how it began
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Have you thought about
the plight of many children in Africa? Well, Geo just
got back from Ethiopia where he traveled with archeologist
Bob Cornuke of the B.A.S.E. Institute and others on what
started as a biblical expedition. However, while visiting
the town of Axum, Geo noticed quite a few small children
roaming the streets unattended and when he inquired about
their situation, he learned of a local orphanage with
350 registered children and only 75 beds. He spoke with
others on the trip and a group, including Bob Cornuke,
Jacob and Kelly Bonnema, Arch and Sherry Bonnema, Bob
& Laura Hefner, Mike Donahue and Dr. Matt, decided
to visit the orphanage in lieu of the already scheduled
day’s events. What they found broke their hearts.
The first of several small rooms of the dilapidated building
was packed with thirty-two children. Two children slept
on each level of eight small metal/wire bunk beds, many
without mattresses and blankets. The room smelled putrid
as there was no running water and limited electricity,
eliminating the ability for real bathing or any type of
laundry service. Each child owned only the clothes on
their back, wearing them day and night. Some children
had shoes, many did not. The same conditions were repeated
in the other rooms.
The children are fed once a day and usually the meal consists
of only bread made from a type of grass prepared in the
falling down “kitchen” building on site. The
flour is ground on the dirt floor and then cooked in a
make shift oven over an open fire. The children go to
bed each night hungry, cold and without any hope of change.
To date, NO children have ever been adopted from this
orphanage…it is a lost world that is rarely even
acknowledged by the locals. What happened next was nothing
less than a miracle as his group rallied together to make
a difference, AND THEY ARE! The Axum group, in cooperation
with B.A.S.E. has taken on the task of drilling a well
for supplying clean water, they are arranging for fresh
produce to be delivered daily, mattresses for all the
beds, warm blankets and a small head of cattle to provide
both milk and daily activity for the children. Additionally,
families and volunteers are going back in four weeks to
bring clothing, vitamins and medical supplies to this
forgotten orphanage in Axum. We will buy toiletries, mattresses
and blankets for the children over there. Someone has
already donated 10,000 vitamins. We are also going to
bring backpacks for them. The group is also considering
a webcam so we can monitor the orphanage on a daily basis.
I'm just making you aware of what's taking place and asking
if you would like to help make a difference before the
group returns next month. The children’s ages are
4 to 12, boys and girls. We will be taking cash donations
through the Love Life Foundation to purchase the supplies
abroad. If you would like to help in this way, note“Axum”
on the donation. Let me say this, make sure if you pray,
"God I want to do something significant with my life"
that you are prepared for what God brings! The group will
be leaving on March 2nd and taking about 10 people from
all over the country who want to help, miraculously there
will be 6 from McKinney, Texas (our home town)!! How awesome
is that!!! Let us know if God lays it on your heart to
help. By the way, that small voice in your head right
now saying, “wow, I want to become involved somehow”,
well that IS GOD, He won't likely be coming from a lightening
bolt on this one, but a tug to your heart, a tear in your
eye and a sigh of concern because you know how precious
children are. As we have always promised here at the Love
Life Foundation, we are always looking for ways to help
children love life!
Maylee
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