Standing in the Gap for the orphans of Zeway

October 2009

Meserech & her little brother Zafu

Meserech and her little brother Zafu live alone as orphans in Zeway, Ethiopia. Zafu is 10 and Meserech 17, but she may as well be 37 based on the parental burden she bears. Meserech lost her leg in a fire accident. They try to attend school, but Meserech has only made it to the 7th grade. They live on a food ration intended for one child – but Zafu doesn’t know that. Meserech is standing in the gap for Zafu, setting aside her own hunger to protect his childhood innocence. When we asked how he was doing, Zafu responded that everything was great, blissfully unaware of the sacrifice his big sister is making for him.

But who will stand in the gap for Meserech? We will. We are.

With the funds raised at Grace, and more to be provided soon Lord willing, Grace is standing in the gap for Meserech and hundreds of other orphan-headed households in Zeway. Working in partnership with Food for the Hungry and the Zeway Evangelical Christian Fellowship (ZECF) of churches, Grace has launched a partnership whereby we will become “foster parents” for these orphans, ensuring that their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs are met. Each will soon receive a full food ration, full health care, school materials and clothes, rent and shelter support, and a Christian social worker to visit and care for them. Praise the Lord for His provision!

Two weeks ago, one of our Bridges of Grace leaders had the opportunity to visit Zeway again. During that visit, the local Zeway pastors and Food for the Hungry staff sang praises to God together in the local Amharic language, and they cried out to God that He would continue to intervene and protect the “fields of the fatherless” in Zeway as it says in Proverbs 23:10. But this prayer was different than even the prayers from our trip last May. This prayer carried with it a confidence based on real progress since May and based on dramatic improvements in the lives of some of the children in just a few short months.

Melkete is one example. She is 13 and is raising her 9-year-old sister alone. In May, Melkete melted into uncontrollable sobbing in our presence, overcome with the burden she carries. In response to her need, Grace provided $270 to pay the taxes she owed to reclaim her home from the government before it was lost. When we visited her 2 weeks ago, her growing strength was evident, and only one step remained for her to own her home outright. She also shared that she has decided to follow Jesus, and she has been given a Bible so she can grow in her faith!

During our recent trip, the 17 church leaders who are part of the ZECF were moved by the fact that a church all the way from Austin would have a heart for their orphans. They realized that these orphans were their burden and that God sent us to speak this truth in love. Since our visit in May, the partnership formed between Grace, Food for the Hungry, and the ZECF has evolved from providing better care for orphans to empowering the local church and community to create a sustainable network of care for the orphans. This is the global Body of Christ unified in service for “the least of these”.

We pray that these stories leave you feeling blessed, and we are thankful to the people of Grace for standing in the gap. May God continue to grant us light for each step as we continue to expand this partnership in Zeway.

The Bridges of Grace Team