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Dear Supporters,
We are excited to share the latest news and updates from our farm in Ethiopia and the hardworking mothers of Entoto!
Farm Progress
During Benji’s last visit to Ethiopia for his younger brother’s wedding, Benji had the opportunity to check on the farm and spend time with the mothers. We are delighted to report that the farm is still thriving, consistently collecting from 870 to 910 eggs every day. This is an answer to prayer and a testament to the faithfulness of our farm team.
Pastoral Care and Support
Our pastor, Pastor Henok, is visiting the mothers every other week to pray with them, provide emotional support, and assess their well-being. Egg donations are also being delivered to the mountains bi-weekly to ensure that the mothers have a sustainable source of income.
Expanding Our Impact:
Our aim has always been to increase egg production to assist more mothers transitioning from the firewood selling business. However, our primary challenge has been our landowner’s insistence on selling the property or eviction. We are not overly concerned because we trust in God and recognize the scarcity of buyers for this land. Despite the pressure to buy land, we wish to concentrate our efforts on supporting the women of Entoto. Ultimately, if the landlord’s price isn’t right for us, we’ll look for a better option nearer to the women in Entoto. We are committing this to prayer daily.
What’s Next?
- While we continue to lease the current farm, our management team is actively seeking a suitable area for potential relocation and expansion.
- We are exploring another opportunity with the government, which may offer us a location for the next five years pending fulfillment of certain requirements.
Prayer Requests
- Please pray for our organization to secure a permanent location that will allow us to expand our farm operations and provide more support to the mothers.
- Pray for continued grace and strength for our beloved mothers and our dedicated team in Ethiopia as they work to encourage these women and show them the love Christ in all they do.
Thank you all for your support and prayers!
We know God’s hand holds the future of LOH! And we are continually reminded of this verse in Philippians 1:6 –
“I am certain that God, who began the good work
within you, will continue his work until it is finally
finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
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I wanted to share a heartwarming moment from my recent trip to Ethiopia…
The day before my flight back to the States, I received a call from the mothers of Entoto. They insisted on seeing me one last time before I left, saying it was important. I couldn’t refuse, so I asked our far manager to drive me up to the mountains for one final visit.
When I arrived, I was greeted by these amazing mothers eagerly waiting by the gate. “How are you all? Is everything okay?” I asked, wondering why they needed to see me urgently. I had feared one of them might be sick or injured, as often happens in their line of work.
To my surprise, they shared that they had been working on a ‘Gabi’ (handmade Ethiopian cotton woven blanket) for me. It was 90% finished, but they wanted me to have it before I left. “You didn’t have to do that,” I said, knowing the effort and resources it must have required.
Their response touched my heart deeply: “We don’t have money or anything fancy to give you as a thank you, but this we can do with our hands.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I thanked them profusely. These incredible women, working tirelessly each day to raise their families, gifted me with something precious—a symbol of our friendship and their generosity. The value of this gift equals a week or two of salary for a mother who sells firewood.
Despite their challenges, they are rich in joy and kindness. They remind me of a verse from 2 Corinthians 8:2-5: “They have been tested by great troubles, and they are very poor. But they gave much because of their great joy. I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford. No one told them to do it.”
Thank you all for your support for these wonderful mothers! Your kindness makes a difference in their lives and inspires us all. Let’s continue to spread the love of Christ and compassion wherever we go.🌍❤️
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