Join us in congratulating Aliyah Warwick as the winner of the FREE HopeChest Mission Trip Giveaway with Simply Love and Man Up!

Being in a country where 30,000 women have literally disappeared is hard to describe. There are over 250 brothels in the capital city of Chisinau and one of the greatest targets for sex-trafficking are girls who leave the orphanages.

One way you can help is by purchasing a HopeChest + Simply Love t-shirt. Proceeds will support the survivors of sex trafficking at the Beginning of Life Rehabilitation home. Click to visit the store and buy your shirt now.

BUY YOUR SHIRT & HELP RESTORE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

The girls are tricked–often by the promise of a great job.

Then they are trafficked abroad to places like Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, or right inside Moldova.

And they are trashed by pimps and sex brokers and johns.

Thankfully, local ministries–like our partner Beginning of Life–are there to help rehabilitate and restore survivors of human trafficking.

This video comes from 2010 on my trip to Moldova. What we encountered there bordered on the unreal and unbelievable.

I was sipping coffee at one table, while traffickers were making deals and exchanging cash with women at the tables next to us.

I couldn’t believe it was right out in the open.

One of the girls we met on this trip was trafficked from the cafe in downtown Chisinau, Moldova where we had coffee.

BUY YOUR SHIRT & HELP RESTORE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

One of the main ways girls get trapped is attempting to escape from the country for a better life abroad. A significant part of the population wants to leavef Moldova because this is the poorest country in Europe. The opportunities are few and women long for a better life. This is the perfect environment for a trafficker. That life is promised to them by a company who offers, “great salaries” in England, America, Germany, etc. They sign up, get on a plane, and that’s when the nightmare begins.

But you can help change that. As I said in the video, “We can’t do it without you.”

BUY YOUR SHIRT & HELP RESTORE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

We are working with local ministries–like Beginning of Life–who are helping bring healing to girls rescued from brothels. These brave young women were rescued, and now are embarking upon the long and difficult journey to healing.  The aftercare programs provide round-the-clock care, protection, medical care, and counseling.

Recognizing the need to fight this crime, Vladimir Ubeivolc answered God’s call and began the Beginning of Life Foundation in Moldova. Vladimir and his wife Yulia are committed to helping the victims of sex trafficking. According to Vladimir, the best way to fight sex trafficking is prevention.

The Beginning of Life Foundation focuses on warning girls about the dangers of sex trafficking before they are faced with a problem. Unfortunately, many girls still fall into the trap and become victims. This organization helps these girls start over again. “First we counsel her for three months, then we help her rent an apartment, find financial support for her and help her find a new job,” Vladimir said.

The Beginning of Life Foundation provides spiritual, psychological, and social support to the young women who come in. Through the work of this organization, many have experienced a complete metamorphosis and are now experiencing life in Christ for the first time..

BUY YOUR SHIRT & HELP RESTORE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/redletters/2012/03/tricked-trafficked-and-trashed-video.html#ixzz1odF1kXqq

Children’s HopeChest has partnered with My Crazy Adoption to create NEW limited-edition set of Simply Love and Man Up shirts. This exclusive design can only be purchased here at the Children’s HopeChest t-shirt store.

SIMPLY LOVE:

When you purchase a Simply Love tee- you are supporting the orphanage Haiti Home of Hope in Pignon, Haiti. The donations we raise from Simply Love tees will directly fund the orphanage projects:

• Mother’s milk [formula] and clinic program
• Building project for mother/baby safehouse
• A brand new home for a family of 4 living in Pignon
• 37 orphans permanently living at Haiti Home of Hope orphanage- Food, clothing, and medical care

MAN UP:

When you purchase a Man Up tee- you are supporting our partner Beginning of Life in Moldova. Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe nestled between Ukraine and Romania. The donations we raise from Man Up tees will directly fund our partnership with “Beginning of Life” to offer a rehabilitation home and program for survivors of human trafficking.

We will announce the WINNER on Children’s HopeChest Facebook April 2.

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.

God bless!

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 The discipleship program at Grace Baptist Church (GBC) at Kombolcha is different than the programs at other locations. GBC it is the farthest CarePoint located from Addis (two days travel to and from), and therefore the CarePoint has hired a full time worker, Rahel, to manage the discipleship program under the supervision of Children’s HopeChest (CHC). Rahel is teaching discipleship lessons regularly. The CHC staff travels there once a month to visit and give additional lessons.

 Activities implemented at GBC by the discipler and CarePoint leaders:

• Bible verse and song memorization to encourage their spiritual growth
• Behavioral mentoring
• Providing individual counseling and support, especially for those who live with distant relatives and guardians
• Assisting the children in writing letters to sponsor families
• Delivering sponsor letters to the sponsored children

 Activities performed during CHC staff visits:

• Discussing the needs of the children with the CarePoint leaders and staff members
• Additional bible story lessons and group discussion with the children
• Assisting the children to write letters to their sponsor families
• Delivering sponsor family letters to the sponsors

 Last quarter our discipleship theme was, “Jesus, our personal savior and provider.” -Matt 6:31-33, John 14:6, Acts 4: 12.

 The objective of this lesson was to identify Jesus as our only personal savior and provider.

 There is no fulfillment in following false gods; they can never become our personal savior. In this lesson the children are able to understand what it means to stand before the world and represent Jesus, how to receive the Lord’s provision, and accepting Him as our savior is the primary action that must be done for eternal life.  Jesus himself affirms that He is the only savior. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” Without our Lord Jesus Christ, we are inadequate; with him, we are invincible.

 When we receive that he is our only personal savior, He will be with us forever and watch over us. He is our faithful and eternal father who provides all our needs.

 *At the end of each lesson we ask the children to express what they have learned.

	Summer Vacation

 Last quarter was the children’s summer vacation; however during this time they were given the opportunity to attend Vacation Bible School. The normal academic school year ended at the end of June prior to the heavy rains. During the vacation the children were sad because they missed their classmates as they visited their relatives out of town.

 However, the children enjoyed coming to the CarePoint to play soccer and other indoor games with their other friends while they were on school break.

	Thank You

 The children express their gratitude as follows:

“Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals and assisting in education. Without these great contributions we would be forced to stay on the streets and become hopeless. As you know, many of us do not have families who can support us by providing our daily needs. Our grandparents and guardians are not able to provide for us education materials and food.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest.

	Hyat Yemer’s life story

 Hyat was living with her mother. Her mother was working as a daily laborer to provide their daily bread. At that time she could not afford school supplies or the school fees to send Hyat to school. Hyat was forced to stay at home with her mother. One day her mother heard about a church (GBC) that could help Hyat by providing school supplies and a school uniform. She took Hyat to the CarePoint and registered her in the first grade. Through the provisions of school materials and daily meals, Hyat’s life has been transformed. Through the CarePoint’s daily support and mentorship, and through Hyat’s hard work, she passed to the second grade.  At that time Hyat began to understand that the Almighty God as her life-changing, eternal father.  She is so thankful for all of the support she has been given.

 During the second grade school year, Hyat’s mother became sick and could not recover. When Hyat joined the third grade, her mother passed away.  She said, “I remember it was hard for me losing my mother, but God was with me, and He continues to work in my life.”  She now lives with a relative and continues in her education.

 This year Hyat took the ministry examination and is waiting for the results. She believes that the Lord will help her to fulfill her dreams.  She is so thankful for the support that she has been given.

With greetings.

	Pastor Tefera Mekonen, CarePoint Leader

 Greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

“Religion that 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

 The apostle James writes that caring for orphans and widows is the very essence of religion. This is written as one of the commands in the Bible and must be implemented into our lives today as we serve as Christ’s church. Through all of the support that you have been providing, Grace Baptist Church CarePoint is dedicated in playing a significant role, working with the community, in order to provide the basic needs for destitute and orphan children. We are so grateful for all your concerns and daily prayers. We really appreciate the team work that all of you have accomplished.

 I want to share with you this year’s great success story at our CarePoint. Seven of the children who attend our program received salvation and were baptized. And the majority of the children at Grace Baptist Church CarePoint believe that Christ is their personal savior, however they have not chosen to be baptized yet. We believe the Lord will surrender each and every one of them for His purpose.

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as you provide for those children that you do not know personally, I believe that our Lord will reward you for what you have been doing.

May God bless you abundantly.

	Prayer Requests

• Please pray that we are able to reach more children during the next academic year, that they will surrender to Christ, and we will be able fulfill their basic needs–even for those who don’t have sponsor families yet.
• Pray also for the children’s caregivers and guardians.
]]> http://www.hopechest.org/kombolcha-drop-in-center-2011/feed/ http://www.hopechest.org/adama-drop-in-center-summer-2011/ http://www.hopechest.org/adama-drop-in-center-summer-2011/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:45:33 +0000 Boris http://www.hopechest.org/?p=4698   Mr.Tesfatsion Tsegaye, In-Country Director

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.

God bless!

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 The discipleship program during last quarter was wonderful. The children receive a discipleship lesson once a week.  During this time they will sing songs, memorize scripture from their favorite book in the Bible (Psalm), and learn more about God’s love for them.  In addition to this, other activities are carried out by the leaders of Adama:

• Behavioral mentoring
• Providing individual counseling and support, especially for those who live with distant relatives and guardians
• Training the children how to be good role models to their peers

 Other activities performed during CHC staff visits:

• Additional bible story lessons and group discussion with the children
• Assisting the children to write letters to their sponsor families
• Delivering sponsor letters to the sponsored children

 Last quarter our discipleship theme was, “Jesus, our personal savior and provider.” -Matt 6:31-33, John 14:6, Acts 4: 12.

 The objective of this lesson was to identify Jesus as our only personal savior and provider.

 There is no fulfillment in following false gods; they can never become our personal savior. In this lesson the children are able to understand what it means to stand before the world and represent Jesus, how to receive the Lord’s provision, and accepting Him as our savior is the primary action that must be done for eternal life. Jesus himself affirms that He is the only savior. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” Without our Lord Jesus Christ, we are inadequate; with him, we are invincible.

 When we receive that he is our only personal savior, He will be with us forever and watch over us. He is our faithful and eternal father who provides all our needs.

 *At the end of each lesson we ask the children to express what they have learned.

	Special Update

 Last quarter was the children’s summer vacation; however during this time they were given the opportunity to attend Vacation Bible School. The normal academic school year ended at the end of June prior to the heavy rains. They were very excited to have this break, because it gave them more time to spend at their homes.

 However, the children enjoyed coming to the CarePoint to play soccer and other indoor games with their friends while they were on school break. The children were also excited to have a US team visit them from Cornerstone Chapel in Virginia this last quarter.  During this visit, the children enjoyed various activities:

• Indoor and outdoor games
• Bible stories
• Drama time
• Craft time

“Thank you Cornerstone for coming to see us!”

	Thank You

 The children express their gratitude as follows:

“Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals and assisting in education. Without these great contributions we would be forced to stay on the streets and become hopeless. As you know, many of us do not have families who can support us by providing our daily needs. Our grandparents and guardians are not able to provide for us education materials, uniforms, and food.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest.

	Mr. Meseret Yilma, CarePoint Coordinator

 Greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

“Religion that 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.

 This is written as one of the commands in the Bible and must be implemented into our lives today as we serve as Christ’s church. Through all of the support that you have been providing, Adama CarePoint is dedicated in playing a significant role, working with the community, in order to provide the basic needs for destitute and orphan children. We are so grateful for all your concerns and daily prayers. We really appreciate the team work that all of you have accomplished.  Through all of your support, the children are receiving an education, medical treatment, meals, and needed supplies.

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as you provide for these children that you do and do not know, I believe that our Lord has a reward for you.

May God bless you all!

	Prayer requests

• Please pray that we are able to reach out to more children during the next academic year, and that they will surrender to Christ, and we will be able to fulfill their basic needs.
• Pray for the children’s parents and caregivers.
• Pray also that they will be successful in their education.
]]> http://www.hopechest.org/adama-drop-in-center-summer-2011/feed/ http://www.hopechest.org/hope-for-the-hopeless-drop-in-center-2011/ http://www.hopechest.org/hope-for-the-hopeless-drop-in-center-2011/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:42:09 +0000 Boris http://www.hopechest.org/?p=4694   Mr.Tesfatsion Tsegaye, In-Country Director

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

 

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.

God bless!

 

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 Discipleship lessons are taught once a week. During this time we not only teach specific lessons, but also perform extra activities, such as:

• Discuss with the children their life testimonies, and compare street life with life at the CarePoint
• Provide individual mentoring, and learn more about each child’s behavior
• Assist the children in writing letters to their sponsor families
• Deliver sponsor letters to the sponsored children
• Learning and singing songs

 Last quarter our discipleship theme was, “Jesus, our personal savior and provider.”  Matt 6:31-33, John 14:6, Acts 4: 12.

 The objective of this lesson was to identify Jesus as our only personal savior and provider.

There is no fulfillment in following false gods; they can never become our personal savior. In this lesson the children are able to understand what it means to stand before the world and represent Jesus, how to receive the Lord’s provision, and accepting Him as our savior is the primary action that must be done for eternal life.  Jesus himself affirms that He is the only savior. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” Without our Lord Jesus Christ, we are inadequate; with him, we are invincible.

 When we receive that he is our only personal savior, He will be with us forever and watch over us. He is our faithful and eternal father who provides all our needs.

 At the end of each lesson we ask the children to express what they have learned.

	Summer Vacation

 Last quarter the children were on vacation, however they attended tutorial classes taught by volunteer teachers.  The normal academic school year ended at the end of June prior to the heavy rains. During their vacation time the children were happy, because they had more time to play various games, like soccer and other indoor games.

 In general,it is a fun for the children to be at the CarePoint, because they experience relief from the hardships of street life.

	Thank You

The children express their gratitude as follows:

 “Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals and assisting in education. Without these great contributions, we would be forced to stay on the streets and become hopeless. As you know, many of us do not have families who can support us by providing our daily needs. Our grandparents and guardians are not able to provide for us education materials and food.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest.

	Estibel Kasse’s Testimony

 Estibel Kasse is 14 years old. After his father’s death he lived with his grandmother in the province of Gojam, 560km away from Addis Ababa. While he was living in his grandmother’s house, his uncle beat and mistreated him. The abuse forced him to migrate to Addis Ababa. When he arrived in the city, he could not find anyone to give him a place to live. He then joined the street children by living among them and sleeping on the streets.  For six months he lived on the streets, and it became very challenging for him.

 One day, a Hope for the Hopeless staff member invited him to the drop-in center. After he joined the center, he behaved as though he was still on the streets. He would kick the other children aggressively and insult them. The CarePoint leaders began mentoring him daily. He has since shown great behavioral improvement and lives peacefully with the other children.

 Now he is one of the best students in his academic class. He also loves to learn Bible stories every day, and trusts in Jesus. He is thankful for a peaceful life, and is receiving daily meals and an education. Because of you, Estibel now sleeps in a safe and clean place.

	Fekadu Shenkute, CarePoint leader

 

 Greetings to you! 

The scripture says, “Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” Exodus 2:9.

 This child was Moses.  God had a plan for the life of Mosses. However, to destroy God’s plan for Mosses, the devil tried to kill him. His mother tried to hide him as much as she could, but she could no longer hide him. She laid him in box and put him in the river. To save Moses, God sent the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. When she saw the baby she was filled with compassion.  The daughter looked for a woman who could nurse the baby. Immediately she found a woman who was able to nurse him.  She promised to give this woman her wages. The Bible says the child grew up.

 The scripture clearly conveys a message: God has a special plan for you to save the children who are underprivileged and caught in dire situations. These children are hunted by devil in order to destroy God’s plan for them. He has either hindered their families or parents from caring for them, or has taken the lives of their parents. These children are destitute like Moses. Thankfully, God sent us like He sent pharaoh’s daughter, to save these vulnerable children.  God promises that He will give us our wages.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrew 10:6.

 I would like to thank both God and you. You are fulfilling your nursing duty, like Moses’ mother.  You are accomplishing the command you received from God by sharing your love and monthly support. Your children are now growing up physically, mentally, and spiritually. We are so grateful for all of the support and daily prayers you have selflessly given.

 Dear God’s family, I believe we are not working to please someone on this temporarily earth, but for His kingdom alone.

May our Lord Bless you abundantly!

	Prayer Requests

• Pray that these children fulfill their dreams as they grow physically and spiritually.
• Please pray also for our goals. We plan to reach more street kids and make them better citizens.  We need your daily prayers and support as we serve together.
]]> http://www.hopechest.org/hope-for-the-hopeless-drop-in-center-2011/feed/ http://www.hopechest.org/kind-hearts-school-2011/ http://www.hopechest.org/kind-hearts-school-2011/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:40:29 +0000 Boris http://www.hopechest.org/?p=4691   Mr.Tesfatsion Tsegaye, In-Country Director

 

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

 

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.

God bless!

 

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 Discipleship lessons are given once a week. During this time we not only teach specific lessons, but also perform extra activities, such as:

• Discussing with the CarePoint leaders and staff members about the needs of the children
• Providing individual mentoring, and learning more about each child’s behavior
• Assisting the children in writing letters to sponsor families
• Delivering sponsor letters to the sponsored children

 Last quarter our discipleship theme was, “Jesus, our personal savior and provider.” -Matt 6:31-33, John 14:6, Acts 4: 12.
The objective of this lesson was to identify Jesus as our only personal savior and provider.

 There is no fulfillment in following false gods; they can never become our personal savior. In this lesson the children are able to understand what it means to stand before the world and represent Jesus, how to receive the Lord’s provision, and accepting Him as our savior is the primary action that must be done for eternal life.  Jesus himself affirms that He is the only savior. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” Without our Lord Jesus Christ, we are inadequate; with him, we are invincible.

 When we receive that he is our only personal savior, He will be with us forever and watch over us. He is our faithful and eternal father who provides all our needs.

**At the end of each lesson we ask the children to express what they have learned. 

	Summer Vacation

 Last quarter the children were on summer vacation, however they attended school twice a week. The normal academic school year ended at the end of June prior to the heavy rains. During this time, the children were sad because they missed some of their classmates while they visited their relatives out of town.

 On the other hand, it was fun for the children to come at the CarePoint to play soccer and indoor games, and receive meals at the CarePoint throughout their school break.

	Thank You

The children express their gratitude as follows:

 “Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals and assisting in education. Without these great contributions we would be forced to stay on the streets and become hopeless.  As you know, many of us do not have families who can support us by providing our daily needs. Our grandparents and guardians are not able to provide for us education materials and food.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest. Again, they say, “If it wasn’t for Kind Hearts, we would be cast aside and forced to stay on the streets.”

With greetings, Your Sponsor Children

	Mr. yohannes wako, CarePoint Leader

 On behalf of Kind Hearts School, I would like to extend our deep gratitude for all of the support you have provided. We are so grateful to have received all of the donations and monthly support for the children. Some of the unforgettable things accomplished through your generosity are:

• The well project that has commenced this year
• Text books and reference books donated to establish the library at Kind Hearts and used to strengthen the students academically
• Care packages sent for each child
• The paintings that now decorate the classrooms, these are very special to the children
• The construction of the kitchen; this also plays an important role for the cook who now prepares meals everyday inside the kitchen.   Prior to this, the kitchen was located outside under the shade of a tree.

 All the children, staff, and community would like to say, “God bless you abundantly,” for they have seen such magnificent results.

	Prayer Requests

• Please keep praying for the children to grow in wisdom and understanding.
• We are planning to build additional classrooms to extend the school for next grade levels. The government has required this of us in the coming school year of 2012. Pray for God’s provision.
]]> http://www.hopechest.org/kind-hearts-school-2011/feed/ http://www.hopechest.org/shalom-orphanage-summer-2011/ http://www.hopechest.org/shalom-orphanage-summer-2011/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:39:05 +0000 Boris http://www.hopechest.org/?p=4689   Mr. Tesfatsion Tsegaye, In-Country Director

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.

 God bless!

 

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

 I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 It is easy to see the reason for the challenges we face after they have passed.  However, if we can imagine at the beginning or even in the mist of our challenges that God has a plan, we will accept them as a gift.  Peter can tell us how difficult it is walking on the storms of life, especially in God’s vineyard, as we harvest souls for Christ.

But by the grace of God we’re here!

 Teaching children is the greatest tool to shape them, and to make them the best version of themselves. But it requires commitment and dedication.  A combination of the right lessons, media communication, and teaching methods are needed to achieve God’s plan for them, and to lead them on the right track.

 Discipleship teaching is one of the best tools established by Children’s HopeChest, used to empower children to become the Godly men and women of tomorrow in the Kingdom of God.

 We had a wonderful time sharing with the children on how God is in love with us. Based on Ephesians 2: 4-5, “But because of His great love for us , God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”Jesus’ death on the cross is the reason we are alive; not by power, might, knowledge, money, or wealth…but by His grace.

 We strongly believe that being with the children renders longevity and value to their lives. We, the CHC staff, have been visiting the children twice a month (as long as we are not hosting US teams–during team trips we visit the children once a month).

 God Bless You All,

Alemayehu Gebremichael

 During the discipleship lessons we take time out to sing different Amharic and English songs. Moreover, when the children are taught a lesson through a story, they are encouraged to express what they have learned from the story. If they are taught a discipleship lesson through a lecture, they are asked to reflect upon their understanding of the topic, and are given related questions that prove whether or not they fully understand it.

	Special Update

 During the months of July and August the children were on school break. All the kids enjoyed the school break. The children spent their free time playing football, reading stories, visiting places, and watching movies.  The children have prepared themselves for a new school year.

 The Ethiopian New Year began on September 12th (Gregorian Calendar(GC), and the children prepared themselves for the new school year. By the way, we Ethiopians have our own calendar, and there are 13 months; we also get sunshine the whole year!

	Thank You

The children express their gratitude as follows:

 “Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals, health care, shelter, mental and social support, as well as assisting in education. Without these great contributions, we would be forced to stay hopeless and vulnerable. As you know, many of us lead a life of misfortune, but because of God and you, our lives have been transformed.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest. They wish every one of you a long life, peace, and good health!

	Sr. Tenagne Tekletsadik, CarePoint Leader

 

 Dear Sponsors!

 It sometimes seems impossible to change the lives of so many destitute children, but it is possible with God’s help. He is helping us in many ways. Even though we have faced countless challenges we are so thankful for your support!

 At our CarePoint there are 52 registered children. Among them, 12 orphaned children receive full care at Shalom (shelter, food, support). In addition, the other children who live with their parents or guardians receive various benefits from the CarePoint. We serve our children by providing school supplies, meals, clothing, and other needs. We are observing a tremendous change in them physically, mentally, and spiritually.

 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans…”James 1:27.

Many blessings.

	Prayer Requests

• Pray for the CarePoint leader to be effective and efficient
• Pray that Shalom receives a piece of land from government
• Pray for the children’s academic progress
• Pray for Tenagne, the CarePoint’s Coordinator, and her health. She is currently sick with kidney issues.
]]> http://www.hopechest.org/shalom-orphanage-summer-2011/feed/ http://www.hopechest.org/hope-for-the-hopeless-orphanage-2011/ http://www.hopechest.org/hope-for-the-hopeless-orphanage-2011/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:38:04 +0000 Boris http://www.hopechest.org/?p=4686   Mr. Tesfatsion Tsegaye , In-Country Director

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.     

 God bless!

 

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

 I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 It is easy to see the reason for the challenges we face after they have passed.  However, if we can imagine at the beginning or even in the mist of our challenges that God has a plan, we will accept them as a gift.  Peter can tell us how difficult it is walking on the storms of life, especially in God’s vineyard, as we harvest souls for Christ.  

But by the grace of God we’re here!

 Teaching children is the greatest tool to shape them, and to make them the best version of themselves. But it requires commitment and dedication.  A combination of the right lessons, media communication, and teaching methods are needed to achieve God’s plan for them, and to lead them on the right track. Discipleship teaching is one of the best tools established by Children’s HopeChest, used to empower children to become the Godly men and women of tomorrow in the Kingdom of God. 

 We had a wonderful time sharing with the children on how God is in love with us. Based on Ephesians 2: 4-5, “But because of His great love for us , God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”Jesus’ death on the cross is the reason we are alive; not by power, might, knowledge, money, or wealth…but by His grace.

 We strongly believe that being with the children renders longevity and value to their lives. We, the CHC staff, have been visiting the children twice a month (as long as we are not hosting US teams–during team trips we visit the children once a month).

 God Bless You All,

Alemayehu Gebremichael

 During the discipleship lessons we take time out to sing different Amharic and English songs. Moreover, when the children are taught a lesson through a story, they are encouraged to express what they have learned from the story. If they are taught a discipleship lesson through a lecture, they are asked to reflect upon their understanding of the topic, and are given related questions that prove whether or not they fully understand it.

	Special Update

 During the months of July and August the children are on school break. All the kids enjoyed the school break. The children spent their free time playing football, reading stories, visiting places, and watching movies.  During the school break, children were able to write letters to their beloved sponsoring families.

 The Ethiopian New Year began on September 12th (Gregorian Calendar(GC), and the children prepared themselves for the new school year. By the way, we Ethiopians have our own calendar, and there are 13 months; we also get sunshine the whole year!

	Thank You

 The children express their gratitude as follows:

 “Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals, health care, shelter, mental and social support, as well as assisting in education. Without these great contributions, we would be forced to stay hopeless and vulnerable. As you know, many of us lead a life of misfortune, but because of God and you, our lives have been transformed.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest. They wish every one of you a long life, peace, and good health!

	Fekadu Shenkute, HFTH Orphanage Director

 Greetings to you!

The scripture says, “Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” Exodus 2:9.

 This child was Moses.  God had a plan for the life of Mosses. However, to destroy God’s plan for Mosses, the devil tried to kill him. His mother tried to hide him as much as she could, but she could no longer hide him. She laid him in box and put him in the river. To save Moses, God sent the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. When she saw the baby she was filled with compassion.  The daughter looked for a woman who could nurse the baby.  Immediately she found a woman who was able to nurse him.  She promised to give this woman her wages. The Bible says the child grew up.

 The scripture clearly conveys a message: God has a special plan for you to save the children who are underprivileged and caught in dire situations. These children are hunted by devil in order to destroy God’s plan for them. He has either hindered their families or parents from caring for them, or has taken the lives of their parents. These children are destitute like Moses. Thankfully, God sent us like He sent pharaoh’s daughter, to save these vulnerable children.  God promises that He will give us our wages.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrew 10:6.

 I would like to thank both God and you. You are fulfilling your nursing duty, like Moses’ mother.  You are accomplishing the command you received from God by sharing your love and monthly support. Your children are now growing up physically, mentally, and spiritually. We are so grateful for all of the support and daily prayers you have selflessly given.

 Dear God’s family, I believe we are not working to please someone on this temporarily earth, but for His kingdom alone.

May our Lord Bless you abundantly!

	Prayer Requests

• Pray for the construction of both the school and library at the orphanage
• Pray for the children’s schooling
• Pray for the overall lives of the caregivers at the orphanage, that they continue to be gracious and committed to their calling
]]> http://www.hopechest.org/hope-for-the-hopeless-orphanage-2011/feed/ http://www.hopechest.org/onesimus-drop-in-center-2011/ http://www.hopechest.org/onesimus-drop-in-center-2011/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:36:24 +0000 Boris http://www.hopechest.org/?p=4683   A Message from In-Country Director

 I am glad to give an overview of this quarter’s newsletter. Throughout last quarter, God’s provision and support was there throughout each and every activity. The Bible says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1.

 We are so thankful for God’s leadership, help, and direction during the last quarter. It is God’s amazing grace that brought all the outcomes we now celebrate. I would like to thank the almighty God for giving us strength, wisdom, peace, and stability so that we are able to minister to so many children and communities in Ethiopia.

 I am also grateful to HopeChest ET staff for the unreserved effort they gave last quarter. Without a committed and hardworking staff, it is difficult to make things happen as planned. I am very proud of the team spirit and commitment they have. Thank you HopeChest US staff for the leadership you have shown. We are glad to be working together in this life-changing ministry.

 Children’s HopeChest (CHC) has been doing tremendous activities in Ethiopia. In our program model, “Survive, Thrive and Succeed,” we have been providing support for children at different CarePoints/orphanages, and for the community at large. In our “Survive” phase, a great number of children receive medical treatment and health checkups. We have distributed food for the children at each CarePoint, and have also drilled wells for some of our partner CarePoints. Under the “Thrive” phase, children at each CarePoint have been attending school and taking various classes to develop their skills. Under the “Succeed” Phase, we work towards sustainability and empowerment in the community and in the family.

 At CHC ET, there are two major funding approaches: Sponsorship and Capital Projects. We receive and directly wire Sponsorship funds to every CHC CarePoint each month. Capital project funds are utilized for the construction of large projects such as, school construction, wells, and the building of bridges.

 CHC ET staff has hosted a number of US teams nearly every month. We have been blessed by these teams visiting our partner CarePoints throughout the last quarter. Due to their visits, sponsors and sponsored children have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family. We are so thankful for our sponsors and donors; due to their continued support, children and their families have benefited greatly and their lives continue to change.

Mr. Tesfatsion Tsegaye

	A Message from Two of Our New Staff Members

Helina Damitew

 My name is Helina Damtew. I am a born again Christian, and a second year student at the Ethiopian Full Gospel College. Before I joined CHC, I taught high school. I joined Children’s HopeChest two months ago, and am working as a Trip Coordinator.

 I am very happy being a part of the CHC ministry, because I love assisting children as well as the community. This is also the intention of our heavenly God. Throughout scripture He commands us to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. As believers, we must follow the footsteps of Jesus.

 I want to thank all of our sponsors, sponsoring communities, and Children’s HopeChest staff for your enormous contribution to the great number of deprived children in Ethiopia. Together we can make a difference with the help of His grace.     

 God bless!

 

Yifrut Abebe

 I was born in a Christian family which gave me the opportunity to learn the Word of God in Sunday school. I do not know exactly when I received Jesus as my personal savior, however at the age of fourteen, I fully understood the meaning of Christianity and as a follower of Christ I became baptized.  My life was then changed completely and I decided to follow Him.  Since that day I have served in the church, ministering and worshiping the Almighty God.

 I have worked the last six years for different organizations in different positions, and have now joined CHC Ethiopia as the Capital Project Specialist. In the future I plan to work on different programs in order to build the capacity of our partners.

 I wish God’s blessing for all of you!

	Discipleship Lessons

 It is easy to see the reason for the challenges we face after they have passed.  However, if we can imagine at the beginning or even in the mist of our challenges that God has a plan, we will accept them as a gift.  Peter can tell us how difficult it is walking on the storms of life, especially in God’s vineyard, as we harvest souls for Christ.  

But by the grace of God we’re here!

 Teaching children is the greatest tool to shape them, and to make them the best version of themselves. But it requires commitment and dedication.  A combination of the right lessons, media communication, and teaching methods are needed to achieve God’s plan for them, and to lead them on the right track. Discipleship teaching is one of the best tools established by Children’s HopeChest, used to empower children to become the Godly men and women of tomorrow in the Kingdom of God. 

 We had a wonderful time sharing with the children on how God is in love with us. Based on Ephesians 2: 4-5, “But because of His great love for us , God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.” Jesus’ death on the cross is the reason we are alive; not by power, might, knowledge, money, or wealth…but by His grace.

 We strongly believe that being with the children renders longevity and value to their lives. We, the CHC staff, have been visiting the children twice a month (as long as we are not hosting US teams–during team trips we visit the children once a month).

 During the discipleship lessons we take time out to sing different Amharic and English songs. Moreover, when the children are taught a lesson through a story, they are encouraged to express what they have learned from the story. If they are taught a discipleship lesson through a lecture, they are asked to reflect upon their understanding of the topic, and are given related questions that prove whether or not they fully understand it.

God Bless You All,

Alemayehu Gebremichael

	Special Update

 During the months of July and August the children were on school break. All the kids enjoyed the school break. The children spent their free time playing football, reading stories, visiting places, and watching movies.  During the school break, children were able to write letters to their beloved sponsoring families. In addition, the children at Onesimus celebrated their final school day with the school community colorfully.

 The Ethiopian New Year began on September 12th (Gregorian Calendar(GC), and the children prepared themselves for the new school year. By the way, we Ethiopians have our own calendar, and there are 13 months; we also get sunshine the whole year!

	Thank You

The children express their gratitude as follows:

 “Thank you sponsor families, community leaders, and Children’s HopeChest for all of your support in providing meals, health care, shelter, mental and social support, as well as assisting in education. Without these great contributions, we would be forced to stay hopeless and vulnerable. As you know, most of us lead a life of misfortune, but because of God and you, our lives have been transformed.”

 In general, they are grateful for all of the support they have received.  All express these feelings of gratitude, and extend their thankfulness to their sponsor families, community leaders, and to Children’s HopeChest. They wish every one of you a long life, peace, and good health!

	A Message from the CarePoint Leader

 Thank you very much for everything you did for this organization. Indeed, you are a blessing to us! We are assisting approximately 200 children because of the support we get from you. It is true, that God will not forget what you do for poor, orphaned, and street children. I, the director of OCDA have no words to express my gratitude!

 May God bless you!

Nega Meaza, Director of OCDA

	Children at Onesimus

Dear Sir/Madam,

 Thank you very much for helping me! My name is Sara Jemal, I am in the third grade and have a mother and father. We live in a plastic house on the street. Onesimus has been helping me for the last three years. Indeed, I have no words to express my thanks. I was told that CHC has been helping us through OCDA. Even though I am living in a plastic house, I am happy because I am able to get food, go to school, receive school materials and clothing, and family support.

 Again THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Sara Jemal (ET2106108)

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 My name is Surafel Bedilu. I have do not have a mother or a father. I used to live on the street, but Onesimus helped me by bringing me to my grandma and grandfather’s home to live. I registered at my school this week, and received all of my school materials and clothing from Onesimus. The organization is very close to my school. I eat my lunches at Onesimus. I am happy to stay at the organization and continue my education. Thank you again and again for helping me and my family.

 Thank you,

Surafel Bedilu (ET2106089)

	Prayer Requests

• Pray for the leaders/caregivers to work in a manner that continues to benefit the children, because they are working with street kids
• Pray for the children’s education, as well as their spiritual and emotional development
• Pray for transformation in the street children’s behavior
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