Many of you know God birthed a deep love for Ethiopia in
my heart in the summer of 2010. As
result of that love, a passion for
caring for the orphan and serving the least of these in Ethiopia became a dream
of mine. God has been so faithful over the last 2 years of our adoption process,
and has shown us just how big He is and that He is true to the promises He
gives us.
As you may know, Phillip and I have traveled to Ethiopia
twice in the last 7 months. The first
time was in November when we went to court to officially become the parents of
our beautiful Emerson. Then again in January, when we brought her home to her
forever family. During each trip while
we were in Ethiopia, I felt a stirring that I needed to do more & more
specifically that there was something
there for me. Something that God needed me to do, and something that God
needed to do in me. God placed a deep
love and compassion for the people in my heart. It wasn’t something I could do,
it was something God was doing and continues to do in me. I have a deep desire to minister to, love and
feed into the lives of God’s precious children everywhere but more specifically,
His children in Ethiopia.
In Matthew 25:35-40
Christ says “For when I hungry you gave me something to eat, when I was thirsty
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you looked after me, I was
in prison and you came to visit me.” “ Then the righteous will answer him,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe
you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?” The king will
reply, “truly, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me.”
God tells us several times that
we are to care for the least of these, to care for oppressed, to visit the
widows and the orphans in their distress.
I have an opportunity to do just that, to experience a dream I have longed to
fulfill. To go back to the place that has stolen my heart and captured my
attention, a place that I miss and long for.
June 9th –
June 19th our church, Mid
Cities Community Church, is taking a team of 16 people to Ethiopia. The
team will be serving alongside Project 61 in Korah Ethiopia, a community that is
located just outside of Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia). Korah is
one of the poorest of the poor communities in Ethiopia, a leper colony that
houses 75K+ people who are considered to be the outcasts of society. In Korah, people live in houses made of
corrugated metal, left over lumber, plastic, mud and other such materials.
Their dirt floors are covered with nothing more than a woven plastic-like
material if anything at all. Most of
these homes are no bigger then a 12x12 room and usually houses a family of 6 or
even a couple of families. The people of
Korah also suffer from many sicknesses such as Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis
and much more. There are 4 generations
of families living in Korah, babies, children, widows, fathers, sons, daughters
and grandparents. For some of them,
their sole survival comes from digging in the dump; this is the main source of
food for many. These people know the
magnitude of their distress yet they have a deep devotion to the Father. Some know Jesus and cling to the hope that He
brings and restoration that comes from the Father.
As Ravi Zacharias said “those of us who are believers are
God’s hands in benevolence, to lighten the burdens and pains of this world and
if we don’t do that we are not being Godly in our lives.” I want
to be godly in my life.
My husband, Phillip, was originally signed on for this trip.
He was the one who was going to be the hands and feet of God and help in
bringing the hope of Jesus and help lighten the burden of our brothers and
sisters in Korah. However in this last
week God has been moving and making things happen to where I can go in his
place. I am beyond thrilled. My
heart is overjoyed to finally be in this community and to be serving the people
who have stolen my heart.
I tell you all of
this to ask for your support. The purpose
of this mission trip is to simply be the hands and feet of Christ and share his
love and to support Project 61. We plan to do this by caring for those affected
by their extreme poverty, Leprosy, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and many of who are
widows and orphans. There is also an opportunity to help make improvements on
the shelter there in Korah for the children who are homeless and sleep in the
trash dump.
The cost of this trip
is $3,000. I have missed all early deadlines due to my late joining of the
team therefor; I owe it all up front. (Due
by June 1st) These funds cover travel, accommodations, food and
a portion will also cover meeting some basic needs once we are in Korah such
as, clothes, personal hygiene products, medicines etc. Please note that all financial gifts are tax
deductible. If you feel led to partner with me financially simply write your
check or money order payable to Mid-Cities Community Church. Do not put my name anywhere on the check
as this eliminates the tax-deductible eligibility. There is a small instruction card attached
that insures we receive your gift properly and allows Mid-Cities to credit your
gift to the right account. Please make sure to use this card when sending in
any gift. Please mail your decision card and/or payment to Mid-Cities Community
Church, 8700 W. Hwy 191 Midland TX, 79707. Or you can visit www.midcities.org and create an account or
log in to donate online. You can designate you donation to Missions.
Most importantly, beyond all things, we and I would value your prayers. We believe and have
great faith that the Lord will do great things on this trip and we are
preparing for it. Also I would
appreciate your prayers, as I will be leaving our 3 littles at home with
Phillip for 10 days. Pray for him as well ;) Pray that their little hearts will
be protected and that God, who comforts, will comfort them when they feel
little spouts of sadness that I am away. Especially Emerson. I am standing on
faith that the same God who protected her heart all those months while we were
apart will protect her heart again. Pray that the enemy will have no room to
mess with her mind and that all the progress we have made since bringing her
home will not be damaged and that when I return home from Africa we will pick
up where we left off. Pray for the
health of our entire team during travel and once we are on ground, pray for
opportunities to bring people to the Father, pray that all the logistical plans
for the trip will run smoothly and that this mission will be blessed beyond
measure. If you would like to be added to our prayer team list, please respond
with “prayer team” in the subject line. (my email is jennaknight(at)gmail(dot)com)
Thank you for your love and your support. None of this would
be possible with out a support system here at home. You are a very vital and
important part of this mission. I will leave you with this...
“Sometimes I would
like to ask God, why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, when
He could do something about it…but I’m afraid He might ask me the same
question.”
This is the video that the team made. Isn't it great?! Notice the cute bald guy with the green sweater... Thats my hottie husband! Picture me in his role. ;)
