Please forgive any spelling/type mistakes. I am creating these posts on my phone:)
Today was our first day serving in Adama, Ethiopia. We spent the entire day at the new building or Ellilta-Women at Risk. This is our partner that rescues women amd their children from prostition.
Our time started by Ellilta asking Kimberly(my wife)to share some of her life story...which included plenty of the tough stuff. I did the same right after her. There were some tears...then the flood. When i say flood, i mean woman after woman in the program(former prostitutes) standing up and sharing, often through tears, their difficult stories of life on the streets and what drove them there.
Once they realized we are all peers in the messinees of life...all with broken pasts of some sort, they felt set free to share their own stories. One could sense the healing presence of community and God's love in the room.
This time of sharing was meant to establish some level of trust and relationship for tomorrow- when the Arukah ladies will teach a workshop on hygiene, STD, HIV and post-abortion care.
The simple gesture of our gals being present for the former prostitutes, shows the ladies in the program that they are indeed valued....not just a commodity to be used, abused abd tossed aside along wotg their children.
Some team members also engaged with children of the women...there were plenty of laughs to be had.
While the women on our team spent time weaving coffee mats and talking with the Ellilta women, the Arulah men joined laborers and Ellilta staff in sanding and painting wall of the facility.
We will be back there tomorrow.
Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and support.
I will update as time and internet allows.
Peace,
Mark
Today was our first day serving in Adama, Ethiopia. We spent the entire day at the new building or Ellilta-Women at Risk. This is our partner that rescues women amd their children from prostition.
Our time started by Ellilta asking Kimberly(my wife)to share some of her life story...which included plenty of the tough stuff. I did the same right after her. There were some tears...then the flood. When i say flood, i mean woman after woman in the program(former prostitutes) standing up and sharing, often through tears, their difficult stories of life on the streets and what drove them there.
Once they realized we are all peers in the messinees of life...all with broken pasts of some sort, they felt set free to share their own stories. One could sense the healing presence of community and God's love in the room.
This time of sharing was meant to establish some level of trust and relationship for tomorrow- when the Arukah ladies will teach a workshop on hygiene, STD, HIV and post-abortion care.
The simple gesture of our gals being present for the former prostitutes, shows the ladies in the program that they are indeed valued....not just a commodity to be used, abused abd tossed aside along wotg their children.
Some team members also engaged with children of the women...there were plenty of laughs to be had.
While the women on our team spent time weaving coffee mats and talking with the Ellilta women, the Arulah men joined laborers and Ellilta staff in sanding and painting wall of the facility.
We will be back there tomorrow.
Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and support.
I will update as time and internet allows.
Peace,
Mark
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