Bragging

I am bragging about my boys! The Bible is clear about us not bragging about our righteousness or when we give to others and more.. But this is different. I am not one to shy away from stating my opinions, but I am not even sure this is an opinion. I think it might be fact that my boys are the best.. EVER!

In America, I have felt my pulse quicken each time I get to share with someone how awesome our boys are, how much transformation we have seen. I am not glossing over the struggles we have gone through, but I would be an idiot not to see the change and not let that change be hope to my heart and maybe others

DJ- DJ is about 16 years of age(we aren’t ever sure of their ages). When he started he stood out as severly emotionally immature. He cried the most, argued and fought with the other boys the most, was closed to us.. We couldn’t see the diamond in him clearly, but today its brilliant! He is one of our most ingenious boys, a born ready engineer. He is one of the boys who got into a private school because of his amazing grades. He is so creative, can fix anything, and has great ingenuity. Best of all, he has matured ridiculously, has really developed an amazing character. He has become patient, expresses less anger, makes good choices, tackles very difficult schoolwork without falter, and has become more open to the leaders. AMEN!

G-Man-! He is 17 and really enjoying his vocational school. He has been one of our greatest challenges and joys. For the first 8 months in the house he was one of our hardest boys. He showed major disrespect, prevalent drug use, glaring disobedience for our rules, and even tainting the boys with negativity and rebelliousness. He even left at one point. Today he is teetering on being a strong leader. His drug use is nearly at 0, he is consistently respectful, he is very open with us, is an extremely hard worker, so eager to grow and learn, and has had other major break throughs in his character and spirituality. AMEN!

I want everyone to witness the transformation we see through our boys! I feel like everyone is missing out! I am so grateful, even amongst my silly bitterness, pessimism, doubt, and fatigue. Men all over are missing out, not realizing that they are missing the greatest life experiences on this planet. To just invest in youth and watch transformation take place!

Fatherless

During Thanksgiving I have reflected on how thankful I am for a relatively functional family. My married parents have set good examples and worked hard at taking care of my sister and me.

What makes me so thankful but disheartened is what I know about the Fatherless today. Soapbox or not, I pray hard to be a part of filling the father gap in my country, Ethiopia, and the rest of the world. Knowing and witnessing the importance of father figures for all of our youth, makes me cry out for solutions and ways to fill this huge void of fathers.

My heart aches daily for the fatherless, but even more for the men who have neglected their responsibility as fathers, role models, protectors, lovers, and so on.MY heart aches for the cycles of unhealthy fathering passed done through generations! I think about it all the time praying that God will use me for a greater good to get men back to how God destined them since day one.

Just look at our boys… There isn’t a better example I know of that proves the desperate need of youth to have someone act as a guide and example in their lives. I doubt I will find a house with more genuine joy, growth, challenges, faith, laughter, love, then our humble home in Addis Ababa. It didn’t take rocket science to transform our boys from the sewers and filth of past lives.. I expect 16 potentially great fathers to come out of our loving boys!

God please allow me, and show me the way to duplicate the hope and love exemplified though what you have done in our boys. I Thank YOU, my Father in Heaven, for my father on earth and my ability to stand up for our amazing boys.. God show me the way to combine my heart for the fatherless with a sustainable action plan to reach them with your love!

I pray all of us more fortunate experience authentic gratitude this Thanksgiving but remember all the fatherless who have no guide, love, or care.

Here is an example of one of our boys, some day a GREAT FATHER. Pause it in the first second to peak at the joy! HOLY HEART WARMING BATMAN!

Easy Sell

It is quite odd to be working for Aetna again during my two month break in America… I am so fortunate to be able to come back and earn some cash to help my continue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but its not easy.
The culture shock is mind numbing, the American rat race is hard to just jump back into. Also, how could I ever have my heart behind the “sales” job I am doing for Aetna, talking about health benefits to 100’s of people? I sit at these meetings wonder how others do it. Though it came back to me easily, its hard to grasp it in my spirit and mind anymore.

So I talk about Aetna for hours and feel nothing but tired. BUT I TALK about my boys for one minute and fill invigorated, full of life, spirit bubbling! I needed this to remind me of how awesome my life is! My God is great and my boys are the best EVER!!! I love to gloat, brag, talk about my boys! It feels like fathering to me!!

Thank you also to MR. Grizzle for reminding me what an amazing opportunity my boys and our project is for others. The chance to invest in our boys lives, is as good as it gets. Its clearly better than any stock, any piece of gold, any real estate. The returns are immeasurable. I have to remember this as I look to raise $20,000 and encourage others to participate in this awesome script, from God.

My boys… The easiest sell ever!