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[/av_one_full][av_heading heading=’Ethiopia Humanitarian Trip.‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Ordinary Hero is an advocacy organization that partners with impoverished communities, advocates for the vulnerable, and empowers ordinary people to change the life of a child. Through service trips to the countries and monthly family sponsorships to supply food, rent, medical needs, and the opportunity for kids to attend school, this amazing organization is able to help people in desperate need. After Darci, Dr. Burke’s wife, had a few life changing opportunities to travel to Ethiopia with Ordinary Hero, she was able to go back last month with Dr. Burke, and two of their kids, Shaydon and Graci. There, they were able to visit the families that they sponsor and serve the people that Darci had grown to love in past visits.
On their trip, they went to Korah, which is known as the trash dump community where 10,000 people rely on the trash dump for food! Recently, the government there decided to move their trash dump. This has been a huge devastation for them and Ordinary Hero is doing all that they can to help these families and to find sponsors for them. The Burke’s were able to go on several home visits to hand out blessing bags and help families financially. Many people in Korah have AIDs, Leprosy, or Tuberculosis and have been shunned from the community and from their families. It was devastating for them to see how many people there were struggling with medical needs, starvation, and so many young kids walking around begging for food.
They also went to a primary school located in a remote village where most of the kids live in extreme poverty. While there, the Burke’s spent a few hours playing with the kids, doing simple things that we often take for granted, such as coloring, swinging on swings, playing soccer, and blowing bubbles. It was awesome to see that all they really want is love and attention and it was an honor for the Burke’s to be able to go and spread some love to the children over there. Another place they traveled to was Entoto mountain. There, they saw women of all ages carrying large bundles of sticks that weigh 100lbs down a mountain for 20 miles just to sell them for $1! They do this pregnant, ill, young and old, rain or shine. Can you even imagine?! Entoto mountain is also a place where many people with AIDs, or Leprosy go because they believe there is healing water up there. Dani, one of the boys that the Burke’s are able to sponsor through Ordinary Hero, lives there. They were able to visit him and go to his home, which was a very humbling experience. Their home is made of mud, garbage, and sticks so you can imagine what it is like when it rains there. His mom kissed and hugged Darci probably 50 times overjoyed with gratitude.
Kai is another boy that the Burke’s sponsor through Ordinary Hero. They met his mom, sister, and brother. They were so thankful that Kai gets this opportunity to be sponsored. The Burke’s were able to take them out to dinner to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant which was probably their first time ever eating out at a restaurant! After, they also took Kai to get some ice cream and he said thats only the 2nd time he has ever had it…something so small that we all take for granted! Kai lives in an orphanage with about 55 other kids. These kids are all sponsored and get to go to school, have a bed and other basic needs. They are taught the bible and how to pray. Their belief and hope in God is really all they have to hold onto. The brothers and sisters there have an unbreakable bond. When they get sick, they take care of each other, they share everything, and the most simple things will keep them entertained and happy for hours.
This trip taught their family just how truly blessed they are and not to take the simple things in life for granted. It taught them more about cherishing family relationships and that besides having basic needs met, really all anyone wants is to feel loved and be treated like a human being. Dr. Burke and his family are also very excited to announce that Kai gets to come to the United States in July to live with them and attend school! It will continue to be such an amazing experience, they can’t wait for him to get here!
Should you want more information regarding Ordinary Hero, or to learn how to become a sponsor, you can check out their website at Ordinaryhero.org.
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