Wrapping Up

Greetings Friends and Family,


It has been an amazing past week since our last update. The Lord has really opened up doors for us lately in Addis, and we’ve been so encouraged with what has happened recently...


Last week we visited an orphanage called Hanna’s. We met with Hanna, the orphanage founder and director, and afterwards we were all really excited about what the Lord is doing through her organization. This woman began her mission by adopting the child of a woman dying of HIV. From there it has grown into a ministry that provides for over 200 orphan children across the country.


Hanna’s is unique from other orphanages in that they use a family model to provide for the children in their care. They place 8-12 children in a home under the supervision of a “house mother”. They currently have 26 orphan homes all throughout Ethiopia. It was incredible to see what the Lord can accomplish in the lives of so many through the obedience of one faithful servant.


Another place that has had a profound impact on us is an organization called Hulugeb’s. It is a center that trains and employs the blind by teaching them how to make basic household goods such as brooms, mops, welcome mats, and pastries. Many of the handicapped people in Ethiopia view begging as a viable means of earning an income. Hulugeb’s provides an alternative and meaningful way for them to sustain themselves without being on the street. Although Hulugeb’s is not as organized as Hanna’s, this place has an incredible amount of potential to reach a greater number of disabled in Ethiopia in the future.
This week has also been an emotional one because we had to say goodbye to the children of Berket orphanage. We were so blessed to spend almost a week there, loving and playing with those kids, but we will continue to pray for the Lord’s provision for them until we are able to see them again.


With only a few days remaining in our trip, we are down to only three members of our team: Ted, Cody, and Rob, as we had to say goodbye to Nicole and Andrew who flew out this past week. We already miss their fellowship. It has been an amazing growing experience for us as a ministry and as a team!


We are grateful for the fellowship we have experienced through our stay at the Cherokee house. Staying with other volunteers has allowed us to process through the events of our trip with like-minded believers, which has really enriched our time.
As our time in Ethiopia comes to a close, we are sad to say goodbye, but looking forward to seeing how God uses this vision trip to further our ministry on both continents!


Please pray for God’s continued wisdom and guidance for the rest of our trip, and that we finish strong!


-The Sports That Serve Team