Ethiopia/ Kenya October 2007
In October 2007 our Red Dot 100X team travelled to Ethiopia and Kenya to love and serve the children and families in very poor communities. The events of those two weeks were incredible and life changing. The trip updates sent back to Red Dot during our African adventure will give you a glimpse into what the team was feeling and experiencing during our memorable time with these beautiful people.
See blog page for Trip Updates #1 and #2
Here are a few reflections of some of our guys as we were coming home:
Renewal... They say that there is no truer love than your very first love. But I have found that same love in the eyes, smiles, and hugs of the lost children of Africa. These affections are as sure and true as life itself and brings renewed hope for us all. I will miss very much my loves of Africa.
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The feast in Ethiopia is what I remember most. One of the grandmothers told me she was so happy to be able to sleep through the night because her roof was no longer leaking. She said she had prayed to God to somehow fix the roof. And that
God responded by sending angels to help her. She called us angels! Can you believe that?! I told her we were not angels, just men that wanted to help her. She shook her head and said you ARE angels that answered my prayers. Then she kissed my hand. A woman as old as my grandmother kissing my hand and telling me I'm an angel. That is something I will never forget.
We spent a week in Addis Ababa working on new roofs on the homes of people who have taken children orphaned by illnesses such as AIDS. Red Dot put together a wonderful feast to give these foster families a sense of how much they are loved by their Maker. And when we met them that day the people expressed their love for us. We spent a week just working like we would at home, and we changed lives. Our team has made an eternal difference with just a few days of work. Thank you (Red Dot) for making it all possible.
Two of my favorite memories occurred in the same day. We were at the second house that we were putting a roof on and I walked to the van. A man stopped me and told me how we were a blessing to the whole community because others would see that there are others that care about them. The old woman who's house we were reroofing was sitting on a stool in the street and I sat down beside her. I asked her through the translator what she thought about getting a new roof. She said that we were angels from heaven sent to help her and her community. She started to cry. So I leaned over and gave her a hug. Later at the feast, I sat beside her and she cried the entire time. I asked her why she was crying and she said because she was so very happy. She also said our team would be blessed many times over for what we have done and that we would always be in her prayers.
It may take days, if not weeks, to fully comprehend the impact this journey has had on each of us. To see families with nothing that are happy. Smiling children that have lost both parents to AIDS. People showing unconditional love to strangers. The sites and events we have experienced are impossible to replicate and are indescribable.
You should be proud of how each of these men represented themselves, their families and Red Dot. Lives were certainly impacted during our journey.... the lives of our African friends we came to serve and grew to love... and our own lives as well. We will cherish our African experiences forever.
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Team members: Tod Bush, Steve Gowan, Roy Clay, Brian Vance, Tommy Neugebauer, Scott Bell, Eric Littleton, Mike Canatella, and Jeremy Copeland (Buckner trip coordinator)
