countryside.
Please let us know if you're involved with a church group or other service organization-we have about a 30 minute presentation that we'd love to share with them! You can comment us and let us know to reach you!
SO--start praying, start reading, start thinking about if you'd like to join us! Let us know if you have any questions.
P.S. We've gotten this question a bunch: Can 1 person really make that much of a difference in Africa?? Well, consider:
One more person to:
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…"I made a difference for that one.”
Please let us know if you're involved with a church group or other service organization-we have about a 30 minute presentation that we'd love to share with them! You can comment us and let us know to reach you!
SO--start praying, start reading, start thinking about if you'd like to join us! Let us know if you have any questions.
P.S. We've gotten this question a bunch: Can 1 person really make that much of a difference in Africa?? Well, consider:
One more person to:
- Hold a baby
- Play with a toddler
- Raise more supplies
- Give more money
- Grasp more hands
- Supply more love
- Be the hands and feet of Jesus
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…"I made a difference for that one.”
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Pics from the Trip
We are home!
Here are some pics of the trip--just a glimpse of course! We would like to invite anyone to a presentation of our trip on Sunday, April 20th at Brookdale Church after the second service.
We'd love to see you there! We give God all the glory for being a part of this amazing mission trip.
Boys, older men, women and children always hold hands or put their arms around each other while walking down the street. It was one of my favorite sights to watch.
Jennifer doing exercises with the kids to improve their muscle movement.
Here are some pics of the trip--just a glimpse of course! We would like to invite anyone to a presentation of our trip on Sunday, April 20th at Brookdale Church after the second service.
We'd love to see you there! We give God all the glory for being a part of this amazing mission trip.
Boys, older men, women and children always hold hands or put their arms around each other while walking down the street. It was one of my favorite sights to watch.
Jennifer doing exercises with the kids to improve their muscle movement.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thursday
Today was the last baby care class (did I mentioned we had women drive 10 hours to be trained? We had NO idea…) and after it was done, a local woman thanked me profusely because she had never been trained in how to care for a baby before. What an honor to serve her in that way. I was so blessed to be in their presence.
Jennifer then was asked to teach an American class-she chose recycling and the environment. In Ethiopia, the trash and litter is absolutely disgusting. It litters every corner, flies in the wind, flows through the water system, and clogs drains. Ethiopians have not been taught where to put trash. There are no trash cans, no recycling containers and no regard for the way the city looks. That is one thing that is hard to get used to. It makes everything very dirty. The kids seemed to warm to the idea of how to put trash in its place—and so for a “field trip”, we cleaned the compound. They didn’t care for it, but they learned their lesson. Our favorite phrase: (Us: “Where does the trash go?” Students: THE GARBAGE!” They got it.
This afternoon we were privileged to attend a good-bye ceremony for a young boy who was leaving the orphanage with his new adoptive parents. The tradition is to dress the adopted child in white. As the child and parents entered the meeting room, the children all gathered in the orphanage and sang beautiful Ethiopian songs, accompanied only by an African drum. Throughout the wild singing, the children would shout loud shrill calls, a sign of excitement and praise. The joy of being a part of a family and one day it possibly happening to them was a precious sight…you could tell they all couldn’t wait to be the child in white one day.
An older girl sat in the back of the room and quietly sobbed—her family (a sibling group of 4) is now the longest waiting group at the orphanage. Jennifer held her as they watched the ceremony…she prays every day to have a family. We will now pray with her for that dream to come true. Another note: Mimi has a family, and we are thrilled for her!
Later we donned our best tourist gear and headed to the local market to buy traditional Ethiopian gifts (coffee, scarves, jewelry). Beggars are constant-even babies as young as 2. When they see you are spending money, you can be swarmed in an instant. Our driver acted as our bodyguard and kept us safe. We didn’t shop for long but it was an interesting experience to share together.
Tomorrow is our last day. Jennifer and I hope to pray over many of the children for homes and families. I’m sure it will be emotional for all of us as we prepare to go. I know (and Jennifer does too) that this is not our last trip here. We have already been planning to come back in 2010. Please consider joining us on what I can only say has been the trip of a lifetime.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. We have been covered in favor throughout the trip—our entire group has been sick, but Jennifer and I have not. We are the only ones who have been able to work the entire time—without even being tired—so I know it’s only because of your prayers on our behalf. The other group is recovering and will be able to travel tomorrow, so that is an answer to prayer as well.
Again, thank you. We believe our work has only just begun.
Jennifer then was asked to teach an American class-she chose recycling and the environment. In Ethiopia, the trash and litter is absolutely disgusting. It litters every corner, flies in the wind, flows through the water system, and clogs drains. Ethiopians have not been taught where to put trash. There are no trash cans, no recycling containers and no regard for the way the city looks. That is one thing that is hard to get used to. It makes everything very dirty. The kids seemed to warm to the idea of how to put trash in its place—and so for a “field trip”, we cleaned the compound. They didn’t care for it, but they learned their lesson. Our favorite phrase: (Us: “Where does the trash go?” Students: THE GARBAGE!” They got it.
This afternoon we were privileged to attend a good-bye ceremony for a young boy who was leaving the orphanage with his new adoptive parents. The tradition is to dress the adopted child in white. As the child and parents entered the meeting room, the children all gathered in the orphanage and sang beautiful Ethiopian songs, accompanied only by an African drum. Throughout the wild singing, the children would shout loud shrill calls, a sign of excitement and praise. The joy of being a part of a family and one day it possibly happening to them was a precious sight…you could tell they all couldn’t wait to be the child in white one day.
An older girl sat in the back of the room and quietly sobbed—her family (a sibling group of 4) is now the longest waiting group at the orphanage. Jennifer held her as they watched the ceremony…she prays every day to have a family. We will now pray with her for that dream to come true. Another note: Mimi has a family, and we are thrilled for her!
Later we donned our best tourist gear and headed to the local market to buy traditional Ethiopian gifts (coffee, scarves, jewelry). Beggars are constant-even babies as young as 2. When they see you are spending money, you can be swarmed in an instant. Our driver acted as our bodyguard and kept us safe. We didn’t shop for long but it was an interesting experience to share together.
Tomorrow is our last day. Jennifer and I hope to pray over many of the children for homes and families. I’m sure it will be emotional for all of us as we prepare to go. I know (and Jennifer does too) that this is not our last trip here. We have already been planning to come back in 2010. Please consider joining us on what I can only say has been the trip of a lifetime.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. We have been covered in favor throughout the trip—our entire group has been sick, but Jennifer and I have not. We are the only ones who have been able to work the entire time—without even being tired—so I know it’s only because of your prayers on our behalf. The other group is recovering and will be able to travel tomorrow, so that is an answer to prayer as well.
Again, thank you. We believe our work has only just begun.
Wednesday cont. (Jennifer's post)
To finish our blog from yesterday—I’ll try and describe what Jennifer saw and did as she traveled the Ethiopian countryside to see beauty we can only imagine when staying in the dusty inner city.
Muketore is a transitional facility where orphans are placed before they enter the care of the Layla House. Jennifer and some other members of our group decided to go there to paint (sidenote—these were not normal walls; it was the inside of a grass hut. The walls were so perfectly made that rollers placed paint nicely throughout the huts.)
The hardest part of the day was a tour of another orphanage run by an Ethiopian monastery that takes care of the elderly, mentally ill, and some children. In Africa, there are no homeless shelters; no senior centers; an entire generation has died from AIDS and has left hundreds of thousands of elderly men and women to fend for themselves. What used to be a strong family unit has dissolved into a nightmare of poverty and self preservation. One younger mentally ill man was chained-his hands behind his back and his feet shackled, since he considered a danger to others and himself. His day was spent staring vacantly as the world passed him by.
These heartbreaking images are all too common here; somehow each new face strained with pain is yet another reminder of the great magnitude this country and its people suffer daily. A walk through the countryside lightened the group’s load as a group of local Ethiopians decided to cliff dive (about 30 feet above a small pond). The greenery and trees were a welcoming site compared to the brown landscape of the city. Another highlight: a true horse and buggy ride through the country lane where locals gathered to wave at the volunteers.
Muketore is a transitional facility where orphans are placed before they enter the care of the Layla House. Jennifer and some other members of our group decided to go there to paint (sidenote—these were not normal walls; it was the inside of a grass hut. The walls were so perfectly made that rollers placed paint nicely throughout the huts.)
The hardest part of the day was a tour of another orphanage run by an Ethiopian monastery that takes care of the elderly, mentally ill, and some children. In Africa, there are no homeless shelters; no senior centers; an entire generation has died from AIDS and has left hundreds of thousands of elderly men and women to fend for themselves. What used to be a strong family unit has dissolved into a nightmare of poverty and self preservation. One younger mentally ill man was chained-his hands behind his back and his feet shackled, since he considered a danger to others and himself. His day was spent staring vacantly as the world passed him by.
These heartbreaking images are all too common here; somehow each new face strained with pain is yet another reminder of the great magnitude this country and its people suffer daily. A walk through the countryside lightened the group’s load as a group of local Ethiopians decided to cliff dive (about 30 feet above a small pond). The greenery and trees were a welcoming site compared to the brown landscape of the city. Another highlight: a true horse and buggy ride through the country lane where locals gathered to wave at the volunteers.
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