Merkato Street Kids.

Greetings again!! We made an unexpected stop at the Sheraton in Addis on our way home from the Merkato Street Kids Project (more on that in a moment), and were able to access the internet via their business center. Let me just say, it is almost obscene to be here in this lavish five-star hotel after spending the day in some of the roughest slums in Addis. However, we are grateful for the internet connection, nice toilet facilities, and coffee!! =)

God granted us another amazing day in Addis. We had a delicious pancake breakfast with fresh fruit at the house this morning before heading out to the Merkato Street Kid Project compound, in the heart of the Merkato slum. We were privileged to meet the staff, hear their vision and goals, and then meet the "hard core" boys (boys that are a part of the program that have come off of the streets). What an incredible blessing to hear their stories first hand!!! There are 50 "hard core" boys ministered to by the LIA Merkato Street Kid project, and we were able to meet about 15. These boys have such unbelievable stories....loss of both parents, sleeping on the streets from age NINE with no family and no one to care for them, heartbreaking stories of theft in order to survive, hunger, drug abuse....and on and on. BUT...the amazing thing is that God is working in the lives of these boys. They are clearly changed just in the short time they have been in the program. To see the hope, joy and courage in their eyes in the face of their adversity was so inspiring. We spent a long time encouraging one another via a translator. It is a clearly a two way street....They think we have come to bless them (and we have), but indeed WE are the ones who are being blessed beyond measure. We were sure to share with the boys that we represent only a portion of the people back home who love and pray for them. They were so grateful to know of your support back home as well.

After lunch at the guest house (yes...amazing yet again), we headed back to the Merkato area, and split into two groups to do home visits of some of the project's beneficiaries. Stepping foot inside of these homes and hearing their stories was such a blessing. Such courage and hope. The children flock to us in the streets. They are so full of love, hugs, smiles, and laughter. By the time we left the streets, we had a large entourage of children laughing and following behind us. They are beautiful.

We are headed back to the guest house for dinner, then a debrief time. Tomorrow we will be helping with a mass giveaway at the Merkato Street Kid Project. They will be giving quarterly supplies to their project beneficiary families. They only do this quarterly, so we are excited to get to be a part (divine timing!). Tomorrow afternoon we will be doing more home visits, as well as visiting the peer homes (group homes assigned by the LIA Merkato project) of the hard core boys. This hardly seems the correct words to describe them. Their cores have definitely been soften by the love of Jesus Christ. They were a joy to be around.

We are all getting adjusted to the altitude (we are higher in elevation that Denver...Denver is at about 5000 feet, and Addis is around 8000 feet elevation). Everyone is feeling well, and is in good spirits. It is completely overwhelming to think of all we have seen and experienced in only two days here. The Lord is multiplying our time, it seems.

We miss you dearly, but know that God has you in His hands as He does us as well. Thank you for your continued prayers and for your encouraging comments. They are printed off and shared at our group debriefing in the evening. It means so much.

With full hearts from Africa...

The Africa Team

(by Allyson)