When we got off the plane in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the first person to greet us was Pastor Mekebib Desta and his wife, Tigist Tesfaye. Thank you to Alex Shootman for connecting us!
Mekebib leads Emmanuel Light & Life Church, and they have a ministry to help children who live on the streets of Addis Ababa and those who need extra education support. They minister out of their own limited to help vulnerable children get their basic needs met and know the love of Jesus.
Data estimate that over 100,000+ children live on the streets, left to care for themselves. The need here is overwhelming, but there are people like Mekebib and his church that are making a difference in the lives of 54+ children every week. They also have church members like Rahel Tamirat and others helping orphans and poor children.
Abby and I are looking at practical ways to support Mekebib and his team’s work here. We loved spending time with kids and seeing the difference this ministry makes. It’s excellent to see Christians doing good work, and I’m grateful that we partner together.