Published Tue, Dec 11, 18.
Written by Scott Chleborad.


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Abebech and Ayele, a married couple, have gone through many hardships throughout their marriage. In their first year of marriage, the couple was forced to relocate across the country on government orders as government seized their property. The new region had an even more tyrannical local government, who would take crops, shelter, and taxes at will, with no rhyme or reason. For a decade, the growing family endured the oppression, until finally permission was granted to leave the area in exchange for donating the small plot of land to a government official’s family. Abebech and Ayele relocated to Hosanna 23 years ago. Abebech gave birth to eight total kids along her journey, and Ayele was able to provide a comfortable life for the family of ten. With food on the table, roof over their heads, and reliable employment, the family was doing well for themselves considering everything that they had been through.
Everything changed five years ago when Ayele became ill with Meningitis. Because of the inaccessibility of medicine, coupled with the expense of treatment, Abebech’s husband lost the fight to Meningitis and died. Life has been anything but comfortable ever since with Abebech left to raise her eight children alone. As Abebech could no longer afford adequate housing, she had to seek other housing options. Abebech met a landowner who was leaving the area for an undisclosed period of time. In mutual agreement, the landowner permitted Abebech to live in the house with her family in exchange for the “housesitting” services until the landowner returned. Abebech has found housing in this manner ever since. The houses are usually one-room houses with dirt floors and mud walls. The largest discomfort, even beyond sleeping such a large family in a single room, is never knowing when the landowner will return. Without any advanced warning, the landowner can come back to his house and move in immediately, leaving Abebech homeless.
Abebech’s housing situation isn’t the biggest burden weighing on the mother’s heart. After her husband died and the family struggled to make ends meet, two of her children ran away. Her daughter, Birhanesh, ran away when she was thirteen years old. Birhanesh’s brother, Gezahegn, ran away a year later, also at the age of thirteen. With the family struggling to put food on the table, the teenagers left home in attempt to find work, income, and food. Thankfully, Abebech knows that Birhanesh is alive and is working in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. Birhanesh refuses to come home, but will call her family on occasion. Abebech has tried to inquire what Birhanesh, now eighteen years old, does for work, but Birhanesh has always refused to answer. As prostitution is legal in Ethiopia, and very prominent in Addis Ababa, Abebech fears the worst. Abebech prays for her daughter daily, praying that she would return home, praying for her daughter’s safety, and praying for Birhanesh’s faith, that she would come to know the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. In regards to her other missing child, Abebech has had no contact with Gezahegn since he left home. Not knowing whether he is dead or alive brings the loving mother to tears, leaving her with only one remedy: prayer.
Despite the sorrow caused by her two missing children, Abebech finds joy in the fact that two of her kids are currently at Adams Thermal Academy (ATA) in Hosanna. Knowing that those two children are receiving a first-class education, a nutritious lunch each day, school supplies, and a uniform, brings some peace to Abebech. With two of her children at ATA, two who ventured out on their own, and the two oldest having jobs, her two youngest children get a better quality of life, as Abebech is able to generate enough income from odd jobs to provide sufficient food for them to have a meal each day. Her two youngest children attend a nearby public school, but Abebech is unable to pay for school supplies, even with the support of her older sons’ incomes. Thankfully, a relative lives in the area and has compassion on the kids, paying for their school uniform and supplies until Abebech can get on her feet again.
Abebech gives all the glory to God. She credits Him with taking care of her family when they were in need. When her children ran away and it was the family’s darkest hour, the Lord opened a door and blessed her son with an ATA sponsorship. At that same time, God used her relative to be His hands and feet. Both of these sponsors acknowledge that they acted because of God’s grace and calling. Abebech has seen God’s provision and became a believer as a result, dedicating her efforts to spreading the joyous news of Jesus Christ to her children. The six children still in frequent communication with Abebech have all become believers. Abebech’s oldest, Temesgen, married a Christian woman and now has a young daughter of his own. Grandma Abebech has peace and joy, despite still not having financial security. She works hard to earn the little income she does, but ultimately trusts God to guide her paths and be her Provider. She praises Him for guiding her through the valley of darkness and into the light, for lifting her out of the mud and giving her a foundation to stand upon. Praise be to God!

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.” – Psalm 40:1-3.