Relentless Love : Part II: Can I Really Make a Difference?

Three years ago, on June 2 (when this entry was written), we stepped off a plane onto African soil for the first time in our lives. Holding hands as we took it all in…the smell of berbere (a spice used in almost every Ethiopian dish) filled the mountain air, the sight (and smell) of diesel exhaust fumes hung heavily in the air, casting a haze over the mountains within our view, and a face of a friend who has been there with us every step of the way since that day greeted us with his gorgeous smile and warm hug. We had no idea what God had in store for us, how every person we met along our trip would touch our lives tremendously from that point on, especially the one who God had sent us there to meet…our daughter.

A moment ago while I was washing dishes while listening to the thunder and watching the rain pour down out of my kitchen window, reflecting over this day and the following10 days that God had planned for us..I had a flash back to one moment in particular and turned the running water off as quickly as I could.

I had been asked to be our mission team photographer on this trip and was thrilled at the opportunity.

It was the rainy season in Ethiopia during our stay there, which made for some spontaneous torrential downpours throughout the week. We were in the village of Korah, where we met Hope for the first time..3 years ago..TODAY (June 4, 2012), and our job that afternoon was spreading this red clay dirt around the compound (as much of the “road” had been washed out..this was a very needed task).

The first photo taken of me and Hope..right after she climbed up in my lap

However, in the midst of our team’s work, the rain came. This wasn’t just any rain..this was monsoon rain! The children who had surrounded me as I photographed that day (including our precious Hope) quickly took me into their bunks to dry off (and thankfully save my camera too!). They sat me on the bed, wrapped me in blankets, and brought me flowers. Their love and hospitality was overwhelming.

Then, they did something that still brings me to my knees when I saw it happening. They ran back out into the rain to bathe and drink. They smiled and danced as the rain drops hit their skin and they soaked up every drop there was. They scrubbed their arms and legs with the fresh crisp water and cupped their hands to catch enough to get one or two sweet sips to quench their constant thirst. I couldn’t help but think about how they were SO thankful for this gift of clean water pouring from the sky..and how we take it completely for granted. These children and families have to walk miles to the nearest water source, which does not provide them with clean water but muddy, contaminated, river water. There are a few wells within the village that drip, at best some water, but it is not near enough to sustain them and it is still water that you and I would never drink due to a lack of cleanliness.

Washing their hands with local water

My husband and I decided that we would bring them fresh water every day while we were there. We knew that it was not a long-term solution, but it was a need we could provide for them while we were there. (Thankfully when we discussed this issue with the church leaders at the time, we were told that another mission team had plans to bring water filtering systems with them to help meet this need long term)

The next day, we stopped on our way into the village to purchase water and our vans pulled in with cases of bottled water to share. When we began filling cups of this pure, fresh water and handed it to the kids, crowds began forming. What happened next, again, was a moment that I never expected and touched me to my core. The children began pouring the cups of water onto their hands to wash them. They were so used to not drinking water, they thought that this water was for washing too. I quickly stopped them and showed them that it was safe to drink and the look of awe and wonder in their eyes was unforgettable.

So, today as I stood over my sink watching the rain pour down, I turned off the excess water that was filling my sink while I scrubbed my dishes. I have also made a point to turn off the water while I brush my teeth ever since this trip (I have no idea why I left it running in the first place?). My kids bathe together. And my showers are just long enough to get the job done..no lingering in the hot water for this girl. Ultimately, I know this doesn’t change much..and it doesn’t change their circumstances, but every little bit counts. And it reminds me of all of the things I have to be grateful for…clean water people! It’s a big deal!

Sometimes looking at the big picture and realizing the vast amount of need in the world can become overwhelming…and to many people, paralyzing. Have you ever had this thought, “If there is so much need/hurt/pain/poverty/evil out there, anything I do won’t make a difference anyway.” This is one of the biggest lies out there!!! I KNOW that one person CAN make a difference.

In addition to pursuing adoption, we have also been sponsoring multiple children from this village since we left. Our sponsorship may not change the world, but it DOES change the world for the child who is sponsored. Sponsoring a child has a ripple effect and makes a difference for their families and everyone they will touch in their lifetime. It makes a HUGE impact.

One of our dear friends, Stacy, who we met on this first trip to Ethiopia is now, along with her husband, a founder of a sponsorship program called Out of the Ashes. Please take a moment to watch this video, go look at the website and get more information, and pray about sponsoring one of these children. It’s truly amazing to see how these sponsorships impact the children of Korah and we have witnessed it first hand.