Social Workers

 Tigist, Goldie, Getu, Nigist, and Goldie are the five social workers that work for BCI.  They all LOVE the Lord and kids.  They have 20-40 kids each that they are literally "on-call" for 24 hours a day.  If a family needs something, they call their social worker.  They spend many hours walking, Bajaj or taxi riding, and horse bugging around Debre Zeyit to visit their kids.  They help and then translate letters EACH month from kids to their sponsors.  BCI sponsorships are $90 and often divided up into thirds so most of time that's three letters per child.  They make home visits and pray with and for the families.  They keep an eye out for needs the family has and ways to help provide for them.  They help find new housing, jobs, clothes, and food.  They also constantly get stuck with tag-a-long missionaries like us who draw many stares, hollers, and small curious followers.  They answer endless questions and translate dozens of questions over and over again.  They know the stories, ages, family members, and situations of everyone on their caseload.  They serve in their churches on Sunday in the choir or teaching Sunday School.  They go to night school, study, and take exams to further their education.  They are wonderful people, and it was our privilege to meet and get to know them better.

 This is Nigist.  

She is the wife of a pastor and the mother of 6.  She is also the social worker for almost 30 BCI kids.  She loves them like her own.  She tells everyone she meets about Jesus because that's what Jesus did.  One home visit, we were taking a Bajaj that we had hired off the street up a very steep hill.  The Bajaj didn't seem to be the most reliable of ones as it chugged precariously up the hill.  I had visions of the engine dying and all of us crashing backwards back down the hill into oncoming traffic from the main road.  I prayed that we would make it up safe and sound which we did.  When we got out, Nigist says, "I was telling him about Jesus. He knows a little but he needs to know more."  Wow, what a humbling moment.  There I was worrying and thinking about an iffy vehicle and she was caring for lost souls.  She wasn't worried about her own life but of the stranger next to her (and probably not because she was worried about it crashing down the hill.)  No, she was worried about his soul because he didn't know Jesus and he needs too.  Everyone does and it's our job as Christians to tell them and help them see his Love.  

Her husband's church is on the same street as many prostitute bars.  She has a broken heart for these women and their lives.  She knows them all by name and home.  She knows their children and prays for them daily.  She yearns for the day when their chains are broken and they are set free.  It is her hope and dream that these women can leave that street and job for something better.  She prays that they will come to know and understand Jesus' love, forgiveness, and grace through every circumstance and life so far.  Because of her, some have already done so.  She made that difference in their lives and I pray she has the chance to impact so many more.