by faith

Ever meet someone who was on a blind mission for Christ? I can only hope that you have been this blessed. Perhaps if you haven't, you will be encouraged by this story. Its a legacy, actually, still being lived out today.

By faith a German family moved to Kenya in the 1970's then into Ethiopia during the 1980s. Faith, as defined in the Holy Bible is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen (Heb 11:1). So by faith they relocated with the intention of sharing their faith in the anti-Christian environment of socialist, civil war torn Ethiopia. See, he was an ophthalmologist, Dr. Schmitt. He surgically restored sight to countless during their near decade stay in this country. After each person received sight he would use his bible for them to look upon, as their first view out of a dark world. Yes, a blind mission for Christ.

In line with true wisdom they knew that restoring physical sight was not their exclusive mission. They needed to plant seeds of faith. The Schmitts soon hired a lady to work in their house by the name of Mulunesh. She was a single mom with young, hungry kids.  They all became hungry no more. In the next 8 years this German family provided healthy wages, medical care, a new house & a restored hope to Mulunesh & her children. This is the kind of helping that didn't hurt. This is the kind of helping that left a legacy of faith - particularly for one of Mulunesh's sons, Solomon.

Eventually the Schmitt were asked to leave against their wishes because of their commitment to restore spiritual blindness. They left the country in 1991, but their mission there has been expanding ever since.  It is by faith that A Bright Future for Kids was founded to continue this work. This work is about exposing dark places, engaging deep needs & empowering a bright future. Today there are families that have food, hope & education. Recently 17 children in Kenya began going to a church that otherwise wouldn't exist. Single parents have the opportunity to have a small business with microloans encouraging their autonomy & self-sustainability. Even now, the paths are still expanding with an open door partnership with a women's prison.

In a small faith seed planted by the Schmitts there is now a generation rising up to restore & foster future generations.

hunger

“Rabegn”. This Ethiopian word is taboo outside of one’s home. Inside the home it is usually only used by those who are younger than 4. Single moms typically hush their young ones when it is spoken. As young children grow they learn this word must not be spoken, the feeling behind it must be suppressed & the deep need that is felt will not be met. This word bears no dignity, only shame. What word could possibly carry this much power? It translates simply as “I’m hungry”. Hunger? Yes. It is a very casual word to all but those who have truly experienced it.

A single mom in Ethiopia (Addis Abba) had resigned her life to a vocation of begging. This life provided some food, some of the time to her 5 children. This fatherless family is in desperate hope for a brighter future. One that does not include begging, crime, child marriage, abandonment, rape. But of their hopes, lack of hunger is not mentioned. Some needs are too deep to be spoken.  Life doesn’t stop in the life of the hungry. Young children attend school, older children work odd jobs & mom’s labor on regardless - all with a deep aching, deep inside. It’s a longing for the unspoken never satisfied. There is a lot of life that happens in the process of wasting away.

Fortunately the story for this family of 6 does not end here. They are a family well known to those serving in the organization A Bright Future for Kids. I could tell you countless stories of how this mom is regaining dignity, how she has a small business & no longer is begging. How her children are encouraged to stay in school. They now have school supplies & clothes. They can see God’s light brightening their future. Those stories will come. But for today, I just want to share with you that they have food on the table 3 times a day, every day.  Rabegn - that taboo word no longer carries undue power in their home, in their hearts.

Solomon Dabe, founder of ABF4K knows first hand the hunger they have endured. He also knows that people hunger for more than food. As a fatherless child he never heard the words "I love you". Instead ‘diklla', a derogatory term for fatherless & unwanted, is what he heard from his peers and community. It wasn't until much later in life that realized that he needed love - in fact starved for love.

Solomon, with A Bright Future for Kids knows that it is not a simple fix giving children a bright future. But they start with food on the table. It is because they know when this basic need is being met, the children learn their needs are worth meeting. They learn they are able to acknowledge their need. Perhaps the most profound of all, there is hope that they will know their need for love & find it in the arms of their loving God. This family is re-learning that hunger has an answer & that the fatherless ARE wanted, celebrated & loved.