This November, we are taking our family to Ethiopia to visit an organization that is near and dear to our hearts. For years, we have prayed for an opportunity to bring our family to serve and learn from the incredible work of Hope for Children in Ethiopia.
Hope for Children has helped tens of thousands of children go from living on the street to careers through education, job training, and housing. A good amount of financial support comes from individuals here in the US. In order to bolster that support and deepen the partnership, we are taking a leap of faith and responding to the invitation to join them this November in celebrating 25 years of service. While we're there, we will:
- Celebrate the 25th anniversary with local and international partners
- Help with the kindergarten graduation
- Care for boys and girls in skill training programs
- Deliver school supplies
- Capture stories, pictures, and video to help share their incredible story in the U.S.
Over 25 years ago, three friends saw their peers living on the streets and began to pray for what they could do with the little they had. Out of those prayers, they decided that anything they had two of, they would give one away (shoes, shirts, meals, etc.). This faithfulness with little became a 25 year commitment to giving all that they can to help children in Ethiopia find a real, tangible hope. Now, with operations in Addis Ababa, and multiple towns in Southern Ethiopia, Hope for Children has served tens of thousands of children.
I (Cody) met Eyasu Zegeye, one of the co-founders, in 2017 while I was a pastor at Redemption Arcadia and traveled with him to Addis Ababa in 2017. We made a film to help share about what they did and ended up raising over $40k dollars, along with 30 new monthly supporters in a single evening. While there, I developed a deep burden and passion for the work they are doing, and have served on the U.S. board ever since.
Lauren has also worked and volunteered with Hope for Children, running fundraising and database management for years, and has prayed for the opportunity to bring the family to see the incredible work Hope for Children is doing. When presented with the chance to go, we decided this was the right time to say yes to God's invitation and bring our kids into something we hope they will carry with them as they grow up.
As we prepare for the trip, we are inviting friends and families to join us in prayer, as well as some financial support. We are asking our friends and family to consider donating to help with the cost of our plane tickets to Ethiopia ($6000) to help offset the total cost of the trip.
If you would like to be a part of sending the Kimmels to Ethiopia, you can donate here. We are excited to share more about this exciting adventure and amazing organization.
