Dear Kayah,

Dear Kayah,

 (For those of you who don't know my dear little friend Kayah, let me introduce you to her: She just turned 6 on December 9th. She is a wonderful little girl, wide eyed and always has a bright smile. She is best friends with my three kids. This year for her birthday Kayah did something most American kids would never dream. She decided to forgo her birthday presents and requested every one who attended her birthday celebration to bring shoes. Shoes for kids in Ethiopia where our son Tadios is from. She wanted to help other children like her friend Tad.)

Kayah you have no idea the day you have blessed us with today. We took off early this morning and headed north of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to a town called Duber. It took over an hour to travel there by truck up the mountain. This village is outside the city and is in the rural country side. We were blessed to partner with Children's Hope Chest a ministry through Tom Davis. Fikre our assistant for the ministry road along with us to a compound called Trees of Glory. There they minister to 120+ children. 15 of which live at the compound with an amazing lady Simret. We arrived at a large open area in the mountains where we saw several large concreate buildings. Where they have been blessed to be able to minister to  rural children and give them food and educations. Most of the children have lost their parents to HIV and are living with guardians such as older grandparents or older siblings. They are the poorest of the poor. No electricity, no clean water. Nothing. They have nothing. Today was a very special day. Before we left the city we got to go to a local market to purchase fruit for the children. We bought 150 bananas, and bread. (moose and dabo). We spend under $30 for all. The children rarely get fruit so this was very very special. Also today was rice day. So the children where over joyed. We got to see the living quarters where the 15 orphans lived with Simret. She burst forth with love and energy for life like no one I have ever met. The children were singing when we arrived. There voices sounded like thousands. They have a sense of apprecation in each other, just being together, and knowing that this place provides them with a future. Fikre, told us just a few years ago these children had never seen people outside their village. Never white people like us. They were extremely shy and had no sense of a world we all know and understand. Their world consisted of their tin shack, their mud hut, or a blanket somewhere on the ground. Now they have education, books, food, and sponsors from the states that make all this possible. As they finished singing. The children began welcoming us. Mostly with graditude, or statments of well wishes for their sponsers in the states. One litte girl stood up and said, " Please Please, tell Meridith, Thank you. I hope to see her soon!" It kept going.... child after child kept asking us to tell thier sponsor back in the states, with their deepest graditude. These sponsors give them their food, education.Thier life. You think sponsorship isn't a big deal? Tell them. Tears formed so many times in my eyes out of humility. These children have forever changed my life.

We then got to feed them fruit and bread, and see them devor it and the rice. All greatful for what was given. They took Awan by the hand one after the other holding her hand and hugging her. She was ushered into their solo swing and they swung her so high she fell right out of it on the ground, they all ran helped her up and clapped! Awan red but so happy with them! Jeremy and Ewenetu took the kids rides on the merry go round till one girl took a twirl right off! They all were cheering for the fast speed the guys could make them go!  I was in the center of a group of children following me and my camera. Most of the children have never seen themselves. So they would croud around me as I took shots of each of them showing them their photos. They would all smile in pride, at their reflections. So different than at home.

This all sounds amazing and it was. The children mostly. But the best part came when we rolled a suitcase into a small room and opened up the shoes. Simret burst out with a huge smile and loud, "Praise GOD!!" I had your story Kayah translated to the helpers, and I showed Simret your cute litte photo. She said tell Kayah, God Bless her. God Bless her. Kayah, you are just  a child, but what you did today has changed me, an adult. Your small decision to forgo your birthday presents has issued over 20 children shoes. The children would smile, their feet were in very bad conditions. One girl, about your age came into the room. Everyone burst out in cheering. We all looked puzzeled. We looked down. This little girl she came into the room today barefoot. The translator told us, This today, is her very first pair of shoes. Kayah. I have reaped the blessing of your gift in a way I can never tell you. Your small act has effected so many today. Most of the children who recieved shoes today came into the room with shoes that were barely on their feet. They were tattered and torn and they left restored. Very much like what Christ does in our hearts. Today my heart traveled to this rural area tattered and torn, but because of your gift Kayah I have seen Christ restore my heart because of  many children. May God Bless you Kayah, as much as he has me today. This is a day in Ethiopia I will never ever forget.