FOVC Garden Update

While in Ethiopia in October, we started a garden on the FOVC campus. We took the hard, rough ground, prepared it for planting and then used the new seeder to plant it. Without a lot of instructions or follow up, I crossed my fingers and prayed that God would make it grow. If this garden would bear much fruit (or veggies), then the woman would literally see the benefit and keep working at it.

Well, Friday night, I got some pictures from Desalegn that warmed my heart. Below you will see the ladies working in the garden behind the FOVC school:

These pictures may not look like a lot to you, but they tell me a ton. And I can't wait to follow up regarding what I'm seeing and learning from these pictures.

I love that this picture shows some more areas of the garden ready to be planted... let's go buy some seed and then Lord, would you let it rain!!!

Dream Come True

"I have a dream... that one day little black boys and girls

will be holding hands with little white boys and girls,

as sisters and brothers..." - MLK Jr.

Awareness

For some time now I've had two things I've wanted to do to bring awareness to my church family and community about hunger (and other issues) in the under developed world. But these last 6 months I've been busy trying to keep up with life, changing jobs, and travelling to Ethiopia twice.

With no trips to Ethiopia in the immediate (as in next 12 weeks) future, I'm ready to roll those things out. And when they happen, I'll be sure to share. For now, I want to keep them mostly a secret so that my church family and friends can be surprised and pay attention rather than thinking they already know.

Eeek! I'm excited.

Bringing awareness to those in need is a priority for me. But first, I have to finish my plan for 2012 Crops for Widows program for FOVC.

pine needles

I came home from a missions meeting last night to find a porch full of pine needles.  And I missed Ethiopia even more in that moment. 
 
If you've ever been to a coffee ceremony in Ethiopia, they usually cover the ground with awesome smelling pine needles of some sort.  I love that about Ethiopia. 
 
So, when I got home last night, I was thankful that Ryan had given me a taste of Ethiopia and had taken the Christmas tree out!

Donate Here...

My friends started a sweet website called www.acharityproject.com. created to help fundraise for charities. One of my goals for 2012 is to raise the cash to fully fund the Crops for Widows Program. My goal is $27,400 to raise in 2012. That averages out to just over $75 each day. But I'd hate to wait a full year to know the program has been funded.

Will you join me? With your help, we can impact women who desperately need help. I was there in October. I saw the need with my own eyes. Donate here http://www.acharityproject.com/f/FOVCcrops

Thanks friends!

The Union

While I've been kind of quiet on the blog, I've been busy in the background of life.  A while back I met with a feature writer of the local paper about a greenhouse project on the elementary campus.  He learned of my work in Ethiopia and asked for an interview about that.  The result was an article in The Union's Christmas segment where they focus on people serving others. 
 
I'm quite thankful for Rich taking the time to meet with me and allow me to critique his article.  I must also say that there's one line in the article that really, REALLY bothers me.  I asked for it to be taken out multiple times but they didn't listen to that suggestion.  So when you read the line "she sleeps well at night...", please know that was creative license.  I don't sleep well at night because of the few people we've been able to impact.  It's not a proud thing.  In fact, my heart aches for the many, many people in the same situation who we pass on the road and never get to impact.  It's for those people that we continue to raise money for the crops program (and others) to reach those people.
 
If the print is too hard to read, you might have to save it and then view it as a jpg.
 
Merry Christmas!

FOVC Garden

While in Ethiopia in October, we planted a garden on the FOVC campus. I showed pics on my blog of it where the ladies were using the planter. I just chatted with Desalegn, the main guy who makes things happen in Ethiopia. He said this:

Yes, it is being gardened and the seeds are growing slowly.
The widows and staffs are always following the garden
and the widows are eagerly waiting to use it for more place in their own gardens and to use the ways you teach them in their own lands

Desalegn, you are so sweet. And I'm so thankful that you make it your passion, your job, and your life focus to serve these widows and orphans. It is a joy to partner with you and FOVC.

Tax deductible donations may be made to FOVC if you'd like to partner with us in the crops program. Email me if you need my address tam4buit at hotmail dot com.