Dear Friends

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