Working with a Higher Purpose

Dear Friends:
 
We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Ethiopia, and I wanted to share it with all of you.  Spending time there with the government officials, U.S. consulate officers, Ethiopian judges and attorneys, and our staff is so rewarding because of the efforts of each and every person to advocate for the kids.

Our children’s home in Addis Ababa is so busy that we approved the addition of another center just around the corner, so that we may now place girls of like ages together in a loving and happy environment. This is important, as we can concentrate on their needs and development with more personalized direction. We also visited our Awassa children’s home, and the little faces that looked up at me almost made me cry. We approved some new cribs there, a new washing machine, and some other needs as well. They have several new babies that need a home, so we needed to react quickly. We also visited three other children’s homes that we partner with, and increased each of their budgets for 2007; in some cases double what they had originally asked for. There is so much need, and no one for them to turn to for help.

CWA parents anonymously granted gifts for two of the children’s homes to purchase vehicles to transport children as needed (This was an amazing $30,000). Some of these trips are as much as 460 kilometers from Addis Ababa, and they had great difficulty and expense in helping these children get to a safe home. The manager of one home cried and hugged me as she explained that she had been praying for easier transportation for months, but knew that it was not in their budget.

Our CWA team met with all of the staff members to review needs, job performances, answer questions, and share stories of love and joy. In the process we agreed to purchase computers for our classroom learning center, hire more staff, and add needed equipment to various locations. We also brought over some new medications for the young children to help with everything from parasites to scabies.

Reviewing the time to get medical exams and testing completed for some areas caused me to speak to a local hospital regarding a shared pediatrician, and we have agreed to hire one that will share his time between our centers and the hospital. This will take a little time to implement, but should substantially increase our ability to diagnose and treat the needs of the children; Also, since he is well educated and from Ethiopia, he will understand the nature of their needs. We also visited the new hospital site that we are helping to build and sponsor in Sashamene. It is coming along very well, and has expanded to include a teaching floor since we last visited. It should be completed within a year.

Dr. Kelemu, who is the founding genius behind this, is absolutely elated with all of you for helping him to realize this dream of a Christian hospital that can heal more than the body. CWA sponsored an all day meeting with all our staff members, U.S. embassy officials, Ethiopian judges, and chief Ministry officials involved in adoption, along with CWA partner orphanages. This was held in order to familiarize everyone with the pending implementation of the Hague Convention, which directly affects the adoptions and rights of the children of the world. They truly appreciated this, and the head minister spoke at the end of this meeting to thank CWA for helping, and doing an excellent job with their country’s children. Several officials even agreed to come to the CWA reunion to see the loving homes that the children are joining.

Another major reason for this visit was to accept the parcel of land outside Addis Ababa that the local government is furnishing us in order to build a village compound, consisting of a children’s home, medical clinic, CWA regional offices, crisis pregnancy center, housing for visiting parents, and future additions. This project is a little overwhelming for us, but we feel that God is directing us to move ahead with it.

As we were considering this project, CWA was approached by a wonderful Christian couple in the states who had experience building a similar compound in Africa in 2004! You will hear more about Russ and Marcia Baugh later. God moves very directly when He wants to get your attention, and we can see His hand in everything we do in Ethiopia. It just humbles you and makes your spirit soar to see all of this come together. I have always prayed for understanding and wisdom to know that I am really doing what God wishes me to do, and to get all of this confirmation in so many areas at once is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I am just totally in awe.
 
We have started working with an architect there who is also designing the new 5000 member church, and the hospital. They are very helpful and creative, so we hope to start construction of the village this summer.

We will need help from everyone who wishes to contribute to this awesome project, including labor to paint, set up a soccer fields, finish rooms, and more. This is a major financial burden, but there is no place in the world where children have less, and need more. Together we have the ability to help lighten this load and do for these children, as God would have us do.

Please pray about this, and see what God places in your heart. I am somewhat exhausted by all of this, but very much at peace and prepared to reach out to more of God’s children than ever before.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. You are loved and appreciated by everyone whose life you touch there.

God bless you all.
 
Bob Harding
Co-founder of Christian World Adoption