"Art for Ethiopia" Needs Your Support

Art for Ethiopia Online Auction Fundraiser

This auction, which runs between November 28 and December 11, 2011, is in support of the Moriah Development of Ethiopian Children Evangelical Ministry (MDEC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The ministry's focus is on serving the street boys of Addis Ababa in a holistic way: physical, spiritual, emotional and educational. There are an estimated 60-100,000 people living on the streets of Addis Ababa alone, and MDEC is playing a very important role in helping the least of our brethren to rise above the difficult circumstances of homelessness and hopelessness in this very poor country. All art selections are framed unless otherwise noted in corresponding descriptions.

I have personally watched the growth of this young ministry and the dedication the staff members, many of whom are volunteers, have toward meeting street boys where they are, introducing them to Jesus Christ, and serving them in many life-changing ways.  They currently have three family-style homes where roughly two dozen former street boys are now living.  They have been enrolled in school, provided shelter, clothing and love.  Additionally, they serve breakfast with Bible study five mornings a week to several dozen boys still living on the streets.

This is a young ministry that was begun by college students only about five years ago.  Some of the founders had once been sponsored children themselves, thus understanding full well the ravages of poverty and hopelessness on a person's spirit, mind and body.  Yet they had been set free by the redeeming power of Christ Jesus, and it was inside of their souls to carry on in service to others.

So, I do hope that you will visit the auction, bid on one or more pieces of artwork you see there.  Tell your friends, relatives, work colleagues, neighbors, acquaintances, and everyone you possibly can that they, too, can bid on some beautiful pieces of art and support a great and worthy cause.  We can all come out winners in this auction!

These are only a few samples of some of the beautiful pieces you will find up for bid at Art for Ethiopia. Please...stop in today and get in on the action. Support the cause. Help the Moriah boys! You'll be so glad you did!.

These are just some of the boys you can help by your participation in this fundraising event.
They are Fromsa, Sintayehu, Cayu, John, Masresha, Bereket, Caeleb and Solomon.

Visiting the Peace Center (March 1)

Our first order of business today was to go with Wanna to Peace Center in the Piazza district of Addis Ababa.  This is the place where Moria'h staff goes every Tuesday through Friday morning to serve breakfast to many boys who live on the streets.  Addis and Hana are the staff who lead this particular effort.  Wanna explained to us that there are other places in the city where various charities provide food for street boys, but they don't offer the love of Jesus Christ with their meals.  The boys who come to Peace Center, about 30 on this day, receive much more than food. They come because they are loved there, and they learn about Jesus...and they return day after day.

Right now, they are studying the gospel of John.  Jean, Brad and I were asked to speak to the boys, which we happily did, relating our love for Christ and encouraging them to know an accept His love.  Brad encouraged them to then go forward and share what they are receiving with others.  The meal we then helped to serve consisted of hot tea, bananas and bread.  We will go to Peace Center again tomorrow morning.

In the afternoon, we went back up to Moria'h House where Brad assisted some of the men, along with my Compassion boy, Million, in painting three bedrooms and some outside walls.  Jean and I wanted to help, but the men seemed to have that part of the work well under control, so we returned inside to work on some studies with the younger boys (reciting the alphabet with English words to accompany the letters) and play games.  We broke out the marbles and checkers.  Eventually, when the painting was nearing completion, everyone returned outdoors to play some more.

We were told how important it was to paint the rooms, showing the boys that we are serving them and caring for their needs.  Jerry also noted that one of the small boys who is very shy, was laughing and smiling more than she'd ever seen.  All of the smiles and excitement have warmed our hearts a great deal, for when life can sometimes be very difficult, the weight can grow heavy, and we, along with the wonderful staff people at Moria'h House are helping to not only reduce this weight, but to instill in the boys a new way of life through Jesus Christ.  I think He is surely smiling on what is happening there.