Friday and Saturday
Electricity outages continue. We haven't had power most of the time, which means that even with generators at the hotel, there is no phone service or internet, so we'll try to catch up for the past couple of days.
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnacrews1/EthiopiaYoungGirlsMinistry
Friday morning we went to a home for former prostitutes. Here they have safe shelter, get vocational training in hairdressing, nursing, and other skills so that they can support themselves and their children. There are 13 currently living at the home, with 5 small children; 4 girls, and one little two year old boy, Robel…the only male in the house. The ministry began with a group of young men who had grown up together in church, saw the plight of so many young women here (estimated 150,000 prostitutes in Addis) and decided to do something about it. They went to the one of the red light districts, talking to the girls, establishing trust, and proving to them that they weren't there for the same reasons as other men. In time, many came to trust Christ, and the men rented a house for them to live in and begin a new life.
Robel's 22 year old mother was brave enough to share her story with us. She like most, came from very poor conditions, no skills, with little education. She got a job at a bar where drug use was common and became an addict. She tried other jobs, but couldn't support her habit, so she returned to the bar. She tried to quit and get away from this lifestyle, going back to the rural area of her family. There an "agent" persuaded her that he could get her a good job working at a coffee house, but it was soon apparent that the coffee house was a front for prostitution. He forced her to be a prostitute at night and working in the coffee shop during the day. She finally fled and went back to Addis, but her parents had nothing to support her with. So she went back to the streets, still addicted and working for about $.50 per customer. Men usually were drunk, often physically abusive, and she suffered unknown horrors. She lived day to day, never sure if she would survive. She became pregnant and her situation became even more desperate. If she could barely afford food for herself, how would she take care of a child? She also knew that she was a great risk for HIV and had been afraid to be tested. After several months, she got the courage to be tested, and miraculously she was negative. The father of her child deserted her, and she continued to go to the HIV clinic for prenatal care, with the help of a friend. When it was time to give birth, her friend took her to the hospital, which she thought was included in free treatment of the clinic. As she prepared to leave soon after Robel's birth, she was told that she would have to pay before she could leave. The bill was 29 Birr (equivalent of about $3.00), but she didn't have any money. She borrowed 50 Birr from a friend to pay the bill, but couldn't afford a taxi to get back to her "room." So she climbed onto a bus and carried her newborn back to the brothel. When Robel was just a month old, she was back to work. Men didn't like to be with women who had children, so she would hide him under her bed. She hated what she was doing, but she had no place to turn. She attempted suicide several times, despairing of life, but she knows now that God intervened and kept her alive. It was during these first few months of Robel's life that she met the men who started the home. They asked her if she wanted to get out of this business, told her about the home, and invited her to come and see what the home was like. When she saw that this was a legitimate offer, that the men weren't out to use her, as all others had, she grabbed the opportunity and she and Robel began on a new journey. She came to understand that God created her, loved her, and gave His Son for her. Slowly she began to heal, began hairdressing school and did very well. She now says that she is a "hair doctor," very proficient with hair styling. People from the brothel neighborhood see her and wonder what happened to her….she isn't the same person! Physically and spiritually she is a new creature! She is quick to tell them that Jesus saved her, that He is the master of her life, and that she lives for Him! Though she told much of this story through tears, a smile will break through when she talks about the grace of Jesus. She wants to set her own salon one day, and is anxious to reach out to other girls caught in the same situation and introduce them to her Savior. There was certainly a hush in the room as this young woman made herself so vulnerable, sharing her heartache as well as her new joy. We commented to her how sorry we were that she had had to go through such terrible trials, but she said that she was not sorry, because it was worth it all to come to know Jesus, that without the trials, she didn't think she would have come to Him. That's eternal perspective.
We asked the girls if they would like to ask us any questions, and the first one they asked was whether or not we had prostitution in the US. They were truly surprised when we said we did. They couldn't believe that anyone would do that in America; here, it is because of poverty. When you have nothing else to sell, no skills or education, you sell what you have; yourself. Surely no one in the US would have that sort of need! We told them about human trafficking, and how prevalent it is in the US and all over the world. They were aware of many girls in Ethiopia being taken to Arab countries, but again, they couldn't believe that it would happen in the States.
Just as we saw at the boys' home, these young women, ages 12-23, have been totally transformed by Jesus! It was a joy to pray with and for them, to encourage them and realize that we were indeed sisters in Christ.
We took some time to visit some local shops, seeing the typical Ethiopian handicrafts. It started to pour down rain (the rainy season has just begun), dodged in and out of tiny shops and found a few souvenirs.
Betta and Sophie, directors of BEZA, had arranged for us to have a BBQ in the evening, which had to be transferred to the guesthouse instead of the open area at the church, which was now quite muddy. Before we left for the dinner, we got to meet with 5 women who are part of the Women's Empowerment Ministry, supported by BEZA and Women of Global Action. This program provides vocational training for very poor women so they can support themselves and their families. These women were in training for preschool teaching, elementary education, sewing and nursing. You could see the joy and pride they had, knowing that they would now have viable skills to sustain their lives.
The rain subsided enough for us to build a campfire at the guesthouse, and the fire actually felt good as things had cooled down. They cooked beef (sort of like fajitas) on a large wok on the fire, and we had a delicious dinner of beef, peppers, roasted corn, injera and bread. It was our final time of fellowship with Betta, Sophie, and Pastor Z, along with the Invasion Ethiopian team visiting from the US. Lots of sharing, thanks, and prayers as we thanked God together for what He is doing in Ethiopia, and in each of us as well.
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnacrews1/EthiopiaSaturdayProgram
It's hard to believe that today, Saturday, is our final day in Ethiopia. It has gone by so quickly!! This morning we helped with the children's program held every Saturday at the Entoto center. We had about 80+ children from about ages 5-12, teaching Bible lessons, crafts, music and games. There are wonderful local young people who sustain this ministry, along with an American young woman who has worked here for 3 years. It was a great time! These children live along the mountainside, where most of the people suffer with HIV and live very hard lives. Breanna shared educational information in HIV/AIDS with the parents who meet while the children are in their groups. Even though so many people are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, there is still much misinformation and superstition about the disease. The more the people understand the truth about HIV, chances are much better to curb the spread of the disease.
Now we are packing up, sorting through dirty clothes, preparing for the long flight home. So much has been compressed into these few days! The people, testimonies, faces, voices, laughter, singing, hugs and enormous generosity and hospitality will long remain with us. There are many, many challenges here; life is hard. So many people suffer; so many children are homeless, living on the streets, or barely able to survive even with parents or guardians. BUT…..and this is the key word…BUT GOD IS AT WORK!! BEZA is a shining example of how the church body can respond to the needs of people, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, sharing and showing Jesus in wonderful, varied ways. They are responding to God's call to take care of widows and orphans, reach out to the poor, care for the needy, all in the Name of Jesus. If the people are to come to know that Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life, they must see it in action. We are so thankful for what they are doing, how they are caring, and how very much they pray. There are no untouchables, no one turned away, and no one ignored, for they know no one is beyond His reach.
We are challenged and encouraged by their example. We are forced to consider how we are responding to the needs in our own country, city and community. And it all boils down to relationship, our personal relationship with God through Jesus, and relationships with others. We each have an assignment from God, a specific purpose that He has designed for each individual. How are we doing on our assignments? Are we obediently responding to His call on our lives? We have seen these faithful followers of Jesus fulfilling their assignments and the incredible results that follow, total life transformation. Our prayer is that each of us on this team will do the same, being salt and light at home, leaving a part of our hearts here in Ethiopia. They have captured our hearts; we have made very special friends and would love for you to meet them, too. We know one thing; we will come home as changed people. God has revealed Himself to us in powerful ways; may we continue on assignment with Him.
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