Join me in Ethiopia in November??

I get many questions about what we do in Ethiopia when we visit Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory CarePoints.  Each November, I lead a team of volunteers to Ethiopia where we spend 3 full days at each CarePoint.  Many of the volunteers sponsor a child at the CarePoints and one of the main reasons for their trip is to meet their sponsor child face to face. 

For many other volunteers, they have had no previous involvement with a specific child or a CarePoint, but they are looking to make an investment in the future of a child in Ethiopia – and these trips are life-changing, not only for the kids we work with in Ethiopia but also for each individual volunteer!

For our most recent trip to Ethiopia in November, we had 26 volunteers who I divided into 5 teaching teams.  We don’t want to be a team who just visits and then goes home.  A trip like that can certainly be life-changing for the traveler and open their eyes to the issues of poverty, but it may not have any effect on the kids we are there to serve.  So we seek to invest ourselves (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially) during the trip and all year long so we can build long-term relationships and change lives.  (All year long by advocating for the CarePoints and for the kids we are serving there.) 

Each teaching team developed lesson plans along with a project that the kids could actively get involved with that reinforced the lesson plan. 

An example would be to teach the biblical story of Noah’s Ark and then have the kids create an origami boat that they could then use to share the story with their care-givers and family at home. 

Another example would be to relate the birth, life and death of Jesus and its message of salvation and then create “salvation bracelets” with the kids.

Each color of bead signifies the main points of the Christian faith (black represents sin which separates us from God, Red represents the death of Jesus, white represents purity through forgiveness of sin, blue represents baptism in the Holy Spirit, Green the growth of our relationship with God, and Gold the promise of heaven.)

We divided the kids into 5 groups of 30 kids, and each group gathered in a classroom with a teaching team to spend 40+ minutes learning the lesson plan and creating their project.  Then the kids would rotate to the next teaching team until they heard all 5 lesson plans for that day. 

Even the staff, teachers and our bus drivers got involved with the lesson plans!  The next day, the kids rotated between classrooms again to learn 5 new lesson plans.

The kids at our CarePoints rarely get to create craft projects like this and bring them home because resources are so scarce.  Their eyes light up at the sight of abundant construction paper, colorful markers, yarn, beads, glue and scissors.  And then when they arrive home with their projects, everyone in their home gathers around with curiosity and wants to hear the story!

In addition to teaching, we spend time with the kids, reading books and telling stories, hugging and touching, playing games, teaching about hygiene (explaining how germs are spread and why washing hands is so important, or why brushing teeth is necessary, etc.) and demonstrating to the kids the love of family and their heavenly Father. 

We check in on medical conditions, discuss capital projects and set goals with the CarePoint staff, prepare and serve meals and encourage the staff and teachers as well. 

 

The kids look forward to our visit all year long and they know they will see familiar faces each year in November when we return (November 2012 will be my 4^th visit to Kind Hearts and my 3^rd visit to Trees of Glory). 

If you are interested in joining our team of volunteers in November 2012 (Nov 9-19), please contact me for details.  There are 25 spots available on the team and about 15 spots have already been reserved.  Total cost per person is approximately $2600-$3000 depending on airfare.  Email me at kjwistrom@yahoo.com for details or to reserve your spot.

Vehicle Repairs Fully Funded for Kind Hearts!

The staff at Kind Hearts will be so thankful to hear that the funds needed to repair the vehicle have been raised!!  This small truck will be such a valuable and needed resource for the CarePoint as they serve the 141 children currently in their care - and even more children in the months ahead!

THANK YOU to everyone who generously provided for this fund and who helped spread the word!!  Your generosity and dedication to making a difference for these kids is immensely appreciated!!

WITH A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE AND INGENUITY ...

UPDATE:  Our vehicle repair project at Kind Hearts is still in need of funds and only $1,285 will finish this project and provide this valuable resource for the CarePoint as they serve nearly 150 orphaned and destitute children.

 

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Kind Hearts CarePoint in Ethiopia is serving nearly 150 children and there have been many times when access to a reliable vehicle has been necessary, but they have had to make do without.

 

When a child becomes ill and needs medical treatment, a vehicle would provide quick access to a doctor or medical center. Even tasks as simple as bringing fresh fruits and vegetables from the local market would be quicker and easier, and less expensive without the additional delivery fees.

Vehicles are VERY expensive in Ethiopia (large demand and small supply) but fortunately, Kind Hearts has a small truck that has been sitting on the property for a number of years. With a lot of elbow grease and ingenuity, the truck is nearly running again.  A mechanic has reviewed the truck and provided an estimate for final repairs that would bring it into good running condition so it can serve the needs of the CarePoint as they care for the kids. With licensing, the final repair total is $2,040 and so far $755 has been raised! Your gift in any amount will help provide this crucial necessity for Kind Hearts.

To make a secure donation to the vehicle fund at Kind Hearts through the Children's Hopechest website, please click on this secure link, http://go.hopechest.org/kind-hearts-wheels

By clicking on the link, you can also see our current progress on this fund with the fund-raiser thermometer.  When you make a donation, please allow 5-10 minutes for the giving page to process and for your donation to register on the thermometer.

This photo was taken 1 year ago and the old pick-up truck is shown behind the kids.

Photo taken just a few months ago, the truck has a fresh coat of paint
and is nearly in running condition.  With just $1,285 left to raise, 
Kind Hearts will have the use of a vehicle!!

How can people tell we're sisters??

My daughters seem surprised when someone looks at them within a group of friends and picks the two of them out as sisters.  Although they are only 18 months apart in age, they are very different in height (Maea is 5'1" and Emme is 5'6") and very different in personality (one is more of an extrovert and one is more of an introvert). 

And yet perfect strangers can pick the two of them out of a crowd and ask, "Are you sisters?" 

I have explained to them how there are subtle similarities that show up even in their actions and the things they do ....

Two examples in photo form - One taken in 2001 on the beach in Florida when they were little tiny girls and one taken 10 years later (November 2011) in Ethiopia.

Care-Packages for Kids in Ethiopia!

My friend, Joey Austin, is leaving on March 9 to lead a team of volunteers to Ethiopia.  During their trip, they will be visiting Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory CarePoints to work with the kids and the staff.  Many of the volunteers on Joey's team are teachers, and they will specifically be working with the teaching staff at the CarePoints to develop curriculum and share teaching ideas.

Joey's team generously volunteered to take a care-package to each child from their sponsor family!  With nearly 300 kids at the CarePoints, this is no small undertaking and a large volunteer team is needed in order to disperse care-package throughout luggage. 

Sponsors reacted immediately and have mailed a package to Joey for delivery to their sponsor child.  Right now, Joey's dining room is overflowing with packages that will soon be on their way to Ethiopia!  Ten totes are full and more packages are arriving!

THANK YOU to each sponsor family for supporting, providing for and demonstrating your love to these kids!!

Joey's team also raised funds for the trip and enough was raised to provide a brand new pair of shoes for each child at Kind Hearts!  (My team bought shoes for the kids at Trees of Glory in November.)  Funds were just wired to Ethiopia and the kids have been measured for shoes.  While Joey's team is in Ethiopia, those shoes will be delivered and they will personally be putting them on each child's feet!!  Joey will take photos during their visit at the CarePoints and I will forward them to each sponsor family when she returns from Ethiopia.

Please keep Joey and her team in your prayers as they minister to the kids and staff in Ethiopia, March 9-16.

WHEELS FOR KIND HEARTS

Kind Hearts CarePoint in Ethiopia is serving nearly 150 children and there have been many times when access to a reliable vehicle has been necessary, but they have had to make do without.

When a child becomes ill and needs medical treatment, a vehicle would provide quick access to a doctor or medical center. Even tasks as simple as bringing fresh fruits and vegetables from the local market would be quicker and easier, and less expensive without the additional delivery fees.

Fortunately, Kind Hearts does have a small truck that has been sitting on the property for a number of years. With a little elbow grease and ingenuity, the truck is nearly running again and a mechanic has reviewed the truck and provided an estimate for final repairs that would bring it into good running condition so it can serve the needs of the CarePoint as they care for the kids. With licensing, the repair total is $2,040. Your gift in any amount will help provide this crucial necessity for Kind Hearts.

To make a secure donation to the vehicle fund at Kind Hearts through the Children's Hopechest website, please click HERE.

 This photo was taken 1 year ago and the old pick-up truck is shown behind the kids.

Photo taken just a few months ago, the truck has a fresh coat of paint
and is nearly in running condition.  Final repairs and licensing will cost $2,040
and then Kind Hearts will have the use of a vehicle!!

"Good progress is seen in her health status"

It was about this time last year when we first became aware of the condition of a little girl in Ethiopia (Webit) at our Trees of Glory CarePoint, who was born with a leg deformity and had recently been treated by the village shaman which caused a severe infection.  She was rushed to the hospital at death's door, the infection was brought under control, surgery was performed and a large section of the bone was removed.  (See original post HERE.)


Many families (especially her sponsor family) have continued to pray for Webit over the months.  When my volunteer team was at the CarePoint in November, Webit had just taken a turn for the worse and it seemed the infection (and significant pain) was setting in again.  


Her older sister was carrying Webit to and from the CarePoint and to each of her classes.  When I picked her up, she seemed as light as a feather and I could feel her bony frame as I carried her to the lunch room.  Her leg was swollen and painful, and it was clear she was losing weight and needed medical attention again.

Webit was scheduled for another doctor visit (there are very few bone doctors in Ethiopia and it is very difficult to get an appointment), and once again antibiotics were prescribed for an infection in her leg.  Her condition is being monitored closely and Webit is living at the CarePoint again full-time so that she can get the medical care, hygiene, rest and good nutrition she needs.  


The doctor also feels that Webit has been favoring her leg because of her past condition which has hampered the healing process.  He is recommending physical therapy, which the care-point is helping to administer.


Here is an update from the field and a recent photo of Webit at her doctor visit:

Webit was able to visit her doctor twice in a month. Good progress is seen in her health status.

The doctor said that Webit should get nutritious food in order to gain weight. So she will be with Simret (director of the care-point) for the next 2 months. And the doctor will check her health status after two months.

Some of the help that Simret and the TOG staff will give to Webit are:

A) Exercising to walk properly (physiotherapy)
B) Balance diet
C) Hygiene treatment


Please keep Webit in your prayers as Children's HopeChest and the staff at Trees of Glory continue to work on her behalf with the medical team in Ethiopia.