Taking flight from the heartland of America, Joey Austin and her team of 16 people leave on Thursday for Ethiopia! Last year at this time, Joey and her team visited "Kind Hearts" care-point for the first time and their school (St. Joseph Christian School in St. Joseph, MO) committed to raise funds for a fresh-water well at Kind Hearts.
Almost all of the funds needed have been raised, and the only thing between Kind Hearts and a fresh-water well is the final government permits to drill! The site for the bore-hole has been identified and while the team is in Ethiopia, they will commemorate the location and the upcoming project! In addition, they will be bringing books and purchasing bookshelves to begin a library at Kind Hearts!!
Joey offered to personally deliver letters to the kids at Kind Hearts from their sponsor families here in Amercia. She emailed me a few days ago to say that letters have been pouring in and she has a plastic tote filled with letters! Sponsors can email or mail letters to their child at any time throughout the year, but they take advantage of every opportunity to have a letter personally delivered - embracing these precious kids with words and with physical hugs!
Last month, families who sponsor children at "Trees of Glory" care-point sent letters with a travel team - and they will have another opportunity in May when that travel family returns to Ethiopia to complete their adoption and spend time with the kids and staff at the care-point.
"Kind Hearts" care-point serves 102 orphaned and destitute children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. "Trees of Glory" care-point serves 99 orphaned and destitute children and is located 2 hours north of Addis Ababa in the beautiful Ethiopian countryside.
Each child at these care-points has been matched with a sponsor family. Sponsorship is $34 per month and provides food, clothing, clean water, medical care, education and Christian discipleship for that child. Through sponsorship, these children have the opportunity to experience the love of a family (which demonstrates the love of their heavenly father) and the safety and mentoring of the care-givers at the care-point. They also receive a valuable education so that they have the opportunity to become the future leaders of their country!
Travel teams regularly visit the care-points to spend time with the kids and we get regular updates about the children and projects at the care-points. I lead a team to Ethiopia each November to spend several days working with the children at each care-point. If you are interested in joining me on the trip in November - or if you are interested in sponsoring a child, please email me at kjwistrom@yahoo.com. At present, ALL of the children have been matched with sponsors, but more children will be enrolling soon at the care-points and will need a sponsor family. Please email me if you are interested in the November trip or sponsorship.
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