Enjoying His Presence, Not the Presents

Christmas time can easily turn in to a time of stress from extra activities, shopping, entertaining family and friends....and the list goes on.  Every year I vow to make it different.  I want to take in more moments than things, enjoy the presence, not the presents.  I wish I could say that I finally had it figured out and all you had to do was follow three easy steps.  Unfortunately, I don't.  I would like to think that perhaps each year I get a little closer.  

I can share that since I began my ministry with Children's HopeChest and Kebron in particular, I certainly look at things differently.  Christmas is still my favorite time of the year but for different reasons now.  I still love the decorations but am more simple now.  I enjoy buying gifts for family and friends but focus on the love and relationship than the stress of needing to spend a certain amount or get the latest thing. The gift of time together is of so much greater value.

Spending time with the children at Kebron and experiencing their delight at the smallest of things, opens my eyes to how far I've moved away from appreciating the giver and not the gift.  The children are so happy to receive anything that will be their own but you know what lights their eyes up the most??  The photos of their sponsor family.  As fun as a game, new pens or pencils, hair accessories or other trinkets are, they cling to the photos in the packages.  That's what they proudly hold to show others....this is MY family! For them, it's always the giver and not the gift.  What a lesson to be learned.

I am happy to share what God has blessed us with this fall.  First and foremost, EVERY SINGLE CHILD is now sponsored!!!!!  On November 13, our last unsponsored child was sponsored.  So much interest was generated in sponsoring that we are now working on adding just a few more kids to match with those folks who were unable to sponsor because the kids were all taken.  This was a huge answer to prayer!

                Estifanos was our last child sponsored to be fully sponsored!


We also have easy access to clean running water every day through a water filtration system that was installed by Eyes That See and Water Step. We previously had access to water through a pump on the property but now we have clean, filtered water. Clean water in Ethiopia is rare and so vitally important for good health.  Now all of our Kebron kids can enjoy clean, filtered water!

I'm sure you also remember the efforts of one of our sponsors, Stefany, in helping to raise funds for new school uniforms for the kids.  Most of our children had not had a new uniform in two years! Well, I am happy to say that the new uniforms were delivered for the new school year this fall!!  I can't tell you how excited they were about the uniforms when I visited this summer.  As a matter of fact, one of the older boys wrote a letter to Stefany and had me deliver it to her.

God is continuing to do big things at Kebron.  He is doing this through you and I am forever grateful for your commitment to your sponsor children and Kebron. It is only through your faithfulness that we can continue to serve the children and the community.

As we enjoy the holidays this year, I pray that you are able to find special time alone to soak in His presence.

Many blessings,