Thanksgiving (posted by Andrea)

When we celebrate Thanksgiving, we typically get around a big table with our friends and family. We thank God for all we have been blessed with, and we enjoy delicious foods (usually in excess).

However, this Thanksgiving, I thought about it differently. I thought about the first Thanksgiving and what it celebrates; the Native Americans seeing the Pilgrims struggling and helping them to survive a difficult year. Had the Native Americans not acknowledged the Pilgrims needs, had the Native Americans not felt compassion and offered assistance, the Pilgrims would not have survived, and we would not celebrate this American holiday.

"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." (Proverbs 22:9)

Today, there are still so many people throughout the world that are struggling and in need, and God calls us to help them. Will we acknowledge them? Will we offer our assistance? Will they survive?

This year, in remembrance and appreciation for all we have, let's give back.

Let's go beyond acknowledging our blessings, and share them with those in need.

Please, Thank God for your blessings, but don't stop there.

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:11)

One way you can reach out to someone in need is by sponsoring a child and ensuring that the child will have food, water, education, and discipleship. We are still trying to find sponsors for over 140 children at the Tullo Care Point at Awassa, Ethiopia.

If you would like more information on how you could sponsor a child or get involved at Tullo, please email andrea@starved4hope.org (please check out our blog post "Vision Trip" from Oct 21, 2010 for pictures of children at the Tullo School that need your help).

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." (Proverbs 19:7)

May the Lord pour out His blessings on you, and may those blessings flow abundantly from you to reach out to those in need for His glory. Happy Thanksgiving.

Sponsor a child at Tullo (posted by Andrea)

We received the profiles of the children at the Tullo Kebele School in Ethiopia! We are so excited to start finding sponsors for these beautiful children so that we will be able to provide them with food, water, basic medical care, education, and discipleship!

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matt 25:35-36)

An opportunity to drastically change the life of a young child and his/her family! We know that not everyone is able to adopt, but this opportunity gives you a unique chance to provide a child(ren) with many basic needs. For $34 a month you can sponsor a child in Awassa, Ethiopia. Unlike some programs, you aren't just sending your money away, you are actually being provided with an opportunity to correspond with your child, send packages, receive pictures, and possibly even visit your child is you should choose to!

Starved 4 Hope has partnered with Children's Hope Chest to find sponsors for children in the Tullo care point in Awassa, Ethiopia. These children are often orphans, but may still have a distant relative that, while unable to provide for them, is unwilling to relinquish parental rights. Therefore, these children are not adoptable. Instead, these children are trapped in a seemingly hopeless situation, but that is where you can make a difference.

By sponsoring a child, you can provide that child with not only food for his/her belly, but nourishment for the soul.

“…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deut. 8:3).

Through your sponsorship, these children will be taught God’s love. They will receive biblical teachings and discipleship, and they will experience first hand God’s love through your act of compassion.

Sponsoring a child costs $34 a month. We ask that our sponsors make at least a one year commitment to the child the sponsor. Payments can be made monthly, bi-annually, or annually (for a total of $408 a year).

You may choose a child to sponsor, or if you would prefer we can choose one for you. Once you have made the commitment to sponsor a child, you will receive a picture and a brief story about your child(ren).

You will be able to correspond with your sponsored child(ren), and we encourage you to) because it is a great opportunity to personally minister to your child and share your love of Christ with them.

It will also be possible to visit the child(ren) you sponsor as our team travels at least once annually (sometimes twice), and we encourage our sponsors to travel with us to see in person the difference you are making.

As soon as the children are sponsored, we can implement a feeding program at Tullo care point where we will send wheat and oil once a month to the children's families! What a great way to help entire Awassa Community! Your contribution will not just feed a hungry child, but will show your love and compassion to an entire community. Sponsorship ensures that each child has food, clothing, basic medical care, education, and most importantly Christian discipleship.

There are 166 kids that still need to be matched with a sponsor.

Will you provide hope for one child?

Please email me for details about the child you want to sponsor: andrea@starved4hope.org

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

Will you please spread the word to your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors about sponsoring a child at Tullo care point? Will you be a voice to advocate for those in need?

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."(Proverbs 31:8-9)

Please send out an email with a link to our blog: TheBestulFamily.blogspot.com and to the Starved 4 Hope website: www.starved4hope.org . If you have a blog, please place a link to our blog to spread the word, and find us on facebook!

Together - we can make an immediate and lasting impact for the kids at Tullo care point!

“…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”(Matthew 25:40)

Here are just a couple of the children you could sponsor!

You can make a difference for a child!

Will you give one child hope?

Please email me for more information about the child you could sponsor: andrea@starved4hope.org

Awassa Vision Trip (posted by Don)

I have tried to write about my experience in Ethiopia, but have had problems putting it into words. Even when people ask “How was your trip?”, I struggle to find a way of describing something that brought tears, laughter, joy and sadness in just a few short days. I have to admit that I went so that I could do more and help the ‘least of these’ as instructed. I now realize that not only does this help those that are in need, it allows us to grow in our Faith in ways that can only be accomplished through service.
We stayed in Addis our first night and got much needed rest. It had taken us over 24 hrs of flights and layovers to get there. Not being able to sleep much on the plane, I was definitely ready for a little rest. Our team consisted of 16 people who, although were from different places, were all ready to work together and minister to the children.
We had about a five hour drive from Addis Ababa to Hawassa and were only able to spend a few hours at Tullo Kebele the first day. The school of is located quite a ways down a dirt road. The condition of the road forced us to travel at a fairly slow pace. Although this slow travel could be seen as a problem, it allowed God to bless us with the 1st sight of the community’s children-- His children. They came out of their houses (small stick huts covered in mud) and when they saw us huge smiles appeared.
What an impact this was to my thoughts and understanding of this country. I had been told of the hunger, the disease, the poverty, and so many other things-- but had not expected the happiness and joy that poured out of them.

As we arrived at the actual school grounds, the first thing that I thought was, “This is it?”. How could more that 160 kids use this tiny space? The property was small but the classrooms were much worse, 70-80 kids in a room that was about 15’ x 17’. How can you
learn in these conditions? The children just kept pouring in from every direction while we were there. We played games with close to 150 kids that evening as we assessed the condition and the needs.
The next day we were greeted with the same smiles and joy as the day before. You could see that some had teeth that were almost black, most were without shoes and many of their clothes weren’t much more than rags. It made me think of all the material things I get upset over on a daily basis. Things that “rust and moth” will definitely destroy.
We separated the kids into multiple circles and anything that we did was a success. We passed balls around the circle, played duck-duck-goose and sang many silly songs including head-shoulders-knees-and-toes. The kids desired our time so deeply that it didn’t matter what game we chose, they were ecstatic. God was truly with our team, and although the kids had multiplied to close to 300, we worked on the school building and kept the games fun and organized. We had one more day left with these children and decided the school was in desperate need of school books. We collected money from our team members and were able to buy the school books for the 168 kids that were currently registered for school. God also laid on our hearts to feed the children the last day and what a blessing that was!

Our last day at Tullo was a bit more than we had planned. Our group separated for the morning so that others could visit a different location where they were sponsoring children. Unfortunately, two of our team members that had been so energetic the day before would not be with us for several hours. As we approached it was much different than the day before. A large crowd was already waiting in front of the school and dozens of children were running by the van for about the last mile. We had children running by the van each day but they had definitely multiplied. We prayed before leaving the van that God would give our group the strength and energy we would need to organize the children and once again share His love through us.
I had prayed for a long time that God would draw me closer to him. I have struggled having a daily prayer time with him and have not been faithful in reading my Bible daily. I yearned to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and my prayers were answered on the grounds of that small schoolhouse. I felt good about what I was doing and can’t explain the impact that these kids made on me but I wanted God to reach down to me. As we finished playing games and sharing the story of Christ’s love through the evangecube, it happened. As those beautiful children started singing that God was enough, the presence of the Holy Spirit brought me to my knees. Although my ears could not understand, my heart knew and I was broken. Once again, I can’t find the letters on the keyboard to fully explain my trip but I am so thankful for those children and for my Lord and Savior. I pray that he will continue to give me the opportunity to share His love; locally, nationally and globally.
Also a special thanks to Children’s Hope Chest for organizing an amazing trip and such a wonderful team.
So what next? So many of you have asked this and I am happy to say that we have finally gotten the profiles of our beautiful children. We will be looking for sponsors for each child. For roughly $34 a month, you can sponsor a child and provide education, minor medical needs, food, and most importantly discipleship.
We will be looking for donations and people willing to fundraise for capital projects such as 2 new buildings, access to clean water, compound fence, shoes, medication, school uniforms, teacher salary, pastor on staff, and community feeding programs.
We hope to bring some of our sponsors with us a couple times a year. What is so wonderful about this is that you have the opportunity to see and minister to the child you sponsor. Please add the community of the Tullo Kebele school to your prayers. Pray that God would use our families to minister to this community. Pray about what God would have you do in response to this.
We are planning a launch party shortly and look forward to finding sponsors for each child!!!
God Bless,
Don