What's next?

We have had many people as what is next for these women who have graduated.  When the team was in Ethiopia, these women were officially licensed in Ethiopia to be able to receive microloans or seed money.  This will enable them to keep their community and work together to start two beauty shops.  This is very exciting news as they will find encouragement to continue to believe that they are new.

The graduates, models, staff, and one white guy.

Each beauty shop will be given loans that will total 10,000 birr.  The total for both beauty shops will be equivalent to $1,250.  If you would like to help us towards this goal of opening these shops, please send us an email and let us know.  We would love to give these loans as soon as possible so that they are able to work together towards what God has for them.

Their mothers are beautiful

I almost missed one of the most marking memories for me from this last trip.  On Saturday we were in a rush to get prepared for the graduation ceremony.  Following the graduation, we had less than two hours to get ready for the pastor's conference.  It is pretty easy for me to get caught up in tasks, but thankfully there were some kids around.  Kids have an incredible way of slowing you down.

During the graduation I was looking around at all of the kids present.  They had their best clothes on as they cheered for their moms.  The smiles on the faces of these children represented much more than I will ever realize.

It isn't just that their mother's graduated.  When it is time to go to bed, each child sleeps knowing that their mother will rest as well.  When the boys and girls go to school, their moms now go to cut and style hair.  For the first time in many of their lives, there is peace and hope.  There is no shame in telling where the money for their food came from.  There is no reason to hang their heads.

The smiles on the faces of our friends on this graduation day were unforgettable.  Their old lives were now gone and it was time to celebrate all that was new.  Thanks for believing in these women.  Their families will never be the same.

It's Almost Here!

It's almost time for our first ever "Month of Change."  We've heard from some who are putting their jars in their car, their office, or their kitchen.  Here are some examples of what people are making.

Change jar at Heather's school

Change jars from Andy and Tanya's crew

Tanya and Alazar hard at work

It's not too late if you want to be involved.  Send us a photo and your email and we will celebrate the month with you.  If you have questions, email us at partner@eyesthatsee.org

Home

Thanks for all of your prayers and support.  I will spend time each day to update you on what all happened while we were in Ethiopia and all the updates on what is currently happening.  Today though, I will fill you in on my ten favorite ordinary day memories that make this trip distinct from any other.

The whole crew.

10.  Eating my first tuna pizza.

9.  Matt and Bill's trip to eat camel and nearly kill goats.

8.  Watching the after school students feel uncomfortable in their new shoes.  (My kids would always wear flip flops too.)

7.  Yonathan wearing his mother's ring as a memory of her.

6.  The Denver cafe donuts.

5.  Wonde, our driver, setting prices for everything.

4.  Hearing about Libya while in Ethiopia.

3.  Watching some of the women relax on the lawn at the project site.  I nearly cried wondering when the last time they just relaxed and reclined was.

2.  Watching my friend's hearts open even wider to one another (both my friends for the US and from Ethiopia.)

1.  Being reminded of why Eyes That See exists.  There are still more women and children in desperate need of hope.  I guess our work isn't done.

I will be telling stories here and asking the guys to share from their eyes as well.  Thanks for all the support!

They are back!

The guys all made it back safe and sound!! Matt says thank you so much for your continued prayers and support of Eyes That See. He was able to accomplish many things.

He is excited to update you on lots of things from the trip and also add lots more pictures!!! This information is coming soon.

Thanks again.

Woubegig Update...

A little while ago we had asked for prayer for one of our women in the program, Woubegig. She had been very ill for a few days, but now she is doing wonderful. She was looking beautiful and very proud on graduation day.


Thank you for your prayers for Woubegig. I appreciate you remembering her and also for asking me for updates about her!! I know she is humbled and honored that you pray for her.

Updates....

Matt said things are going well in Ethiopia. The team is busy getting lots done. A lot of it is administration ground work to help Eyes That See make progress.

Matt had a great meeting with our Eyes That See Executive Director, Yonas, and our Keziah Project Director, Netsanet. Yonas and Netsanet are our only employees so far for Eyes That See in Ethiopia. They both are so excited and honored to be a part of Eyes That See. We are so excited to have them on our team!

Netsanet with her fiance Alazar

Yonas with his wife and baby boy

Matt also said that they had a chance to sit down with each of the students in our after school program. Each student shared their story. He said it was a really heartbreaking, encouraging, and meaningful time.


Thanks to the Rowe family, each of the students received a pair of brand new shoes to wear to school. They will also be getting a basketball hoop this week too!

Pictures and more information about this will be coming soon!

Thank you again for your prayers and support.

Another update from Matt....

"Today we had a great amount of time working on the compound. We couldn't keep from working a little with our hands. Even Andy and I worked a little! We poured a giant concrete slab where there once was mud and had a bunch of lights hung. It makes learning a lot easier when there is light.

In the afternoon we spent time with the students in the after school program. It was incredible to see how much they have grown in the past few months. I was even able to speak with some of them in English, which was incredibly humbling since I don't know Amharic yet.
The team I have with me is a gift as well. They are an incredible group of guys. Thank you for all of the prayers and support. I will try to better about updating you over the next few days. See you soon friends.
Matt"

More about the Graduation!

The graduation day of our first group of women went so well. It was a very special day. Each woman dressed up in her best outfit and had her family come to support her. The 10 women even put on a hair show for all the guest. They showcased each of their hairstyles they have learned to do. Matt had the opportunity to share some encouraging words with them and also share how proud we all are of their accomplishments.


This is such a wonderful day for them. This marks a huge beginning in the next step of their lives. I am so honored that I had the chance to get to know each one of them on my trip there last month. The thing is these women really aren't that different from you or me. They've made choices and had circumstances in their lives that didn't always take them down the path they wanted to go. But God in all His glory has redeemed their stories and washed them clean just as He has and longs to do for each of us.
We can not thank you enough for your support which makes moments like these possible!

Graduation and Baptism Update

An update from Matt.....

I really thought that yesterday would be the highlight for me. We had the ten girls graduate, and I was so proud of them. They looked beautiful and so proud of their accomplishments. Their family and friends had gathered together. It was a wonderful day. Still, today topped that!

This afternoon we were able to baptize six people in the bathtub of LIA. It was the first time I had ever baptized in a bathtub, but it was so powerful. We talked about how they were leaving their old lives and now were found completely in Christ. These women knew what we were saying and felt so much emotion as they came out of the water. It was a beautiful time together. After the baptism, all the rest of the women gathered together for a celebration. There was singing, eating, and celebrating this life changing weekend. It is such an honor to be here. Thanks for all the prayers and support.

Pastors Conference

Matt Dye, CJ, and Matt Ness all had the chance to speak at a pastors conference today in Ethiopia. It went really well. Matt said that both Matt D and CJ "did excellent in giving practical training for a denomination within Ethiopia".

Matt apologizes for the lack of updates from him. The Internet connection in Ethiopia is very slow right now. They are having trouble uploading pictures as well. They will share the pictures when they get back.

Thank you again for your continued prayers for the team:

Matt Dye
CJ
Bill
Andy
Pete
John
Matt

Tomorrow is the graduation and more of the pastor conference. Then the baptism on Sunday!

Graduation Day tomorrow!

The trip is continuing to go well the the team. They are excited to be a part of the graduation ceremony tomorrow! These 10 women have worked so hard and I can't wait to see what God has for them in this next step of their journey.

Matt and the Team are there....

They made it and all are doing well!! They had a great first day. They had a chance to meet the women and check up on the facilities. Matt said thank you to everyone for the prayers.

Matt talking with Endris and Yonas

Thank you to all of you who have responded about being a Month Of Change site!! Many of you have asked if it can just be on your kitchen counter and the answer is absolutely!!! We would just love to have you be a part of this event. It doesn't matter the dollar amount. We really just want you to be "seeing" and praying for the people you are helping!!

More updates to come.....

Month Of Change!!

Thank you to those of you who have committed to being a site for Eyes That See Month Of Change!! There's still time to become a site. Also, please send us a picture of what your "jar" looks like!!

This year Eyes That See will be celebrating “The Month of Change” from April 1-30^th. During this month we will be collecting change at various places throughout the country, while sending daily emails about participants and those who benefit from money that is raised. All of the change collected during the month will help fund the projects within Ethiopia.

Currently, we are looking for people who would like to be a change drop-off sites. Maybe you are an individual, a business, organization or church. If you would like to be a change drop off site, the process is very easy. Your site could be at your desk, your kitchen or your favorite coffee shop. Here’s what it looks like.

• Make or find your container. It can be as simple as a cookie jar or coffee mug or as elaborate as the old school Valentine’s boxes we made in elementary school.

• Send us your email address, the site where you are collecting change, and a photo of you with the your “Month of Change” container.

• Print off a copy of the “Month of Change” flyer that we will send you and have it available to explain what we are doing.

• On the 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, and 30^th email us how much change you have collected so far. No dollar bills. Only change counts! We will not post individual totals, but we will celebrate what comes in as a whole each week.

• Make the daily emails available to anyone who is interested and enjoy being a part of changing people’s lives with your pocket change!

We would like to have our entire list of change drop-off sites posted by March 20^th, so please let us know if you are participating. If you have questions, contact us at partner@eyesthatsee.org.

Thank you!

Thank you for your patience in our lack of posts!! We are back and updating frequently again!!

Matt and his team are headed to Ethiopia right now. They will be able to be there for the women graduating from the beauty school! They will also be laying more ground work for future Eyes That See projects, especially The Keziah Project.

Please pray for Matt and his team during this 2 week trip. Please pray for:

• their health and safety during the trip
• the graduating women to feel God's love for them as they take this next step in their lives
  
• God's favor on Eyes That See
• wisdom for the team as they make decisions about Eyes That See

We will have lots of updates for you during Matt's trip. Thank you again for your prayers.

Graduation Day

We are nearing the very first graduation day.  These 10 women have worked hard to learn their new trade, deal with all of the emotions of a new career, experience hope, and begin to dream of what God may have next.  

Six guys and I will be in Ethiopia for their graduation in about two weeks.  We also will have the chance to celebrate the baptism of some of the people benefiting from your support.  We appreciate all of your prayers and support as we prepare to leave.  We will be updating the blog often, so please continue to check and share in the adventures of Eyes That See.

Prayers Needed

We have just found out that one of the women in our program, Wobigig, has been very sick over the past week.  Please be praying for her health and for wisdom in the next week.  She is resting and hopefully will recover soon.  This is a difficult reality with working in Ethiopia or with any other group of people you grow to love.  Thanks for all of your prayers and support.  We will keep you updated as we hear more.