Plain and simple...

We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

Reading this morning from

a post on Focus on the Family....

Here is some of it, but I encourage you

 to check it out for yourself, HERE.

"Give because giving reflects

 the loving and generous God

 who gave His Son, Jesus Christ,

 so that we would have the opportunity

 to be blessed and to bless others by giving."

(Oh, yeah! Sound familiar?)

"Remember, giving to God

 reminds us who He is,

 who we are

and what our relationship should be to Him

 and those things that He allows us

to manage in His name...."

Smiles just around the corner!

Next month is racing towards us.

The packing time has come.

We are about 1/2 way there! 

So many, many blessings

crammed into these bags!

 These were dropped off today...

A bag full of notes of encouragement,

from a teen girl's Biblestudy.

These are my 4 favorites.

Yes, there is a note written on the origami!

The time is almost here to love on

Ayal John, 

and Emnatu John.

We are praying that their employers

and teachers (as well as a 3rd boy's)

will allow them

a bit of time off, to spend with us.

It is our desire to soak up

as much time with them as we can!

So excited to introduce my family

to these precious young men...

And have some fun with the littles of Kolfe.

Besides the pillowcases, we are coming

equipped with 60 beach balls,

200 punch balls,

well over a 100 hot wheels,

lots of fun clothing that

I know they will love,

and raisins and other food... 

donated by all of you!

All of it, sure to produce

many, many of these

adorable smiles! 

And... we are d-o-n-e, done!!!

This is what amounts to 

242 pillowcases.

(a few are actually at my travel mate's homes)

The latest count at Kolfe is 251 kids,

and I have some sewing classes

and a neighbor still working on the last 50+.

SO, we are DONE,

with many, many to spare!!!

Betam amasegnallo!  

በጣም   አመሰግናለሁ    

(Thank you, very much!!)  

We are still working on

those notes of encouragement...

(If you haven't helped yet, and want to.)

Packing begins... Next week!!!!

Know anyone in the Portland area??

Please join us on Friday, July 22 for a fund raiser for the Kolfe Orphanage Schooling Fund in the Portland area.

(photo courtesy of C. Gingerich)

Gladney has worked for a number of years with Kolfe, a government orphanage for older boys. This fund supports the boys of Kolfe Orphanage, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with their college or university fees and transportation costs. Gladney recommends the boys who are motivated enough to complete their schooling. However, for the upcoming school year funds are tight. We’d love to help Gladney continue this amazing program and keep the boys in school. Education is everything in Ethiopia. Without an education they have NO HOPE for a future.

The boys in college have been given a chance at a future, a purpose... To invest in the lives of these young men please eat your
lunch or dinner on July 22 at:

Chevy’s Fresh Mex
14991 Bangy Rd
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Friday, July 22
Lunch or Dinner

http://www.chevys.com/

Simply - Bring in this flyer (photo) and provide it to your server when you pay your bill. 25% of your total bill will go to Gladney’s Kolfe School Fund.

And please, if you know someone who lives in the Portland area...  Please share this blog post with them... we would love to spread the word, and have a great turnout!!

If you don't live in the area, or can't attend, but want to make a difference in the lives of these boys...  Please donate via the directions here... http://we-are-blessed-to-be-a-blessing.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-difference-in-their-future.html

Pillow Project update

It has been a while since we have

done an update on the

Pillow Project on this blog.

So here it goes...

♥ The PILLOWS are funded. ♥

(and then some!)

Anything above and beyond the cost

of the pillows will be moved into

Gladney's Schooling Fund for Kolfe.

♥ We currently have

187 PILLOWCASES completed.

(with at least 40 more arriving this week.) ♥

♥We should easily reach our goal of

one pillowcase for each boy at Kolfe!

Isn't that amazing?!♥

♥ We have roughly

70 notes/drawings of encouragement

 (so far) to go with the pillows/cases.♥

We are getting close to having this completed.

I stand in complete awe...

this seemed like such a HUGE dream

exactly 3 months ago today,

when we started this.

One of the Kolfe boys, who now lives in the U.S.,

was reading this blog a few weeks ago,

and asked me why I hadn't told

the boys about this project.

  The reason was... my faith was weak.

I didn't fully believe that God

 would bring it all together.

I didn't want them to think

we were making promises

and then not be able to fulfill them.

I stand corrected.

What a joy it has been

to watch God work

through so many of you!

Meet Emnatu, our son, a success story...

Emnatu is 20 years old. (His age is a guess at best. That’s what happens when you've been an orphan essentially your whole life in Ethiopia. He's not sure of even the month he was born.) He and his brother, Ayal, were orphaned around

the ages of 2 and 3.

As is common in Ethiopia, their biological Mom died due to a of lack of funds needed to treat an unknown (to our boys) disease. Dad was a soldier for the government, and either died as such, or was no longer able to care for them because of his profession. It has been at least 17-18 years since our sons last saw either of their biological parents. That is a pain that never quite heals no matter how much they try to ignore it.

This is my son, the young man God has placed in our hearts. His story reduces me to tears often when I focus on the things I have just told you. It is a sad story, heart breaking, seemingly without hope. No doubt he spent his life wishing, hoping to be chosen, picked from among the masses, to have a home, a family to love him, believe in him, tell him he was valued, that his very existence mattered... and yet, as sweet, kind and loving as our son is, his dream wasn’t fulfilled until it was too late for him to be officially adopted.

In the midst of his story is a bright spot, offering hope to this growing boy, about to emerge into the world of adulthood. Gladney Adoption Agency’s Humanitarian Aid Division, doesn’t help every boy at the orphanage. I am sure they would love to, but financially they just can’t. They evaluate each boy’s drive, determination, their will to overcome their odds and succeed in a culture that makes success so very difficult. The unemployment rate is at least 50%. Can you imagine??

It would be easy to give up... put yourself in Emnatu’s shoes for just a moment. You have no parents to love you, education in your culture is not a given fact, and even if you find yourself blessed enough with the opportunity for education, your chances of a job are pretty slim. What would you do? Would you find the inner strength to even try? I can’t answer that one myself... but I know what Emnatu did. He gave it all he had, and then some.

Gladney recognized a young man who had the potential to "make it" in his culture. Several years back, they believed in him and began to help. Schooling funds, transportation costs... provided by Gladney were his ticket to life, and a future, and HOPE.

When we met our son, he was attending two colleges, with Gladney’s help. The first was Selam Technical College (tuition based) during the day, where he studied Auto Mechanics. To increase his chances at a future, he was/still is also going to school at night, and on Sat/Sun at Menelik 2nd Health and Science College (government funded)

to become an X-ray Technician.

He graduated a year ago from Selam. I had the immense joy of being there for some of the graduation festivities. They are memories I will never forget. SO much joy, from ALL of the boys, that my son had made it that far. It is something they want and desire for themselves, and he had accomplished it, which gave them hope on the sidelines. In October, came the next blessing, when after months of searching all day, every day...
he began a full time job.

And yet, he still studies for that degree in X-ray, because his future in Ethiopia isn’t secure. He worries that with a 50% unemployment rate, someday, he may need to fall back on that second degree. The good news is that he will have it. Thanks to Gladney believing in a boy many years ago. Emnatu is a success story... but I can’t help but worry about the others... what of them, if Gladney is no longer able to support their dreams of a future. What then???

To donate for the Kolfe Schooling Fund for young men like Emnatu...

Please make a tax-deductible donation by following the directions here:

http://we-are-blessed-to-be-a-blessing.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-difference-in-their-future.html

Brightening their day...

Q: What would it mean to a child who has NO FAMILY to know that someone, somewhere cared enough to write down some encouragement for him??? 

A: It would mean more than you or I could imagine!

 

Wanted 300 notes, drawings, verses of encouragement for the boys of Kolfe Orphanage. These pieces of joy will be handed out along with the pillows/pillowcases. They can be simple, any kind of expression or encouragement will do.   Just let them know that someone cares.   Living your whole life in an orphanage, it could be easy to think your life doesn't matter... but God has not forgotten these boys.   Let's show them!

Basic Directions and Measurements for Pillowcases

Printed directions here: http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/freepatterns/
Video instructions here: http://we-are-blessed-to-be-a-blessing.blogspot.com/2011/05/sunshine.html

Basic measurements needed for 1 pillowcase:~ buy 7/8 of a yard for the main fabric... wash and iron it... then cut this piece to 29 inches
~ buy 1/3 of a yard of the trim fabric... wash and iron it... then cut this piece to 9 inches

When you wash the fabric, it will shrink up a bit (ususally) and twist a bit, so waiting to cut it until afterwards will make it easier to work with.

Width is between 40-42 inches... which makes the front and back of the pillow.

Hope that helps... ask any other questions... I don't mind answering!

Completed count is 101, but I am hearing of well over 200 that people all across the country plan to sew!  Praise God, that is wonderful!

Introducing Ephrem...

My name is Ephrem.  I am a grade 11 student.  My family died by accident and after they left I went to live in kolfe orphanage campus. At kolfe I was I feel to get a big opportunity in my life because before, I had no any chance to get school, enough food, shelter and clothes but today every thing is change because I’m high school student and I have a big plan to the future. I want to say thanks to God b/c of this change.

You see more kolfe boys are getting helps by Gladney adoption center include me, I mean school payment, food, and transportation. I want to go to school next year and be in grade 12, but now things are changed. So we have not any chance to get a good education but today boys & me are very lucky b/c of you. I hope take grade 12 and to the future I want to be journalist.

Thank you,

Ephrem

It's pretty simple. Kids, just like yours, just like mine... except for a few small differences. They don't have the privilege of having a mom and dad to cheer them on. School isn't a given, it isn't something they have to be forced into doing.... they need it, want it, have to have it to have even the possibility of a future. What they do have is real names, real hurts and sadness that we couldn't begin to fathom, real hopes and dreams...

They need people like you and I... with all of our excess... to give to their need. The donation is tax-deductible, to Gladney Adoption Agency who has been helping them for years, and will continue with our help....but will mean SO much to kids like Ephrem. (Who by the way was one of my shoe shoppers, so he is pretty special in my book!)

To donate for the Kolfe Schooling Fund for young men like Ephrem, please make a tax-deductible donation by following the directions here... http://we-are-blessed-to-be-a-blessing.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-difference-in-their-future.html

Showering us with Blessings...

Some days, it all hits me smack in the face.

I love all the Kolfe kids,

but OUR boys,

hold a special spot in my heart.

Some days, being so far from them...

is really, really hard.

Today was one of those days.

The distance seemed too far,

the fundraising too out of reach,

the projects too overwhelming.

But HE knew...

and answered in a way that only HE can! 

Today, God made sure these

4 beautiful pillowcases

were waiting in our mailbox.

Today, He made sure these pillowcases

and their sweet, sweet letters

were hand delivered.

Today, He prompted a friend to

come to our home with

 200 punchballs and these

precious drawings.

More evidence that

HE holds the world

in HIS hands,

and showers us with blessings!

Thank you Jesus,

for loving the boys through your people!

Meet Amare...

My name is Amare I am 16 years old. I lost my father when I was 7 years old and after a year I lost my mother. Both were sick but I don’t know by what they died.  I have been living at Kolfe for 8 years.

Now I am a grade 8 student and I take (the) national exam 3 weeks ago. I hope I will promote to grade nine by good score because I had studied hard. I have good participation in class. I love to work any

jobs when I grow up. I was learning for two years with helping of Gladney. They paid for transportation, lunch and my school payment.

So you are my hope to learn and for my future.

With a lot of thanks

Love Amare

With the help of donors, Gladney has been supporting the boys of Kolfe for several years. Boys have been given a chance at a future, a purpose... To invest in the lives of young men like Amare, please make a tax-deductible donation by following the directions here... http://we-are-blessed-to-be-a-blessing.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-difference-in-their-future.html

Meet Mohammed....

I have asked the Kolfe boys to help us better understand what school means to them. To give us a better glimpse into who they are now, and who they want to become with the benefit of schooling. I am going to start with one of the men who is the oldest living there, but also one who is near and dear to my heart... Mohammed


What you need to understand about Kolfe Orphanage is that God's children of all ages live there. Why? Well, because their culture is so unlike ours.

Kolfe houses males of all ages, who would have NO OTHER PLACE TO LIVE, were it not for Kolfe. The age span runs from tiny 5 year olds all the way up to Mohammed. (housed on different sides of the campus) I could tell you his age, but I fear comments from some of you who might not understand their culture, so we will just leave it as... He's an adult, who would be begging on the street, hungry, hopeless and alone, if it were not for the ability to sleep in a small room at the front of Emnatu's building at Kolfe.

Mohammed has always had a special place in my heart. The very first Bible I gave to Emnatu, was later gifted to... Mohammed, when the next one I gave him (that was better) came along.

That, and his sweet, gentle spirit and quiet voice, makes him a rockstar in my eyes. I love Mohammed to pieces...

Back to his story....

"My family was very poor. When I was 5 year the worse thing happened in my life, that is car accident, I lost (the use of) my two legs. My life so complicated after this accident. My mother and I migrate to the capital city (Addis Ababa). After difficult struggle I join governmental orphanage center after few years my families (mother, father and sister) are died consecutively but I don’t know where the only my brother live, he may died. I never have seen him again.

I graduated in medical laboratory from private college but still I have no job. In Ethiopia it is difficult to get job, especially for the disabled person. Most Ethiopian disabled people are very poor and street persons. Peoples discriminate the disable person. My future in danger, I fill (feel) badly, no hope seen.

I came to kolfe before 7 years from other orphanage center. Now I am learning pharmacy in governmental college (with money provided) by Gladney. Gladney pays for my college monthly payment, transportation, books, and lunch.   I want to get a job in my field or I want to be created or start my own business. It is the best option.

I worried so much for my life; it is difficult to survive, especially for disabled person. I don’t know what to do. So please help me as soon as possible. Thank you. God bless you

~Mohammed"

This is just one of countless stories, young and old, boys and men all who have benefited from the generosity of Gladney, but now Gladney needs OUR help to continue to help them. Education in Ethiopia is EVERYTHING!!!


To make a tax deductible donation... http://we-are-blessed-to-be-a-blessing.blogspot.com/2011/06/making-difference-in-their-future.html

Kids... helping kids.

This past week has had a few sweet highlights.

All of them involve children...

Meet Cade, Emma and Ryan.

They learned about Kolfe from the photos

on our blog, and decided to help out.

They showed up at our house 

with a baggie full of coins and bills...

from their own money.

$21.52 for the boys at Kolfe. 

Sweet little Kennah, age 5...

picked out this fun fabric,

helped her mom sew,

and then drew a picture for

the Kolfe boy who will receive her pillowcase.

Keillor, age 3,

picked out this fun Cars fabric,

and helped mom sew by

pushing the pedal on the machine.

Mom says he liked making it go fast!

I think it looks pretty comfy,

and some boy is going to be blessed by Keillor!

  - - - - - - - -

Kids... helping kids.

There is something extra special about seeing

these kids give of their time, money and energy

to help boys who aren't blessed with a mom or dad.

Boys who go to bed each night lonely,

uncertain of what the future holds for them.

These kids "get it", maybe even

better than some of us, adults.

 - - - - - - - 

Got a kid who wants to touch

 the life of another kid? 

We want to take 300 of these with us

to hand out with the pillowcases/pillows.

Notes, Bible verses, and drawings

to bring just a bit of sunshine

to these boys.

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" is a great size.

(that's 1/2 of a standard sheet of paper)

If you have it, cardstock will hold up better,

but we will happily take computer paper,

 construction paper, a card... you name it.

Just share some love...

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones.