I had to share today with you! We planned to shop in various market areas
and visit other sites...but we ended up only shopping in the Post Office
area..... I bought some souvenirs...and got the "look" from my husband...so I
had so slow down...
We went to eat lunch at a place called Kaldi's which is basically a
Starbucks...the logos are the same colors! Coffee, teas and they even had
burgers and fries...and milkshakes! But the best part was to come....
I had talked to our interpreter "Net" about wanting to visit an area called
Kora... This is an area where the poorest of the poor live! The women and
children go to the dump~! Yes the landfill and sift through garbage to find
food... they walk 90minutes one way to get water...they fill old recycled
plastic containers about 2-5 gallons each and walk home with them....mostly
women and children.. lots of young girls. This area has lots of crime, theft
and rape, disease....leprosy, TB, HIV/AIDS....respiratory, cuts,
infections....you name it! The majority of the women are widowed....husbands
either just take off or die....leaving them to care for themselves and their
children...... many are forced to do illegal things to survive and care for
their children.. Some are children caring for children. I am telling you this
is a hot spot for James 1:27! I had hoped to be able to drive through and then
shop at the Alert Hospital store..... all of the goods are made by the people of
Kora. Buy our interpret-or told us it wasn't open this afternoon. I was sad
but he said we would drive through anyway.
God had other plans! Great plans! Our driver and translator both were on
the phone for a while...then he told us! He had a friend that works at the
mission in Korah. He would gladly welcome us to talk about Kora and walk us
around! Awesome! I said thank you so much....Net said....I knew this is what
you wanted to see!
His friend Sammy, greeted us as did a pack of kids! Our camera batteries
were dead....and the video only worked a short while.....I was sad but not as
sad as the kids who wanted to see it work!.. Then we met Pastor Anthony! Oh
and an American woman named Gerry...she is there to help and lives in Oklahoma.
They have a church that is growing...."because e of the work of the Lord" in
Sammy's words! They have started a sponsorship program thinking 20
familes....they have 250! Many children are allowed to go away to a private
boarding school.......so much to tell! They have added onto their church
building....and have been feeding families and orphans for 6 years! What an
amazing place! God is blessing their ministry.....
Sammy used to be an interpret-or for the Guest House we are staying at! (a
donkey is making noise right outside of my window right now...ha ha funny
stuff!) Anyway, Sammy gave his life to the Lord at age 13 ~just 11 years ago...
He grew up in Korah and God is using him in a mighty way there!
We went inside some of the tin houses....the ones you see on everyones
Ethiopia pics..... a 5 X 5 shed...dirt floor, dry clay for a bed.... We met a
woman whose husband died and she was left with 4 children.....she never smiled
when we visited her...not once.....I told her we would pray for her.... I
believe her name was Sheshasuet..something like that! Another man was so happy
that we just came to Korah to take our time and see them.... The Government
ignores Korah....they don't want to admit the problem is a big as it really is!
The best part was the children! Oh my goodness......they come up to you and
want a hug...they want to hold your hand they want a smile! Flies everywhere,
runny noses....unhealed cuts....dirty clothes, no shoes.....sad very sad..but
amid that sadness is HOPE God is alive and working there...the people are
beginning to shine...to have hope! The P61 ministry is thriving and God is
blessing them! I hope that I may have one picture to share.... Just a
heartbreaking vision...but yet.....there is hope. As Sammy said for 75 years
the people lived in darkness...without hope...now all of that is changing.
I am certain you will hear more about this from me.....I hope to go back
there before we leave! We will get to see Bedilu after court on Monday and
depending on when we go to the doctor with him we hope to go back! Otherwise I
will go back on our 2nd trip!
Lisa....I renewed the books....I was going to email you but we lost
power.
Love you all!
Hoping to be a light to this people!
laurie