Summer 2011

	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.