I want to get back soon!

Well, its been 2 months since I left Ethiopia and there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of being there. I plan to go back next summer, but I am really hoping to get back sooner than that. I plan on designing another shirt for one of my fundraisers, but the first one that my friend Dana designed was a huge hit! If you would like to purchase a shirt, e-mail me Kortniehastings@gmail.com  They are $35, and 100% of the money will go towards my trip and donations to take when I go. The more shirts I sell, the faster I can get back over there. I left half my heart there and want to make a difference in the lives of those children. THank you for supporting me! It means the world to me.

 Here is the design...Jesus loves the little children...

 I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. John 14:18

Yosi, my sponsored child in his!!!!

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia July 6-16 2011

I made this video documenting my trip to Ethiopia.

These faces are permanently burned into my memory and half my heart was left there. There is not  a day that goes by that I don't think of the children I met and everything I saw. I cannot wait until the next time... 

My Heart Changed Forever

Well, everyone said my life would be changed forever. I just didn't realize how much. I fell in love with the culture, the children, and the hope that one day there will be no hungry bellies, no bare feet, no poverty, and no more tears...

There will be the Day

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel your walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

One day there will be no more pain, no more tears, and all of us will meet Jesus. What a great thing to think about after this trip. God broke my heart for what breaks his, and he opened my eyes to things I have never seen before. I am so thankful for the things I saw, what I experienced, and the memories permanently burned into my mind. Our God is a God to the fatherless...

'He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow,

and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.' Deuteronomy 10:18



"Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now." ~Saint Teresa of Avila

 

I am so excited about the burning in my heart for God's word and being obedient to serving as his hands and feet. I am so thankful I have so many people that love and support me on my spiritual journey. God continues to use me in many ways...

What a great way to end my summer. I am already thinking about going back for several weeks next summer. Keep reading my blog to hear the awesome things going on in my life!

 

School starts soon, where I will be getting 20 new faces to learn about, to teach, and to help grow.

Young Life will be starting up soon too!!  I can't wait to see all the amazing things that will happen this year!!

 

Thank you for your

continued love and support!!

Day 8 & 9: The last 2 Days...Slumber Party, Korah, and Goodbyes

Our day started with another long drive to Hope Ethiopia. A 2 hour drive, one down a paved road, and the other down a dirt road. A beautiful drive!

We pulled up to kids surrounding the vans. We got out and headed towards an open field...The boys played soccer and we did crafts and painted nails. I tried holding a little boy (2yrs) that was crying, but he latched onto his brother instead. He was so pitiful...clothes ripped, flies around his tearful eyes, and a sad face. Some of the children would laugh and smile, but so many of them wouldn't smile at all. Older kids were taking the crafts the little ones made, and it hurt my heart. I thought about Yosi alot that day...

After playing with the children we went into a gated area to pass out clothes, underwear, shoes, blankets, diapers, and toys. The village lined up outside the gate, coming in one by one. To see their faces light up was the highlight of my day! Towards the end it got very sad...we ran out of clothes and shoes. Mothers were throwing there babies over to our team, guards hitting people to get back (I had to learn this is part of their culture, and they are doing it out of anger). The people ended up breaking through the gate and we had to get our bags and get out of there. We come to help and there is never any way of knowing how many people we can help a day, so it is sad when we run out of things to give. 

That night when we got home, I asked Maste to go to Korah and ask Yosi's mom if he could spend the night with me so I could bathe, clothe, and feed him on our last night there. He agreed, and an hour later in walked my little angel. I cannot explain in words the joy he brings to my life. That day in Korah changed me...and I fell in love.

I immediately picked him up and he just hugged me, but wouldn't smile. He seemed nervous and unsure about where he was. I knew he would be hungry, so I sat him on my lap as he ate a piece of pizza. Then we headed upstairs to take a bath. When I told him what we were doing he started to cry, so of course I said we didn't have to. He was scared...never seeing a shower or bathtub before, I would be too. Instead of a bath I wiped him down with baby wipes, scrapping mud from his feet, and then putting baby lotion all over him. I tried changing his clothes, but he wasn't quite ready yet...so I gave it sometime, and before I knew it, he was taking off his shirt ready to change.

When he finally was comfortable, he was running around the house, playing, and having so much fun. He loves playing with cars and the soccer ball.

It was finally time for bed and he crawled into bed, I read him a story, and we laid there. He rubbed my face and fell fast asleep. He slept good all snuggled up next to me. I will never forget that night. It brings tears to my eyes as I write about it. I miss him so much!

The next morning, Yosi played as I got ready.

Then we ate breakfast and played together until heading to Korah.

Luckily we spent our last day in Korah, so I had more time to spend with him before I left. He got a little jealous when other kids would come up to me. He would kick them, and I tried to explain to him that was not ok, but my Amharic is not that good! I may have spoiled him just a little bit!! :)

We walked around in Korah, then went down the street and watched the boys play soccer. When they finished we headed back to serve lunch, ingera and tibs. Yosi didn't eat much.

I was getting anxious because I knew that it was getting close to leaving. I wanted to visit his house, but they said it wasn't safe, so his Mom came to pick him up and I got to meet her. She is young, around 20. I gave her money, clothes, and some food to take home with her.

It was time to say my goodbyes and there was no part of me that wanted to. With tears in my eyes, I hugged and kissed him one more time and watched him walk away with his Mom. 

Day 7: Moutainside

We started our day heading North to an orphanage. We drove, and drove, and drove...Clay finally says, "I think we past it an hour ago." Geeze! That would have been helpful an hour ago!!! By that time Kelly calls the director and he decides he doesn't want us coming now. In this orphanage none of the kids are adoptable because it is not supported by the government.

Instead of going to the orphanage, we headed to the mountainside where the boys played soccer and we clothed some children. I sat with one little girl, dressed her and fed her some crackers. She was a doll!

 

The news spread fast that we were there, and the kids started to line up.

On the way out Kelly's bus picked up 3 women, and their loads of eucalyptus plants. These women, around age 60 walk up the steep mountainside 3 times a day, 12 miles each way, carrying 70 pounds each. Kelly had their loads thrown up on top of the van, gave them new shoes, and took them to the bottom. I hate that I missed seeing this, but our driver had left before them. Hearing about it makes me smile!

I was sad we didn't get a lot of time with kids that day, but we did make a difference in some peoples lives today and that is all that matters! :)

Day 6: Korah and Project 61

We started our day by purchasing 40 sheep before heading to Korah. Thanks to everyone that bought sheep on the OH website and  the VBS students from Hopkinsville, KY!! THese will feed a lot of hungry bellies!

We arrive in Korah to kids ready to love on you!! My heart was so happy to see all the smiles. Korah is a small community within Addis. Sumer Yates from Thompson Station Baptist visited Korah several years ago and fell in love. So...she moved her family there and started Project 61. I admire her so much and it is so evident how much she loves the Lord and is living as his body  here on earth.  

'Project 61's primary purpose is to partner with local organizations in under-privileged areas to develop communities and their residents. Project 61 also connects sponsor families to provide boarding school, clothing, family support and character development.' Check out their website and sponsor a child!!! http://p61.org/sponsorship.html

'Project 61 provides you an opportunity to directly impact the life of a child. Due to AIDS and other illness, children are often left alone and without hope. However, YOU can make a difference in their future.

Currently, $750 per year removes a child from a city landfill and places them into a private boarding school. But, the altered living conditions are only the beginning.'

Women that are changing the world!!

Sumer Yates, Kelly Putty, Ashli York

Early in the day I met a boy name Dejene, very smart little boy, around 12 years old. His sponsor lives in Canada and sends him to Boarding school. He has no family, so he lives in Korah with Project 61. A room with bunk beds where 10 to 12 children sleep. We sat and listened to the last part of a Bible study together, him leaning over to me every few minutes telling me what he was saying. Then our team got to sing with the kids. Me being the teacher, got up front and  we all sang our hearts out...Jesus loves me, Yes Lord, and we threw in some other songs too... Tooty Ta, one of my students favorites at Crockett!

After singing, we walked into the street and  that is when a little boy stole my heart...

That day I fell in love...as a little boy latched onto my leg, I reached down, picked him up, and we were inseparable after that. Eyosiyas, known as Yosi, is a 4 year old that made my heat melt. He would just kiss my cheeks, and held onto me so tight, putting his head next to mine. I knew right then that this was the child I was suppose to sponsor.

I found Ashli immediately and asked her if I could sponsor him. She said I would have to ask Sumer because he was so young. She looked at me and said, do you know that is? I replied no...She said "that is Worldu's nephew." I was so excited because a month ago I went to Thompson Station Baptist to learn more about Korah and Project 61 and  I met Worldu, who was visiting the US with Sumer. Little did I know a few weeks later I would fall in love with his sweet nephew.

I wasn't the only one that day that fell in love that day...

I got to feed Yosi, meet his Mom, and find out from Sumer, that YES I could be his sponsor!! What a great day! It was a great day for many of the memebers on my team.

Deborah  and her daughter Kenya got to meet their sponsored child's family.

And Amy got to meet a child she sponsored and considers her son that

now lives in the dump at Korah.

Very sad day and happy day at the same time.



Day 5: Break my Heart for What Breaks Yours

As we are driving 3 hours into the countryside to Woliso, God puts the lyrics to Hosanna in my head...

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

It is so amazing how God put those lyrics in my mind that day and time. The things I saw that day will be burned into my memory forever.

 When we arrived there were kids running to follow our vans to the orphanage. We pull in to see sweet faces eager for us to be there... smiling faces.

We tour the orphanage...we see malaria nets covering the beds, beds made neatly, but no toys or any sign of life there. Sad.

After looking around, I walk up to 2 young girls holding babies...no diapers, ripped shirts, and flies covering their faces. For the first time I started to cry.
I walked away knowing why God put those words on my heart that day. I knew then what it meant...I see what breaks God's heart, and mine was breaking too.