Typical Home in Addis (capital of of Ethiopia)
"Beautiful Ethiopia"
The trip itself was an amazing experience in so many ways! I am so thankful to the Lord for bringing me to CH as He is using this organization to further deepen my understanding of a global perspective & how to extend His love to others.
For me, some of one of the most memorable moments were when we first pulled up to the CH compound & we could see all the children waiting for us in their white CH T-shirts & how wonderfully they welcomed us in word & song. Jenn Ward (a staff from West District) & I did a personal "walk-a-bout" to ensure we connected with each child that was there. What a wonderful experience that was meeting these dear children for the first time. For me, as I'm processing so many child sponsorship photos, it was especially meaningful to finally meet them all in person!
Then on camp day when all the sponsored children gathered at the CH conference grounds, we had the opportunity to meet specific sponsored children. Negash (our CH Ethiopian staff contact) had arranged for some of our sponsored children to come from different near-by villages. I was able to meet my own little boy (1 yr old) who came with his mother, Kristen's (a staff at our Corporate office) little boy who came with his mother (6 yrs old - he is crippled with a deformed right leg) and my mother's sponsored child - who came from 30 km away in horse/cart to be there (13 yr girl who is crippled). What an experience that was!! The interaction with them was such an amazing experience. Negash had arranged for an interpreter which meant the language barrier disappeared. It was wonderful to communicate with these children and their mothers. The joy in their faces when they understood they their child was sponsored was indiscernible. They were so grateful with tears of joy in their eyes!
I found myself often wishing I had more arms to hold them all at once. There wasn't enough me to go around! My prayer while I was there was that the love of Jesus would shine through me & touch the lives of each child I had an opportunity to connect with. I intentionally shook hands with as many children as possible...at the opening of the special needs school, at the dairy farm, at the nun's make-shift school...so many children to love!!
This verse became especially meaningful to me during the trip:
Duet. 4:9 (NASB)
"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons."
Heather Siebenmorgen
Development Manager
CH Global
For me, some of one of the most memorable moments were when we first pulled up to the CH compound & we could see all the children waiting for us in their white CH T-shirts & how wonderfully they welcomed us in word & song. Jenn Ward (a staff from West District) & I did a personal "walk-a-bout" to ensure we connected with each child that was there. What a wonderful experience that was meeting these dear children for the first time. For me, as I'm processing so many child sponsorship photos, it was especially meaningful to finally meet them all in person!
Then on camp day when all the sponsored children gathered at the CH conference grounds, we had the opportunity to meet specific sponsored children. Negash (our CH Ethiopian staff contact) had arranged for some of our sponsored children to come from different near-by villages. I was able to meet my own little boy (1 yr old) who came with his mother, Kristen's (a staff at our Corporate office) little boy who came with his mother (6 yrs old - he is crippled with a deformed right leg) and my mother's sponsored child - who came from 30 km away in horse/cart to be there (13 yr girl who is crippled). What an experience that was!! The interaction with them was such an amazing experience. Negash had arranged for an interpreter which meant the language barrier disappeared. It was wonderful to communicate with these children and their mothers. The joy in their faces when they understood they their child was sponsored was indiscernible. They were so grateful with tears of joy in their eyes!
I found myself often wishing I had more arms to hold them all at once. There wasn't enough me to go around! My prayer while I was there was that the love of Jesus would shine through me & touch the lives of each child I had an opportunity to connect with. I intentionally shook hands with as many children as possible...at the opening of the special needs school, at the dairy farm, at the nun's make-shift school...so many children to love!!
This verse became especially meaningful to me during the trip:
Duet. 4:9 (NASB)
"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons."
Heather Siebenmorgen
Development Manager
CH Global
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