Ethiopia, Africa

Today is July 15, 2008, the tail end of our trip is coming to a close. For some reason, I really wasn't looking forward to a busy day. I'm a little burnt out from being broken and hurting for the people here in Ethiopia. Riding down the streets of Addis Ababa, floors me to see how many people are homeless, even the pets and livestock are strolling the streets with nowhere to go. I can't phantom living a life like this, it breaks my heart to see this. Parents and children are digging through the miles of trash piled up to 15 feet high looking for something to eat. People sleeping in the road medians, under the bridges, or anywhere they can find a place, not worried if someone ran over them. Some probably don't even care to live because of their circumstances. I guess they really don't know what life is like in other countries. They will probably never get to experience it. LIFE IS NOT FAIR!

It is 11am and we arrive at one of the Mother Theresa Orphanages. The children came running to us, almost attacking us, because they see a bunch of Americans with toys. It was overwhelming to see that there are more than 500 kids at this place who are HIV positive or have AIDS or have some other disorder. All I could do was question God. Wow! How can it be? Lord, why? How are you getting glory out of this? If they go through so much pain and suffering, why did you even bring them into this world? So many questions God, what do you want to teach me, the world, the church about this? God, you see their pain; doesn't it hurt you enough to want to heal them? I know you have so much compassion on your people. You love them and care for them. But still, I can't help, but ask why them, the precious innocent children, who never asked to be infected with infirmities....why, why, why, God?

As the sister was taking us on a tour, a sweet little girl ran to me and held my hand and then kissed it before we left to tour the boys sleeping room. We then went to the place where the young orphan boys were making silk scarves. They worked so hard and diligently. It's a very tedious and time consuming job. Most take one to two days to make and they sold them for $10 each and only made $1.70 off each one. Pretty pathetic, knowing how hard they work! We spend $1.70 like it is nothing. We continued to tour the rest of the place and we come to the clinic. Wow, I'm torn to pieces again, to see two sweet little boys infected with HIV and battling pneumonia. No one knows if they will even make it a few more days. All I could do was pray over their bodies for healing. God, please hear my plea for them, I beg you Lord! It shouldn't be like this. They need to live and experience life. Breathe life into them Lord, that's all I ask of you.

As we leave the clinic, the sister tells us they bury at least one body a week. She also told us that most of the children know that they are going to die. They are fearless of dying. Their faith in God gives them hope and they know in their heart that they will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus. The presence of God is so evident in their life. The children are making most of life. My heart cries out to God to heal them and save them. At this point, I am so overwhelmed by all this. Seeing all these kids homeless without a parent is just not right. I am deeply hurting for them and wish that I could bring them home with me so I could take care of them. After we left the Mother Theresa home, we went and played with the street kids and took them out for ice cream.

It's about 4pm and we are headed back to our guest house. Again, I couldn't stop questioning God about the poor, the orphans, and the widows. My heart is so heavy and so broken. I looked out at the city and saw God's glory radiating through the rays coming off the clouds. At that moment, I knew God was speaking to me. He was telling me, I'm shining my light on these people. I have my hand on them Falguni! I know you don't understand, but I am a caring and compassionate God. I love them! They are my people and I am their God!

Once we arrived home, I had some time alone with God and he totally directed me to the passage about the sheeps and the goats in Matthew 25. Wow, God sure does know how to speak to me! It says:

These are blessed and granted eternal life

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,I was in prison and you came to visit me...

...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Wow, God never ceases to amaze me when he speaks to me so clearly. He knew I was struggling with the questions! We are created to take care of them and that is exactly what my team and I were doing with the orphans in Africa. Every person we come in contact with IS Christ and we are to help them and not overlook them. That is how God is getting glory out of all this...now I understand!

We are so blessed and we truly do not know how to be happy with little. The people in Africa know how to make the most of every moment and know how to be happy under any circumstances. Us, Americans, just want more and more and more and are never satisfied with what we do have. When I look into the eyes of the Africans, they are so joyous and happy; there is a twinkle in their eyes. Always smiling and laughing!

I hope that you will join me in praying for the poor, the orphans, and the widows!

Beautiful Blessings ~ Falguni