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Today
was wonderful yet heartbreaking. We were on the road with Hope beginning
with breakfast at the Children's Feeding Program. We helped serve 250
street children a large cup of milk and a plate with 2 large rolls and
a banana. The children were extremely well behaved and knew quite a lot
of English. Combined with our rudimentary Amharic and lots of smiles and
hugs there was no communications gap.
We then performed a short puppet show illustrating a Bible story. It
had to be translated from 'puppet English' to Amharic which was a learning
experience for the puppeteers.
We
then went to another part of Addis to visit Jack Smith School. This Hope
Enterprises' campus has children in school from kindergarten through high
school plus a vocational program and is absolutely terrific. Most of the
829 children live with their families or guardian sponsors and have applied
to and are committed to stay in this program. Only one child per family
is permitted to enter in the program. There are about 55 in every class
with different colored uniforms which indicate the ages of the children.
Hope provides their uniforms, breakfast and lunch and all necessary supplies
and resources for their education. The kids were amazingly affectionate
and not at all shy with the American visitors.
We
then returned to the Hope feeding station for the 3rd sitting for the
adult feeding program. Mothers with children and babies in slings, the
disabled and hungry men all were fed on a sponsored day.
To
end our day we went to the Ceramics Program for girls and women who have
learned a beautiful craft that is not appreciated by Ethiopian society,
consequently they are considered outcasts. The Ceramics program gives
them a chance to earn a living and instill a sense of self-worth.
Lastly,
part of our team departed after lunch for the Fistula Hospital founded
by Drs. Reginald & Catherine Hamlin. The overall goal of the hospital
is to provide services for those suffering from childbirth and related
injuries, rehabilitating them to where they can be integrated back into
their society with dignity and a sense of self worth.
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