Hey everyone!
I just wanted to send out an update from Ethiopia for those who haven't gotten to read my blog posts. My internet capabilities have been limited, so communication has been very rough (thanks for your patience!!). In particular, my blog website is one (along with myspace) which I cannot access here at all. A friend has helped me update it… but I wanted you all to know the reason for few posts.
My time here in Addis had been amazing, words cannot even do it justice! I've felt so blessed to be apart of ministry and the lives of people here. Most of my time is spent with kids… gotta love that! I have a class full of kids who are very anxious to learn English. Nearby my class there is a ministry called Hope Enterprise that feeds 1,000 people a day. As I've spent time volunteering there I've learned that my time spent with the children there is far more valuable than the time I spend working in the kitchen (though that's important too).
Once we leave Hope, we walk down the streets and typically are chased down by kids from one of two groups of street kids we are building relationships with. One is a young group that is primarily Muslim. The second is a group of boys, a little older, who live on the streets selling gum. Both groups are so special, and we're connecting them with leaders locally who can build into them and mentor them in the most valuable ways. Living here, you learn what it's like to be approached by beggars non-stop, and you become accustom to the wisest ways to interact with the majority on the streets. But no matter what, I still find myself so many times either broken, or frustrated, or helpless as my heart goes out to those in great need around me. As I am often overwhelmed by the need, I am reminded that God has that much he desires to restore for the people.
I'm so thankful for all your prayers and have some specifics you could join me in praying for. Please pray for the street kids we're working with, that we would have wisdom as we spend time with each individual. Particularly, pray for an eight year-old orphan girl named Mekalete who we've grown very close to as she is in a very hard situation with the family who's taken her in. Personally, my health has struggled here as I've acclimated to the new foods… please pray it doesn't persist as it has over the last month. Thank you!!
God Bless!!
Jackie LeTourneau
3 comments:
Yo Jackie, Keep up the updates as you can. I'll pray for you and the rest of your trip as often as I remember.
hey jackie josh and i found your blog and are excited to read more, we have linked you to our blog too. just in case you want an update on us here is our site http://joshandstephmikow.blogspot.com/
cant wait to read more and see you in november!
Hey Jackie- I'm bummed out that you have to hurt so much emotionally because I know the toll it could take on your body- but I know that God is growing you too during the pain. I'll be keeping you and the little girl in my prayers.
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