orphanage love

my team visited the orphanage here in Addis Ababa, run by the Catholic nuns. one sister we talked with is eighty years old, and has served in this orphanage for fourty years. talk about inspiring! LOVED getting to hold all these sweet babies....most of them have forever families coming to get them!! 

i keep thinking that if i was an adopting mother, i would find so much peace and joy knowing that a team of baby-loving girls were in my child's orphanage, holding and giving love to all the little ones! 

this beautiful baby boy was here in July (the last time i was in Ethiopia) and praise the Lord, he now has a family waiting to come pick him up and take him to his new home!! 

He sets people on our hearts

you know how sometimes God sets certain people on your heart? you don't know them that well but it feels as if you've known them for your whole life? well, this boy right here is that person to me. Eyob has not left my mind or my prayers since i've been in America...and i can't seem to forget him here either. cannot wait to be reunited with this sweet kid day after tomorrow, before i leave. i hate saying that....can't even think about leaving here. i love everything about this place! 

ababas

most of you know, ababas//flowers are my favorite!!! and there are SO many pretty ones here....just had to get a flower post in! 

football!!!!

this evening some of the team got to watch the local boys' soccer game! it was quite the adventure....we had to get across a huge ditch (it was harder than it looks!!) and avoid stepping in cow manure the entire walk to the field. once we were there, the boys were kicking around a soccer ball like nobody's buissness! the sky was on fire, i just cant get over creation- there is nothing like an African sunset!!!

daycare at Korah

well, today my heart melted. we went to a daycare in Korah and loved on these sweethearts. SO PRECIOUS is an understatement....

just when i thought it couldn't get any cuter....i turn around and one of them has tried on my shoes. HELP my heart has been stolen!!!

buying for a good cause

you know how sometimes you'll buy something and the tag says the money goes to a good cause? well today my team got the chance to see a few of these good causes. and can i just say that i didnt mind one bit spending too much money? 

these several ministries we visited focus on pulling women off the streets, where they make a living by prostitution or begging- and gives them an alternitive to providing for their families. these employees make all kinds of hand made jewelry and scarves. so beautiful! and these women are literally the happiest workers i've ever met...

every time i see a sewing machine, it reminds me of my mom :) 

Entoto Mountain

we spent the afternoon on Entoto mountain....pulled our busses to the side of the road and jumped out. the boys began kicking around a soccer ball and a few team members and i walked over to a small group of the most beautiful little girls you've ever seen. it was funny to see familiar faces from my last visit here! 

im finding that i get so overwhelmed with the poverty and great need here, and i become frustrated. 

but sitting on the grass with these precious babies, listening to them whisper to each other and giggle while chewing on the peppermints we gave them...it's in these little moments i can hear the still, small voice of God, knowing He loves them and has a plan and purpose for each of them. 

the more i am here, the more i am struck by what it means to love. one child at a time. 

Korah & H4H

today my team went to Korah. those of you who follow my blog have read about this place- Korah is the poorest part in Addis Ababa, and is the trash dump (literally) where over 100,000 people live. every time i visit this place my heart breaks...never have i seen such poverty. we split up into three groups and visited families living here, hearing their stories, passing out donations and praying over them. families who are blind, have leprosy, suffer from mental shock and illness....their living conditions make my stomach turn upside down. it completely blows my mind to see these beautiful people hurting in every way- but seeing their strong faith in God blows my mind even more. 

after Korah, we visited the second drop in center of Hope for the Hopeless, where mostly pre-teen boys and a

few girls live...they are seriously the best bunch of kids you will ever meet!! i stepped out of the bus and was hugged by every one of them- smiling ear to ear. AND i was reunited with my dear brother, Eyob! man, i missed this kid!

he literally stuck by my side the entire time my team was there...even when we gave the H4H football (soccer) team new jerseys and cleets, Eyob refused to go play with his buddies and instead stood next to me and held my hand. really cannot explain how much i care for this boy....