This summer, a team of TLC staff and volunteers traveled to Addis for TLC’s 2nd annual youth camp! Russ Cooper, Financial Director for TLC’s parent organization Indigenous Outreach International, was on our team, and he shares here about his experience as a TLC sponsor:

I honestly don’t remember when I started sponsoring Seyed through TLC, but I think it was about 8 or 9 years ago. I remember hearing about this boy who had run away from his Muslim father and lived on the streets of Addis Ababa alone at the age of 12, and my heart was moved. When my family began sponsoring him, he was little more than a name and a picture—just another sad story among so many. We put his picture on our refrigerator and prayed for him when we thought about it, which honestly was not a lot. 

Because of my work with IOI, I have the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia at least once every 2 years, so I soon had the opportunity to meet Seyed in person. He led me into the small room he shared with his family and showed me the poster on the wall that he was using to learn English. He pointed to a picture of a pig and said, “pij.” I corrected him on the pronunciation, and we shared our first laugh together when I imitated the sound a pig makes. 

I have seen Seyed a few times over the years, and have taken the opportunity every Christmas to make sure he had shoes and a uniform for school. My love for him has grown, and I was so proud when Ayele shared with me that he felt called to pursue ministry after he finishes school. He graduated from high school last year, and passed the national exam to get into college and study accounting. He has now finished his first year of college and is helping Ayele as much as he can with the younger children in the TLC project.

I recently went back to Ethiopia to help with the 2nd annual TLC youth camp. I was excited at the prospect of seeing Seyed and was happy to learn that he would be a small group leader at camp. It gave me so much joy to watch him as a leader, hear him share his testimony, and see the respect the other kids have for him. We shared many more laughs as he tried to teach me some Amharic words and corrected my pronunciation. He has grown into an amazing man of God, and I am so humbled that I have had the opportunity to invest in his life for these past few years. The thing that blessed me the most, though, was when he introduced me to his friends and said, “This is Russ. He is my father.” 

I can’t believe that only cost me $35 a month . . . I can’t think of a better investment!

In July, a team of volunteers traveled to Addis for two weeks to work with the TrueLight Childcare Project. Katelyn Summerford is a student at Mississippi State University and spent her time in Addis leading lessons for the TLC kids and visiting homes to collect updates for their sponsors. Katelyn shares about her experience:

As I prepared for my trip to Ethiopia, I honestly did not know what to expect. It was a new place I had never been before, and I knew very little about their culture. I had no idea if the Ethiopian people would accept me, if I would like the food, and my biggest concern was if I was going to be able to drink all the coffee I was going to be offered. I was definitely not a coffee drinker before I visited Ethiopia. All those fears were a thing of the past as soon as I stepped out of the van at TLC to spend the day playing games with the children, leading lessons, and helping with art projects. The children were so excited to see us, and I received tons of hugs before I even got to the door of the compound.

One child jumped in my arms as soon as I got out of the van and would not get down for most of the day. She did not know who I was, and I definitely had no idea who she was. However, even through the language barrier, we were able to connect through a greater familial love. I later learned that her name was Chrisina, and she needed a sponsor. I knew that I wanted to sponsor a child, and after meeting Chrisina, I knew this was the child I was meant to sponsor!

The people of Ethiopia all acted just as Chrisina did. They were all so welcoming and allowed us into their homes as if we were their close friends. They fed us more than I was ever able to eat, and the amount of coffee I was served was unimaginable. I did learn to love the coffee, and the food was the best!

I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to meet the people in Ethiopia. They are now like brothers and sisters, and I feel as though Ethiopia is my second home. I could never repay them for the blessings I received from them while visiting. I love them all so very much, and I cannot wait to see my Ethiopian family again!

TLC is incredibly blessed to have long-time sponsors who have supported our ministry since it's small beginnings. Over the years, as inflation has affected the cost of goods and services in Ethiopia, we have increased new sponsorship giving levels.

Currently new child sponsors are giving $35 per month. We are asking those whose sponsorship is less than $35 per month to consider giving a few more dollars with your monthly support to help us maintain our currently level of ministry and care to the TLC children. We understand that this additional giving may not be possible for everyone, and it will in no way affect your ability to continue sponsoring your TLC child at whatever level you are able to give.
 
If you are able to increase your giving, you may do so by copying the following into an email to annaworley@ioiusa.org:
 
“I authorize the increase of my monthly giving to the amount of $_____.”

We praise God for His continued provision and for the miraculous ways He has used our sponsors sacrificial giving to change the lives of so many children and families in Ethiopia.

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PRE-ORDER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

Every year the TLC children decorate beautiful Christmas ornaments to brighten your tree. You can claim your ornaments ($25 each) early this year by pre-ordering here.

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Be sure to follow us on social media to stay connected with TLC! You can keep up with us on Instagram, Facebook, and in our Facebook group for sponsors and supporters.

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