Addis in Ethiopia
When illness exacerbates your ability to take care of yourself and your children, seeking out unconventional interventions becomes an option. What if holy water could heal you? The possibility has drawn women in Ethiopia with HIV/AIDS to the Entoto Maryam Church. What formed is a community of migrants living in poverty on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
Addis and her siblings had moved to attend school. Sometime after completing her primary education (8th grade), she gave birth to a baby boy. Her sweet child was diagnosed with epilepsy syndrome. She took to the hills seeking out healing from the holy water. Help came in the form of a husband. Addis and Ato were married yet tragedy struck as her young son’s life was lost in a road traffic accident. Despite her depression, Addis kept moving forward setting up a small road-side shop selling coffee, tea, and Ambasha bread. Not only did they have rent to pay but another mouth to feed as her second child was born.
In 2010 as migrants were making their way to the Entoto Mountains, a group of individuals from Beza International Church met regularly to pray for needs in their community. Their attention turned to this growing group of people seeking solutions to their health. Three years after the prayer group started meeting practical needs for those in the Entoto community, the Beza Community Development Association (BCDA) officially formed.
This past year, Addis joined the BCDA women empowerment program where receives small business training. Because of this program, Addis has started saving. The support she has received has not only been in business planning but also supplies and financial support. BCDA team members reviewed her business plan which is proving strong as she’s eager to expand. Expansion currently looks like diversifying what she’s able to offer because of new equipment. In the future, she plans to open an actual store to sell her goods. Her husband supporters her work, carrying and delivering products and supplies. They are so happy and Addis thanks the Lord for BCDA for taking a chance on her. And she thanks Tirzah for providing support so she could receive support.
Beza is a word in Ge’ez, an ancient South Semitic language. When translated, it means redemption. Our sweet sister Addis’ future has been redeemed. She’s regained her life in the form of opportunity and a healthy family and a future. Tirzah's Global Leaders at BCDA have brought healing and transformation through training, community, and restoration. We join Addis in being grateful.
