I'm headed to Ethiopia! I have had the joy of sponsoring a sweet little girl named Ayantu for a little over two years now, during which time I have written to her monthly and developed a relationship with her. Now, I finally get to meet her in person and cement our bond.

I'm joining a team of passionate people to visit the Spring of Hope CarePoint and community in early 2017. After traveling over 9,000 miles to the rural community of Ambo, Ethiopia, we'll spend an entire week getting to know the children and families of Spring of Hope. Our trip was originally scheduled for October 2016 but was sadly postponed by our nonprofit organization due to civil unrest throughout Ethiopia's Oromia region, where the CarePoint is located. We hope to solidify new dates soon.

It's All About Relationships! 

This trip is about meeting my sponsor child, Ayantu, with whom I have been building a relationship for the past couple of years. It's about getting to know her, her family, her friends, and her community. It's a chance to learn more about her everyday life, her struggles, and her dreams so that I can grow closer to her and continue to play an important and active role in her life. It's also an opportunity to thank and encourage the CarePoint leaders and teachers: the ones who are always on a mission to effect long-term change in the lives of the children and families they serve. I'm also keen to meet the other children and their families, and to immerse myself in Ethiopian culture.

Those who know me well will be fully aware that traveling is one of the true joys of my life. This will be my first excursion to Africa and I am beyond excited to add not only a new country, but also a new continent, to my passport.

My Fundraising Goal

I'm excited to learn, encourage, and serve on this Spring of Hope Passion Trip. The cost to participate in this experience is roughly $2,800.00 per traveler. This includes ground costs (meals, bottled water, Ambo hotel room, in-country transportation, translators, and guide), and also travel costs (airfare and hotel stay for overnight layover). This is a big financial commitment, but I'm determined to reach it because it is important to me that I take this chance to meet Ayantu and show support for the CarePoint.

I love sponsoring Ayantu, but my heart aches for the other children at Spring of Hope who are still waiting for sponsors. With those sweet kiddos in mind, I have set myself the pipe dream goal of raising $5000 in total, which will cover the costs associated with my trip AND allow me to sponsor an additional child at Spring of Hope for the next five years. It's a huge number, but I think that I can reach that goal with your support. 

Please support me! Just click the "Donate to this Fundraiser" button on this page. Every single dollar takes me one step closer to Ethiopia, and to helping another child. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support!