Our Power Team in Ethiopia~ Day 2&3

I am so blessed to see the amazing things being accomplished in Ethiopia right now by this power team of 10! Watch the video below to hear from team leader, Jeremy Bullock, and see for yourself the dorms at Shashemene Boarding School and where some of your sponsored kids spend their school year. Then take a moment to read an update from Delilah, our team blogger. Great stuff is happening over in Ethiopia right now!! Also, I keep getting asked when we are posting our new trip dates and they are coming very soon so be on the look out :) Also, if you would like to sponsor a child, please look at P61's kids that STILL need sponsors BY CLICKING HERE. Pick one and contact Erin@p61.org. THANK YOU!!





Ethiopia Team - Day 2 & 3


One of the major projects planned for this trip to Ethiopia was to partner with Project 61 and do a project at the boarding school in Shashamane. We headed for the school early Wednesday morning and would be there for two days working. On our way to Shashamane we made a stop, in what seemed to be the middle nowhere. We noticed two young boys walking towards us, one of which was wearing a long shirt that was probably six sizes too big and that was it. The team had prepared the blessind bags, so we were thrilled to give them out. Within seconds we had six or seven more children, quite literally come out of nowhere to get a gift. We were qiuckly bombarded to the point that our driver had to tell them to leave so we could get back into the van and leave. Although for a moment we were overwhelemd, it was exhileratig to be able to meet a need for these children. The team was thrilled about it, so to avoid the chaos of gathering children fighting over gifts, we began tossing the blessing bags out of the window when we saw children walking. What a sweet treat to merely be walking down the road, see something fly out of a moving vehicle, only to find it's a bag that says, "Jesus Loves You" with a gift just for you inside. We weren't able to see their expression, but we all hoped that it met a need and planted a seed in their hearts.


For our project at Shashamane, we were asked to help paint the boys dorms before they return to school in a couple weeks. There were 23 rooms that needed the walls, ceiling and cabinets painted, as well as some maintenance to install latches and locks for their cabinets and reattach any broken cabinet doors. In two days, our team of ten, along with another team from Project 61 and many of the amazing boys and workers of Shashamane, we painted the halls and each room and were able to repair most of the cabinets before our power tools died. It wasn't easy work, it wasn't glamorous either, but we knew that the boys would be thrilled to return to school with a fresh new building to call their own. Painting took it's toll on many, but after a quick breath of fresh air, most turned right back around and started painting again. It seemed impossible to paint 23 rooms and the rest of the dorm in two days, but it happened. 


God is in the details...


To say that we are probably a little on the controlling side when it comes to our relationship with God is probably a fair stateent. No matter how many times he shows up in a big way, we still tend to hit another speedbump and our faith gets jostled around. Our team experienced this all through the fundraising process, but miraculously, we wound up over-fundraised. Does that even happen? Why would God have allowed that? We knew it was a blessing, but were not sure what it was inteded for. Jeremy, the team leader prayed this morning and asked God to make it clear to him what we were supposed to do with the extra money. He had no idea at the time how much extra we had. While working today at the boardng school in Shashmane he asked Summer (of Project 61) if there was anything they needed. She quickly responded, "yes!" Tuition went up this year, but they did not raise the sposorship costs for sponsors, so Project 61 was going to have to figure out a way to provide some of the supplies that the students needed. Jeremy suggested that she make him a list and give him an idea of the cost and he would see what we had left. Summer later returned with a list. They needed 260 of the following things: backpacks, exercise books, pillows, and 520 things of laundry soap and body soap. These items would cost roughly $2,876 (by Summer's estimates). Jeremy tucked the note away and we finished up our day of painting the boys' dorm. Over dinner, Jeremy and another team member went over the money, making sure everything was budgeted for the rest of our time here. After everything was accouted for, the remaining balance was $2,900!!! Just weeks ago we were worried about even raising enough to come. Little did we even realize, God had each penny planned before we even had it raised. He is faithful. As the team met and talked about their time the past two days, we read 2 Corinthians 9:6-9. We want all of our supporters to know what their gifts made happen. They not only sent us, but we had abundantly more to bless others!

2 Corinthians
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: 
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; 
their righteousness endures forever.”