​By Sharif Paget and Helen Regan, CNN

(CNN) Ethiopia planted more than 353 million trees in 12 hours on Monday, which officials believe is a world record.
The burst of tree planting was part of a wider reforestation campaign named "Green Legacy," spearheaded by the country's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Millions of Ethiopians across the country were invited to take part in the challenge and within the first six hours, Ahmed tweeted that around 150 million trees had been planted.

All with LOVE please dont hesitate to message me, just may be a delay :P
After my exam, DE will be getting a MAJOR uplift & changes will be made!

The United Nations has quoted in 2007, 1,300 people in Ethiopia were sheltered in the result of the victimization of Human Trafficking (including sex slavery, labor trafficking, organ trafficking) but in 2007, Ethiopia's population exceeded well over 77 million. 

2007, over 77 million people and only 1,300 were sheltered. How many were shut out? We must end this.


Click here for the full UN Global report

Yuuuup thats right! Emabet has given birth to another beautiful baby girl named Meheret! Bereket is now a big sister!!!

They are doing really well as you can see in the photos these donations really go a long way! I can't wait to expand reach more families! By God grace we will be there soon! Stay in touch for Bereket's update this week as well!

Meet Bereket (Mita, on the left), and Efrata (on the right). 
These two have minds of a sponges and are eager to learn! 

Please check out how you can support the renovation cost of opening an After school program focused on educating our girls who are vulnerable to human trafficking.

We are SO excited to be hitting HALF the goal raised on our GoFundMe for our After School Program!!!
I'd like to to show you the before photos, of before we renovate! The girls were thinking painting the room pink! Whatchall think? ha they are so girly, it be we super cute! I cant wait to see the transformation!

For more information click the buttons below...

Heyyyy Guys!!! Its been super quiet EVERYWHERE, from Youtube, to IG, to even updates because of an unforeseen circumstance. My baby, my beloved, my one and only.... CAMERA got damaged.

Yes, Pointdexter has lost its point, and zoom! He mysteriously got liquid on the inside while nannying.

So YES this puts a LOT of things on hold, and this is like the WORST season to not have a camera AND to be in mid campaign.....ugh it SUCKS. Just pray for us cause we need a cameraaaaaaaaa. 

Just finished recording today. Stay tuned 😘😘😘 #OTGU
itsEthiDOPEian on Youtube!
youtube.com/c/itsethidopeian

Hamza Mohamed | 20 Apr 2016 07:01 GMT | War & Conflict, Africa, Ethiopia 
Ethiopia has declared two days of national mourning for 208 people killed in cross-border cattle raids during which the government says more than 100 children were also kidnapped.
Parliament said in a statement carried by state media that flags would be flown at half-mast across the country, and in its foreign missions, from Wednesday.
It gave no further information about the missing children.
The raids last week happened in three districts of Gambela, in the country’s west, when attackers from neighbouring South Sudan crossed into Ethiopia.
Gambela straddles the border of the two nations and is home to more than 280,000 South Sudanese refugees fleeing a civil war that has raged for more than two years, forcing at least one million people from their homes.
READ MORE: Ethiopia attack - 200 people dead, 100 children missing
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on Monday that his government was working with the government in South Sudan to hunt down the attackers.
The attackers were not South Sudanese government forces or rebels, according to Hailemariam.
“The atrocities committed by armed militants from South Sudan’s Murle tribe claimed the lives of 208 mothers and children. They also abducted 102 children,” he said, giving a lower figure for the kidnappings than the 108 previously given by government officials.
Ethiopia’s Information Minister Getachew Reda told Al Jazeera on Sunday that the army had killed at least 60 of the attackers, and that the government was willing to pursue more across the border.
Cross-border cattle raids, often involving Murle tribesmen from South Sudan’s Upper Nile and Jonglei regions, are not uncommon in the area. Previous attacks, however, were much smaller in scale.

* This was not written by me, but can be found at http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/ethiopia-mourns-attack-victims-news-missing-kids-160419160546325.html

 Armed men from South Sudan have killed over 200 people,  wounded over 75, taken 2,000 head of livestock, and over 100 children have gone missing among many others in a cross-border raid into Ethiopia. This massacre was executed in the Gambela region.

Dear Ethiopia, Lets Pray...

For Example, I found this beautiful dress (photo above) for Bereket that she needs (not because I spoil her :P…jk…) for $12 on AliExpress. It came out really nice & I thought it would be cute for her lil friends to have them in different colors.
I think it is important to show when giving, you’re not just giving scraps (not implying thats what anyone did)! But how much more of an impact could we have on an individual who is lacking to receive not only cute but new items. Enabling a sense of ownership & not someone’s hand-me-downs (although those are great too! Just not when they should be thrown away)
 For the campaign I would display the dress & price, link the address to purchase, have a mini bio dedicated to her & her size. Then once someone purchases it, the item would be checked off the list.  Almost like a  “donation” registry. 
Usually I’ll ask some of the girls what their needs are and I cannot get them all on my own as a college student working 20hrs a week. So if you know anyone who could help me or recommend any websites I could sign up for to bring life to this dream that would be AWESOME! ​

Arriving into Canada’s international airport I was directed and lead to the wrong line which caused my to miss my connecting flight. The guy was busy texting he just said I “needed” to go and pick up my luggages and take them upstairs, and pointed me in the direction with the other Ethiopians. After wasting 25 mins and several trips back and forth, I finally went up to someone else I was informed that US citizens’ luggages are already upstairs. I jet up stairs…heated at this point to find that plane is boarding & I cannot get on and the next flight wasnt for another 4 hours. 

Disappointed is an understatement when it comes to Air Canada. Not flying with them any time soon.
Then the next day, and for the next several weeks I found myself in OSU’s financial aid office because my scholarships and grants were completely messed up. Turns out somewhere, somehow, OSU thought I already received my bachelors degree. After 9 weeks of verification some of my grants finally come in….
But I’m thinking like WHAT degree? If so handed over, I can bang out early!

So class= a wreck
Finances as well.
Next stop the home life….
Lordt. Jesus. Pray for me please(:


Part two will be later :) stay tuned.

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“Oh, I am like Sammy & Cam!
Where she at, I am!
I’m her bestie, yes ma’am,
No you can’t steal my fran!”

(Ignore our eyebrows, we were young, ha just focus on them LAID edges!)

Ha, Man although I am over 7k miles away from the lil street we grew up on, the absence of her presence is still very near. I’ve had a couple post on Instagram, snapchat about the lost of my sister, but I regret posting some of them… I felt obligated to tell people I was hurting when I just wanted to be alone.

I can still recall everything that happened when I got the news. I was at work, and I texted her how she was doing through iMessage on my Mac because my phone had died and I was without my charger. We were talking about coming to see each other’s first house/apartment, and how she would stay the night during midterms and finals because I was closer to campus. We caught up on this an that, and she was asking me about my work study, after I told her how chill it was, and we were hiring I was gonna ask my boss if she can work with us. Then I left to volunteer with the youth on the westside. I came back and was chillen with my roommate in the living room watching TV and talking. Then I got a call from my mom asking had I heard the news, that Samirah had past. I remember saying “WHAT!?!” and running upstairs into my room to get my jacket so i can go for a drive so no one could see me; but I didn't make it. I told my mom “No were JUST talking! Thats impossible!” So as I hung up the phone and made my way upstairs into my closet and I couldn't hold it in. I fell on the floor bursting into tears trying not to make too much noise while enduring this pain. Then I heard one of my roommates say “Is she crying?” So I put my hand over my mouth the suffocate the loud uproar that was uncontrollably flowing from my body.

One of my roommates helped me take of my jacket, which I only successfully mafr one arm in my sleeve. And I began shaking and crying sooo hard I couldnt even speak. Even now as I type, the muscles in my arms and hands are revisiting that encounter. As much as I fought, but I couldn’t stop shaking and crying. I’ve never been so distant from my body where my emotions had complete control! I was guided to my bed, I was crying so hard I had to run to the bathroom from almost choking and throwing up. There was a weeping that came from me, my spirit screaming “OOOH”, but I honestly had no control over my mouth. I had to let this pain take it’s course and fully have authority of my body. Yes it was scary.
I woke up the next day with a sore throat, a lost of voice, and an absence from the person who knew me best! ​

We grew up together on the same street, and went to the same middle school. So form 6th-8th grade I’d see her everyday and spent pretty much (if not every) after school day at her house when I “conveniently” left my key. We’d copy each other homework, and  helped work on projects together. But even after going to separate high schools didn’t hinder our friendship. I was still always over…leaving my keys, we’d shared hair tips as we were the original naturals (before it was “cute”) and still helped each other with classes since we were both at early college high schools. She is good at natural sciences and I am better at social sciences. We helped each other practice for the drivers test, I remember going into the parking lot down the street and helping her with her maneuverability…


Then I graduated and went to OSU, and she had one more year left of high school because her high school was a five year program. The following year is when we became a lil distant when she went to Toledo. Ha she hated that school! But even that didnt stop us, we’d still Facetime in between study breaks. I’d complain about my crazy roommates and she’d tell me about how ghetto Toledo was. Although we’d never stepped a foot each other’s campus we knew exactly what our dorms looked like. Until she came and visited my dorm where I met Durrell (her boyfriend at the time) for the first time face to face after the years of hearing his voice over the phone. She’d also talked about how he was helping her deal with the craziness at Toledo where he attended also.


Then she started applying for OSU for the fall! She sent me her essay and I helped her with it, and it was about the first time she had heart surgery and her family. Later she got accepted, we were to be reunited in school! I could finally effortlessly excel in those natural sciences :P 

That summer I left for Ethiopia for 9 weeks, and whenever I had a strong enough connection we’d iMessage or Facetime (S/o to Apple tho). I came back and of course went over to her house, we caught up on summer travels and mishaps, exchanging photos and talking about any drama we were dealing with. One of the days I was over, her dad walked in and was surprised to see me, he said “its real nice to see y'all two girls still friends after all these years” while grinning “real nice!” We’d just smiled and went back to our business!

You see Samirah and I were the type of friends that always got each other. She KNEW me & I knew her. Our moms were friends and they would always walk in and complain, “they not even talking, how are they even hanging out”, but we WERE communicating! Always. (Mainly through facial expressions, eyebrow raises and noises “mhmm”) We’d literally make inside jokes in any given second, and any time we’d try to do something slick there was no need in explaining, we’d just follow suite. We were the same, but had enough differences to balance each other out! We weren’t boy crazy, we weren’t about that “turn up” life, we weren’t starving for attention of others, we were both just cool and laid back and trying to make it.

Actually, now that I am reflecting on it. It’s kind of weird it was like our spirits were twins. We’d had each other’s back, and was down for what ever! I literally had no problem talking to her about ANYTHING, as I’ve been doing it for years (and vise versa). Not worried about hidden thoughts, reading in between people’s lines, or any of that back stabbing fake stuff you have to worry about today. Like she was a bomb friend and if I was needing something from her I never had to worry or overthink if I could get it from her…it was already mine. Everyone needs a friend like that.
The day of her funeral was so hard! She past on Wednesday and her funeral was on Friday. When I seen her light pink casket roll past me all I could think is “that surely that cannot be MY friend in there!” Everything felt like a twisted joke or dream. Then we went into the grave site, and I was walking back to the car holding my breath so I wouldnt cry I ran into Morgan (Sam’s niece’s mother). And she said “….Samirah didnt open up to a lot of people, but she opened up to you!” then I started crying again “Awee I didnt mean to make you cry!” I continued back to the car.

But after the funeral I expected things to get easier when till this day almost 11 mo after the pain is all too familiar. Right after her passing (I’m guessing) some people hadn’t heard the news were texting me “Camille, can you give me a ride to here” “Sis, can you help me with this?” It started to drive me crazy! Not a hello, wassup, how are you doing? I KNOW you’ve seen several of my post, heck you “liked” it. Then I would be in a room full of people rather church, or some event on campus that considered me their “sister or friend” yet had NO clue what was going on. I had to pull away and sort out my thoughts on my own, I picked up more hours at work and busied my self with my studies. 
There was one time I was at the campus Bible study and someone walking from across the room towards was like “Hey, I seen your post that your friend died…are you okay?” I held my breath and said “I’m FINE.”. Said “Are you sure”, still not breathing “Yes”. And that was that, for me and maybe this is just me, but I am not about to open up to a room full of people whom I dont know, and expose how deep this cut is and burst out in tears. And for what? You know what I am going through, I cry and revisit those emotions, but the next few days I dont hear from you lol I’m not about that life either. Ahh another time, I was at home I was like I cant believe all this is happening (as there was a series of unfortunate events) and one of my roommates (not the one from that night) replied “it is what it is.” It literally took the ENTIRE Holy Spirit not for me jump across the room and punch her. Or when that same person said the day of her funeral “you should go to class and get back into the swing of things,” like anything would ever be the same again. Yea this whole mourning stage wasn’t going as I planned. I wasnt trying to make any new friendship, or attempt maintain the ones that had. But that didnt bother me, the worst thing was I didnt have Samirah here to help me deal with her death, to talk me through it and make me laugh again! So don’t judge my story on the chapter you walked in on, that was definitely the climax lowest point.

Am I still bitter about how some people reacted, lol it sounds like it (I am working on it), and do I appreciate those who were there for me, of course! S/o to Metzlal for holding me down that night, Sesen & Mical for always letting me vent on your couch. Of course my Bashintosh :) . Tiaira for checking up on me without even have access to the posts about Samirah, but just because, and Pastor Brian for letting me talk about what was all happening. Most importantly Durrell! Sam’s fiancé, he has helped me so much! He reminds me Samirah, in the beginning I almost wanted to avoid him because their similarities brought her back. He does the lil things that Samirah and I used to do (like those annoying HAPPY BIRTHDAY text ad midnight with each letter getting it own text). And for everyone else I didn’t mention because these emotions are running course on my mind!

When she past, it literally felt like my soul was ripped and a piece of it died. If Mary felt any more pain than I did that night when her precious baby boy was hung on the cross Im not sure how she made it, but she did.

So I am making it, pain still comes for visit as pleases. I recently had a dream that my mom and her mom was talking and I was walking down the street and she was there and she told me it was a misunderstanding. So we continued down the streets and I fell on my knees worshiping and thanking God. I know we will be reunited, but until then I can only dream. It still feels like she is just on a long vacay and I am waiting for those “hey sis” text. Sometimes I think “Okay, God I get it, I get the point You’re making You can bring her back again like Lazarus” (even though I know thats not right). But I dont have any regrets, she was at her dream school and she met a soulmate. We’ve never done each other wrong, I only wish we took more pictures along the ride. And I only fear the future memories that she isnt apart of. Like graduation, Law school, traveling, and each others my wedding. 

So yall pray for my strength & healing and for me to become comfortable with this vulnerability as September 17th approaches and we plan her Tribute and anniversary.

Rest in Peace Samirah, I would do absolutely anything to bring you back. If there was only Facetime in heaven! I miss you, we all miss you and I cant wait till we are reunited again. But thanks for literally being there, through the good and bad times. Thanks for a friendship that can never be replicated but only hoped for. Thanks for being that ride or die, that was down for what ever and never changing a beat. You’ll always have a place in my heart that no can fill and you could never be forgotten! Have fun worshipping in Heaven with our Father, I love you.

Yea she Cold

​…I woke up around 3 or 4 something this morning with this thought. I just got my hair braided last night, and started waking up complaining. Then I thought, maybe there is a reason for me to be up besides my over sensitive scalp being stretched in every direction.

​I can’t answer WHY God put this in my heart, but I cannot deny that He did. And what little information I have, with little room I have to move, day by day God opens my heart and reveals Himself through our bonding time. One thing I am being taught is unconditional love (which is a never ending subject). Some of those close to me know, that on my birthday I found out that Emabet was kicked out of her rental place because of lack of payment by the org and went back into prostitution. I tried not to, but I cried. Not because of “the sin” necessarily, but what this really meant. 1) an organization whom I greatly sowed into was manipulating funds without concern for them (and probably others in the program). 2) that after being in the program for this long her heart truly has not changed. She is still the same. That this $$ support is greatly needed and beautiful, when its there, but that cannot be the final step. She needs counseling, and most important a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. Not the old anointing from her childhood. I am looking for a Christian counselor that is from Hadiya, and speaks the language because Emabet’s Amharic is horrible. So if anyone knows any please contact me. But I love them and I love to give to these two who can never “repay” me in the world’s sense. Honestly, truth is I get so much reward in those smiles, and uncontainable laughter. And all things come together for His goodness…right? Not for the sake of gaining “cool points” in heaven another or rubies in my crown or so…or even for my "christian social circle". But for the sake of love in His name sake! 

Well… by the time I finished these thoughts and hearing pastor Brian say “I’m almost finished” another time HA. There it was. Islamic/Arabic reading of the Qu’ran filling the the city… and I began again to pray for our community “…just words escaping his mouth, and the sound waves fill this area Lord flood Your Holy Spirit in this place! Let ever ear hear sound of sweet Word and let not the praises of men or the things of this world be pleasing anymore!….

​As much as I LOVE Ethiopia, its great to take a break from all this Amharic! Well Sundays, if I’m not in a service here I try to go to the Cafe and listen to my home church Hope City House Of Pray, and Pastor Brian preached in awesome message “Why God Chose Me”. 
​

I loved it, and I invite you all to listen by clicking here. I will be sharing with the women soon!

​Start Over by Flame is my favorite song it preaches to everyone.
As I am spending time with the five women who remain in the house I can only think, that just a few months ago their personalities were completely different. How much they’ve allowed Christ to come in and open their hearts and heal their wounds. How hard it must have been to accept their reality and turn over a new life with the Help of Christ.

These 12 verses in Psalm 30 is an accurate picture of what goes on in my mind when I look at each one of their faces. My mind attempts to paint some of their stories, some nights that were endured, the pain that was inflicted and yet today they laugh, smile and joke around. We are always running around hitting each other like young sisters in a game of tag. ​

Its sooo weird our faces are the same & our personalities match as well! We have to do a photoshoot soon(:
I am also anxiously anticipating the Blaze movement and its beginning! Its gonna be awesssssoooooooommmmeee! Please pray for us! If you dont know what I am talking about just go to facebook and type in Blaze movement! its going to be a might move of God!
Weeeelp thats enough for this post! God willing you will hear from me soon!

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My father left when I was little. I grew up without the love of a father. I also didn’t know what having a father could mean. If he ever decides to come back, it is too late, for I am a full grown person without him. But I now know God is a much better father to me and I rely on His love. And I want my biological father to know Him too and experience His love. This would make a big difference in his life. But I don’t know where he is.
አባቴ ትቶኝ የጠፋው ገና ትንሽ ልጅ ሆኜ ነው፡፡ የአባት ፍቅር ሳላውቅ ነው ያደኩት፡፡ አባቴ ቢኖር  ህይወቴ ምን እንደሚመስል እንኳን አላውቅም፡፡ ለመመለስ ቢወስን ግን ረፍዶበታል ፣ እርሱን ሳላውቅ ሙሉ ሰው ሁኜ ስላደኩ፡፡ ነገር ግን፣ ዛሬ እግዚአብሔር ከሁሉ የበለጠ አባት እንደሆነኝ ተረድቻለሁ፡፡ በእርሱ ፍቅርም እተማመናለሁ፡፡ የስጋ አባቴም ይህንን እንዲያውቅና እርሱም የእግዚአብሔርን ፍቅር እንዲያይ እመኛለሁ፡፡ ነገር ግን፣ አባቴ የት እንዳለ አላውቅም፡፡

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