Meeting Endalech (by Tammi)

This morning was my opportunity to meet my sponsored child Endalech.
She lives in the deep country area of Abaya.  After last night's rain the roads to her home were nearly impassible due to our 4WD vehicles sliding in the mud.  Thankfully, her father lead the way to a better road.
We arrived at a mud and straw sided home with a tin roof.  I first met her father and mother and then she emerged from the home.  She has grown into a lovely young woman since the last photo provided by World Vision.  She was very shy at first as a sponsor visit can be over whelming.  I was invited into her home with Pastor Brett as photographer.
Looking around the home, I noticed simple furnishings of chairs and a table with  flowers. With the help of our trusty World Vision donor liaison and dear friend, Tamiru, I asked her some questions in order to get to know her better. She confirmed that she is 14 years old, enjoys studying her native language which she hopes to teach someday and her family chore is to get water from the local shared clean water source. Eventually, Endalech became a bit more comfortable and her smiling face was evident.
Her parents expressed their great gratitude for the support provided through world vision.  They took me in the back of the house where an older hut stood.  It was their first home where the four family children were born and it now serves as the livestock stall and kitchen.  It was hard to imagine that a family of 6 had lived in that structure.  I was able to see the two oxen provided by World Vision. 
We played a with bubbles which she found fascinating, even at age 14.  She also showed a natural ability to play frisbee.  There was so much joy and pride in this family.
Friends and neighbors gathered to see what the happy occasion was. I asked her father what the family needs most right now.  He said they really could benefit from a heifer to provide the family with milk and to generate income from the selling of extra milk.  This was good information to know.
Endalech and her mother began preparing traditional Ethiopian coffee and offered us roasted chickpeas, a crunchy snack.  Though our time was nearly over, I accepted the tasty coffee and appreciated their warm hospitality.  After a blessing for all God has given them and their future prosperity, we said goodbye with hugs all around.
I will be forever changed by this opportunity and privilege to see what child sponsorship can do.  The realities of clean water, improved housing, and  school programs throughout the Abaya area are amazing to see. 
My next step is to see how I can provide a heifer to this special family.
(watch for pics on Facebook)