Earlier this summer, many TLC teens had the opportunity to attend a six-day retreat filled with teaching, song, encouragement, and games. Though it was raining season, it was sunny every day of the retreat! Many of the students responded to the beauty of their surroundings, and as the week progressed they seemed to form deepening friendships with one another. TLC staff and other leaders in attendance were greatly encouraged by how the students opened up with another and built up their peers. On the last day many students where overwhelmed with gratitude. They said they were amazed that they had been allowed to come to such a beautiful place and receive this camp experience. TLC Director Ayele Kidan shares about their time at the retreat:   

It was the first time TLC staff and children were able to spend extended time (six days) together as one family. In total, 76 people were able to attend the retreat, of which 66 were TLC high school and college students and the remaining were group leaders.

The theme of the youth retreat was Renewal, and each speaker spoke about and trained the children based on this theme.

Many of the older youth helped by sharing from their personal testimonies and leading group studies.

It was a good opportunity for TLC staff to better understand the children as we lead and facilitated group discussion. The group discussion also helped students to get to know each other, comfort each other, and advise each other.

As you know, due to the limited space of TLC’s compound, we teach TLC children in different groups at different times. Though this mechanism has its advantages, we have also vividly noticed how it has prevented children from knowing each other and having fellowship amongst themselves.

We did a series of trust activities. These seemed to have a huge impact. The children had never encountered challenges like these. It sparked some great discussions.

The six days and nights of our retreat were a blessing for the children and enabled them to know and understand each other. I even heard from some children that they had a chance to correct their wrong perceptions about other peer groups.

I have also had a chance to discuss and talk for hours on different issues with children whom I normally don’t have much time to talk with except when exchanging greetings.

In general, the time we spent together was very fruitful and enlightening. Children were able to ask many questions which paved a way for me to share meaningful lessons.

I would like to thank Tammy, the team leader and main speaker, for her preparation and teaching methodology, which enabled children to learn many things.

Ayele G/K

In July, a team of volunteers traveled to Addis for two weeks to work with the TrueLight Childcare Project. TLC partners with the organization Deaf Child Hope to care for the specific needs of TLC’s deaf children. Ginger Stanfill, a deaf interpreter in West Tennessee, traveled with us on behalf of Deaf Child Hope. Ginger shares about her experience with us:

As I sit here and reflect on my time spent in Ethiopia, I find it hard to put my experience into words. My objective for going was to get updates on the deaf children being served at TLC. Deaf children in poverty are at greater risk for being lonely, uneducated, and even abused. However, the deaf children of TLC are all going to school, their families love them and support them the best they know how.

TLC provides deaf adult mentors for these children. I had the honor of meeting two of the deaf adults, Abel and Tim. They, along with Ayele and Nati, are making a difference in these children’s lives. I witnessed them loving the deaf children, teaching them, and also giving loving advice to their families.

The few days I served there is nothing in comparison to the people of TLC and IOI that have dedicated their lives to serving the people of Ethiopia everyday. Ayele and Nati have the gift of compassion and service to all people. The number of lives being changed through their work is astounding. It was a privilege serving beside them and learning from them. They are a true example of loving our neighbor as ourselves. 

For the third consecutive year, TrueLight Childcare is selling Christmas tree ornaments to support the children of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Every ornament purchased will provide a pair of shoes for a TLC child. If you were around for our Christmas fundraiser last year, you know that the ornaments are hand-painted by the TLC kids! What you may not know is that it takes months of planning and the collaboration of many TLC sponsors and friends to get the ornaments tree-ready. From conception to final product, this year’s fundraiser has engaged the talents of people around the United States and of every TLC child in Addis.

Each summer, a group of college students travels from the States to Addis to volunteer with and learn from the TLC team. One of the many things these volunteers do is bring the ornaments with them for the kiddos to get creative with and then keep track of each hand-painted ornament so sponsors can purchase the ornament painted by the child they sponsor. This summer, Matt and Rachel Marshall of Jackson, TN, led a team of volunteers to Addis where the children painted a circular wooden base, which would later be overlaid with a wooden cutout of the TrueLight flame. 

Artist, professor, and TLC sponsor Heather Hornbeak of Nicholasville, KY, has been instrumental in TLC’s design and web presence. Creator of the TLC logo, which utilizes a flame above the word “light,” Heather adapted the TrueLight flame for the overlay of this year’s ornaments, representing both TLC’s mission as well as the light of Christ that Christmas celebrates.

Designed to use a single piece of wood for each overlay, the outline was then forwarded to a team in Tennessee where they would be shaped with a laser cutter. Indigenous Outreach International board member and former Media Coordinator/Storyteller Aaron Hardin used his access to a laser cutter at a co-working space in Jackson, TN, to help bring the vision for this year’s Christmas ornaments to fruition.  

“I hope that the children embrace all the wonderful opportunities available at TLC and grow up to bless their own families and community,” said Aaron of the TLC children. 

Next, the ornament bases and overlays went to Corinth, MS, where Richard Tenhet, TLC sponsor and Anna’s dad, volunteered his home workshop for assembly, where he normally works on household projects, builds birdhouses and wind chimes, and enjoys craft projects with his grandchildren. After determining the best orientation for each ornament based on each child’s painting, Richard drilled a hole into the base for the ornament string. He then painted the backs of each base, applied a label designed by South Carolina-based sponsor Josh Garcia, glued the overlays to the bases, and threaded a string to each ornament.

Left: Anna Worley and Aaron Hardin chipping away at the laser cutter. Right: Richard Tenhet gluing the ornament overlays to the bases. 

“These ornaments are a picture of the work of our ministry,” said Anna, who is based in Chicago and oversaw the ornament creation from start to finish. “It’s a collaboration of people from all over—from Ethiopia and the States—working together, using the gifts God has given us to encourage and help each other.”

Anna says it’s encouraging to see so many people come together, for this project and for others throughout the year, to use their gifts and abilities used to support the physical, educational, and spiritual well being of the TLC children.

The work TLC does for our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia is fueled by the generosity of sponsors and friends who contribute their resources and talents. If you would like to do more for TLC but aren’t sure how, contact Anna Worley at annaworley@ioiusa.org. You can also buy a Christmas ornament below! 

This summer, two students from Union University traveled to Addis for six and a half weeks to intern for the TrueLight Childcare Project. While there, our interns visited the homes of the families you sponsor to hear their stories. One intern, Lizzie Bird, shares about her experience:

I am so fortunate to have been back to Ethiopia for the second time in two years! I am thankful for everything True Light Childcare does for poor families in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am so thankful that God would choose a lowly being like me to join in the amazing work he is doing in the hearts of those people in Addis.

We had a few days off work when we first landed to get adjusted to the time change. After a few days we started our work, which consisted of 8-12 home visits per day. When we visited a home, we would interview the child and the family to write a report to send back to sponsors in the States. Nothing will ever prepare you for the poverty you see when you enter these families’ mud homes. It hurt my heart to see how badly they are in need. But the worst part of it all was the fact that I couldn’t fix their problems. However, I could love them and show them an unconditional love that I have experienced myself. The love of Jesus. Even though I couldn’t help them physically, I could pray for them. I felt so helpless, but I have seen firsthand how powerful prayer is. 

It’s a powerful thing when you share a verse or a testimony with one of these families. Because they sit in awe of you, and they soak up everything you say. Even if a family didn’t pray to receive Christ, a seed was planted in their hearts that day. I’ll never forget one young girl who did pray to receive Christ. This girl in particular was deaf, so our friend Courtney (she knew sign language) translated. We listened to her story and talked to her about the Lord and the good things he promises to those who love him. She was so overwhelmed with so much information, but she became a Christian that day!

We visited over 200 families in six weeks, but there is one family in particular that stole my heart the moment I met them. As we walked into Lidet’s small, mud house, her mother and father scrambled around to make the single room more tidy, and her father even ran to the store next door to buy us drinks, which is a huge sign of hospitality. We listened to her family talk about how hard it is for them to pay rent each month for just one room. I listened to her father almost break down in tears because he didn’t know where his income was going to come from. I listened to them tell me about Lidet’s tonsillitis and how it affects her appetite, which is why she is so small. I also listened to them tell me about how much they loved their daughter and how they would do anything for Lidet to succeed. It’s so rare to find a family like Lidet’s, because in the midst of their suffering, they are thankful and hopeful.

As we walked away from her home, I asked Nati, our translator, if she had a sponsor. I was so surprised to find out that she did not, so that day I decided that I wanted to be the one to support Lidet. I decided that I wanted to love her, and show her that love every month.

Fast-forward a few weeks to our last day working. That day in particular, all the children in the program came to the office to get measured for their school uniforms, and Lidet just happened to be there. This day will forever be etched into my mind because the emotions I felt were so overwhelming. I told Lidet I wanted to sponsor and support her and love her, and do you know what she said to me? With tears in her eyes, she looked at me and said, “Thank you. I love you so much.” She gave me the biggest and tightest hug. I honestly never wanted that moment to end, because in that moment I felt pure joy.

I wondered why God even sent me on this trip. What was my purpose here? Of course, it was to aid the TLC project, write reports, and share the Gospel. I also think he sent me there to learn about myself and to grow as a person. I believe he sent me back because he knew how much love I have in my heart for Ethiopia and for the families I met. Like I said earlier, I am so thankful that he would choose me, send me, to do this work. For that I am forever grateful. Ethiopia has a special place in my heart, and it always will. I pray that one day I’m able to go back, but until that day, I will wait patiently. I will live in the moment, and try to show the love of Jesus that I have in my heart. Never ignore a calling God has placed in your heart, no matter how terrified you might be. Chase it with all your heart, because God always has a plan, and he will bless those who follow him closely.