Yonas

it's Yonas!  remember all those times i've written about him before?  both on the original blog, and this one, since AJ journeyed home. 

we've stayed connected through a wonderful man named Eyob who, even though heavily involved in ministry himself, has helped facilitate this for us over the years...

so, recently i've been able to connect a bit more with Yonas~ one of social media's perks i guess~ continents and oceans may separate us but crazy apps called Facebook and Messenger have helped to close the gaps.  so, here we are, connecting again...such a gigantic joy to see his face every now and again.  we've also learned that Yonas is still in contact with many of the other children we met back in 2010, both when we traveled with Joelle and Hannah, and on the second trip when it was just Jeff and I and AJ...precious kids who were in the neighbourhood of the guesthouse we were staying in. 

as it turns out, this group of joyful, spunky and athletic kids banded together and remained a united force, even still, in 2017...Yonas has sent me current pictures of four sweet kids we fell in love with there during soccer scrambles and silly games and camera silliness.  they are all growing up~ looking well and happy and healthy and simply beautiful too.  

back to Yonas~ please consider praying for him if you think of it.  he has some training as an electrician from a trade school, but has been unable to find work in that area of study.  he's been trying for about a year...recently he's considering more education to obtain training in a field where there are employment opportunities.  of course, he's so limited in his options based on finances alone.  so, Eyob is working with Yonas to come up with a new plan...Yonas is 18 years old now.   would be so great if he could eventually find full-time work and become totally self-sufficient as a young adult.  that would be an amazing step for him, and achievable i believe!