We are certainly into making fishers of men; this is why we are here, and to the best we know how we will do for God's glory. So far, I know at least 25 people have made a decision to receive Jesus in the two weeks that I've been back here. Hear me well. It is not about this messenger. The Lord has sent others here before me who have fed and built into these moments of clear decision. I'm so excited that it is happening and that I got the chance to lead some of them as I fully plan on dying (when I die) falling forward for His mission. While decisions to follow Christ are major wins, miraculous nonetheless, there's more to be done. The poverty you see in Ethiopia can be of the extreme, and the servants at Blessing the Children International are certainly filled with joy to meet the needs we can of the many needy in the surrounding community, but we also believe the bible teaches us in order to eat we put our hands to work. That said, we are training the women of the sponsorship program in learning a trade with the effort of teaching them to fish for a lifetime.
This part of the ministry includes paper bead making. Since my first trip to Debre Zeyit, I taught myself how to make paper bead jewelry and opened my own sole proprietorship business back home as a means for extra mission support. Now, I get to train these women two times a week in paper bead making in hopes of providing extra income for their families.
Here's where you come in.
We need supplies. We are in need of things not readily available in Ethiopia and we are depending on the generosity of others to help me begin and continue this ministry with these women. We need plain copy paper, Elmer's glue, toothpicks, beading string both regular and stretchy (stretchy for bracelets), permanent markers for making designs, and I have a preference for a gloss glaze sealer and/or clear nail polish to both seal the bead and make it shine.
Would you be praying and asking Jesus if you get to give toward this ministry?
All supplies may be mailed via FedEx to BCDO, P.O. Box 1410, Debre Zeyit, East Shoa, Ethiopia, Africa. You may place my full name on the inside of the box to let us know who it is for if you like: Jamie Wallin.
While this is not a welfare ministry, generosity does things. I've seen it myself with my own eyes. I am also asking for any spare clothing you may have. Instead of gifting it to Goodwill where it may or may not sit on a rack for a year, will you consider shipping it here where I've literally seen children, held their hand, on my way to/from BCI Academy without shoes and very, very old clothing with holes and tears in them? Sponsorships matter, but what if we went above and beyond the sponsor kids? What if, because of your giving, we got to go throughout these alleys giving free clothes, proclaiming the love of God? How amazing would it be if we got to give a child an outfit, and this child, because we gave, made a decision for Christ? I only ask one thing. If the article of clothing is not something you would wear yourself (maybe it has a hole or is stained), would you please not send it. We are grateful for your donations, but let's let genuine generosity flow from our hearts.
If the Lord taps your shoulder, calls you out on the challenge, you may send those things to the above address as well. Thanks for reading and be blessed!!
