‘Blessed are the Poor’

A young Ethiopian girl of about four years old climbs onto the lap of Laura Wilson. Her small feet are bare, and her nose needs wiping. She lacks the attention of a caring, attentive mother. Reaching up with cold fingers, she touches Laura’s face and begins to giggle.

Her giddiness, despite the hardships in her life, makes her an inspiration.

“She was so happy, and that’s something you cannot teach a child her age,” Laura said. “That’s how all the children were. They were so happy and had nothing but precious smiles.”

Moments such as this one occurred frequently on the Community Fellowship Church’s mission trip to Ethiopia on July 7-21. Team members included Ronny, Laura and Lauren Wilson, Brandon and Jill Frausto, Michael and Emily Keough, Jaclyn and Linda Benson. All eight agree that the trip changed their lives.

“God called us to serve these people for a special reason,” Ronny said. “This was a group of people that we have to take under our wing and help. They have so little, and our little helps them so much. You can’t imagine the blessings that were showered upon us.”

Before attending the trip, the team fasted in order to prepare themselves mentally and physically for their upcoming adventure.

“We chose to do a Daniel fast, which only allowed us to eat fruits and vegetables with no sugar, meat, dairy, or anything processed for 40 days,” Jill said.

During their stay, they served mostly at orphanages and schools, reaching out to people of all ages.

“We brought suitcases and supplies with clothes, school supplies, money, and toys,” Jill said. “We went and fed the street people, visited the Sisters of Charity with over 800 mentally ill, orphans, young girls who had babies or sick people. They slept everywhere, with two or three to a bed. It was absolutely crazy. We talked to the kids, did crafts with them, taught them songs, did plays, and mainly just loved on them.”

The team will go down in history for their selfless service. Literally.

“The Gafat people were so blessed by us coming that they believe that we are the answer to 700 years of praying and actually wrote us down in their history,” Emily said. “It’s really humbling.”

The team members were also served by those they were serving. Each of them have a positive testimony of their time with the Ethiopians.

“The one village that had nothing asked us for nothing,” Jill said. “They wanted to bless us and give us everything. The Ethiopians have absolutely nothing, and they’re happy. They know that their duty is to serve God, and that’s all they have to live for. They don’t live for things. Here in America we take everything for granted. We can have everything and still not be happy. They would give you anything just for speaking to them.”

Brandon and Jill will continue to financially support one woman who touched their lives.

“At one point we were swarmed by little kids trying to sell us little chips,” Jill said. “A little angel dressed in red came up and saved us. Her name is Ester, and she is an amazing woman of God. She spoke English but not that well. She ended up staying with us throughout our orientation meeting and as the night went on, she told through an interpreter that it was late and she needed to go but she just couldn’t leave.

She just felt that God was there with us, and she wanted to stay the night with us, so she did. She wants to become a missionary and Brandon, and I want to help her out with that.”

Michael and Emily said they are blown away by the poverty in Ethiopia, and are currently sponsoring a child there.

“She is a beautiful little girl,” Michael said. “We gave her a doll that opens and shuts its eyes, and you would’ve thought we gave her gold the way she was with it. It broke our hearts to see this poverty, and we know that we can help.”

Brandon and Jill said that they will continue to serve in third world countries and touch others’ lives, as well as their own. To help support the missionary work, contact the Community Fellowship Church at 874-0963.

“We have a hope for the Ethiopians, that they can be able to live and not stress about all the things they have to worry about, like where their next meal is coming from,” Jill said. “There is still a lot of work to be done. This has changed our lives, and we will continue to take a stand and help out so we can make a difference in their lives.”