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Walking the Talk
"We are God's workmanship...
...created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10
May 6, 2007
A trip to Ethiopia last summer helping CCC lay groundwork to come
alongside an orphanage jolted John and Terina Dutton. They were
appalled at the conditions they found.
“There is no kitchen, just a little mud hut with an open
fire. Smoke burns the eyes, because there is no ventilation.
They prepare everything on their laps; there is no
counter to work on. The outhouse is unbearable; just a
hole in the ground with a strong stench. Nothing to treat
the water with. When it rains, it overflows and goes onto
the crops where they are growing their vegetables.”
The thing that struck her more than anything else was seeing the poverty
and thinking, “We are so blessed.” Terina said, “Then God told me in
church one day that these people are so blessed! We have a material
blessing, but they know the blessing of a faith in God that is beyond ours.
They depend on God for everything.” The orphanage itself “is definitely a
blessing for the children compared to living on the streets. They wake up
every morning and are on their knees praying and siging.”
Terina explained that since the orphanage is not owned by the church in
Ethiopia, as tenants they can’t fix problems. The Dutton’s are now working
to raise funds to help the orphanage purchase the land it is built on so
necessary improvements can be made.
That was only jolt number one while in Ethiopia. With two young sons,
they had no intention of adding to their family; but an 11-year old boy
touched their hearts. “The Lord laid him on both our hearts,” says Terina.
In May, they fly back to Ethiopia to bring Miki to his new home.
The saddest part about bringing Miki to America is that
he leaves behind 8 other children who are like family to
him. Terina says, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could
get the others adopted here in Colorado? They range in
age from 5 to about 10 or 11. We wondered if we could
finish 8 rooms in our basement and bring them all back,
but we can’t. We just hope the Lord provides families.”
Miki’s new home will also be a new home for all the Dutton’s. They are
selling their house and moving into an apartment, then will use their mortgage
payments to help buy the land for the orphanage. Terina explains, “We have a very nice house and thought, ‘What are we doing living in
this and they are living there?’ When they (adoption agents) came to see
our house, I was embarrassed because we are living in such luxury.”
To find out more about how you can help the orphanage in Ethiopia, go to
the Dutton’s website at www.Duttonfoundation.org or contact Pastor
Keita. |
