Guest: Be A Voice
My Life Is Crazy Too is a new series of reader submissions. This is your opportunity to share stories about life, love, and mommyhood to provide understanding, hope, and compassion in the unique situations each of us face every day. If you would like to submit a story to this series, email me. Today’s crazy guest is Kara Vassar. When we were on our adoption journey, we wanted to feel connected to Ethiopia during our wait. So, we got our hands on a Yezelalem Minch documentary. We heard that our adoption agency helps this orphan/widow care ministry in Ethiopia. My husband and I watched it. I cried! We were amazed, in awe, saddened, and yet hopeful. In the movie, the visionary Birtukan and founder Nesibu were such an inspiration. They are truly the Hands and Feet of Christ in Ethiopia. The very next day, I sponsored a boy from Yezelalem Minch (YZM). I knew in my heart that I would help them spread their ministry someday. But, at the moment, our adoption journey was 1st priority. Within 6 months after we brought our 2 children home, I was offered a FREE pass for a week long Christian music festival (a festival that has been in my town for years, yet NEVER attended). At this festival the Lord spoke to my heart saying, “it is time to help Yezelalem Minch and be their voice”. I had NO idea what I was doing but I felt I could start by sharing their story on facebook. To move people’s hearts, you have to show them a need and how they can make a difference. I thought sharing the Yezelalem Minch documentary was the answer. After contacting the director, I had copies made and started sending them out free. The response was amazing! I was overwhelmed by how so many people stepped up to help these Yezelalem Minch children in Ethiopia. Now, there are so many YZM advocates throughout the US that children are being sponsored on a more regular basis. Praise God for this miracle. Nesibu, Birtukan and YZM staff do all the hard work by making sure their 1300 children are cared for, loved and valued as our very own children are.
I finally went to visit Yezelalem Minch in March of 2011. During that visit, I asked Nesibu, what he thought the solution to poverty in Ethiopia was and his answer was the following:
1. Self-Help groups: People work together on a common goal like Yezelalem Minch Widows Coffee Group.
2. Individual Generated Income: Individuals get a little training for a certain task (farming, cooking, raising goats/chickens etc.) and then YZM gives them a little loan to get their little business started
3. Vocational Training for the Youth.
Well, #3 is Yezelalem Minch’s next project. YZM wants to build a Vocational School for their young people to give them an opportunity to learn an income generating skill to use and make money for TODAY to save families and keep the older youth off the streets. After a gentleman named Tim Buursma visited YM, he propelled this vision forward through an organization called Future Hope: www.futurehopecampaign.org. I believe that together we all can help give youth in Ethiopia a future that will build them up, their community and their country. Thus, helping to lessen the severe poverty some youth and families in Ethiopia face every day.
If you would like to change the life of a Yezelalem Minch child for only $1 a day by becoming a sponsor, email Joelle Diepenbrock (Helps International Ministries) at jdiepenbrock@helpsmission.org.
And, if you would like to be a part of changing the future of Yezelalem Minch youth, go to the Future Hope website at www.futurehopecampaign.org and register to receive updates, stories and opportunities.
You can Be a Voice for Orphans and Vulnerable Children too! Just ask me how!
