(update from a 2012 blog post)

During my first trip to Ethiopia with Compassion International in 2011, I had no idea that God would forever change my life by way of a spontaneous game of peek-a-boo with a 3.5 year old little girl who looked a little different than her peers.

As the team photo/video guy, I snuck out the side door of the large church gathering in order to capture a few images of the overflow of worshipers who were congregating on the steps outside the back of the building.  This church was the location of a thriving Compassion International project with over 200 children already sponsored. Today there are over 350 children in the project.

As I stood in amazement at how many people were listening to the sermon from outside, I noticed a little girl- about 20 feet away from me - huddled behind her mother against the wall.  She was peeking out at me with an inquisitive smile.  I gave her a playful wave to acknowledge I saw her.  She paused, did the same wave back at me, and then hid behind her mother who was listening intently to the preacher.
When she playfully peered out from behind mom again, I did the same wave.  She giggled.  We went back and forth with this little game of peek-a-boo for a few minutes...her trying to restrain the laughter...as not to disturb her mother.  After a few more peek-a-boo's, she ran over to me said something in Amharic(local language), giggled, and ran back to hide behind her mom.  A few minutes later...the same thing - she ran up to me, said something...this time tugging on my arm, giggled and went back to her mother.

She was lighter skinned than the rest of the kids and it was clear her father was not native Ethiopian.

I asked my Ethiopian host next to me what the situation was with this little girl.  He explained that the husband(who was Ukrainian) had left his wife just after she gave birth to her daughter.  Just after his explanation, the girl ran up to me again, said something while again tugging on my arm, giggled and ran back to mom...this time looking back at me as if waiting for a response.

The man leaned over to me and said, "Mr. Mark, that little girl thinks you are her father."

SPEECHLESS.  My heart sank.  I felt a strange mix of anger, sadness and flat-out indignation.  I felt my eyes welling up.  Time after time on this trip I had met children who's father was not present.  Sometimes he had died.  Sometimes drug or alcohol abuse.  Sometimes he simply walked out on his wife and children.
I waved again at the little girl...and went to walk off my emotions. Church was dismissed.  I did not see her again that day.  We'd fly back home in a couple of days.

That short interaction haunted me.  What was going on in that little girl's heart? Does this happen each time she sees a "white" man: "Could that be my daddy?"  I could not imagine.  It broke my heart.

"Could that be my daddy?"

I found myself recalling and re-telling that story multiple times during my remaining time in Ethiopia.  Upon returning to the states, I told it over and over again.

Fast forward 8 weeks.  Back in the states.  Compassion Sunday. San Jose, CA.  My church at the time had an opportunity to sponsor around 50+ children from the same Compassion project we visited while in Nazret(Adama), Ethiopia.

As one helping set up the Compassion Internatinal table, and with the intent of sponsoring a child, I started looking through profiles of all the children we had the opportunity to sponsor. Face after face...after precious face. 

As I was going through the stack, I was stopped in my tracks as I looked at one of the profiles. 
Could it be?  No...not possible.  Maybe?  No.  Not possible.

I was stunned.  There she was...the same little girl with whom I played peek-a-boo more 8 weeks prior…9000 miles away!  The same little girl who thought I was her father was staring back in me in a photo!!!  God delivered little Yididiya to me directly into my hands...and heart. Needless to say, I sponsored her.  What a gift she has been.

Her name, Yididiya, means, "Loved by God."  And she is.  As am I.  

I made a commitment in my heart to visit her each year from that time forward. By the grace of God, with the exception of the covid years, I've been able to keep that promise and go to Ethiopia at least one time every year. Sometimes twice. My wife Kimberly and I now sponsor 3 little ones in Ethiopia. We see them each year. Well...they are not so little anymore!

On my first visit back to see her in 2012, her mother, Genet,  shared that "Yididiya is at peace now because she had so many questions about fatherhood."  She also said this to me, "When someone asks Yididiya who her father is, she answers, your name."  "Yididiya is not only my daughter", she continued, "She is your daughter...because she loves you equal to me."
CHOKE. The humility of her mother being able to say that absolutely broke me. I then realized that sponsoring a child has more impact than one can ever fathom.

​I came to learn that, like the majority of families that had children available to sponsor, Genet and Yididiya were struggling in many ways. It is humbling to think sponsorship helped stabilize life for them a bit. However, over the subsequent years, I saw her mother persevere through many trials - working hard to provide for, care for, and stay engaged with her daughter. Genet has a lion-like spirit - noble, strong, determined, loyal and protective. After meeting her mother(Yididiya's grandmother) multiple times, I know where that spirit comes from!)  

In 2015, I was led to launch Arukah Global.  Yididiya was the seed God used to begin that organization. Now, 15 years later, Yididiya and Genet are thriving and I see that same "lioness" in Yididiya.
That little 3.5 year old is now a very smart, creative, determined, discerning, compassionate 18 year old young lady who has an amazing gift of faith and positive outlook on life. She is a strong leader with a humble heart. Yes, I sponsored her in 2011...but she is my daughter. A gift from God that changed the trajectory of my life.  I love her more than I can express and I could not be more proud of her. 

She also "gets" what I mean when I tell her that countless other children, former prostitutes and widows have been given opportunity for a better future because of our meeting back in 2011. Arukah Global has also been a catalyst to over 150 kids being sponsored through Compassion International.  

I met my wife Kimberly just before launching Arukah Global. She has been foundational to our work with women in Ethiopia. Both Yididiya and her mother have not only embraced us, but we are family. They love Kimberly and she loves them dearly.  Not only do Kimberly and Yididiya have a wonderful connection, but Kimberly and Genet share a special sisterly bond that is truly wonderful to witness.

As a man called to serve the Church, my experience in Ethiopia has deeply stirred my heart for those to whom I am called to minister in the states. One of the things I appreciate most about taking teams to serve overseas is that it often stirs the "goers" to a greater love for those back home. 

See our Team Trips page to explore joining us!