Thank You Operation Giggle!

When God put it on the hearts of many people to provide Christmas for very poor children and widows in Ethiopia, He found a really generous and thoughtful group of donors!  Through our partnership with Operation Giggle - a project started by Sherri Roe in Tennessee - Joy Casey got to deliver gifts to 56 widows, children and orphanage staff while she was in Ethiopia in December!  There were toys, school supplies, treats and pictures for the children. For the widows, people were very creative and thought of things like flashlights with batteries and various personal hygiene items.  

The humble way each received their gifts made it all the more amazing to hand out these packages given with so much love.  Joy said "It is impossible to say thank you enough. I am comforted by the words of scripture which says in many places and in many ways, Blessed are those who care for the weak…"

To read more about the gift-giving through Operation Giggle
and to see more pictures,
be sure to check out our blog:  
That We Might Be Adopted. 

YWAM Ethiopia's Gift Catalog

We are so amazed at the generosity of our YWAM Ethiopia supporters and friends!  We gave an opportunity to give some unique and very useful gifts to the very neediest in Ethiopia.  Many were given in a loved one's name for Christmas, which was a tremendous way to give a gift that keeps on giving!  Through our 2009 Gift Catalog response, we can now report that the lives of many families in the villages of Kerro and T'ede will be transformed by the following items which were given from November up to this week:

3 donkeys - A truly life-changing opportunity for 3 rural families as they'll be used to help with farming and transportation
8 goats - These families will not only have milk to drink but also to sell.
16 BioSand filters - Joy saw how the children dig in the dirt for water and scoop up the muddy liquid into jugs.  These filters are invaluable to prevent disease.
90 pairs of shoes - Imagine all the little feet that will now have brand new sandals!  
36 laying hens - Our hen project will help teach families about egg production, giving them both food and an income opportunity.
9 school uniforms - These are necessary to attend school in the village. 
12 soccer balls - 'Footballs' are quickly worn out on the rocky fields where the kids play so these will be greatly appreciated!
1 monthly sponsorship for a widow - YWAM supports many widows in Ethiopia and these sponsorships contribute to their housing and food, as well as medical needs.

Thank you to all who gave!  Our Gift Catalog remains on our website, as the needs in Ethiopia certainly don't come and go with the seasons!   

 Thankful for new blessings!

In 2009, we welcomed 19 children from Ethiopia
into their forever-families!

Joseph Young - Washington

Blin Kalkbrenner - Washington

Daniel and David Averill - Washington

Ezra and Emmaus Nichols - Washington

Makita and Titus Hannula - Wisconsin

Emmy Ruth Rodenbeck - Washington

Benjamin and Ellie Scott - Tennessee

Hudson Neal - Indiana

Benjamin, Asher and Grace Halvorsen - Arizona

Tbarek and Arsema Keepman - Wisconsin

Yonas and Abi Hamer - Colorado