A Family Adjusts, While Lives Are Changing...

It’s been almost four weeks since our last post. We’ve been super busy, and a lot has happened over the last, quick, four weeks. We are slowly, but surely, adjusting and adapting to our new environment. I’m not sure that we’ll ever totally get used to all the stares and looks when we are out and about. We certainly stand out! 

Playing Four-Squares at VBS

MYM Ethiopia ministry is booming and going strong. Our second week here we had a VBS at the MYM Daycenter. A group of college students from International Evangelical Church put on the event for the week from 10-12:30 everyday. We had around 20 kids come to VBS everyday. Some of the kids were in the current cycle of boys at the center, some were Keeping Kids Home beneficiaries, and some were from the PLF (Placing Lonely in Families) home. The mornings would start with songs, and then break into four groups by age. There were crafts, songs, bible story, and games. I (Ryan) was in charge of games and had a blast just watching the kids have fun and interact. The week was a success as the kids learned of how Jesus is their protector, provider, and ultimately their rescuer. 

Craft time at VBS.

A huge praise report on two of the three boys who just finished their six month cycle at the daycenter. Tadessa and Adugna were reunited with their families last week. These boys have made remarkable transformations, as both gave their lives to Jesus during their time at the day center. Please pray that the boys will stay home, and continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord. Pray that they can be lights in their families and communities. There is a third boy, Danny, that finished the cycle as well. There are currently no Ethiopian families who have stepped up to the call of starting another PLF home. With that being said, please pray for Danny. Pray that the family that God has for Danny will be burdened and step up to the call. 

Adugna, Tadessa, and Danny. 

A new cycle of street boys arrived at the MYM Daycenter last week. It is a large group of around 20 new boys ranging in age from 7-14. I was really surprised at their energy levels considering most are coming to us from a life of malnutrition and addiction. I have a really good feeling about this group of boys. I look forward to spending the next six months pouring into them and getting to know them. Its hard to believe that the boys that just finished their six months, looked and behaved the same as the 20 dirty, scraggly, wild boys that showed up to the center last week. It’s so exciting to dream of what these 20 boys are going to look like when the Lord is done with them six months from now. We feel so blessed and honored to have the privilege of being a part of their journeys. 

The new cycle of street boys at the daycenter. 

We held a Keeping Kids Home event this weekend (Fri/Sat) at the daycenter. Friday was just for the kids to come and learn about who holds the key to their hearts. This message was conveyed to the kids through teaching, games, crafts, and a sharing of testimony from MYM Director Carmen Post. The kids were sent home with a chain necklace with a key on it to remind them of what they learned that day. Some of the kids are from Muslim families, so please pray that we sent home with them not just a necklace, but also a seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

On Saturday, the kids came back to the day center, but this time with their parents or grandparents. The Keeping Kids Home program is MYM Ethiopia’s model for orphan and street kid prevention. The beneficiaries are extremely poor and at very high risk of having to give up their kids either to the streets or an orphanage. Saturday was all about the kids and parents bonding and just having fun with each other. Life is very hard for these families just attempting to put food on the table and shelter over their heads. Opportunities for these families to interact and have fun with each other are few and far between. We had a morning full of fun games and snacks. There was a wet sponge toss, balloon pop battle, three-legged race, sack race, and wheelbarrow race. It was so awesome to watch the kids and their parents laughing, smiling, and just being silly for a change. I think a lot of times, the parents of these kids get a really bad, undeserved rap. The typical American way of looking at these parents is to conclude that they are lazy, cruel, and unloving parents. What we observed at the KKH Family Field Day was the absolute opposite of this stereotype. These parents love their kids and are doing the best that they know how to care and provide for their kids. Watching these families interact, I truly realized that they are no different than most more “privileged” parents around the world. They love their kids, and they want the best for them. We had an awesome duo of photographer and videographer from Charlotte with us last week. They took photos of most of the KKH families, and sponsorship opportunities should be coming soon, so stay tuned!

As far as our family goes, we have found out how tough it can be working here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We started our process of pursuing a work permit the week that we arrived. We did finally complete that process early this past week. We then immediately began our process for our residency cards at the Ethiopian Immigration office….NIGHTMARE!!! I arrived at the office at 8am with our manager Endale. We walked out at 3:30pm with mine and Courtney’s process complete, but Nara’s incomplete. For some reason, they wanted to see Nara’s Ethiopian birth certificate even though we had her U.S. Certificate of Citizenship. So much back and forth and hoops to jump through. When we asked the immigration officer why Nara’s application was not approved and what we needed to bring when we came back she said, “Leave this place.” I was ready to go off on her…but I didn’t. My tongue was probably bleeding from biting it so hard. We go back tomorrow to pick up Courtney and I’s cards and hopefully to finish Nara’s process. Please pray that it goes well, because Courtney and I are already dreading going back. 

EVERYTHING here is a process. Don’t be fooled by Courtney and I’s Instagram and Facebook posts. You’re seeing our highlight reel. Victories can seem very few and far between. There can be many seemingly failures and valleys between the victories. Some may look at our social media posts and think, “Wow, they are just rocking it! It looks to be going smoothly.” There are times when we feel that way, but a lot of times we are just sloppily stumbling forward. Life and ministry here are very hard. However, when we look into the dirty faces of the street boys, and are graced by the smiles of the Keeping Kids Home families, its all worth it. Every discomfort, pain, tear, frustration, and failure disappear when we see the transforming work of Jesus Christ unfolding before our very eyes in the lives of the least of these. 

We want to thank our financial and spiritual supporters from the bottom of our hearts. Though days can be hard and frustrating, we wake up every day thanking God for your generosity that allows us to be here, acting as His hands and feet in such a broken city. With that being said, we are still short of being fully funded. There are some potential circumstances coming up that could increase our budget needs. If you feel the Lord tugging at your heart to contribute financially to what He’s doing here, then please click HERE to begin your monthly contributions. Just make sure to designate your giving in the “Thomas Support” box. 

Prayer Needs

• Pray for Tadessa and Adugna to transition smoothly back in to their families and that they’ll go to Him rather than the streets when times get hard. 
• Pray for Danny’s future family that God has for him to step in and step up. 
• Pray that the Keeping Kids Home families remain encouraged and that the Muslim families will come to know Jesus as their Savior. 
• Pray for the new group of street boys that are starting their cycle this week at the daycenter. Pray that they will allow Jesus to mold them and transform them into new creations. 
• Pray for our family to continue to adjust to our new home and that our government requirements will soon be met and done.