Mission to Ethiopia: November 2006

Dear friends and families:

We find urgent needs in all of the countries that God has led us to, but we are so led by the challenges in Ethiopia, because God has opened and closed doors in ways which we could not imagine. We placed ourselves at His feet, and tried to follow Him as we always do. The hours are long, and the trip arduous, but worth every step of the way. I want to share some of our trip experiences with you from our November Ethiopia trip, and give you an update on the progression of events there. The directors and senior Ethiopian staff members spent three weeks in Africa, most of that time in Ethiopia, to visit children's homes, assess situations there, and open new centers to help more children.

We took four on this trip, in order for us to accomplish much in a short period of time. CWA has opened two new children's homes of our own in Ethiopia, and has expanded and advanced facilities to accommodate more services and help for little ones. We also took over one new facility from the government, which was being used as a clinic and teaching center. The physician who was running the center for the government had recently passed away, and the need was great.

We were able to hire a counselor and a social worker in our new Addis location in order to improve the children's understanding of the meaning of adoption and living in an American family, as well as dealing with their own issues. We also have a new teacher there who is teaching the children the basics of language, math and coping skills. We have set her up with a new set of educational books, and various paraphernalia to enable her to work with the full age range of these children. To help implement this we are adding two classrooms to our new Addis facility, which will be equipped with new teaching aids, whiteboards, and a computer. We are also adding and completing a large family room area, so that families will be able to visit there with their child or children without interrupting the daily lives or privacy of the other children in the building. The facility also has a nice, large outside play area and improved kitchen areas.  We ate at the center twice with the children and were impressed with the quality of the food, and the cleanliness of the home. The family room and classroom improvements have already started and should be completed within the next three months.

We visited our new location in Awassa and were very pleased with the area. It is on the road between Addis and Wolita, about half way in between. This new location is about 15 minutes from the new hospital that we are contributing to, which is under construction now. This location will serve as an important safe haven for infants in this area. As usual, CWA has agreed to sponsor local non-adoptable children with their schooling and other needs.

An important part of our trip, as always, was to film children and get accurate medical information at the same time.  We again heard that many of these children came from as far as 1000 km away. It is impossible for either CWA personnel or parents to try to visit these areas, as there are absolutely no facilities there to house or protect anyone. Our interviews with prospective, adoptive children included members of the local police force to certify the availability of the child, as well as any relatives or family members, who could be located.  We are spending a great deal of time and diligence to assure the privacy and protection of everyone's rights. We spent several days from morning until night, filming and asking questions to get everyone's information. Even with all these precautions, we found children and family members who had no idea how old they were or had any details on medical conditions. Some of the interviews were very heartrending, for example, a birth mother whose husband had died of AIDS or malaria was sobbing and pleading for her children's future, explaining that she was to die of AIDS within the next six months. When we asked her what questions or requests she had, she commented that she desperately wanted to her children to go to a Christian family. Throughout all of these long days and interviews, the people were sweet, patient and hopeful.

Our team traveled to Wolita and other outlying areas to get information and film. Some of the things we faced there are the reasons we suggest that parents not travel to outlying areas. We were well-equipped medically, with the proper shots and protection, yet we still encountered food poisoning, intestinal parasites, travel hardship, and absolutely no water to wash bathe or flush with for four days, and we had the best available facilities. We have spent time and money to hire good people, provide the best food and medical attention available, and the best facilities for the children and we will continue to, but we cannot change the travel conditions in the country.

We were very fortunate in being able to contribute some medical supplies - a new EKG machine, a new oxygen generator, as well as providing upgraded budgets to supply the centers with food and medical equipment. The team we work with over there is wonderful, many of them are on call 24/7 and give tirelessly to help these children.  

Our country director there, Dagne, is the coach and sponsor of over 160 children on various soccer teams. CWA has provided uniforms and shoes for all of these children so that they may have weekly fellowship together under Christian supervision.  

While we were in Addis, we hosted a formal banquet, which was attended by the head adoption officials there, our orphanage directors, local government officials, and U.S. consulate members. Several of the adoption officials present, spoke at this dinner to thank CWA for its participation and the quality of staff and operations developed in Ethiopia in the past two years.

It is truly a blessing to be associated with so many people with such good hearts, who are making a real difference in the lives of these children. I can tell you personally that seeing these children eyes, listening to their stories, and observing the conditions firsthand changes your life. We still have needs to fulfill there; God still has a lot of work for us to do.

We have ordered a new washing machine for one center, we need some classroom furniture in another, we have again expanded budget to include a new center; and with God's grace will continue to grow.

There are so many children there, with so much need, perhaps you can search your heart and see how you can help. Thank you for your prayers, your help, and your hearts.  

May the Lord bless you all,

Bob Harding, cofounder CWA
Chief Financial Executive