Birthdays 

In March, we celebrated the following birthdays: Sada and Keriya (center), Tariku and Yehun (top), Muse and Mateos (middle) and Yisak and Absalat (bottom). Keriya (bottom center photo) was so excited we were going to celebrate, she kept telling all the mamas, "It's my birthday, today!!!" We don't do much, especially for the kids with special needs because it's harder getting them out and about, but she had such a blast getting her gifts and eating her cake. It's such a blessing we are able to make each child feel special in their birthday month.  

Ethiopian Food 101 

Sorry, but I just had to! It's fasting season here in Ethiopia. For 50 days before Fasika (Ethiopian Easter) is celebrated, the Orthodox Church fasts from any animal products (meat, eggs and dairy). During this time, you can find some of the most delicious foods on the planet. It's called beyainet at the local restaurants. For those who have never had the pleasure of eating Ethiopian food, here's a little lesson for you. Injera is one of the main staples of Ethiopian cuisine. In the photo, it is the circular bottom layer folded around the edges of the platter. It is similar to sour dough bread in that it's made with a fermented starter and then you ferment it for a couple days after adding more teff (the grain used to make it) and water to the starter. The top light colored pile is called suf firfir and it is made with injera strips, onions, peppers, ground sunflower seeds and tossed in a vinaigrette. Going clockwise, you will see diffin missir. It is made with lentils. Next is gomen, which is collard greens. In between the two piles of mixed salad, is k'ay sir (beets). I'm not a fan of pickled beets and that was the only way I'd ever eaten beets in the past. But, the way they make the beets here is one of my favorite sides. Next is shiro wot. It is made with ground chickpea powder and is probably the most beloved food to Ethiopians. The next pile is called kik be alicha. It is a thick sauce made with split peas. The center is probably my favorite out of all these piles. It is called missir wot. It is made with red lentils and berbere, which is a spicy seasoning made from red chili peppers. So there's your Ethiopian Cuisine lesson for the day. You're welcome! 

Thanks for Praying!

Thank you so much for your prayers for Workitu. She's been back and forth to the hospital a couple times since last month, and the last time (which happened about a week ago) gave us quite a scare. Through the different tests she's had, the doctors have found no mass in her lungs or around her throat, which we are very thankful for. However, something is causing partial paralysis around her throat. It could be the effects of Cerebral Palsy, but the doctor believes that a home nebulizer will help. The nebulizer at the hospital has always helped her airways to open up and bring her back to more normal breathing. Please continue praying for her as well as the doctors and mamas caring for her. Argaw and I were able to visit her in the hospital last week before she was released just a couple days ago. I held her hand and when I'd let go, she'd reach to hold it again. So, of course, we stayed just a little bit longer. She's back home now and we're doing all that we can to make her feel comfortable and help her breathe a little easier. 

God's Faithfulness Continued 

Thank you so much to everyone who read our newsletter last month, heard about the needs and either prayed for provision or helped provide by making a donation. I am so happy to announce that, with the help of our donors, the Lord provided for Ebenezer's rent and even more! On top of that, there were some who reached out asking how they could help fundraise, etc. Again, thank you so much! We are blessed to have a global community who cares so deeply about these kids. I don't know if they'll ever understand the depth of support, care and love they have from people all over the world, but we (Argaw and I) are extremely grateful and humbled by all of it. 

Delivery is Approaching 

I mentioned a couple months ago about our young teenage girl who had been raped and became pregnant. Her time for delivery is very near. As I write this, she is 37 weeks along. Next week she will have another checkup with the doctor and he will then schedule a C-section soon after. Please be in prayer for her. She is quite nervous. She's been living at our (the Ayeles') compound but outside our house with the other Ebenezer teen girls since returning from school in January. And we've decided that once she delivers she will move inside our house so that I can help her with the baby and she can have a more peaceful environment than living at Ebenezer with so many kids. She was very happy about that idea and we're getting excited about having a new little one in our house again. We've prepared a room for her right next to ours so that I can hear the baby cry in the night. Pray for a safe delivery, for God to continue to heal her heart of the trauma it's experienced, and for us to have wisdom as we care for her and baby afterwards. 

Until April's update...thanks for your continued prayers and support of ESMAfrica and the children we all serve.