Child Sponsorship in Ethiopia

We leave for Ethiopia in 15 days!!! This morning we took a step that has been weighing heavy on our hearts for a few months now. We committed to sponsoring a child at the Yezelalem Minch Home for Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During our trip, we will be staying with the couple who founded YM, and we will have the opportunity to MEET our sponsored child. Here is some general information about YM:

Yezelalem Minch, located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, East Africa, is an Ethiopian organization reaching out to children whose parents have died of AIDS, while also providing support and meeting the needs of families who have taken in orphaned children.

Beyond basic care, Yezelalem Minch seeks to enrich the lives of the children through educational, spiritual and social opportunities, with family-style homes that house children who cannot be cared for by the community. Emphasizing Christian nurturing, both the community and home-based programs utilize a holistic approach.

The Word:

"Yezelalem Minch" is an Amharic term meaning "never-ending spring." The phrase comes from the Old Testament passage of Isaiah 58:10. 11: If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed... The Lord will guide you always; you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

The Problem:

The epidemic of AIDS in Africa is leaving millions of children without parents or hope for a future. Currently, there are an estimated five million AIDS orphans in Ethiopia alone. Many of these children experience life utterly alone as their entire family has been wiped out by AIDS.

Have you ever thought about sponsoring a child in need? For only $30 per month, you can provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education for a child in Ethiopia who would otherwise go without. YM helps 1000 Ethiopian children. Over 600 still need sponsors!!!

To sponsor a child, email yezelalemminch@yahoo.com. They will email you back with a picture and information about a child you can sponsor and help you set up payment. Payments can be made automatically every month, and ended at any time. Another great thing about sponsoring a child at YM is that you will be able to send emails and pictures to your child at any time, and you will also hear back from them! There are also many adoptive families who travel to YM every month who would be happy to bring a gift to your child. Our family is traveling in 15 days, and we would be honored to bring your child a gift!!!!

Please watch this short video about YM, made by one of our adoption friends! Click here!

Visit Helps International Ministries website for more information about sponsoring a child at Yezelalem Minch.

How could you come up with an extra $30 per month to give to a child in need?
Give up ONE meal at a restaurant this month.
Make your own coffee at home instead buying at a coffee shop.
Cut back on your cable TV services.
Spend less time at the mall...do you really need that 15th pair of jeans?
Instead of going to the theater, have a family movie night at home.
Skip your mani/pedi this month - do it yourself!

We live in excess here in America. There are so many little things you could cut back on that would make such a huge difference in the life of a child! Sign up to sponsor a child today and use this as a teaching tool for your own children. What can you give up as a family this month in order to support your sponsored child?