Merkato Trip 2014 - Day Five

Today Team Merkato took the kids in the sponsorship program to a beautiful place in the countryside where they could spend the day playing OUTSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD that they live in. These kids have spent their entire lives in one of the roughest neighborhoods in all of Ethiopia. It is a ghetto of ghettos, truly the Red Light District of the country. Most of these kids have NEVER been to a place where they can run around in the grass and be kids. It was a huge undertaking to make this happen. It took three buses to transport everyone! But it was a great, great day for everyone

Merkato Trip 2014 - Day Four

Today was Care Package Day at Merkato! Each of the 150 kids in the program receive a care package prepared especially for them by their sponsor. I love seeing the looks of joy on their faces as they open their packages, read the letters, and see the treasures picked out just for them.

The team also had the privilege of feeding the kids and staff at Merkato a "Feast" today, including a goat purchased at the market and slaughtered for the event. What joy!

More photos of the fun at Merkato today