Four Years

Four years ago today.  I would say that is the day that this adventure truly began for Nikki and me.  It was four years ago today that we first saw Durant's referral and accepted his referral.  Since then our lives have changed completely. We have learned to be dependent on our Father, to choose the adventure that He has for us, and to love those who we would have never crossed paths with before.
Over the past four years we have begun to learn to see people the way God does.  We wouldn't have it any other way.  Thanks Durant for being in our family and for opening the door for us and many others to see what God is doing.  Happy 6th Birthday Nati!

Month of Change Sites

Some of you are beginning to respond to us that you would like to be "Month of Change" drop-off sites.  We are so excited that you are joining us for this month.  If you would like more information or to sign up to be a site, just email us at partner@eyesthatsee.org Thanks for all of your help!

Dreaming Big, Working Small

Here are some words from Christy Reppe after she returned from her trip to Ethiopia last month with Nikki.  Thanks for all of your hard work, Christy.  We truly love you.

I knew before going to Ethiopia that I would be most impacted upon return. That just seems to be how God works in me. Maybe it's so that I can stay in the moment while I'm there, or maybe it's just how God gives me perspective -- looking back. I always feel like I can look back with so much better clarity and with a real vision of the big picture.

The trip was exhausting, in that every day we were diving into people's lives in a very intimate way. The 10 women that were the focus of our trip were sharing with us, one at a time, their private stories. Each one was so different, but every one was filled with so much hurt, pain, and injustice in many ways. Just listening to one story felt like about a month's worth of emotional "heart work"... in fact, sometimes just walking into one of their homes would be the equivalent. But we would listen to, question, encourage, challenge, and pray with each of the women. It was so important for us to be present with each one of them, and I felt so blessed that we were able to do so. We were honored to be with them, and they were honored to be with us. It was beautifully exhausting.

If you have any experience doing humanitarian work, you know that you are often hit with what appears to be never-ending need. From what I've observed, this usually drives us to one of two things: do nothing because we are discouraged at the small size of the difference it might make, or try to do everything and not have time to see the people we are working with.

I love that Eyes That See is all about seeing each and every one of the people involved in their projects. They dream big, yet work small. In a group of 10 women, each one matters, and each one is known intimately and responded to individually. We met every one of them. We heard every one of their stories. We know all of their names (even if we have a hard time pronouncing them). We spent all of our time and energy so that we could know them and remind them of their great worth. This is the kind of purpose I am honored to pour myself into and be beautifully exhausted by.

I hope that those of you following along will feel the same and be encouraged by all of the priceless "small work" being done by Eyes That See. We truly can rejoice in what has begun, and all that is to come! Thank you for being a part of it!

All in One Week

Last Friday Nikki and Christy wrote from Ethiopia about several of the needs at Project 1.  Some of the women had real needs and each of the children involved badly needed a new pair of shoes.  As of yesterday, all of these specific needs have been met! Thank you so much for your generosity.  The lives of these women and children are truly changed by the financial gifts and prayers that you offer on their behalf.  Thanks for having eyes that see our friends in Ethiopia.

Month of Change

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.

The Last Day

The last day in Addis came more quickly then I was ready for. I'm always surprised how that can happen. I'm anxious and excited to go home to see my family again, but a sadness sets in when the time nears to our departure.
Ethiopia is truly my home away from home. I have better relationships and feel more alive and comfortable in my own skin when I am there. But don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the United States and consider it a gift that I get to live here.

As typical in Ethiopian culture, Christy and I were sent off with a coffee ceremony! This is truly an honor and a sign of respect and love. This time though was the most honored I have ever felt. I got to light the candle starting the ceremony and also cut the bread!! This is the first time I've gotten to do this and it is also not customary for women to do either of these practices. So I felt very honored!!


And in true Nikki fashion, I entertain everyone as I struggled to light the candle (4 tries) and couldn't get the bread to cut all the way through!!


We were given kind words of thanks and appreciation and also gifts to go home with. A couple of the women stood up and shared their hearts with the group. We had coffee, bread, popcorn, and barley, and we ended with worship. It was a great send off.


I have to say thank you again for your support of Eyes That See. We know all of this is only able to happen because of God's love for you and all His children. Thank you for your obedience.

They are home!

Thanks for all of the prayer and support.  Nikki and Christy are home and doing well.  This was an amazing trip that we will continue to be writing about over the coming weeks.

Before they left they took some pictures of life in Ethiopia.  These are some typical sites you will see around the city.

Woman carrying brush

Spices at the Merkato

view of the city from Mount Entoto

Typical shop in Addis