And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25:40
It is a day of celebration when the community and local church come together to build a house for one of our neediest widows. Mossy Foot provides a carpenter to coordinate the building and we pay for the needed building materials. The community provides the labor, eucalyptus poles, and the mudding. As the men work, the women prepare large pots of coffee and “cocho,” a combination of boiled corn and beans.
In the last newsletter, I told you about a widow with mossy foot disease named Belaynesh who was identified as being extremely needy. She was living with her little children in a pitiful hovel that didn’t keep out the driving rain. Also, they were terrified at night as hyenas prowled near their home howling viciously.
Below is a picture of Belaynesh’s old hovel and next to it, she stands with her children in front of their new house. It is now completed except for the mud plaster that is waiting on the rain so the men can dig a pit to stomp the mud.
This is all the shelter Belaynesh and her three daughters had from weather and wild animals
Belaynesh and her children stand in front of their new house, with a real door!
In June, Wendy Gray, one of our board members, was able to travel to Soddo and spend time with Zebdewos and Mossy Foot Project staff. She also went with them on several trips to rural clinics. After delivering clothing to a widow, they brought a set of oversized shoes to another man suffering from mossy foot disease as well as clothing for his children.
Wendy traveled to one of the rural clinics to see how patients were being helped.
They were able to visit this man with mossy foot disease and deliver shoes and clothing.
We are so grateful for our excellent staff in Ethiopia led by Zebdewos, our talented and dedicated Executive Director. Just this month Mossy Foot Project received another award for being the best health NGO in the region.
Your partnership in this life transforming work is invaluable. It couldn’t happen without your support. Thank you so much for your prayers and financial contributions. Also, you can help those we serve, and those who still need our help, by raising awareness by spreading the news of the plight of those who suffer from mossy foot disease. Please tell those you know about the Mossy Foot Project and direct them to our website. You can contact us through the website or call (805) 216-9971. I or any of the board members would be delighted to talk with you.
May God bless and encourage you as you make a difference in the physical and spiritual lives of our patients. Thank you for being part of the team.
With love and gratitude,
Mossy Foot Project
President