The Awassa Children's Project

How much do I give?

I am up too late once again. Helping my 14 year old son get his portfolio ready to run for SBO office at the Jr. High. As I sit here exhausted with him I am reflecting on the chance that he has to do such exciting things in his life. As I watch him work away at his project I cannot get the pictures out of my head that a friend emailed me a few weeks ago. I reflect on the picture and think why is my son able to have all of the blessing he does while so many children are living a life of absolute poverty. I will share with you the pictures she sent. They are pictures of the underground children of Ethiopia. About the same age as my son. Yet tonight as I say goodnight and turn off his lights I think of them. Sleeping in the storm drains.

They live in tunnels, sewers and drainage holes, hidden beneath Addis Ababa's teeming streets.
They move from one makeshift shelter to the next, chased away by police or the rivers of water and refuse that flow when the rains come.
Growing up amidst the traffic, they learn to hustle at a young age seeking change or selling small items to drivers at traffic lights.

Among the reasons for the high numbers of street children in Addis Ababa are extreme poverty, hunger, violent conflict and drought in rural areas. Often, the children come without families, orphaned by disease, escaping abusive and neglectful parents, captivated by tales of wealth and opportunity in the big city.
An exact number is too difficult to pin down accurately, but various estimates put the total number of street kids in Ethiopia between 60,000 and 150,000.

As I have contemplated these thoughts of wondering why me? I have turned to my father for his wisdom. He has spent numerous trips overseas and has witnessed and worked with people of all levels of poverty. I asked him. "Dad, how do you do it? How do you see what you see and not come back and be angry at the wealth and more specifically the way we as Americans tend to use the wealth." My dad has always been a pretty intelligent person and one whose wisdom has always guided me. He replied. "Jill, you are starting to see,..... where much is given, much is expected. We have been given much.... what we choose to do with these blessings God has given us is the question." My dad counseled me to not become bitter at the way people spend their money and realize that money spent brings jobs to many. I have to admit I had not thought of it that way. So this has been my challenge as of late. Be grateful for what I have. Thank the Lord for ALL of my blessings. Then take those blessings and do good with them.

So tonight as I tuck my 5'11 teenager in bed I do so with gratitude in my heart and a stronger commitment to take this gratitude and do good with it.

Good Night and sleep tight in your warm soft bed.

Hosanna- Adam Girum's birthplace.

We recieved our agencies latest newsletter. There was some exciting announcments. First they have started a new project called hope for Hosanna. Hope for Hossana is an effort to provide the people of Hossana and surrounding communities access to quality health care and primary education.

This project is currently in development phase and plans to include:
Elementary school for 300-400 children
Pediatric clinic and care center
Mother's birth center and guest house
Land in Hossana has been identified
Construction is set to begin Summer of 2007
This project will be phased, beginning with the elementary school.
Cost for this project is estimated at $1 million.

Below you will find some photos of the village where our little Adam Girum is from.

One thing that so many people who have already traveled to pick up their children have commented on is, how well taken care of the children are. It is spoken how loveded on each of the babies is. It has given us a lot of comfort in knowing this as we wait for sweet little Adam.

I have cut and pasted one of the last travelers posts from our agency forum. (Thanks Jayme)

"Actually being in Ethiopia and seeing the program at work truly reconfirmed my belief that CHSFS is one of the most forward-thinking, child-centered agencies out there. Asnake's vision is to revolutionize adoption, and he is actively working towards that (maintaining connections and supporting first families, providing employment for ethiopians, and giving our children the most amazing care I've ever even heard of. Those children are LOVED!!!)"

We know through others that our little boy is in good hands and that the Lord is watching over him until we can bring him home to his forever family.