Korah!

I read that the word Korah means cursed.  I understand why they would call this place cursed. 
 - Korah was created by the Ethiopian Government so that people with leprosey could live there away from "healthy" society.
- The people's homes are beyond what you or I can imagine living in and raising our children in...if they have a home, many are one room "huts", made out of mud.
- Many people must rummage through garbage at the dump to find something, anything to eat.
- Now, it is not only considered the leprosey community, but is known for HIVand TB as well.
- Our friend, Bisrat, who lived in Korah for 8 years, told us that the people who live in Korah are despised by those outside of the city.  It is very hard for a person living in Korah to get a job, simply because of where they live.  The stigma stays with them.  So to escape the poverty of Korah is extremely difficult, nearly impossible. 

Yes, I understand why They would call this place cursed.  Except that....I met the people.  I met only a handful of them, but they touched my heart and left an imprint that will not be removed.  I looked into the eyes of women who work tirelessly in a room with dim light, without comfortable tables and chairs, making jewelry with pride so that they can support their family and their family's family.  I held the hands of some of the children who looked up at me with hopeful, bright smiles, and I saw their desire for a future.  I met one pastor who loves the people and for the glory of God gives his life to minister to them. 

Cursed?  Perhaps it is understandable why they would call it that, but I saw God at work.  He has not forgotten them.  I pray that I will not forget. 

Trisha and I didn't get a lot of pictures, because when we first arrived we "foolishly" took out a box of little boxes that Trisha had made with candy in each box. As soon as the children saw that we had something to give to them they literally attacked Trisha.  Truly, I feared that they would rip her shirt off.  They did not want to be left out of whatever we had to give.  So...we didn't dig through the backpack for anything while we were in the street. 

If you want to know how you can love the people in Korah, you can look at these websites:
http://www.p61.org/
http://hopeforkorah.com/
http://missionethiopia.com/

I love that they are teaching the women a trade so that, with pride, they
can provide for their families!

Some of the women making jewelry.  They welcomed us with
big, beautiful smiles and attempted to teach us to make jewelry.
Unfortunately, we failed miserably.  It is not as easy as you might think.
They are talented.

Trisha being taught.

This lady was so, so sweet.  I wish I knew her name. 
I wish that I had been able to talk to her.  I wish
that I knew her story.  But I do pray for her. 

How would you like to sit on those hard, backless benches all
day, hunched over, making jewelry in dim light? 

These ladies were making the paper beads.  OK, let me tell you
that I could not, for the life of me, roll the paper the
way it needed to be rolled.  At one point, the
lady to my left broke out in an audible laugh.  Oh well,
I laughed at myself too. 

This is the entrance to where the ladies make the jewelry. 
Should have been the first picture, I guess, but...oh well.

This is a boarding school right across the street from
Mission Ethiopia. 

Children followed us everywhere they were allowed to go.
If we had a free hand, a child was sure to grab it and hold it tightly.
We definitely didn't mind. 

This is the Pastor who showed us around. 
He spoke of his love for God and his love for the people.  He stays there and ministers to
those who live in the place called "cursed".  I will continue
to pray that God will strengthen him, provide for him, give
him hope and use him to lead others to the Giver of Life, the True Healer, Jesus.

Please pray for the people in Korah.  God is at work in Korah!