Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Ethiopia...



It has been 2 years since I've been overseas. 


That is far too long in my book! I have been aching for another trip. Well, my time of waiting will hopefully be over soon! One of my friends told me that she is going to Ethiopia to work with victims of the sex trafficking industry in the Red Light district this fall. The moment those she started describing the trip, I knew. I had to go. My heart leapt at the mere prospect of going to Africa. A few of the details are yet to be worked out, but I am thrilled nonetheless.


Actually, thrilled would be an understatement. It is more like let-me-pack-my-bags-right-now-because-I-can't-wait-one-more-second kind of excited.


The organization that that puts these trips together is the International Crisis Aid. Their blog is pretty phenomenal. They have some truly amazing stories about what they are doing there. Here is a description of how far they have come:
In March 2007, ICA opened the first home for young girls rescued from sex trafficking in the red light district of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We began with one home, and 6 girls. Now, we have grown to 7 homes and more than 40 girls ages 6-20 that have been rescued from trafficking. Once these girls are rescued they are taken to their new home where they receive food, shelter, emotional and spiritual counseling, schooling, vocational training, & medical care. The ultimate objective of the rescue home is to free girls COMPLETELY from a life of sexual slavery and give them a chance at life that they never knew was possible!
I cannot wait to get there are pour myself out for these people. I am blessed to be a blessing. I have these gifts to use them for the sake of Christ...for the sake of others. I am filled to be emptied again. The love of Christ poured into my heart is not meant to stay; it is meant to flow out into other hearts from mine.

Here is a little letter to the people that have my heart these days:

To those I have yet to meet:


Your footsteps lead up the beaten path
Each day brings the same toil, the same tears
Some orphaned, some trapped as slaves
But don’t lose hope or give into your fears

Our God has not forgotten your pain
He is sending His people to meet your needs
A generation is rising up to right injustice
Love and mercy is our new creed

We are coming - let hope fill your heart
From these ashes beauty will soon arise
Love will heal your wounds and scars
Truth will replace all the endless lies

So now your faces are etched upon my heart
Though my eyes have yet to see your form
My heart loves you so deeply already
For your pain and sorrow my soul is torn

I will meet you soon, my dear Ethiopia
Hand in hand, heart to heart we will be
My heart will be out poured for yours
I long to see that you are completely set free

I will proclaim to you of the endless love of God
And of His perfect sacrifice on the cross
I long for you to know Him, know His love
And that all apart from Him is loss, all loss

May I be cursed if I do not love you
If I sit in selfish silence when you have need
I have been so blessed in this life, so blessed
Oh, that I may love you so much I bleed

Ethiopia...

27 comments:

Rylie Renee said...

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS POST.

AND. I love ICA!! Come to Missouri sometime and you can meet the team! They are really cool.

Jhen.Stark said...

What an opportunity and what a trip! Spread Jesus! GO GIRL GO!

Mckenzie Jean said...

wow, I can't wait to hear all about this! I truly hope it all works out!

Gail@Sophisticated Steps said...

Couldn't read that without tears welling up in my eyes. Praying God uses you all in a mighty way!

Sophisticated Steps

Lori said...

What an amazing adventure and ministry to go on and help! I can only imagine the experiences you will encounter and what you will learn and what hearts you will touch :)

Lindsay J Neumann said...

Wow! What an amazing opportunity. I have always wanted to go on a missions trip but at the moment I feel that I am still to young and that I have a LOT more to learn before I can go and teach others. I will be praying for you while you share God's love. Have you ever heard of WAR (Women At Risk)? You should visit their website. Here's a link to copy and paste -

http://warinternational.org/

Have a great trip! I look forward to reading more posts as I follow your blog!

~ Lindie

Emily said...

Oh what a wonderful thing. I sincerely hope it all comes together for you girly. It amazes me seeing and knowing that young young girls are subjected to sex trafficking.

There's a lot of perverted people out there and what a neat opportunity it is for you to take part in it, God willing.

melissa said...

Such a wonderful post! I hope everything comes together nicely miss!!!! You are such an inspiration! xo

Stephanie said...

My sister-in-law is the director of operations for Go, Inc., an organizations that runs youth mission trips to Mexico and Haiti. I've been to Mexico twice to build houses, and to New Orleans once to tear down houses, and those experiences CHANGED MY LIFE. Sometimes mission trip bless us more than those we are serving! : )

Young People in Love said...

Wow! Sounds amazing!

♥ CheChe said...

i pray that God guides you and directs you in His perfect peace and will.

What an exciting time! I'll pray for you and I am so excited for the MISSION of that organization too! Freedom is something we are truly blessed with in this day and age in America. We need to set the captives free through the GOSPEL!! woo woo

♥cheche

Annie said...

I'm so happy for you, and I can't wait to see what God does through you and for you in your journey there. Keep us posted!

Off Label Mama said...

WOW! This is going to be such an exciting opportunity for you. I haven't been overseas in several years either, and I too am aching to go back.

Nikki said...

Wow...what an opportunity, and I know you will be such an encouragement and blessing to those girls!

Unknown said...

amen and amen. Love your heart for God and others, girl. I'll be praying for this trip.

xoxo

Whim Wham Life said...

ahhh, beautiful beautiful! What an amazing opportunity! My heart is BIG into women's issues and children-at-risk. You go girl! xoxo

Jami said...

Wow, that is beautiful. Can't wait to hear more about it!

Courtney K. said...

What a wonderful opportunity to share God' love with those who may never hear it. Beautiful!!

Samantha said...

Sounds like a great trip! I wouldnt be able to pass it up either! Prayin ahead for self travels for you!

I'm Sydney. said...

This sounds incredible! What an awesome opportunity God has brought for you! I have yet to go an a missions trip, but when the day comes I cannot wait!! How incredible!!

mary said...

Dear Jennifer, Can you carry my heart inside a pocket in your heart, to use for the goodness you will bring to these girls? I hope so. You are Love. xox!

Unknown said...

ICA is the best....I'm actually headed over there with a team with the ministry I intern for to open a new safe home with ICA sometime this fall once we finish raising money for the new home!

Ashley {hudson's happenings} said...

You are such an inspiration. Love this beautiful post.

Warren Baldwin said...

Sounds like a great organization!

wb

Johanna said...

This sounds like a great organization and I think it is amazing that you're dedicated to investing your time and heart in something so worthwhile. I'm currently training to run a half marathon to raise funds for a similar organization, Love146, which fights to end child sex slavery and exploitation all over the world. It breaks my heart that something so horrific has destroyed the lives of so many women and children. We can make a difference.

larisaa said...

You've been to Ethiopia!!?!!!??? I've been to Ethiopia!!!! It is my favorite place in this planet. I see you're a new reader from my blog so I'm just reading up on you =] Because I'm creepy like that. ahaha

Anonymous said...

Good words without deeds are rushes and reeds.

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