How it all started

In the summer of 2009, 17 members of Grace Covenant Church, traveled to Zeway, Ethiopia to visit orphans who are raising their siblings. We had no idea what God had in store for us! He has now revealed a 3 year community-to-community partnership with Zeway Food for the Hungry, the Zeway Evangelical Church Partnership and our church in Austin. What a ride God has in store for all those who join this partnership!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Meet Meserech and Zafu

Zafu is 10 and Meserech is 17. Meserech lost her leg in a fire accident. They try to attend school, but Meserech has only made it to the 7th grade. They live on a food ration intended for one child -- but Zafu doesn't know that. Meserech is standing in the gap for Zafu, setting aside her own hunger to protect his childhood innocence. When we asked how he was doing, Zafu responded that everything was great, blissfully unaware of the sacrifice his big sister is making for him.

It is not always clear the extent to which someone's physical needs opens the door for spiritual needs to be met. But Meserech and Zafu's story makes it clear.

Supporting the Zeway Partnership will allow children like Meserech to spend less time searching for jobs and food, and more time reading God's word, attending church, and in discipleship. Additionally, Meserech will be able to complete her education and give to herself what she has worked so hard to provide for Zafu.

Update from Zeway

We recently received an update about the children from the Zeway FH staff. We are praising God that:

Melkete has paid off all the taxes on her home. She was empowered by our prayers and the support she received to march her little 13 year old self to the government agency and insist that the head of the housing department inspect her property and give her the stamp of "paid in full". The inspector was so impressed and inspired by Melkete's spirit, he is continuing to be her advocate in an issue regarding her property.

Please be in prayer for this property issue. The home is Melkete's now, but because the Ethiopian government owns all land, they have the right to remove Melkete and her 9 year old sister from the house so that a road can be built through it. Please pray that she will be relocated to a safe and sound location.