Picture thirty or more three year olds running around, playing ball, peek-a-boo, climbing on your lap, playing with your hair -- and you probably think about a typical preschool, right? Embracing Hope is just like any preschool I've been to, except there was a tree in the middle of their playroom. And their playroom had no roof. And it was in Ethiopia.
Christy Shannon graciously talked
with us for over an hour today next to that tree. We peppered her with questions about how they
got started, how they operate, who they serve.
Meanwhile, her own children came in and out, asking for diapers, pushing
kids on a merry go-round, and navigating preschoolers arguing over a ball.
Embracing Hope started in 2009
after Christy and her husband realized the need for single moms in Korah to
have daycare for their children so that they could hold down a job. Korah is an area of Addis Ababa known as the
forsaken place. It's a city within a
city and is home to the trash dump, along with an entire community of people
who live and work there. EH started with about twenty kids and now serve 108
children. The kids attend preschool
and kindergarten right there at their facility
and receive two meals and snacks during the day. Embracing Hope takes a holistic approach to
serving these families by providing other services to the moms - literacy
classes, groceries, and health care, and mentoring. Some of the moms even work right there making beads which are sold as necklaces and bracelets. Andy tried to make one and failed miserably, even though the women graciously told him, "Gobez," which means good job. ;) You can read all about Embracing Hope on their
website. Please do -- it is an incredible
ministry doing incredible things.
The children were absolutely
precious, as you can imagine. I had
three little girls fighting over my lap, and one bossy one kept pushing
the other two off. :) A little boy was fascinated with Andy's
adam's apple and all wanted to touch his face. Many stretched their arms out to be picked up
or slapped a high five when prompted. These
are children who could be trailing behind their moms while they sift through
trash but instead they are making friends, learning the alphabet, and being
nurtured by a staff who loves them --- all so that they can go home at the end
of the day with a mommy who loves them more.
There's so much more to write about this day but our internet is very spotty, and it is getting late, so it will have to wait. We have fallen in love with this country and this culture already. Our hearts are breaking, but not broken, because we see the hand of God everywhere we go, and we know He is redeeming us all in this journey. Much love from Ethiopia! Ciao!
There's so much more to write about this day but our internet is very spotty, and it is getting late, so it will have to wait. We have fallen in love with this country and this culture already. Our hearts are breaking, but not broken, because we see the hand of God everywhere we go, and we know He is redeeming us all in this journey. Much love from Ethiopia! Ciao!
Katie! I am LOVING your updates. Thank you so much for sharing. I am praying for you and Andy. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Nik! That means a lot!
DeleteSharing your pictures and posting with Joe - eyes misting with tears. I want to be there! Our prayers are for you and with you...and for these precious children and Mama's!
ReplyDeleteTricia! Love you both SO much!! Hugs from Ethiopia!!!
Delete