We are leaving in just a few short hours and as expected, our hearts are heavy. We have spent the last week forming life-long friendships and relationships with the people of Addis Ababa. For me, goodbyes are always difficult. But, this time, I think it's the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. We love these kids and these kids love us. So, being uncertain of your next meeting is hard to process and leaves you feeling pretty hollow. Luckily, God fills us up and I am feeling fairly certain that this is not "goodbye" for any of us but, simply, a "see you later"!

Today we knew God would show up in a mighty way. It was our last full day with the kids. We enjoyed the time that we have had building relationships, loving and holding these amazing kids. God definitely showed up by using everyone's gifts today.Whether assisting, teaching, encouraging, or using their imagination to bring joy to the kids.

Like a farmer who plants a seed and waits for his harvest to grow, Nega has planted the seed of a future apart from begging and living on the street for these children. So, while we may want to change these kid's lives overnight, we are confident that what each child is receiving at OCDA is changing their life second by second. We just have to be patient with God's plan and remain confident that it is working.

Have you ever been chasing after something you really wanted and you didn’t stop until you got it? As we were leaving the center today headed for the soccer fields, several of the beneficiaries were chasing after our van. These children RAN approximately 1 mile without stopping just to greet us at the fields as our van door opened. This paints such an evident picture of God and how He “chases” our hearts and He doesn’t stop until we open the door.