Korah...



Korah Dump

 On my journey to our single wide trailer, there was an important stop outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  This was a place called Korah.  It is the city dump for the large capital city of Addis.  Having a city dump for a large city is not unusual - but to have it full of people scrounging for survival is heart-breaking. 

There is a leper hospital near Korah - lepers are outcasts in society and in a desperate attempt for medical care and a place to take their families - lepers began moving in and around the dump - now three generations of people  - 75,000 strong live in and near the Korah Dump.


Man with leprosy weaving straw mat.



The man in this picture to the left has five children.  He works tirelessly without fingers to weave straw floor mats to sell at the leprosy hospital.

I have been home from Ethiopia for about a month - and have waited to write this blog post because I can't do justice to the suffering there with my words.

Because of the way these precious people forage for food - they smell pretty bad and are ostracized by the people outside of the Korah.  Their children are made fun of at school - if they can afford school - even by the teachers.  The adults cannot get work because towns people can smell where they are from.  The towns people will not even sell there wares or hand crafts.  These are a forgotten people by everyone.

But they are people - people that love their children and fight for survival. 





Little girl in Korah

 Also, the people there have been promised help repeatedly and still no aid comes.  Their children are starving - rummaging through trash and eating what they find - right there in the trash heap.  They dig through hospital needles, bloody bandages and animal feces to find something that resembles food.

These are real children living in deplorable conditions with no hope. No way to get an education, clean water, food or clothing.  There is no promise of -"if you work hard and do your best - you can get out of here".

I have never felt such hopelessness - I thought to myself while we were there - this must be what Hell is like. Starvation, death, disease and NO HOPE.


BUT HOPE DID NOT DIE...

While were there we met a young man who grew up in Korah.  One day a kind missionary picked him out with a group of about 10 young people.  This missionary family gave him clothes and a way to go to school and taught him about Jesus.  This young man's name is Yemamu Ahmed.  He finished school and went to college and instead of running away as fast as he can from Korah - he is returning with a plan.




Yemamu Ahmed

Yemamu has been granted land within Korah to begin a feeding program and a mentoring/tutoring program for children at Korah.

AND I AM SO PROUD AND THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE!!  That on July 4, 2011 - Yemamu's group did their first feeding program with WONDERFUL results!!  Yemamu wrote that while the USA celebrated their freedom - on that same day we were able to feed people in Korah!!

Delivering Hope, Inc. - the non-profit that I traveled with to Ethiopia was able to contribute while we were in Ethiopia and is continuing to work to build a partnership with Yemamu.

There is still much work to do. If you are interested in helping the people of Korah - I will be happy to pass along information for Delivering Hope...

Thank you for taking time to read this post - I pray that God will bring the people of Korah to your mind so you can join in praying with me for them!

When I look at the strength of these proud people -- it inspires me to continue to strip away the unnecessary things and move toward simplicity - to free up time and resources for our brothers and sisters who need our time and our resources.

Have a great weekend everyone!!




Women and children at Korah