Gifts from Ethiopia

Guess who is in America.... Sami!! Can you believe it!! The boy I met on the streets of Addis almost two years ago in now in a place he could only dream of. It is impossible to get visa to America and God gave one to Sami! A boy from the streets is getting to experience so much of life here in the states. I had the privilege to go hear Sami speak at a Ordinary Hero Benefit were he shared his story of how God changed his life.

He looks so handsome! I also got to pick up one day from Chattanooga to drive him back to Nashville. He saw my car and said, "it is beautiful."I mean my car is 12 years old and has seen its days, but Sami just reminded me I am blessed to have a car. When we saw each other we just talked and talked for hours. See because of this boy God used him to show me his friends. Now I can help his friends know the love of Jesus Christ. Because of Sami I got to meet Birhane(who by the way is Sami's best friend). Birhane has become a huge part of my life. I met Ashli York (his sponsor) who helped me a lot when I got to Ethiopia. I didn't know anyone and she became a sister to me. I met all of the street children who I love more the words can express. I also got to meet Heather Deckard:) When I first met Sami the first thing he said to me was... "Do you know Heather?" Of course I didn't  but Heather and I found each other on facebook and have kept in touch. I got to meet her for the first time briefly in Ethiopia this past Nov and a few weeks ago. See Heather met Sami six years ago on the streets of Addis when he was just 10 years old. She has continued to be apart of his life. That's what it is all about!! Showing these kids a CRAZY LOVE!!

I am so blessed that God put Sami in my life. God is using Sami for his glory and I pray that he know that God has given him a story that will glorify Gods name. God is going to do amazing things in his life. I CAN'T believe I get to watch it:) Sami is loved by so many and is an AMAZING young man! Love you Sami with all my heart!!

This leads me to my next story... When Sami came to America, he brought me a gift from Birhane:)

A letter...

This is what it said...

I am not sure if you can read it, but is the sweetest letter EVER!! It made me cry!! Birhane told me that he is the luckiest person because God sent me you!! He told me I was a gift from God and that his life is nothing without me. I am so humbled and blessed by this young boy. HE IS AMAZING person. I just know that God has HUGE plans for this boys life. I have been told by people that he is a bad boy and he is hopeless. NO ONE is hopeless! There is always hope with God. In this letter Birhane tells me that if you stop dreaming hope, that's when you stop believing hope. People told me that he would never go to school, that he will stay a street child. PEOPLE I have heard this from teachers. I have been sent away so many times trying to get Birhane into school last fall because no one would give him a chance. I kept going and going to school after school until finally after begging a principle, he agreed to let Birhane in school. I WANT people to know that Birhane for the first time ever will be completing a grade, the 8th grade. Today, his teacher say he is a good boy and makes good grades! Birhane can be very difficult at time but all he needed was to know that someone loved him and that there is something to fight for ... Hope! Hope of a better future, school and to be loved!

Birhane also sent me this...

Amharic/English bible! Birhane is learning alot about what love is and I always tell him to start learning from the one that created him. This is why I do what I do for these kids. I am fighting for there souls everyday. I can't believe what I get to do everyday!! Thank you Lord for the small gifts in life that you give us and the big ones too.