It's Getting Close!!

In less than 3 months we will back in Ethiopia!! It's surreal that we are going back to see our Ethiopian family and friends.  We get the opportunity to continue to build relationships with needy and vulnerable kids while giving hope that God does love them.  Derek and I said when we left Ethiopia this past April 2012 that we would be back if God provided. Well, God has provided us with funds in amazing ways.  We are thankful to everyone's hard work to support our commitment to the kids in Kombolcha! 

Several things have changed since we sent out our support letters in the late summer.  We originally had a team of 7 going from Goodwill Baptist Chuch and now it's down to Derek and I.  We will be leaving from Greensboro, NC and meeting the rest of the team in Dulles, Washington.  Our team this year consist of 4 of us that went last year and several others that sponsor kids in the care point.  We have a team of 16 from all around the USA.  This includes our team leader, Rob from Chapel Hill, NC and Joshua David with One Child Campaign.  

There has also been some changes with the care point that we work with.  As you may remember we were praying that Grace Baptist Church would get the license renewed...our prayers were filled but not in the way we expected. 

The good news is the leadership at Grace Baptist Church is transferring the children to another local church- Mesert Kerstose Church in Kombolcha.  This will enable HopeChest to stop the manual work set up in May.  That agreement allowed us to serve the children with "Gifts in Kind" (food, clothing, etc) and transporting it to Kombolcha.  Once the agreements are signed and the transfer occurs  the new care point leaders will be able to purchase food and supplies for the children directly.  In the initial discussions, it appears the Grace Baptist Church's social worker, Rahel, will move with the children to  Mesert Kerstose Church.

In the next two weeks, Children's HopeChest's representatives in Addis Ababa will travel to Kombolcha to lay the ground work for the transition.  Please pray for these meetings, a speedy transition and stress-free transition for the children.  This is not the news many had prayed for but we are grateful for a final decision on the license so we may move forward in order to best serve the children.

Please continue to pray for our team as we get through the holiday and get all the donations organized and packed.  As you can see on our mission fund thermometer, we are $300 from being fully funded.  Any extra funds that are donated will go directly to the care point for food and clothing.  If you would like to donate to our mission fund or to the care point please click on the DONATE button to the left of the blog or email us at dethepedsrn@gmail.com.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Ring in with a Happy 2013!!
Love and Joy,
Deanna and Derek

Thankful

As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families we would like you to remember our Ethiopian family at Grace Baptist Care Point in Kombolcha Ethiopia.  We are thankful for everyone who has helped up reach these kids and make difference in their lives.  We are also thankful for those who sponsor the kids of this care point.  We leave you today with the story of Zeyneba and what sponsorship has done for her.  

The biggest thing you can do for a child in need is to sponsor them!! With only $34 a month you can change this child's life.  We give them hope and the grace of God with food, spiritual education, mental education, fellowship, clothing, and medical attention.  If you are interested in sponsorship through Children's Hope Chest contact  mblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com.

Zeyneba Abebaw (ET2116184) was born in a small town called Worehimeno. At the age of three, her father and mother divorced and decided not to live together anymore. Her father moved to Kombolcha town and gave Zeyneba to his sister. Her aunt received and promised to give care as though she were her daughter. When she got older her aunt took her to Grace Baptist Church CarePoint and enrolled her as a beginner student. She attended grades 1 to 4 at this CarePoint. She was a model for the other students.

 Growing up, Zeyneba did not know her mother while she lived with her aunt. Zeyneba became distressed when she learned about the geographical distance that separated her from her mother. Both the CarePoint leaders and her aunt continue to comfort and support her. Zeyneba is thankful for all of the support she has received from the CarePoint.

 Last April, she was so excited when her sponsor visited her from the US. She understands that she has another friend in the US that loves her.

 Zeyneba is now in the ninth grade. The great news is that she accepted Jesus as her personal savior and was baptized in the name of God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

A night with the Girl Scouts!!

Derek and I visited a girl scout troop that was working on their First Aid Badge.

As part of their First Aid Badge and a way for them to help the kids in Kombolcha they made 

first aid kits for the care point.  Derek and I shared our video of the mission trip to Kombolcha and the care point.  We were able to ask them questions about their living situations compared to the kids living situations in Kombolcha.  It was amazing how these girls wanted to find ways to relate to the kids, their same age, from a third world country.  They were very intrigued

 about how the kids in Ethiopia live.  

This is so cute...all the girls surrounding Derek while watching our video

Each girl scout collected items for their first aid kits by 

asking teachers, friends, and neighbors for donations.

They were all so proud of what all had been donated. 

As they packed their kits I explained what each item is used for and how it would 

benefit the care point since their medical resources are limited.

The kits included items such as: band aids, gauze, medical tape, bandage scissors, ace bandages, 

antibiotic ointment, hydro-cortisone cream, and squeezable ice packs.     

The girls then decorated their boxes.  It was touching how the girls wanted the kids

in Kombolcha to know that people in another country care for them.  

They especially wanted the kids of the 

care point to know that God loves them.  

I was hit with some questions from one of the girls that I didn't exactly know how to answer: Do the kids in Ethiopia believe in God and how do they know about God?  

Are they Christians or in another religion?

This is the first time anyone has asked these questions about the kids we work with in Kombolcha....I was amazed at the knowledge and faith of this young lady that felt comfortable enough to ask me these questions.  To be honest, I was speechless at first because I wanted to be honest and explain my answers but I didn't want to over step my boundaries.  It's like God just gave me the words to say and she understood exactly what I meant: We go to Ethiopia to show them that God loves them no matter what and to give them Hope that their situations will improve...just like here in America it takes time for some people to realize that but a majority of the kids of Kombolcha know and believe that God is their Savoir.   

I love that even kids have the passion to help others in need!

   

After the completion of the First Aid kits we got group pictures made....the girls will write the care point letters and we will put a picture of them in each box.  I can't wait to share the stories and pictures of Derek and I presenting the First Aid Kits to the leaders of the care point. 

Goodwill Baptist Ethiopia Mission Team Golf Tournament

We would like to thank all of the golfers for participating in our golf tournament.  It was a great success thanks to Chris for organizing everything but we couldn't have done 

it without everyone's help. 

Thank You for all the volunteers and those 

who donated raffle items and prizes!

Some of the ladies waiting for the golfers to arrive after setting up.  

Thanks to Chick-fa-la, Pepsi, Utz, and Cakes and All things Yummy 

we had a great lunch for the golfers!

Preacher Greg (who will be going to Ethiopia with us) and his wife Jackie

We sold raffle tickets for amazing prizes! 

Everyone did an awesome job 

at selling tickets.

Deana sold Mulligan Bags which included several items, one of which was 

a string (Deana is measuring the string in the pic above).  

The string enabled the golfers to move their ball the length of the string.

28 Mulligan Bags were sold for $10 a piece.

                                               

The table of raffle prizes.  We had gift cards to Shell gas, PF Chang's  East Coast Wings, a UNC package that included 2 signed basket balls and football tickets, a WFU package with a jersey and a signed basket ball, and a Corn hole set.  

Brent, Chris and Dean waiting to play golf. 

                                      

All the guys getting ready for the "shot gun start".

Derek teeing off at hole #9

This is the winning team...they were 14 under par!!

Yey Team!!

Derek and Chris talking strategy while Corey takes his first drive.  

What a good swing!

Everyone seemed to have lots of fun and we thank God for such good weather!

Brendan's team using their throw from a Mulligan Bag.

Sorry there are so many butt pictures...that's all you really see when your 

taking pictures of men playing golf without getting in the way....LOL!!

Elizabeth and Deana on the drink cart...they sold drinks, chips and crackers.

They did an awesome job and seemed to have lots of fun!

Thanks Ladies 

Bobby eyeing the hole before driving

Here is the car that would have been won if someone made a hole in one on hole #11...

Eric helping Greg man hole #11 where the car set.  

Ron and Vickie (Deanna's parents) drove Deanna around to take pictures.

Derek and Deanna....someone suggested we hold golf clubs??

 The tournament was captain's choice, Scott, Dean and Brent

 talk strategy before they decide whose ball to use

Abby, Derek and Sandy (all part of the 2012 Ethiopia Mission Team)

prepare for the raffle drawing

The happy winner of the corn hole set!!!

Chris announcing and presenting the winning team with their prizes.

Each player on the winning team won $75 worth of prizes.  

 These were our hole sponsor signs...thank you to all our hole sponsors!!

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S HARD WORK AND TO ALL THE TEAMS FOR PLAYING.

This post is dedicated to Chris York for all of his organization, drive to help, and friendship.  

Cornhole Donation

Our Golf Tournament is coming up this weekend to help fund raise for our trip!!! During our Golf Tournament we will be having a raffle.  My Uncle Glenn was so kind to make us a set of cornhole boards to raffle off.  The space themed boards you see below is the set we will be raffling off.  If you are a cornhole nerd, like Derek and I, then you may be interested in having a set of your own.  See all the possibilities below.  If you are interested in a set of boards (which include bags) for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, or as a personal gift for yourself then please contact Glenn by email.