Praying her home

Aniyah



Year ago I met this little girl. She forever changed my heart! Her smile and laugh are so contagious . I will never forget her sense of humor and always making me laugh. How smart she is and how it always stops me in my tracks. Her courage always bring me to my knees to God. I never met someone so little go through what she has been through. Her strength exceeded my expectation. God has such AMAZING plans and has given her a story of Gods love for his children.


I remember the  first time I met Aniyah. I just got off the plane from America and I watched Ashli  put this little one asleep. I had asked Ashli her story and what the plans where for her . She began to tell me her story, how she lost her mother a couple weeks ago and how they found her dirty, and covered in lice.  She took her in until she could find another home for her . But unknown to us GOD had a different plan. I remember trying to go to sleep that night. I was overly excited to see all the kids the next day. As I was praying I fell asleep, then I heard Aniyah crying! She was crying "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy," over and over. I ran down stair to wake Ashli. She rushed to her and picked her up and rocked her while she cried for her mom. I remember leaving the room crying. I can't imagine being 6 years old and losing my mother. The most amazing part is GOD place Ashli to hold her every time she cried out to her mom.  Its always a reminder that God is always holding us when where broken.


The relationship between Ashli and Aniyah began to change and everyday I could see Ashli was becoming a mother for this little girl. I knew then this is why God brought Ashli 8000 miles away from home and new finance. God brought her to find her forever daughter. Over time while Aniyah was living with us God began to show his plan to Ashli and the calling for her life. After time of praying Ashli and her(at the time) finance felt God was leading them to adopt on her.

And then the journey began... to bring Aniyah home to her forever family!!

Its now been close to a year  and we are still waiting for the LAST piece of paper that needs to be signed by the Ethiopian government to allow her to GO into the orphanage.  I have watched Ashli fight for so many Ethiopian children to come home to their forever family. NOW time for us to all step out in prayer for this little girl so that she may be with her forever family!! We need to pray that the government finds favor for Aniyah's life. Please be in prayer for Ashli and Spencer and it is so hard to be 8000 miles away from a daughter they love so much.

PLEASE PRAY ANIYAH HOME!!!


I am so beyond blessed to have watched this story unfold and had the privileged to care for Aniyah for a time. I can't wait to see this little girl back into her mommy arms again. I pray that she never again has to cry out for her mom again. God couldn't have given her better parent the Spencer and Ashli Richardson.

Praying you home sweet girl....

Life in Ethiopia

I am not sure if I let you know what I did in Ethiopia! Here it is..

I put together a bible study class at my house

I feed them lunch

I did this 4 days a week. 

Also let some of the kids teach as well

This is Chekol aka Chocolate! He wants to be a pastor when grows up. He so much loves Jesus. We would do prayer request at the end of the day and he would always say "I want to glorify God in everything I do."  Amazing boy!! Please pray for him!

Also did artwork :) 

We went to buy shoes for the kids. First time shopping for shoes for them. They didn't know which pair to choose.

We got to redo a home :)

Drank coffee of course. IT'S Ethiopia!

Hand washed my clothes. People this takes all day and then days for your clothes to dry:) Lol 

We sang!

We went to church! I miss Beza church and the worship!

We also partied!! 

And we danced

 We went swimming

No big deal, there just monkeys in the trees here:) 

This was my view from my window

Just add this picture because he is so CUTE!!!! 

So many sweet memories! I will never forget my time in Ethiopia or these kids. There always in my heart! I hope I left a little bit of Jesus's love with them.

God Blessed this home

So my first story I wanted to share with everyone is about Brhanu:) I have written and talked about Brhanu alot in the past. I have talked  about his life and his home. The is a story about Brhanu's home.

What can I say about Brhanu, just that I love that kids sooooooooo much! His smile is beautiful and he his so kind. There is something about Brhanu in his eyes I feel hold alot of hinded pains. I pray that one day God will begin to break these chains that he has in his heart. Brhanu is so smart, but he needs a little push to realize his potential his has in school. I have never met a boy who loves soccer more then he does. HE plays every stinking day. He says he dreams of being a professional one day. A hindin secret about Brhanu... he is a twin:) His twin brother does not live him though.  Brhanu has 4 other siblings living in his home. Brhanu is so fortunate because he has both of his parents in his life, but they are both blind. Brhanu has a lot of responsibility in his life to care for his family. I pray that one day God will give him a sponsor. I have been to Brhanus school and talked to his teacher and he says that Brhanu is very smart, but just doesn't come to class often. Well , its because he has to work a lot of the time so he can eat. Life for any of these street kids can be difficult.

Now last year, I wrote a post called, "Jesus to the rescue." It was a post about Brhanu and his living condition. Brhanu's house was in really bad shape and needed to be fix more then anything. So, for a year I prayed that God will help me fix his house. This summer some people from the states came on a mission trip and I told them about his house and how it needed it to be fix. Weeks later I had money given to me to fix it!! PRAISE JESUS!!!!! How AMAZING!!

First we started with cementing the walls to keep the bugs out ...

Before Cement ...

After,,,

 We did the outside too...

They choose green for the wall colors!! So bright:)

Two things about this photo... if you look at the roof  WE GOT IT FIXED!!!! Also If you look the women in the picture is the house cleaner. I suggested if someone could donate a years worth  of salary for someone to keep the house clean and wash the clothes. Their parents are blind and don't see how filthy the clothes are or the house so this helps them. I don't know who did this, but someone donated the $275 dollars for years worth of salary. PEOPLE GOD is working in favor of this family:)

Also we gave them glass for the window. Their home was sooo dark and they never open the window. It had dirty plastic on it. You couldn't even see out of it. NOW they have a window!!

Now Gods light can shine through this house!

We were able to get a bunk bed, twin size bed, shelve, mattress,sheets,blankets and pillows. HOLY COW! God is GOOD! Mother told me she had never slept on a mattress or pillow her INTIRE life!!!!

Drum Roll Please!!!!!!

MOVE

THAT

BUS!!!!

I welcome you all to Brhanu's NEW house!!

This is such an AMAZING story of God! How much he hears are cries! There were times I tought how could I ever help Brhanu and his family with there house. The need was to great!! BUT don't we have an AWESOME Daddy who carries the burden and took care of it all. He put it on other people hearts to donate their money to this. For those of you who listen to God when he spoke to your heart. THANK YOU!!! You are planting seeds in this families heart!! Thank you to the person that donated a years worth of rent and a food for him to eat!! This is only something GOD can do!!  

May God CONTINUE to bless this home...

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.

Taking a leap of faith

I wanted to share with all of you something very exciting that has happened:) I bought my plane ticket back to ETHIOPIA!!!!!!!!! (May 25th) I am so very excited to return home:) I must share with you why this is such a big leap of faith. I currently do not have all of my money yet. I know, I know you are thinking "IS SHE CRAZY!". God last week really gave me a burden to take a step in faith and buy my plane ticket. It was not easy choice for me. God really asked me do you believe that I can do the impossible. This reminds me when Jesus said to Peter
 
"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Matt 14: 27

or when Jesus said to the blind man

"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Matt 9:28


I do believe that God is going to provide everything. He is the Alpha and Omega! Mighty God! King of Kings!! I know that God is going to provide because this is my calling in my life.

SO.... I need your help!! I leave in 6 weeks for Ethiopia and still need to raise monthly supporter and $2500 dollars. I need  people to commit for one year. Monthly support helps run the ministry of  youth/bible study, feeding program, getting them to church and providing a way for me to live in Ethiopia which includes rent, transportation and food, basically the necessities in life.

To all of this, This is what is needed...

50 people for 50 dollars a month
     * Please know that any amount for a monthly basis is greatly appreciated $10, $25, $100

OR

2 time donation of $300 hundred dollars  (every six months) for the year

OR

4 time donation of $150 (every three months) for the year

OR

One time donation is $650 for the whole year

** I will need donations for monthly supporters to start on June1st**

Also trying to raise a little amount of $2500 hundred dollars for upfront cost which will help me pay for Amharic school, visa and material cost for feeding/youth program:)

I ask you all to prayerfully consider joining me in fighting for these kids souls. I can't do this with out you. If you ready this and your thinking what can $10 dollars do, It can do so much!!! If you feel the call to help PLEASE PLEASE send me a email rebeccajbrown84@yahoo.com or note with what you like to do to help. I will get back with you on details.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!

Please keep praying for me!!

A memory remembered

Yesterday while I was worshipping at church, God reminded me of a day that I almost forgotten about but I remember it now. God reminded me of a day that I love so much.

It was such a big day for the boys because it was the championship for the soccer tournament. There was so much excitement and anxiety in the air. Habtamu and Brhnau where in the championship. I was so excited. I wanted to be in the front row to see it all. There was so many people from the streets surrounding the area. This country loves soccer! The screaming and cheering!!  It was such a great game! At the end they had an award ceremony for the kids. Habtamu, got an award!! I was so proud!! He got a trophy and metal!! Everyone was screaming his name!! What a special day that was for him.


When it was all over with the kids began to gather around me asking if I wanted to go to another soccer game. I was telling them the games where over. "NO, Rebecca at the post office!" "OK. lets go!" As I said this and we where standing there... it began to rain. I just look at the boys and said, "lets go!" I started to run. As I was running I looked back and all the boys where falling me saying my name "Rebecca!!" We were all running together in the rain! I loved it!! At that moment while I was running and soaking wet head to toe with the boys, I realized that how much we had grown together over the summer and that we all loved each other and how much I loved them. We ran all through the city to get to the post office. Every place we ran by, everyone was staring at all of us!  When we got to the post office the kid took me to a school near by. As we were walking to the school the rain stop and the sun came out. I knew at that moment it was God. How amazing is that God wants us to feel love, joy and happiness. God wants us to have those memories, where we can close our eyes and remember everything, every smell and sound.
We walked on to the compound and there was a game going on. Birhane and Sami where playing!! We all sat together, cheering, laughing and having the best time. After, we went to eat pizza together!! Fellowship  together. We has such a great day together!

I am not sure why God reminded me of that day. Maybe to remind me how amazing he is for the little things he gives you, getting to run in the streets of Addis in the rain with kids you love in AFRICA. AMAZING!! I still can close my eyes and see the kids smiles and laughter in my head.
I miss these kids so much!! I have been struggling with trying to understand God timing on my return back to Addis. Sometimes I feel as though I failed these kids. Maybe God has me here because I haven't learned something or need to become stronger. So, in that I feel I failed them. Sometimes in my prayers I cry and say to them... I am sorry. I am sorry I am not strong or that I have not learned to do what God has called me to do and that is why I am not there. I love that there is technology and I can skype and call them on the phone. It has been so hard being here and not there. The kids keep asking me when I am going to return to back. I wish I could answer them. I wish I could give them hope of getting the help they need. I just learned that one of them has been sleeping at the bus station. I cried and cried when he told me that. If I where there I could give him a bed to sleep him. I want to remind him that he is not alone and the God hears his prayers. Please pray for this sweet boy:) Please pray for me as I am waiting for God timing on my return to help these kids:)

Happy Birthday!!

I just celebrated my 28th Birthday on the 16th of March. At first I was a little sad because I always had my friends to celebrate and wasn't sure if I get to celebrate it at all. God is good though. I took the day off and got a massage, pedicure and did some shopping:) Had dinner with the family and two movies at the drive in. I loved every second of it. My sweet friend Karen came to join me for lunch and did a bit of shopping with me that day. I am so very blessed by her. Karen's family has become like one of many in my life, like a parent. She never afraid to speak her mind and her sons have become like little brothers to me. I just love them and am so blessed by there support and love they give me.
Something I also realized, is that I feel that one reason God has me here still is for me to get to spend time with my family and new church family. I did ask God for support and a family and he is giving me that. Also get my very own family to spend time with. I get to build relationships with my niece's and nephews. This makes me happy because they will actually remember me and know who I am.
One of my favorite part of the day was getting Facebook messages from the street kids I work with telling me Happy Birthday!! It was a great reminder of what I am fighting for... to get back to my calling to minister to these kids and to love them in a CRAZY way!!
Thank God for life that he has given me. Thank God for bringing me into the world to worship him. My birthday wish this year was to be all that God created me to be and to serve and worship him with everything I am daily! I pray that I bring glory to God with everything I do in my life. I pray that I serve with everything I got!!
I pray that all those kids will expect Christ as their Lord and Savior one day!!! Thank you to everyone for all the B-Day wishes. It made my day little bit more special!!

To my readers

Dear Reader,

I am been thinking a lot about how I was going to share with you all this journey God is taking me on. It has been so hard to just be able to put it into words what the last couple of months has been like. So, I am just going to write whatever comes out.
God has been teaching awhole lot since I came back to the states in August and in December. I know when I came home in August that God had called me to the mission field but I knew to get there he would have to teach me a lot about ministry and my purpose in Ethiopia.
The number one thing God has been teaching me is ministry life. I never knew how exhausting, emotional and lonely it could be, But it is the most awarding and worth every heartache and every pain. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I find myself on my knees more seeking Gods face, trying to understand what he wants for the children of Ethiopia and my life.
I want so badly to be back home with the children. I want to hug them and kiss them. I want to take care of them if there sick or hungry. I want to teach them about their father that loves them, that he has a great destiny for their lives. I want them to know that God hears their cry's for help and knows the pain in their belly's. I want to wrap my arms around them, that they can feel the love of Jesus through me. My heart aches everyday for the orphans and street children of Ethiopia. I pray for their salvation. I want them so badly to understand how much God loves them.
I find myself trusting God more. Sometimes I don't have the answer to peoples questions they ask me about what I am doing in Ethiopia or HOW I will do something.I am putting my trust in him. He  has everything planned to the detail for me. Also, having faith, not knowing is hard. Whenever I decided to give my life to Christ and serve in Ethiopia, I have been making choices on a leap of faith. I believe that Lord wants us to trust him enough that when he calls us to do something extraordinary things, we will
jump.
SO, I am taking a HUGE LEAP in Gods calling on my life and I am so glad that you are all apart of this journey.


Your Sister in Christ,
Rebecca

P.S. Please, Please pray for me on this journey as it gets harder with trying to raise funds and the enemy is attacking more then ever!!

Fundraising has begun...

It has been a long time since I have written a blog! I have missed getting to share with you everything that has been happening in my life. I have been so busy with trying to fundraise for my journey back to Ethiopia. I also got a full time job to help with some of my expenses.

Darling Family

So if your reading this, you can see that I have a new revised blog? Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!! I love it!! Thanks to Tiffany Darling! A dear dear sister in Chirst of mine, who I met through one of the street kids named Habtamu. She and her husband Jim have truly shown me the love of Jesus Christ by helping with my blog, prayer cards, and brochures. They have encouraged me greatly through this journey, and I can't thank my Savior enough for them. As you can see, they have adopted from Ethiopia, so we share the love of the same country. They have the greatest hearts! Tiffany has a wonderful blog about her adoption and life, it's a must read:) http://www.amomentcherished.com/. I know this won't be the last time you hear about them.

Fundraising has begun for me to get back and do the work God has called me to do. I hope that you all join me in this adventure. As you see I have a goal of $20,000 dollars along with a need for monthly supporters. My monthly support I have broken down. If I can get 5 churches to do 200 dollars a month and 50 people to do 25 dollars a month, I will meet my goal. I know that it seems like alot of money, but God knows whose hearts this will capture. Nothing is too big for Him! Please help me become a soul fighter for the children of Ethiopia. Even if you can't go, you are still helping by sending me. If you like to help look at my "Give" tab and coming soon is a pay pal button. You can  alsosend me an email rebeccajbrown84@yahoo.com  if you would like to help. I like to know all my supporters. I want to send you letters throughout the process of this:) in order to let you know how your money is helping the children of Africa. If you have any questions about what I am doing as well please ask. So let's watch God work!!


If you know any churches or organizations that would love to hear my story or be a part of God's work in Ethiopia, please let me know. I love to share God's story to others. We can all do this together, helping the children of Ethiopia. God calls us to help the orphans and widows. Everyone can play a part in this mission!


Much prayer needed during time of raising funds. Pray for open hearts,open minds, peace, clarity for others, words to say to others. Pray that the Holy Spirit shines through me when I tell His story:)

God saved his life...

I wanted to share with you a story about this baby in the photo. This is Birhane nephew:) One day I called Birhane so see why he wasn't in school and said my sister had a baby. WHAT A BABY!! I didn't even know that she was pregnant. How could he have not told me this. "Birhane, I am so happy for you and your family."I began to ask Birhane questions and I asked him what is the baby's name? "His name is John." I told him, "John, that is a nice name." Then he told me, " Mom, we named him after you." WHAT!! I fell to my knees "after me?" At first I didn't get it, but my name is Rebecca Jean and if you say Jean with a french accent it sounds like John. I couldn't believe that his family just named a baby after me. What an honor!! I find God so amazing in the little things he gives us in life. I have a family that I love in Ethiopia. So I want to introduce you to baby Jean. 

Baby Jean Born 0ct 23 2011

When I returned to Ethiopia in November I got to meet Baby Jean for the first time. While talking to Birhane sister she told me something I didn't know before. She told me she wanted to get an abortion but Birhane told her no. He wanted the baby to live. Birhane saved this boy and his sister's life:) God is so amazing!! God is already using this boy to do his work. I can't wait to watch this baby boy grow up. I prayed over him and his life. That he will come to know Christ as his Lord and the God will use him to move mountains.  

Waiting on the Lord

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope"

Tomorrow begins a new year! A year that I can not wait to start. I know that 2012 is a year that God is going to plant seeds in many hearts of Ethiopian children. I know that God is going to show me things beyond my imagination. I also know its going to be a year of hard work and many tears. The best thing of all is I get to share my new adventures with my soul mate Jesus.

This last month has been a very hard month for me emotionally and mentally. As you know, God has called me into the mission field in Ethiopia Africa. I absolutely love this country and God has given me such a burden in my heart. Its a pain that has me on my knees daily praying for these children hearts and lives. I have dreams of children and this country. Its a love that I have never felt before for any human or thing. Sometimes I think I am crazy, but God just showed me that he is opening my eyes to his pain that he has for his children. This reminds me of a time during my last trip. I have have these 4 small boys who are from ages 5 - 8. They are the cutest kids ever seen:) One evening I was walking with a friend to get a taxi to head back to my hotel. As we were walking up to the street, looking at all the cars waiting for a green light and then I saw them. The four boys begging at every window. There hands trying to reach asking for food. I looked at my friend and said, "Is that Binyam and the boys?" Mesfin, my friend looked at me and said, "Yes!" I turned around. I could not face it anymore. "God, I can't look at it anymore." With tears running down my face I heard God tell me that I have to look at it. God called me to be his hands and told me to feed his children. I then took them to a bread shop, bought two pieces of bread and sent them home. See then God showed me that we are sharing a burden.

I know that I am called to this country to serve God and to bring glory to his name. What has been the hardest part is waiting on God to send me back. Ethiopia is where I am happiest and feel closer to God. I have a lot of children that I love and what to be with them. I want to be there to teach them and love them. God has giving me the love of a mother and I truly know what a mother feels when she is away from her babies.

I just keep asking God how, when and where can I get the money I need to raise. Its so hard because its a lot of money and I know deep down inside that no amount is to great for him:) The other day I got my doctor bill from when I had Malaria in September. That was difficult!! "Lord, why do I have this debt now?" " How will I ever get back to Africa now?"

Let me tell you all. I have no idea where the money is going to come from for everything, but I know that God does have a plan for it all. I KNOW HE WILL PROVIDE the money. I have to continue to be strong in my faith and TRUST him. You will see that God will be glorified through all of this.

Please pray for me during this time of waiting. Let my heart know that Gods timing is perfect and not mine. I need prayer for wisdom and discernment. Please pray that God will provide the funds and the ideas of doing so:) Please pray for these children of Ethiopia and their souls. Join me in being a soul fighter!! Thank you all for your prayers and support.