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I have watched, okay STALKED this family for a LONG TIME as they deeply inspire me on a God-level, a family-level, a mom-level and an adoption-level. Don't tell Donny I secretly desire to be a BIG-OLE family like theirs one day. But anyway, their story about their journey to Ethiopia to pick up their child and how God placed them right where He needed them to be for HIS CAUSE one afternoon is remarkable and inspires me in a way that overloads my senses with goosebumps. They visited a place called Kolfe Orphanage and they have been forever changed since that day. I have been changed too just from watching God work through their hearts & lives. Not to mention my obsessive reading of their stories on their blog about this forgotten group of boys and one special gem named Solomon that has earned a long-distance home in their hearts as another son in their family. It's amazing how our giant God can reach into one's heart drawing me love this Kolfe Orphanage simply through following another's story.
So it comes with great excitement that I share this news from one of my missionary hero's Tom Davis' blog. He recently returned from Ethiopia from a visionary trip for Children's HopeChest. Funny little thing God had planned ~ For Tom to become the voice Kolfe Orphanage has been desperately needing! Here's a re-cap of Tom's post:
Sponsorship of Kolfe Orphanage in Ethiopia
Kolfe orphanage is an incredible place filled with 130 boys outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After spending just a few hours with the young men there, I was struck by how polite, engaging and smart they are. They are so conversational I almost didn't realize that this orphanage is situated on a dumping ground. Every window is broken out of every building except the office and the only thing more prominent than garbage and glass on the ground is the red dust that covers every square inch of this horrible place. I see two possible roads for these boys. Down the first I see future husbands, fathers, and leaders of Ethiopia. Down the second I see death. I will occasionally use hyperbole to make a point but be clear that this not one of those times.
What They Need
Family. The boys of Kolfe need a church family with a heart for seeing boys become men. They need role models and mentors. They need someone to see their potential and walk with them through life to help them realize it. Here's an overview of Children's HopeChest's orphanage sponsorship program. Thanks to Sam Henry at Red Letters Campaign for the post.
The Basics. Serving these boys begins with meeting their basic needs for survival. Today and tonight they are exposed to the elements living in dormitories that are in shambles. Their food is meager and mean non-existent. Children's Hopechest needs to raise $25K immediately to repair housing facilities, provide beds, and buy books while we find a church sponsor. If you would like to GIVE click here and mark Kolfe orphanage as the recipient.
Help. We are hiring in-country staff to oversee and manage these Sponsorship programs and to identify additional sponsorship opportunities. The field teams' role is threefold: 1) Point of continuity, trust, and fun to the kids throughout the year. 2) Point of financial accountability for orphanage leadership. 3) Facilitate connections between the sponsoring church and children in the orphanage.
If you are interested in recruiting a church or community to sponsor Kolfe, please contact me immediately at tdavis@hopechest.org. We already have 3 sponsorships in process since returning last week!
I am beyond excited that an online community is able to rally around these special children until God's plans unfold for their future!! Oh how the love of Jesus is about to radically affect the lives of those who have been over-looked, ignored and forgotten for far too long!! It is my honor and privilege to say I had the opportunity to share my portion with these deserving boys!
And to directly relate all this right back to me, I must tell you the revelation I have recently come to. As I have watched the Mestas family(the very first blog link at the top of this post) and followed their journey, I had a secret desire on my heart that my life would be touched in a similar way as Eileen's was at Kolfe while I embarked upon my first mission trip to Africa. I believe I even copied portions of Solomon's letters to his "mom" Eileen and passed them on to my family because of the depth of my inspiration by this relationship that God had nurtured into existence. I remember telling my family some random day back in June "I hope my life can affect someone as tremendously as Eileen's has while in Ethiopia. I want to continue to touch someone's life when I come home ~ forever changed ~ as in NEVER THE SAME AGAIN!". Little did I know my story would begin to unfold in such a similar manner to Eileen's...and it's not until just recently that I have realized that desire on my heart "way back in June", was heard by the Lord and He is delivering my wish in His divine plan for me through the the lives of the beautiful Best Family! If you take the time to read about the Mestas' journey, check out their blog, their experience at Kolfe orphanage (the forgotten boys posts) and their relationship with a young man named Solomon you will see how inspiring their story is, but what's even more crazy is how my role with the Best Family is unfolding in such a similar manner to Eileen's relationship to the Kolfe children. I think it's just beautiful that the Lord used this family, their journey and the Kolfe Orphanage to plant a seed in my heart that would blossom into such a beautiful flower ~ my beloved Best Family. Simply AMAZING how the Lord leads if you let Him be your guide!
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