Dates: July 1 - 12, 2016
Cost: $3,000 - $3,200
Leaders: Ryan and Karmyn Heckart

Ryan and Karmyn will be leading a team from their church in Perryton, Texas to serve on many projects for the America World Transitional Home and working with the numerous orphanages which partner with AWA in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is the only African country that was not colonized as various European nations scrambled to divide and rule Africa. With the brief exception of the Italian occupation from 1936-1941, Ethiopia has remained an independent nation.

With a population of nearly 75 million people, there is an assorted collection of food, languages, customs and people groups. Ethiopia also contains a diverse landscape, including parts of the Nile River and the Great Rift Valley. As an East African landlocked country, Ethiopia is bordered by Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.

Ethiopia, an ancient Christian nation, has deep-rooted Ethiopian Orthodox customs and practices. The Judaic-Christian roots of Ethiopia can be found in both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Today, about half the population of Ethiopia is Christian.

Unfortunately, this country that is about twice the size of Texas has an estimated 4.3 million orphans. The children are primarily orphaned due to poverty, and live in both government-run and privately established orphanages.

America World operates a transition home for children who are in the process of being matched with families for adoption are. America World also partners with many orphanages in Ethiopia. It will be these areas in which our missions teams will travel and minister to children.

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