Be Careful What You Wish For

Samuel.  The sweetest little dude at the Compassion Project in Nazret, Ethiopia.  Well…maybe not the sweetest…most of the kids are.  Either way, this little 10 year old boy was my fly-paper kid each time our van arrived at the project on a daily basis.  Stuck to me before I am out of the van!
The driver would honk the horn.  Gate gets opened by an attendant (who is usually waving a well meaning child away from opening it themselves).  We drive in.  Kids walking along next to the van while we are still moving... with huge smiles…waving…saying "Selam"…or "Ha-lo" (both= "hello").   If they attach your name to the greeting your heart melts.
One of my favorite arrival experiences was when Samuel walks up to my window:  "Ha-lo, Mahk".  "Selam, Samuel.  Indemin allen?"(Hello, Samuel.  How are you?).  "Fine, Mahk.  How are you?  You have chocolate?" He didn't even skip a beat.  I heard him…but still said, "Huh?"  He comes in close…big smile and asks again…very quietly, "You have chocolate?"   "No.  I don't have any chocolate.  Next time, ok?"   He smiles and follows until we come to a full stop.
Van stops.  Locust swarm of joyful kids ensues.  It's pretty much a love bomb.  Seriously!  It's ironic that we go there with the intent of loving on these kids(which we do), but they out do us every time I've gone there.
As I say hello to kid after smiling kids, Samuel comes up and give me a hug and once again says, "Ha-lo, Mahk".  As he looks up with a sweet smile and huge, gentle eyes, I lean to a team member and say, "I wonder if he is sponsored?".   It kind of happens like that on these trips.  Ya wanna sponsor them all.  But there is the one or two with whom there is a special connection.  He was that for me.

From the midst of the giddy mob of little ones, there was a tiny little girl in a red letterman jacket (I have no idea how she got that) who walked right up and pretty much made it clear I was to pick her up.  He smile said it.  "Pick me up or I'll just stand here and smile until your heart turns into liquid".  It just happened.  There she was, tucked in under my arm.  Interestingly, the day prior, I had seen her from a distance and recognized her from my previous trip there.  I have photo of her from 2012 sitting across the isle from me…staring at me in the greeting room the day we arrived that year.
I popped on my iPhone video and spun her in circles…capturing her giggles and we went in circles.  After about 5 spins, I stopped.  I noticed her head bobbled a bit and her eyes were almost crossed.  I thought, "Uh, oh…never been dizzy before?   Gonna barf?  Cry?"  She smiled again as I put her down.  Then played chase with her.  It was sweet to hear her laugh so hard as were ran around the van.

I played with her (I did not get her name) and Samuel quite a bit on the days more sponsored child, Yididiya, was not there.   I did inquire about Samuel…it turned out he was already sponsored.  I was happy for him…but selfishly…a bit disappointed.  The cool things is that when one returns to the same project annually, great relationships are built with many of the children, so sponsorship is not necessary in order to have a friendship that shows them they are loved.   Since I saw the little girl there the year prior, I assumed she was sponsored as well.  I figure God will open the door at the right time with the child He has chosen for me to sponsor.  But, I still wished I could have sponsored her.  I thought it would be cool for Yididiya to have a "sister".

That was August of 2013.  In November of that year, South Bay Church would have what we called "Impact Sunday".  We would share video and stories about Local and Global Impact we were involved with in 2013…and cast vision for where we thought God was leading us in 2014.

One of the tasks I was charged with was ordering some child packets from Compassion International that represented children from our project in Ethiopia.  There were only about 10 children left from that specific project.  So, Compassion International sent us those 10 child packets, and another 90 or so from within the same community of Nazret.

Another major task was to produce a video that shared the Ethiopia trip testimony of myself and team member Kalani.  Kalani's story is one of stepping out in faith that, to this day, inspires me. - click this link to watch it: www.vimeo.com/79863446
As my buddy Tyler Wiest and I were in the church offices finalizing the video at 12:30am on a Thurs night, I decided to open the box of child packets from Compassion.  I figured I'd recognize some of the 10 children from our partner church.

So…we just finish the video.  It's 12:30am.  Video is processing on the mac.  I open the box from Compassion to see who I'd recognize.  Guess who was in that stack?  Yep.  Little letterman jacket girl.  Seriously?!  2.5 months later?!?!?  She shows up.
But WAIT!  There's MORE!  In the video, aside from Kalani's faith-building story, I shared how I miraculously meet Yididiya, and I read an excerpt of letter from her mother.   I also included some general footage of the team.  We inserted a clip of me spinning that little girl in the letterman jacket.  Remember?…the one I wished I could sponsor?
The video featured Kalani's beautiful story of faith.  Her meeting her child…her child's mother coming to faith DURING her visit.  It not only contained footage of myself and my sponsored child, Yididiya. The video also shows me with my newly sponsored little letterman jacket girl, Edelawit…BEFORE I knew I'd sponsor her.   We finished the video…I opened to box.  There she was.  MIND.  BLOWN.  Edelawit SPONSORED.

  Above is the photo I mentioned from 2012.  The other is from 2013 - before I knew I'd sponsor her!

I love how God is so clearly digging my heart into the community of Nazret Ethiopia and building my faith and trust in Him as my loving Heavenly Father.  And he is doing it through these beautiful little children.

As they say…"Be careful what you wish for."

See ya again soon…on the Ethiopian Road

Sponsor a child through Compassion International  www.compassion.com
For more info on our 2014 Ethiopia Trip  www.southbaychurch.org/missions

On The Road…once again.

So many familiar faces pop out of the mini-mob of smiling children.
As I arrived at the Compassion project for my 3rd consecutive year, I was humbled and overjoyed by how many of these little ones remembered my face and name from the previous year.  Though I recognized many of the faces, the names…hmmm…a bit more of a challenge for a guy used to western names:)
Not only did they remember me, but some of them quickly began to say, "Hello, Mahk(Mark)", while mimicking the goofy knee-knocking boogie we did the year prior.   Some of my assumptions as a visitor would soon be wiped away.

Though the children at the project CLEARLY loved us and enjoyed visiting, I had ASSUMED they responded this way to every church that visited them.  It would make sense, right?  New people to spend time with…to play with…to share with, etc.   One would assume it to be normal for these little ones to be totally excited about any foreign visitor.  And excited, they were!  As was I.

As so many times in the past, my assumption was dead-wrong.

I learned not only did just 2% of sponsored children ever meet their sponsors, but South Bay Church was the only church that had made the commitment to visit this specific Compassion Project on a regular basis.   Our presence there truly was a HUGE deal for these children and our partner church, Nazret Emmanuel United Church.

This took my understanding and appreciation of every smile, every hug, every drawing handed to me by a child to a whole new level.

I realized that those of us who come to visit on an annual basis, become almost like surrogate sponsors to the children that have not, and will most likely, never meet their sponsors.  It is VERY clear that they love and appreciate their own sponsors very, very much…as they are quick to bring out letters and photos that were sent to them from sponsors all around the world.  But, for them to have face time with somebody, even if it is not their own sponsor, is a really big deal.  One can quickly see their hearts open up.  More than once in the past 3 years going to Nazret, have I watch, over the course of several days, the heart of a timid, hesitant child open up and become vulnerable enough to grab my hand…or make me a drawing that says, "I love you, Mark".

"I love you, Mark"?   Really?   After a couple days?

My cynical side says, "Right.   Of course, they 'love' me/us.   They are little kids…it's easy for them to say that".   The reality I've discovered over the past 3 years in going to the same community in Ethiopia is this:  When one has so little "stuff" in their hands, their heart is free to give and receive love quickly.  They value people and relationships more readily that our western culture does because they intrinsically do not take affection and care from another human being for granted.  When living in extreme poverty, relationships are all one has.  Relationship with one another…and relationship with God.  Relationships are the greatest treasures one has.

So this August, 2014, I once again venture out onto The Ethiopian Road.  This being my fourth consecutive year going is extra special.  Click HERE to see a video recap from 2013.
First, I have sponsored and second child in the project.  Her name is Edelawit, and my prayer is that her and my original child, Yididya, will become "sisters" of sorts.  I will share the story of sponsoring Edelawit in a later post.  I can't wait to see them both!
Secondly, though I've co-led trips in the past, this will be my first year actually leading our trip.  The team of 12 is in place.  We've begun meeting on a regular basis to build unity and prepare our hearts for what God has in store.

It seems that the time leading up to the trip goes painfully slow.  But I also know that once we get there, time passes all to fast.  So we learn to live in the moment…to savor every smile…every hug…every tug on the hand.  We learn not to "assume".   We learn to "feel" every "I love you"…and say it back in Amharic:  "Ewedeshalehu" for the girls or "Ewedehalehu", for the boys...Because it is very real.  It is a treasure to cherish.

Please consider supporting this endeavor!  More info here: www.southbaychurch.org/missions

Insights from the Mother of a Sponsored Child

Just before our team was called to board the van and leave for our long journey back to the states, I was approached by the Project Director of the Compassion project we had been visiting for the week.  With a gentle voice, in broken English, he said to me, "Genet, Yididiya's mother would like to give you something."  He directed me to a quiet section of the church courtyard.  Yididiya, my sponsored child, stood proudly next to her mom with a big smile.  I could tell she was excited about the forthcoming transaction.  Her mother presented me with a woven shirt worn by the men of the region. Also, after having seen me in a euphoric state of Ethiopian-coffee bliss during one of our visits, she chose to gift me with a traditional coffee serving set...raw beans and all!
Because it was our "good-bye" morning, we were already emotional.  This put my heart over the top.  Again, I found my eyes welling up...this time with gratitude.  My heart was crushed with humility.  I know that the mother had truly sacrificed in order to purchase these gifts.  It was one of the greatest honors in my life.  If you have even been the recipient of a gift from someone living in extreme poverty, you realize very quickly that the American response of, "Oh, I can't take this", is simply not an option.
In my rather overwhelmed stupor, I probably said "thank you" way too many times.  With tears in her eyes, Genet(mom) told me that they could not ever repay or thank me enough for sponsoring Yididiya.  Of course I am thinking, "repay?"...dang... I am grateful beyond words to see how a mere $38/mo along with regular letters can turn a child's life...and household, upside-down.  I wish I could convey to them, how through this process, Jesus has expanded my heart for the poor...and, in a very real sense, changed the trajectory of my life.  I see life at home...especially within the Church community, with new eyes.
Genet went on to share how sponsorship has impacted her daughter's heart and life.  She then handed me a letter that stated in greater detail what she was trying to convey through the translation of the Project Director.  A friend of hers help write the letter in what I now considered to be "beautiful-broken English".   The envelop also contained some drawings that Yididiya made for me.
I want to share a bit of what Genet shared in this letter in hopes that you will see what happens in the heart of a sponsored child...through the eyes of her mother(no grammar corrections).
"...we think, I and Yididiya are thanks to God because you are given from God.  Especially for my daughter.  Why for my daughter is very happy by you because she takes you like a father and she always names you day to day.  This indicates that how much my daughter love you from her heart.
My daughter is not only my daughter.  She is also your daughter since she loved you equal to me.  Someone is ask her who is your father.  She answered that your name and mom is Genet.  Therefor her mind is balance because she get a father from God."
I read this on a regular basis as a reminder to persevere in being an advocate for these children...It never ceases to stir my heart.  My  is that prayer it doesn't stop.  I continue to be humbled by the gift of being able to share the love of Jesus with my little Ethiopia buddy.
Her mother made it clear to me that Yididiya knows I am not her biological father, but the impact of knowing a "father figure" loves and cares for her has changed her heart greatly.   In the same way that God is "Father to the fatherless", we sometimes have the opportunity to do the same.
Here is one of the drawings given to me by Yididiya.  It shows her on the left, myself(baba) in the middle, and mom(mama) on the right.

This is not the experience for just myself and my sponsored child.  Today, there are 1.4 million children sponsored through Compassion International.  They have a vision to see 4 million children sponsored by 2020.  Compassion International successfully provides unprecedented, Christ-centered, holistic child development to those in the greatest need.
To explore sponsorship, contact me directly or go to www.compassion.com
Out of the 12 people on the team going to Ethiopia this August, 10 will have their first experience with Compassion International.  Some of them will have a radical transformation of their hearts and lives.  I pray for that.
As I mentioned in the first post, I am raising funds to go and co-lead this trip.  I am about halfway to my goal.  Will you prayerfully consider being a part of this?  You can give online at:
www.southbaychurch.org/nextsteps/online_giving/  > CLICK the RED "Give Online" button just below the page photo...follow the simple instructions. 
 Thanks for joining me!
~Mark
(See the post below this one to read the crazy story of how I met Yididiya before I even sponsored her)

A MIRACULOUS JOINING OF TWO LIVES

A BIG FYI: Those who have supported my going to Nazret, Ethiopia the last 3 years have been instrumental in me becoming a passionate supporter and Advocate for Compassion International.  By the grace of God, this resulted in my having the privilege of not only sponsoring 2 children there, but introducing other people to Compassion International, and facilitating the sponsorship of about 80 children from Nazret between 2012 and 2014(this does not include the additional 30 or so children from others countries)

Below is the amazing story of how God miraculously brought my sponsored child and I together…thus stirring my heart for the people of Nazret, Ethiopia.  

A LIFE-ALTERING GAME OF PEEK-A-BOO
On my first trip to Ethiopia with Compassion International in 2011, I had no idea that Jesus would forever change my life by way of a spontaneous game of peek-a-boo with a 4 year old little girl who looked a little different than her peers.

As team photographer, 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. (UPDATE: There are now over 330 children in the project.  About 120 have been sponsored by folks at South Bay Church in San Jose, CA)

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.  She was peeking out at me with an inquisitive smile.  I waved at her in the same manner we Americans wave at children (not quite a wave, but just wriggling the fingers).  She paused, did the same wave back at me, and 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, giggled and went back.

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

I asked the Ethiopian man next to me what the situation was with this little girl.  He explained that the husband(who was Ukrainian) had left his wife when was 3 months pregnant.  Just after his explanation, the girl ran up to me again, said something while 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, "She 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 frustration.  I did not see her again that day.  It was the last day of our trip.

I found my self recalling and re-telling that story multiple times in my remaining time in Ethiopia.  Also, back in the states, I told it over and over again.

I could not shake it off.  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.

Fast forward 8 weeks.  Back in the states.  Compassion Sunday.  Our church had an opportunity to sponsor over 50 children from the same Compassion project we visited while in Nazret, Ethiopia.

I was really excited to sponsor another child.  I have a little boy named Luckson in Haiti, and it has been a joy to interact with him.  I showed up at church and immediately went to the Compassion table and started looking through profiles of all the beautiful children we had the opportunity to sponsor. Face after face...after precious face.  Sweet kids.

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 ago…8 thousand 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 in a manner I could not imagined!  What a gift she has been.

Her name means, "Loved by God."  And she is.  As am I.  What did I do to deserve this miracle? Nothing.  I am loved by Jesus.  Period.  And so is Yididiya.

Well, one year after sponsoring my little friend, I went back to Ethiopia to meet her officially.
I cannot put in words.  This precious little one captured...no...captivated my heart.  I believe Jesus gave me the same heart for her as he has for me.

She calls me "Baba", which means father.  Her mother, Genet,  shared that "Yididiya is at peace now because she had so many questions about fatherhood".  Her mother said this to me, "When someone asks who her father is, she answers, your name.  Yididiya is not only my daughter.  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 realized that sponsoring a child has more impact than I can ever fathom...or put in words.  WHAT A PRIVILEGE it is to bless this precious little child in the name of Jesus.  There is not enough space to share this experience on a blog.  You need to experience this yourself!

As a man called to serve and shepherd the body of Christ, my experience in Ethiopia has stirred my heart for those to whom I am called to minister in the states. These impoverished people on the African continent have a freedom in Christ that I desire to see more of here in America.  They are indeed rich because they see Jesus as their ultimate treasure, and their affections are set on him accordingly!

God is Father to the fatherless...and he has given me the privilege of doing the same for Yididiya.

I am grateful.

Click HERE to see video from 2012
Click HERE so see photos