Created for Care Retreat 2012

It's almost here!  Next week, Into the Streets of Ethiopia will be traveling to Atlanta to attend the Created for Care Retreat.  An awesome gathering of 400 women, all touched by the wonder of adoption. What an awesome time we had last year, sharing and spreading the vision and mission of Into the Streets.  A definite highlight of our year!

Buy a can of formula, WIN a FREE shirt!

Orphan Sunday is this Sunday. To some, this isn't a big deal. You won't think twice about what you are reading.  The thought of an "Orphan Sunday" won't stop you dead in your tracks with the images of lonely children. You will go to church, just like every other Sunday. But, to others, Orphan Sunday is a tender day filled with memories bundled with hope and dreams. Orphan Sunday is a time for the church to come together and be the voice for the fatherless.   For our own family, I am sparked with desire and passion when I look at my own little girl that was forever placed into our family 2.5 years ago. To think of what her life was like and what her future could have been. My family is not special, we are just humans filled with faults, sin and more times than not, disobedience.  

Berhanesh (in Ethiopia-2009)

Berhanesh (HOME-Nov. 2011)

"The gospel uniquely drives orphan care.  We are not the rescuers; we are the rescued." D. Platt

Into the Streets of Ethiopia stands for orphans.  God has asked us to defend the fatherless, to care for the child that is without a family and to visit orphans in their distress (James 1:27).

We are asking you to join hands with us and help care for children that are in desperate need of the body of Christ.

Statistics are overwhelming!   Would you prayerfully consider what you can do for ONE?  $12 provides one can of US brand formula (Enfamil or Walmart).

Orphan Sunday 2011 from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

For every can of formula purchased ($12), you will be entered one time to win one of our *NEW* shirts (your choice). Help us spread the word on Facebook and Twitter!

You can donate HERE:

***Eligibility to win a free a shirt ends Sunday, Nov. 6 at Midnight (cst).***

2 **NEW** Shirt Designs

 Shop With A Purpose This Holiday Season. 

Into the Streets of Ethiopia is proud to offer 2 **NEW** Shirt Designs! 

 Women's Design (Pink/Grey) Men's Design (Black/Grey)

$23 FREE SHIPPING

Brand:  Gildan UNISEX 100% preshrunk heavyweight 6.1oz cotton T-Shirt. Seamless collar, taped neck and shoulders.  Available in Unisex Small, Medium, Large and XLarge, 2XLarge (Men's Design only).

Youth Design (Black/Red or Hot Pink/Daisy Yellow)

$16 FREE SHIPPING

Brand: (Black/Red) Gildan 100% preshrunk heavyweight 6.1oz cotton T-Shirt. Seamless collar, taped neck and shoulders.  Brand: (Hot Pink/Daisy Yellow) Jerzees Fabric/Style: 5.5-ounce, 50/50 cotton/poly; taped shoulder to shoulder, ribbed collar, double-needle sleeve and bottom hem.  Available in  S(6-8), M(10-12), L(14-16).  **Youth design runs small.**

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Let's face it, infant baby formula is expensive and  Into the Streets of Ethiopia buys *a lot* of formula!  By purchasing this new shirt, you are providing 55 bottles of formula to babies in need in Ethiopia, Africa. Wow!  Buy a shirt, feed a child.

 Women and Men UNISEX Design (Black/Grey)

$30 FREE SHIPPING

Brand:  Gildan UNISEX 100% preshrunk heavyweight 6.1oz cotton T-Shirt. Seamless collar, taped neck and shoulders.  Available in Unisex Small, Medium Large and XLarge, 2XLarge.

A BIG "Thank You" to the kids at Crossroads Baptist Church in The Woodlands for modeling our new gear! Photographs taken especially for Into the Streets of Ethiopia by the very talented Chelsea Kawata!

Reunion!

One year ago, in a far away land,  I had the honor of meeting a special little boy. My mother and I were prepared to meet and love on lots of children as we visited our partner, Adoption Ministry of YWAM-Ethiopia.  We spent several days in Adama, Ethiopia at the Widow and Orphan home.  As I held his tiny body, I knew in my spirit that he was special! As soon I returned home from Ethiopia, I shared his photos and his story with my family.  Over the last year, this little boy has been talked about many times over dinner with my children. We prayed for him to gain strength and weight, to be safe until joined with his forever family.

Through a series of God-appointed events, I was introduced (several months before he came home) to his soon-to-be adoptive mommy. I shared my memories and she shared her hopes for this wanted child.  I have watched this family walk a journey similar to our own adoption story and am thrilled to report that Ty is finally home!

This last weekend, Tulio and I traveled to Phoenix to attend the Together for Adoption conference.  Among many great moments of representing Into the Streets of Ethiopia, reuniting with Ty was the highlight for me! What a true picture of grace and redemption! 

Your donations do count!  You are helping save lives! Just as my friend Ty benefited from infant baby formula, there are many more waiting to receive the gift of powdered gold!  Would you consider being a life changer?  $13 (the cost of one can of Walmart infant Formula) can be the difference between life and death.  

Check out our wish list at Walmart. 

If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.

Mother Teresa

Into the Streets of Ethiopia needs YOU!  4 times a year, by faith we support Adoption Ministry of YWAM-Ethiopia with a check of $3800-$4300 to purchase a 3 month supply of formula (to feed all the babies at 4 Widow and Orphan Homes--see map below).  Formula is purchased in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, packed and loaded into a van and delivered to each home. We have completed two formula trips since June. ***Enfamil and Walmart (Parent's Choice) formula is always appreciated and welcomed via donation to Into the Streets of Ethiopia or to YWAM-Ethiopia.  We send as many loads of collected formula with traveling adoptive families or mission trip volunteers. *** We have learned---you can never have enough baby formula in Ethiopia.

YWAM Mercy Development Feeding Center

Into the Streets of Ethiopia would like to introduce you to some new friends!

Into the Streets of Ethiopia began a partnership with YWAM Mercy Development in February 2011.  Through the generosity of faithful Into the Streets supporters, we have successfully funded 100 % of the Mercy Development Feeding Center Project {a community-based outreach to the streets of Addis Ababa} for the last 8 months. This project is designed to benefit street children between the ages of 6-15.  Objectives of this project include (but are not limited to):

• The identifying of 20 vulnerable children (who do not receive support elsewhere) that would greatly benefit from the support of this program.
• Provide spiritual training.
• Provide a balanced, nutritious meal at lunch 5 times per week.
• Clothing {school uniforms and shoes} in addition to school fees and equipment needed.
• Emergency medical care.
• Holiday gifts.

***We are happy to report that 17 of the 20 students passed their latest exams with flying colors!  It's amazing how a brain can function properly with a full tummy!***

If you would like more information about this project or you would be interested in helping Into the Streets of Ethiopia fund the 2011-12 year, please contact us at PORTILLA@INTOTHESTREETSOFETHIOPIA.COM.

Students in Georgia making a *HUGE* difference for orphans in Ethiopia

“A little goes a long way! Help buy formula for orphans in Ethiopia!”

Hebron Christian Academy’s Missions Club made posters with these logos and carried them to carpool every Tuesday and Thursday for 6 weeks along with change buckets to collect money for Into the Streets of Ethiopia. They also put collection buckets in each homeroom, and had a competition to see which class could fill their bucket the most. After collecting, the hard part began: rolling all of the change! Each week the group met for 45 minutes to roll quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. 6 weeks later, all the coins were rolled, and the students eagerly awaited the total. They were ecstatic to find out they had been able to raise $1128.50!

Here are some quotes from the students {that participated}:

“The hope of being able to affect the lives of others provides incredible joy to people.” –Cole Redman (on what he learned from the campaign)

“It made my fingers smell gross like copper, but it was worth it.” –Elise Murray (on rolling coins)

“I learned a lot about how big a problem not having formula is for orphans and how much a little money could do to help.” –Tiffany Bagley (on what she learned)

“Early morning carpool is kind of difficult with sleepy parents ignoring us, but just do some jumping and attract attention, and there ya go!” –Amanda Fischels (on what it was like to stand out and collect change early in the morning)

“I hope the loose change provides hope for the kids and provides for them so that they know there’s people that care.” –Brooke Felt (on what she hoped the loose change would accomplish)

“To me, it’s completely unfair that some children don’t get opportunities to grow and develop like others only because they lack resources. Collecting change for formula gave me a say in it.” –Anonymous

Thank You Hebron Christian Academy!  You guys ROCK!!

A Special way to Celebrate your Child's Birthday

Years ago, before we even had children, my husband Craig and I had decided to be different than the typical Americans. We wanted to build houses in Mexico on Spring Break and to spend our Saturday mornings at the food bank. We wanted to spend our money on things that mattered...not just new cars, more toys, or a larger house. Our goal was to be servants and God's hands and feet on the Earth. To live out the Great Commission in our daily lives.

This included how we decided to grow our family. Instead of a traditional pregnancy, we opted for adoption. We adopted our daughter Zamara from Ethiopia August 2008. At that time, she was just over 5 months old. Over the last 2 and 1/2 years we have racked our brain on ways to serve even while she was young. We wanted to teach Zamara that life was about giving of ourselves on behalf of Christ. She was a Salvation Army Bell ringer (with mom's help!) this last Christmas. This summer Zamara will go on her first mission trip to the San Carlos Indian Reservation where we will build a house for a family in need. We are always looking for unique ways to serve. As we were planning her birthday last year, we came up with a rather clever idea that any family can do...Instead of birthday presents we collected donations!

We are blessed and have a house full of toys and clothes-Zamara does not need anything else. Last year for her birthday we collected clothing, medicine, toys, and cash donations for Zamara's orphanage in Ethiopia (Kids Care). We were able to send two giant boxes full of items to Ethiopia! It was amazing to see people respond generously to such a request.

This year we wanted to keep the theme of serving Zamara's home country. We collected both cash and baby formula for Into The Streets of Ethiopia. We happily collected 14 large cans of formula and over $300 in cash donations! We had a great birthday and were able to share information about many of the issues of poverty going on in Ethiopia and around the world.

We want to send out the challenge to families all over the U.S. to do the same at their child's next birthday.

Craig, Laura, and Zamara Ducommun

If you would like to learn more about the Ducommon family, you can go HERE.

Thank you Craig and Laura for your support of Into the Streets of Ethiopia.