ORPHAN OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Since it's inception, Fields of Promise has provided funds, training, and oversight to two different NGO's in Ethiopia who are providing services aimed at half-orphans and full-orphans.  We believe that partnering with local NGO's who are already on the ground and are staffed by Ethiopians is the best strategy for effective ministry.  Our involvement has been more than just sending funds. We have been in regular contact with the NGO staff, obtaining updates on the children, and giving direction about various aspects of program management.  Funds and materials were given to Hope Community Services, to assist them with their start-up and build a cow shed for 30 dairy cows.  For all of our other activities, we have aligned ourselves with Operation Rescue (ORE), a local NGO based in Mekelle.  We have met with their founder and General Manager on many occasions and have had the privilege of observing their financial accountability, sound managmeent principles and genuine heart of love for the children they serve.  We choose to partner with NGO's who have a Kingdom-focus and are ministering wholistically to children and families. 

Getachew Tesfay, the Manager of ORE is on the right, with another advisor from Holland, Art, on the left.  FOP founders Steve and Pam Zicker are attending the ground-breaking dedication of the medical clinic in May of 2007.

Operation Rescue (ORE) focuses its energy on ministering wholistically to nearly 350 full and half-orphans in Mekelle.  These children attend a half-day program provided by ORE which includes a hot lunch, daily devotions tutoring, English classes, computer training, a library, and a recreation program. 

ORE also offers a hygiene program with showers twice a week, and a social worker who visit each family-based care home monthly to ensure the kids are respecting the house rules, attending school, and that the children are benefiting from the program.  Children can be sponsored at $40 per month through their program.  The children are well-loved in this program, and this can be clearly seen when you meet them and have the privilege of spending some time at the ORE compound!

As we spent time with ORE an learned more of their vision, we observed a need for family-based care homes to support the children deemed undesirable by adoption agencies because they were HIV positive or older than age 5.  As our vision has grown and God has provided, it has evolved into what we call "HOUSES OF PROMISE".  During our October 2008 trip, God was presenting a clear need to step forward in faith to expand these homes further.  Please click on the left for a description of the 4 current homes, their operating expenses, and how you or your church, small groups, or extended family might join you in adopting your own House of Promise in Tigray, Ethiopia.  Perhaps 5 families from a small group might each commit $1,000 per year to care for orphans.  One of these Houses of Promise could be their special focus, as they lift the children up each week in prayer, send special gifts at Christmas, and possibly even travel to minister to them on a short-term project!  It is our hope that churches and individuals cross the US will begin adopting homes all over Tigray to supplement the work on the ground that Christian workers, pastors, and Kingdom-focused NGO's are already doing to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet real needs.  Please join us in prayer for God to clarify this vision and show us His plan.