We arrived safely in Bahir Dar yesterday and spent a lovely day viewing Lake Tana, a monastry on a small island across this beautiful lake. We spent the afternoon viewing the Blue Nile Falls which were amazing!
Today we visited Meserete Kirstos Church Child Development Centre and one reflection seemed to be appararent to all: the generosity of the poor is amazing! We spent the morning in the project and each child was consistently looking for something they could do to honour us. Bunches of hand picked flowers were spontaneously given, biscuits, bread, popcorn and coffee offered and children eager to bless us by carrying our bags. It truly humbled each of us to be in their wonderful presence.
The time spent in the office was inspirational as we heard of the project vision, mission and values. The project aspires to see children released from different physical, social and spiritual problems, having sound ethical behaviour with good discipline and being the best role models for thier surrounding communities. Their values describe that in order to achieve this they will love the children, respect their parents and do everything with integrity. This was evident to all as we spent time getting to know the children and viewing the accounts which were thorough and beyond dispute.
Home visits brought the reality of these children's lives into sharp reality. We visited Ahimed and his grandmother Zamzam and yet again out of their extreme material poverty they sought to bless us. Zamzam had spent the morning baking a round loaf of bread for us to eat and insisted that she share a coffee ceremony with us as an expression of her thanks for all Compassion does. Zamzam is a Muslim but was overflowing with love that she just could not find the words to express. Ahimed lost both his parents and Zamzam feels Compassion has enabled her to care for Ahimed. We asked to see Ahimed's sponsors letters, he grinned and dashed out of the house - they were kept elsewhere for safekeeping - these were his most treasured possession! In this community the story of the widow's mite was lived out abudantly. Just as the widow was blessed so will the people we met today. Ahimed has high dreams of becoming a Doctor to help his country. Please join us in praying that Ahimed will reach his full God-given potential and also that God will increase the compassion in our hearts to be free to give as freely as the poor.
Today we visited Meserete Kirstos Church Child Development Centre and one reflection seemed to be appararent to all: the generosity of the poor is amazing! We spent the morning in the project and each child was consistently looking for something they could do to honour us. Bunches of hand picked flowers were spontaneously given, biscuits, bread, popcorn and coffee offered and children eager to bless us by carrying our bags. It truly humbled each of us to be in their wonderful presence.
The time spent in the office was inspirational as we heard of the project vision, mission and values. The project aspires to see children released from different physical, social and spiritual problems, having sound ethical behaviour with good discipline and being the best role models for thier surrounding communities. Their values describe that in order to achieve this they will love the children, respect their parents and do everything with integrity. This was evident to all as we spent time getting to know the children and viewing the accounts which were thorough and beyond dispute.
Home visits brought the reality of these children's lives into sharp reality. We visited Ahimed and his grandmother Zamzam and yet again out of their extreme material poverty they sought to bless us. Zamzam had spent the morning baking a round loaf of bread for us to eat and insisted that she share a coffee ceremony with us as an expression of her thanks for all Compassion does. Zamzam is a Muslim but was overflowing with love that she just could not find the words to express. Ahimed lost both his parents and Zamzam feels Compassion has enabled her to care for Ahimed. We asked to see Ahimed's sponsors letters, he grinned and dashed out of the house - they were kept elsewhere for safekeeping - these were his most treasured possession! In this community the story of the widow's mite was lived out abudantly. Just as the widow was blessed so will the people we met today. Ahimed has high dreams of becoming a Doctor to help his country. Please join us in praying that Ahimed will reach his full God-given potential and also that God will increase the compassion in our hearts to be free to give as freely as the poor.
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