What You Have Sown...

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

Who ever serves me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me. 

John 12: 24-26

I have been waiting to share this news for a while! THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of you who responded to THIS NEED in LOVE and SACRIFICE

Your reward is eternal!

Elle spent the summer in Ethiopia, Jimmy joined her for the last week-- more on that later-- right now, I am so happy to share through Caleb's words what your giving means to heart of a community......

"Sometimes words cannot capture an experience. 

This is just one of those times, but I will commit to doing my best. It was one of our last days in Ethiopia and it was the day that we knew MANY people were waiting for...not just in Holeta, but those of you in the US that caught onto the vision of raising funds for a grain mill for this community. 

Truly, this was a team effort. One Child Campaign was able to offer a $1,500 matching grant because of the Stum family and the team of runners from First Baptist of Cleveland, TN who ran a half marathon to raise funds. 

It was also championed by the Mihnovich family and shared with the adoption and orphan care community through their blog. 

A grain mill. It doesn't sound THAT exciting, right? It's a piece of machinery. 

But, when the team stepped into the impoverished community of Holeta and we began to walk around and talk with people, we knew that something special was about to happen. Now, you have to know that things in Africa run completely different than here and it's been an uphill battle trying to get the right power to the building and the right kind of plug and actually purchasing a grain mill in an Ethiopian economy where prices are starting to soar for the nationals due to inflation. 

The leadership of Covenant Church and Children's Homes that work in this community were able to secure a more diverse grain mill that will be more productive than purchasing two of the smaller units. 

We were escorted around the village with the local government leadership who were proud of their community and grateful that today had finally come. 

The day they would dedicate the grain mill. 

A small building has been constructed with almost nothing but wood and some mud, that will house this grain mill. 

We almost walked right past it without noticing...but then we peeked in to see dozens of women gathered inside and many more outside. We smelled coffee brewing and freshly baked local bread. 

The pastor, staff and government leaders brought our team into the building and within minutes, it felt like literally over a hundred women were also crammed in there, peeking in the windows and standing outside the door. 

This community of women were warm and welcoming and what amazed us, is that this group of women known as "Let's Have Coffee" are the ones who came up with this idea for their families and village. 

They have a plan, they will grind berbere (the local red pepper), package it and sell it. These women were READY to be empowered. It was an experience so humbling and honoring at the same time. 

Our team...and those who gave towards this project got to be a part of their lives, their families and their dreams. 

The pastor got up and got to share with the women, who were excited to see our team, but were about to find out that the grain mill had been purchased. He shared about the love of God, the Gospel, and that there were people across the world (and in the same room as them) that cared about them enough because of love. 

Because of His love. 

Then he held up the receipt of purchase, concrete proof that the grain mill was no longer an idea or dream - but a reality! 

If I could bottle up the gratefulness, joy, noise and celebration that was palpable in that room - I would! They were praising God, clapping and cheering. Raising $3,000 project wasn't easy, but it also wasn't the hardest thing in the world - in fact, it made us realize that when we all rally around God's vision, anything is possible! 

Sacrificial giving from many of you was the reason these women now very soon will have a way to provide for their families instead of begging, working hard labor for pennies or even worse, having to prostitute themselves to put food in their children's mouths. 

I say that words cannot quite capture the experience that I had (and our team), but in all my years of working in ministry and missions - it's probably a day that stands out above the rest because it wasn't about me, it wasn't about our ministry, it wasn't about money...but it was seeing with my very own eyes women worship because they were empowered. People from all over the country believed in them, without even knowing them, and they felt love. 

Can a grain mill make a difference? 

I'd like you to ask those women..."

Caleb