This past August, there were some posts online on some friends' blogs about sponsoring children from the dump in Korah to go to boarding school....
After I saw the video, I KNEW our family had to do something. I had never seen people living in such deplorable conditions even if it was through a computer screen....Yet, they had so much joy....
So, I went to the Project 61 website and read all I could. I sent an email to the lady who was coordinating sponsors. I told her that our family would like to sponsor a child and she told me about a group of older teenage boys who really needed sponsors b/c they were often overlooked for younger children. Honestly, I had preferred to sponsor a child one of my kids' ages, but this opportunity was laid before me, so I took it as a God assignment. I talked to Trevis and emailed Erin right back and told her "Yes!". We would sponsor a teen boy to go to a boarding school with hot meals each day and a uniform AND a bed to sleep on each night.....I was bubbling over with joy!
So, we wrote a letter at first and sent a little goodie bag. Project 61 has times during the year that you can send ziploc bags filled with goodies for your child....I went to the P61 night at Thompson Station Church and received a beautiful colored picture of our 18 year old (sponsored) child. I thought to myself how awesome of an opportunity for an 18 year old boy to be given the chance at school. I began to be so hopeful for "E" and his new future...
Fast-Forward to Christmas-time. P61 was collecting the letters and goodie bags in time to send over for Ethiopian Christmas. I wrote him a letter and explained how we were adopting a little boy from ET and just encouraging him in school in general....I was hopeful that we might get to see "E" when we went on our first trip to Ethiopia for Justus Derero's first court date (Dec 8th). However, right before we left I learned that Sumer (the fabulous missionary who lives at Korah) was actually back in the US for training. So....me not knowing where exactly Korah was or the boarding school and having the schedule for our adoption agency for visiting with Justus and never having travelled to a 3rd world country before....we just decided it must not be the right timing. I didn't mention it to my letter to "E" b/c that time had actually passed by Christmas and I knew on our 2nd visit we would be pretty much staying at the hotel with Justus D. bonding...
So, I know you're thinking...get to the point. ok...
The mail came on Thursday and as usual I went through the stack. I saw a P61 stamp on the upper lefthand corner and I began to get excited....Could it be a letter from E???? As I ripped open the letter, I could not believe my eyes. My heart began to swell with love for this teen boy who I've never met before.
First of all the letter started:
"Dear My Parents (The Crockett Family)"
He went on to say that he gives thanks to God b/c God gave him a wonderful and precious family....That he was celebrating Christmas and the only thing that made him sad is that we weren't there to celebrate with him. He wants us to visit his school and home. He said he hasn't been to school in 2 years and is trying to do his best now and earn a good score. He described briefly that his life has been hard.....
Honestly, I can't even imagine, but I'm so thankful that God picked us to sponsor him. We feel so blessed and I couldn't be prouder of him. He is working so hard in school and I know God has hope and a future planned out (Jeremiah 29:11) for "E" now.
I only hope that one day (after the bonding is secure with Justus Derero) that I will be able to return to ET on a mission trip where I can serve and really meet my new 18 year old (sponsored) son.
He ended his letter with Mark 9:35:
If anyone wants to be first, he must be very last and a servant of all.
This was the most humbling letter I've ever received. Thank you God for this young man.
If you are looking for a way to help out, there are so many wonderful organizations for child sponsorship or you can go to Project 61 blog to see what's going on in Korah now...Mother Teresa said, "You cannot change the world, but you can change someone's world." What an awesome opportunity. We are so blessed!
With Much Love,
After I saw the video, I KNEW our family had to do something. I had never seen people living in such deplorable conditions even if it was through a computer screen....Yet, they had so much joy....
So, I went to the Project 61 website and read all I could. I sent an email to the lady who was coordinating sponsors. I told her that our family would like to sponsor a child and she told me about a group of older teenage boys who really needed sponsors b/c they were often overlooked for younger children. Honestly, I had preferred to sponsor a child one of my kids' ages, but this opportunity was laid before me, so I took it as a God assignment. I talked to Trevis and emailed Erin right back and told her "Yes!". We would sponsor a teen boy to go to a boarding school with hot meals each day and a uniform AND a bed to sleep on each night.....I was bubbling over with joy!
So, we wrote a letter at first and sent a little goodie bag. Project 61 has times during the year that you can send ziploc bags filled with goodies for your child....I went to the P61 night at Thompson Station Church and received a beautiful colored picture of our 18 year old (sponsored) child. I thought to myself how awesome of an opportunity for an 18 year old boy to be given the chance at school. I began to be so hopeful for "E" and his new future...
Fast-Forward to Christmas-time. P61 was collecting the letters and goodie bags in time to send over for Ethiopian Christmas. I wrote him a letter and explained how we were adopting a little boy from ET and just encouraging him in school in general....I was hopeful that we might get to see "E" when we went on our first trip to Ethiopia for Justus Derero's first court date (Dec 8th). However, right before we left I learned that Sumer (the fabulous missionary who lives at Korah) was actually back in the US for training. So....me not knowing where exactly Korah was or the boarding school and having the schedule for our adoption agency for visiting with Justus and never having travelled to a 3rd world country before....we just decided it must not be the right timing. I didn't mention it to my letter to "E" b/c that time had actually passed by Christmas and I knew on our 2nd visit we would be pretty much staying at the hotel with Justus D. bonding...
So, I know you're thinking...get to the point. ok...
The mail came on Thursday and as usual I went through the stack. I saw a P61 stamp on the upper lefthand corner and I began to get excited....Could it be a letter from E???? As I ripped open the letter, I could not believe my eyes. My heart began to swell with love for this teen boy who I've never met before.
First of all the letter started:
"Dear My Parents (The Crockett Family)"
He went on to say that he gives thanks to God b/c God gave him a wonderful and precious family....That he was celebrating Christmas and the only thing that made him sad is that we weren't there to celebrate with him. He wants us to visit his school and home. He said he hasn't been to school in 2 years and is trying to do his best now and earn a good score. He described briefly that his life has been hard.....
Honestly, I can't even imagine, but I'm so thankful that God picked us to sponsor him. We feel so blessed and I couldn't be prouder of him. He is working so hard in school and I know God has hope and a future planned out (Jeremiah 29:11) for "E" now.
I only hope that one day (after the bonding is secure with Justus Derero) that I will be able to return to ET on a mission trip where I can serve and really meet my new 18 year old (sponsored) son.
He ended his letter with Mark 9:35:
If anyone wants to be first, he must be very last and a servant of all.
This was the most humbling letter I've ever received. Thank you God for this young man.
If you are looking for a way to help out, there are so many wonderful organizations for child sponsorship or you can go to Project 61 blog to see what's going on in Korah now...Mother Teresa said, "You cannot change the world, but you can change someone's world." What an awesome opportunity. We are so blessed!
With Much Love,
What a precious letter! Hope you get to go see him one day!!
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