Revisiting the Purpose...

I haven't always felt like I've done a good job communicating my trip with you, so here is an overview: 

In May 2011 our lives were forever changed.  It was then we adopted a brother and sister, Ethan (Sintayehu) and Gabrielle (Yewubdar) from Ethiopia.  Every day (and do I mean every day!) We are reminded of their heritage, their homeland, and the great need that still exists for the rest of the five million orphans who live in Ethiopia.  Our hearts are inexorably connected with our children and their beautiful country of birth.

It is for this reason that I am traveling to Ethiopia in May 2014 to work at Ebenezer Grace Children’s Home (EGCH), in Awassa (about six hours south of Addis Ababa).  My goals are to simply serve in whatever capacity needed, whether painting, cleaning, holding babies, whatever!  I will document my time there with words and images, in the hopes of creating a coffee table book that will raise awareness for EGCH as well as generate some funds for their work there.  Use the momentum from this trip to fund future visits.  I like to think of this trip as “starting a conversation”. 

For the past seven months, I have been communicating with the director of the orphanage there and I’m excited to finally meet the amazing people behind this organization.  Thanks to your generosity, I will be sending144 cloth diapers and 50+ pairs of shoes over to help with their growing ministry.  In fact, I got an email from the director asking if I could bring some diapers in my luggage when I come, since some of the newborns had to wait for diapers, since the ones they needed were still drying on the line!  So I know this is going to be a great trip!

Instant photography will be a big part of my interaction with the children there.  I will be bringing instant cameras with as well, so they can hold a picture of themselves, perhaps for the first time.  Yes, food, clothing, education, and health care are important for every child…but there are also the intangibles that add to quality of life, like knowing that “I am special” and “I matter”.  I hope that through instant photography, I can remind these children how special they are and create some memories that can look at for the rest of their lives. 

My motivation is my children, who on a daily basis show me what’s possible when you’re loved, when you have the resources to grow and succeed, and when you have hope.  I see their potential, I see their excitement for life, I see them making a difference.  This is what I want for the children and families of Ethiopia.