Hannah

Hannah is beautiful. She has gorgeous brown skin, almond shaped eyes, high cheek bones and the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. She wears a floral dress with a yellow head wrap covering her hair. On the way to her home there are a lot of other homes. All made mostly of dirt, tin, rocks or pieces of wood. Almost all of them, are in pretty rough shape, but they do their best with what they have. Hannah's house is down a steep narrow road. Her house is the last one and right below her is a river gushing with water brought by the August rain. By the time we got to her house it was raining and it was starting to get dark. Inside the small home there is one dim light bulb. The rain creates the perfect melody as it hits the tin roof, its almost soothing.

Hannah's story is a little bit different. It is a story filled with sadness, but she has found hope. She is one, out of two, of the women who knows Christ intimately. She claims Him as her Lord and Savior and you can tell her she is living her life with greater purpose. Her story is heart-breaking. She was married to a man who she loved greatly. They lived a good life and were doing well for themselves. One day she went to visit her family outside of the city and when she came home her husband had left her for another woman. As if that wasn't enough, he decided to sell all of their possessions, take the money, and move on with a new life and a new wife. Hannah did not know what to do. She had just lost everything she had ever known: her husband, her marriage, her children's father, her home, her possessions....everything. She was in complete destitute and hopeless. She and her boys went to live in the streets, sleeping in the neighborhood cemetery, not caring for her children for over a year. Iny (the main person for icare) heard about Hannah though a friend and went to visit her at the cemetery. She provided Hannah with a rent-free home for 6 month and provided care for 2 boys through icare. This has changed Hannah's life. She is now waiting to go through icare job training program. She currently sells and makes coffee, as well as washes clothes. As she graciously makes up coffee, she tells the translator how she did not understand how someone could help her so much. Iny's act of kindness, passion and obedience to helping the needy triggered Hannah to start a relationship with God. How awesome is that? 

Hiwot

Hiwot is 6 years old. Her story is the story of many six year old girls here in Ethiopia. She stays home babysitting her 2 year old brother in a locked hut the size of walk-in closet while her mother works to make ends meat. Her mother is hard working, you can tell how determined she is to provide for her children. When we ask her to tell us about herself, you can see the sadness in her eyes. She was sexually abused like many others. This is a fact that angers me, infuriates me actually. We spend a lot of time doing ministry for women and children, but something needs to be done about the men. A ministry for men needs to start taking place. There is too much abuse, neglect, and abandonment. I have experienced all of those in a first world country; it was painful, lonely and I would never wish it on anyone. But even in my own self-pity, it does not compare to what women who experience sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment in a third world country experience. They are shamed and pushed away from their communities for something they could not help. It has taken a lot of hard work for her to be in the place she is and for that she is thankful. Children's Hope Chest has helped her with job training (clothes washing) and with help for Hiwot. Even with all the training CHC has provided her with she struggles to find work. She makes meager money a month, about $30 a month, of which $20 pays for her home.

I am aware of all the poverty in our world, I truly am, but even being aware doesn't prepare you to hear stories like this one. Only with the hope of Jesus Christ can women in this situation continue to stay afloat instead of drowning in a sea a hopelessness.