The Call...
Scripture is clear on the influence believers are to have
on this world...
1.) The least of these. “The King will reply, ‘Truly
I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters
of mine, you did for me."(Matthew 25:40).
2.) Widows and orphans. "Religion that God our
Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows
in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
(James 1:27). It has been estimated that 53 million African children
under 18 have no parents.
3.) We are blessed to
bless others. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be
demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be
asked." (Luke 12:48) God has given so we might be able to give. "What
shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?" (Psalm
116:12)
Last and most important...
4.) We have been adopted. The Spirit you received
does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit
you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself
testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are
children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we
share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans
8:15-17).
5.) We are loved and called to love. Although we have
yet to meet our future kids we love them. This love has consumed our family
from the youngest to the oldest. The prayers of our children have become,
"Jesus please bring our kids home soon!" We have fallen in love with
this country and their heritage. They have a proud heritage and have withstood
influence of neighboring countries. This stand has not been without cost. This
is a country that we are privileged to partner with in completing our family!
- The question for us has become...Not whether we are called to love on the orphan and widows, but how we are to love on the orphan and widows. This adoption is one of many ways we can be involved in the ministry God so evidently wants us to be a part of!
Facts about Ethiopia
- Total population: 93,815,992
- The average income in Ethiopia is US$100 a year. Almost 82% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.
- Malnutrition levels are among the highest in the world. Only 24% of households have access to safe drinking water.
- The average life expectancy is 43 years.Ethiopia is home to 4 million orphans, or 12% of all children. in a country that is LESS that twice the size of Texas.
- More than half a million of these were orphaned as a result of AIDS.
- Literacy rate: 42.7% age 15 and over can read and write.
- Only 18 percent of children reach grade five.
- Ethiopia's neonatal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world - 49/1000 births with tetanus infection being the second major cause of infant/neonatal death. 1 in 10 children die before their 1st birthday.
Statistics are from the CIA.
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