Simply Love for the Sake of Loving

The grandpa in the neighboring mud hut continued to become weaker and weaker. He had a wound on his leg that was failing to heal and his sunken face appeared to be fading day by day. 

His chance for recovery seemed bleak. He had been taken several times up the mountain in the wooden ambulance chair. Glucose shots are the most common cure all in the local clinic with the only real hope of healing  being a placebo affect.

I went daily to check on him and dress his leg wound. Pancakes made w bananas and eggs were my special food and the best nutrition I could muster with our local ingredients. His eyes brightened each time I would visit and there was something Holy about spending time with this man more than double my age. 

There is something sacred in investing in what will bring no return. Simply loving for the sake of loving and watching him graciously slowly leave his earthly home. 

Too often our tasks are results driven. We need something measurable and tidy and ready to show improvements. What if some of our most important work is just being present, sharing of ourselves without expectation and living with intentional kindness that can’t be repaid. 

As I think of so many hurting around us and beyond, I believe we must keep giving of ourselves and showing kindness even when it doesn’t seem to bring measurable results. Hug a neck, share kind words, look for opportunities to love with action.

Spring Brings Hope

Oh sweet spring days we welcome you! What a perfect to be outside in the backyard digging alongside the chickens. 

I was amazed to watch Julian toddling around next to the chicken house. At first I couldn’t figure out what he was doing. He had an oversized barbecue flipper and a bucket and was scooping bark chips into the orange Home Depot bucket. While I thought at first he was incredibly creative, Shane reminded me that he was mimicking the coop cleaning process. Even when it has been cold the last few months, Shane has bundled Julian up and taken him outside to “assist” in the few minutes it takes for coop cleaning. 

Kids copy us so much and they learn by experimenting. One of my smart early-ed friends told me that one of the most important activities for a preschooler is digging in the dirt! Well if I didn’t believe it before, I saw it in action today! 

We are moving toward an interactive preschool in our village in Ethiopia. Hands on activities including digging in the dirt. Building with rough wood blocks, singing songs and moving about a small one room classroom and then out into the field. 

We are going to be asking for help with the playground equipment and supplies to build a nice outhouse as well as a cooking place to feed some of the neediest children. If you have any interest in helping children have wonderful learning experiences, we would live your help!

May we be granted many spring dirt digging days to come!

Stories Give Life

I love listening to stories. Learning by listening and observing is one of my favorites. A few weeks back I was having dinner with a group of new friends and a young man named Tesfaye was sharing some of his family’s history. His story is not especially unusual as it pertains to Oromo Ethiopians but the gift that he was giving me by sharing his past was unique.

Ethiopian culture is not often one to share too much about their personal past. Many Oromo don’t have a lot of great things to share so no need to dwell on the memories of the hard. When one is getting married, then you are on a need to know basis! So the story from my new friend truly was a gift and I wanted to learn everything I could. Stories often give me a glimpse into why our villagers do what they do and why there are gaps in learning or knowledge. I have been especially interested in education and Afan Oromo (language of the Oromo) and literacy. So many of the older adults in our village can not read and write in Afan Oromo and it makes it especially hard on the current children not having help at home as they are now in school learning themselves. I had assumed this lack of literacy for older generations was because of the lack of education, because of their lack in interest in school, or the lack of schools to attend or too many chores at home etc.

The story that Tesfaye shared with me helped me to reframe my understanding. His parents were educators and passionate about teaching. They taught in the rural schools in the Oromia region. They were required to teach reading and writing only in Amharic. That means, not in the local language or with the alphabet but with fidels. When they went against the government’s rules to teach the language known to them and the region, they were thrown in prison. Thrown in prison for teaching children to read and write in Afan Oromo! I now understand why the parents of our Bright Spots have not learned to read and write and why their children struggle without the support from home. He went on to tell me how so many of the children during that time were also not allowed to be named with their cultural names in the Afan Oromo language. Can you imagine being of one culture and being required to be named in a way that represented you as coming from an alternative culture?

Names are incredibly important to Oromo and show their history. Your first name is your own, your second name is your father’s first name and your 3rd name is your grandfather’s first name. When you are married you can chase back 30 generations to see if your family has ever crossed paths before. An Oromo name tells your lineage and your cultural past. When your name is not true to who you are, the story can be lost.

Too many times we have preconceived ideas about how things are. We make assumptions on a surface level. Listening brings clarity. Having genuine friendships brings understanding. We all can learn so much by truly caring about someone else’s story and what they have to say.

His Light Placed on a Lamp Stand in Ethiopia

Tears trickled down my cheeks this morning as I hung onto every word. Beyene’s words raced along as the distant phone connection crackled from time to time. I pressed the phone even closer against my ear in anticipation and could tell that he was a bit surprised and delighted by his findings.

Just two weeks ago we were sitting in my living room talking about our Bright Spot kids in the village and all of the hopes and dreams we imagined for them. We talked about the needs, the desires of the villagers and what it took to bring so many friends together to help and make an impact in Arjo.

The moms shared with Beyene how their children can attend school because so many obstacles have been removed. School supplies and clothing are in abundance now and the kids are finding joying in sharing with siblings and neighbors. Hope is rampant and the leadership team, now including women for the first time are being proactive about what’s best for the community and the families.

When the leaders were asked how this all came to be, they simply replied in unanimity, ”We prayed for help and God heard our prayers”. Their faith inspires me. Their love for each other and sacrifice to create the best good for each other is a wonderful example.

I miss them so much and am so thankful to get to see a more in depth glimpse into our village because of Beyene taking the time, even as an important businessman, to stop and visit our village and to share so much with me about our programming. Our families are precious and important. They are beautiful and loved.

The strength is in the letting go.

Anyone can grip and hold on for fear of losing, but a strong person can trust the process by letting the grip release.  It’s strength found in a heart that loves without expectation of return. In a mind that chooses to press on toward new pathways, for new patterns of being. It’s a soul drenched in mercy when surrendered to love only found in JESUS. 

When we struggle and grasp for what once gave moments of pleasure, affirmation, or a false sense of self worth, we lose ourselves. The fight requires our full attention and we miss the blessing that comes from settling into God’s best place of peace for us. 

The rope of self reliant control burns our blistered gripping palms. Fatigue overcomes weary body and mind. We start to quickly loose sight and grip, as we aren’t meant to be dangling with every muscle, working so hard to hold on. When we drop, we are stunned by the shock of hitting the ground.  Always wondering, maybe this next time, gripping only harder, will I meet the need deep inside? 

Be still, let go, and know that He is God! Be strong and face the tree with open hands, lay your burdens down, release the struggle. Control is not when everything in us is screaming in pain, that can and will eventually lead to death.  We were not meant for this. We were created by a holy God who loves and adores us. He made us to walk along the cool waters and not to be afraid. He longs for us to have wholeness and peace and friendship with Him. His green pastures restores our weary wasted souls. If we allow, he will sustain a soul weighted in shalom, peace. While the shadow of the past might tempt us to fear, we can be strong because He is with us and His Love is enough.

As Long as There is “Us” In This World

As long as there is “us” in this world, there will be brokenness. We people are in the process of mending or breaking, most of the time. Tearing down junk in our lives can be as good as it is painful.  Climbing mountains brings pain too and the rest after, mends our muscles. It takes breaking to need mending and it’s best when we let Jesus do both.

There are perks to the process like strength and endurance.  This life and journey we are on, the climb we make is not our own or for our own glory and attention.  It is His. 

When I’m climbing mama’s mountain out her back door, I feel my lungs tighten, my quads burn, and I focus on each step in front of me. The path is not marked or easy but leftover from animals and friends before me. I find when I zigzag my approach it takes less strain on my system but it uses more time.  When I go straight up with tiny tiny steps, I am completely winded instantly but the elevation climbs quickly and gets me to my destination faster.  On days when I feel rested and not over taxed from smoke in my lungs or a creeping in cough, I challenge myself to go straight up but usually that follows with lots of discussions with myself as to my sanity within 10 minutes or so of the climb!

The mountain challenge is not an option for me.  It’s the only way to the city from mama’s house.  Sometimes the mountains in our lives are not really a choice either. We walk slowly, zigzag and sometimes crawl when we are desperate. The truth is once we get to the top and feel the recovery or the mending, the play by play doesn’t much matter any more.

Deep breaths of his grace, small steps in his strength, fixing our eyes on the top, the goal…. and putting our hand in His. He never leaves us. He will even carry our backpack and water bottle if we let Him.

Thank you Jesus for sheltering us and walking the mountain with us, only to be ready to mend us when we get to the top.  You are so good.

With kind regards, 

Jennifer Bridges

A Dream Bigger Than Me…

The beauty of following a dream that’s bigger than me or perhaps bigger than life is that it has to be divine. The truth is, I could never have imagined the privilege of walking alongside a beautiful team of people from around the world to share kindness on purpose. I mean, even as a young child I was empathetic and aware of the hurting and loved big, but traveling across the world, I don’t believe it was my dream.

The best part about not owning the dream is that I’m not claiming the success or heartache of my work. I give all of the credit of any success back to my creator as well as my shame and mistakes. 

Sometimes in my own human brokenness I feel hesitant to share the amazing story of how God connected our family with so many wonderful helping friends here and families in Ethiopia lest someone thinks it is about me.

This week God reminded me that I don’t have to receive the affirmation or criticism of the story because it’s not mine, it’s his. I just get to show up and be willing and share the story of His goodness as it sparkles out in front of me.

The story is not one of my perfection or lack of perfection but of his loving tender grace and kindness to me and to everyone. Gods love and compassion are beyond what I can even imagine. 

His love truly is. His love is enough.

An Unforgettable Smile

This precious young girl found her way up into my heart, my dreams and into my “Why” in life. These beautiful brown eyes captured my thoughts, my desire for better opportunities for her and her neighbors and a brought forth a love so deep, I could not explain it. She is the inspiration behind our Bright Spot program that gives both tangible humanitarian help as well as notes of encouragement, advice and love.

Now in high school, Burtikan is thriving. She is growing and learning and striving to be all she can be. She has hope.

Sometimes making a difference in a child’s life is as simple as saying “Yes!”. Our child sponsorship program encourages the child and their family. We believe in gifts that help preserve the family unit, give them advantage to participate in school and practical supplies that fight the difficulties of living a rural life in Western Ethiopia.

If you have ever considered helping a child in this way and haven’t found a place to help, message us! We have 15 children waiting for their very own American friend to encourage them and to help support them financially.

A Grace Filled Year, 2018

As we reflect on such a beautiful year, we are so thankful so much! We have been INSPIRED by the many volunteers who have come alongside us. We have shared and received HOPE in watching our Bright Spot children grown and thrive. We have observed GENEROSITY beyond measure in so many practical ways to make what we do possible. We are looking forward to a WONDER-FILLED 2019!

Traveling in Ethiopia, by Renee Butler 2016 (30 Minute Video)

You are in for a real treat!  Renee Butler shared on a Sunday morning about her personal experience traveling with our Embrace Compassion Team to Arjo Ethiopia in January 2016.  This video shares her heart of compassion, her admiration for the work being done and an word of encouragement to others to get involved and watch for opportunities around them.

https://vimeo.com/154664264

Renee has been a wonderful volunteer and giving of herself to the work of Embrace Compassion in Ethiopia and in the US.  For her, this trip was not a one time “gig” but a continuation of a long term commitment.  Embrace Compassion could not do what it does without the many people who share of their time, talents and treasures!

Thank you Renee for sharing!

Disclaimer:  There are a couple of details that are not completely accurate (in regards to getting the baby surgery, $500 and not $5000) and if you have questions you may message us.  In general, catch the heart of the message and enjoy her wonderful stories!