HEAL THE PAST. CHANGE THE FUTURE
This is Worke from the 10th class and her husband Amara.
When we were visiting in April, we met Worke getting off a bus from her job in the city and she invited us into her home in a more rural region outside of the city. She was 6 months pregnant.
Her and her husband were both working; finding a place inside the city was out of the question because of significantly higher rent costs. There were times when they were working 2 jobs in order to pay rent.
As transformative as the Keziah Program is, the reality is that these women and their families have to continue to work so hard, often having multiple jobs, to break the cycle of poverty and provide a better income in which to bring up a family.
Worke had baby Tesfinesh in September. This baby girl’s name means “Hope”. This family is a beautiful reminder of the transformational and motivational power of hope.
It’s been one week since we made our journey home from Ethiopia, and after sleeping for several days I think I may be able to form a few thoughts about the trip.
I learned quickly after arriving that I had come with a “hero” mentality. That I had something to offer these women and that by me being there I was going to be a blessing to them. And to be honest, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I had nothing, I haven’t lived the lives they have had to, I haven’t experienced the pain that they have, and I wasn’t broken enough to relate. These women had more to teach me then I could ever teach them. And on top of that, we really aren’t the hero in any story anyways, Jesus is always the hero!
I witnessed these women and the graduates of the Keziah house worship without shame, with passion and joy. Freedom was theirs for the taking and they were taking it! Amen! I wish so badly that we could see that happen in our culture, that the blood of Jesus would be enough for us to shout it from the roof tops that we are free! We can live in victory because of what Jesus has done for us!
I also was so encouraged in knowing that I didn’t have to travel all the way to Africa to make a difference, that the biggest difference that you and I can make is supporting ETS and the work that the staff is already doing over there. Fundraising can be so much fun and personally am looking forward to a year of fundraising to help support these 14 women in the current class. YOU don’t need to travel to Ethiopia to make a difference either! You are making the biggest difference by joining in on forget the frock, month of change, and tithing to your church that supports ETS. Or go above and beyond and be creative in your own fund raising efforts It really does make the difference.
It was such an honor to be able to be apart of ETS for a week in Ethiopia and meet the wonderful staff and women! And I feel like I came back with a bigger picture of Gods kingdom then I have ever had before.
Katy from Wisconsin shares how she chose to become a part of Eyes That See. Thank you so much, Katy for your generous heart. We love having you be a part of our Eyes That See family!
“After hearing about Eyes That See and the way they really love and care for these girls, meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, I knew I wanted to get involved. I decided to take the thing that I love to do (crafts) and put purpose behind it by participating in a craft fair and donating the proceeds. It was really exciting to have something I enjoy help with such a great mission. I definitely plan to do it again!”
Senait is from our 10th class and actually works in the hair school that she attended while at Keziah! She was so good in school that the staff offered her a job after graduation from Keziah.
She says that she has a completely different life now because of the things that she learned at the center.
“My life has totally changed,” Senait said. “My attitude, my character, my personality are totally changed.”
Senait works as an instructer and has 80 students. She continues to dream of one day owning her own school and partnering with Eyes That See. She is also working as a professional model. “I just have such a different life now,” she said.
When other women come to Keziah, Senait is anxious to talk to them. “I will tell them everything about my past life. I will tell them how much I’ve changed so they can live their dreams too.”
Meet Leke from the 9th class. Having worked at Vitamin Corner since graduation, she has already earned herself a supervisory role as head chef.
Before coming to Keziah, Leke suffered from depression and hopelessness.
“Now things are really good for me,” she said. “I am so happy that I got the chance to go to Eyes That See. Before I was not smiling. But now, I am able to laugh, smile and feel happy because of my situation.”
She is still friends with many women from her class. She works down the road from one and is still roommates with another.
Graduates are always paired with a roommate for the first year, but seldom do we see that contiune. However, Leke and her friend are still roommates after 3 years. This friendship is a great example of how important community is for the women of Keziah.
