Jesus to the Rescue

This past November I took a surprise visit to Ethiopia. It was not planned for sure. I didn't even know I was going til a week before I left. I went for one month the find a ministry to work with. The moment I got there God had put me to work. This leads me to one great story that glorifies God:)


I don't know if any of you remember my story on Brhanu. Brhanu is a 15 year boy, that has 8 other brothers and sisters, but only 5 of them live at the house. Both of his parents are blind. Brhanu comes from a very tough situation.

The first Sunday I was there, I took Birhane and Sami to church. After church we to the post office to see the other kids. Well I got there and the only boys I could find were Habtamu and Brhanu. I notice that Brhanu was laying on the wall with his face covered. I walked over to him and pulled the jacket off his face looked at his face. " Brhanu, Are you sick?" He told me he was. I felt his forehead and he was so hot. I said  "Brhanu, I got to take you to a clinic now!" I got him up and took him to the clinic. We saw the doctor (thank God he spoke English) and the doctor said we need to do blood work. I was worry by this time because I really thought I was going to get medicine for just a fever. We sat and waited for the results and the doctor asked to come to his office. I remember walking down the hallway to his office and thinking " God what could be wrong with him?" "Whatever it is please help me to help him." The doctor told me he needs to be admitted to a hospital right away. The doctor said that he has a sickness that he will die from if he doesn't get help.


We left and started walking to the nearest hospital. I can't begin to tell you the process to get a person into a hospital in Ethiopia. While we where waiting to do lab work again, one by one the street kids started walking in the hospital to be with him. It was such a blessing to see his friends there to help him. Brhanu barley could walk anywhere, they help carry him. The boys helped me with translation as well. Brhanu's head had to be shaved and the boys helped the nurses with that. They didn't know it, but they were showing Gods love to there friend. Something I was shocked by is I had to go the the pharmacy to buy his IV bag, needles, med bottles etc.

Now we took him to his room. The moment I walked in the room there was only a baby bed. WHAT!! The nurse brought him a mattress to sleep on, ON the floor. The nurses gave him one sheet and that was it. OHHHH, I forgot to mention, there where no light in his room. I had to send one of the boys to get candles. While waiting for the candles the doctor came in to give Brhanu a shot and we had to use are cell phone light for him to see.  I didn't want to leave Brhanu alone at the hospital that night but all of the kids offered to stay with him. Of course the hospital wouldn't let them, so Habtamu volunteered to stay with him. Before we left I asked the boys if I could pray for him and everyone of them wanted to say a prayer for him. I cant begin to tell you how AMAZING these boys are:) God is working in there hearts so much:)


The next day I showed up at the hospital waiting for the doctor to show up for hours. When he finally came in the door he was definitely shocked to see I was a white women. " Are you taking care of this boy?' I told him that I take care of all these boys in this room. He began to tell me that Brhanu had some kind of sickness (I would love to tell you what it was. but I couldn't even spell it for you:) The doctor told me that Brhanu was sick due to a bug bite. Doctor said it is often caused buy sanitation in his house. The moment he said that, I knew it was his roof. His roof floods their house all the time. I told the doctor of his situation at home and the doctor began telling me what I needed to do to help him and his family. He told me I had to shave all of the kids heads, bug spray the house, wash all their clothes, bring out the mattress, clean the house and fix his roof. He told me that it was very important to do these things or the family will get very sick and possibly die. The moment he said that I gathered the boys and left for his home. On the way I bought a mop, broom, soap and bug spray. When we arrived the boys began to explain to his mother what needed to be done. She wouldn't let me do anything. I finally begged Birhane to beg Brhanu's mother to let us at least do laundry. Finally, Brhanu's mother gave us only Brhanu's clothes. She pack all his clothes in a old backpack. We had to walk back to the post office to wash his clothes because Brhanu's mother washes his clothes in a very dirty river. As we were walking I could see the bugs crawling all over Birhane'sWe could only save a few shirts. The boys saw need and began giving their clothes. Even when these kids have nothing they still give to help out there friend. After searching and asking people if they would allow me to use their water,  all the boys came and help wash his clothes.

Now after almost 3 days of Brhanu being in the hospital, I needed to get his roof fix and didn't have the money to really help him. I ask God to help me. You will never guessed what I did. I became a street kid. I saw a white person at the post office went right up to him and told him the needs of these boys. He gave me money to fix Brhanu's  roof and take Habtamu to the dentist:) GOD IS GOOD:) The next week I gather up the boys and a really good friend of mine, Alex and we went and fixed his roof. We only could afford plastic but it worked. When I showed up the mother had done everything I asked of her.

Thur all of this, I knew that God sent me all of the sudden for a rescue mission. I am not sure what would have happened to Brhanu, but I know that God is good and faithful to his children. God used this situation to show his love for them. I know from the bottom of my heart that God has AMAZING plans for these kids. I am so very BLESSED to be apart of it. Please continue to pray for Brhanu and his family. There needs are still very great! They need mattresses, clothes for all the children, shoes, blankets and the mother need shoes as well. Money for school is a great need for 4 children.I know that God will continue to be faithful to his children. He always provide!!