The facility in Suluta used to be licensed and operated as an orphange. This is no longer the case. The children are still technically orphans, as most of them do not have mothers or fathers to care for them. However, in recent years, the government in Ethiopia has reduced favor for orphanages. The children also do not like being recognized in the community as orphans, beings there is a stigma attached to the word. Now, Hope for the Hopeless has changed our licensing status to a boarding school.

It wasn't long ago that board member Barbara Bolkan and her husband, Earl, visited Hope for the Hopeless in Ethiopia. While at the orphanage last Spring, they had time to chat with all the children individually. Each and every child expressed that the thing that made them the happiest was being one of the 57 children in their big family.

The older kids from both the inner city dropping center, and the country side Suluta orphanage, were taken about 45 km out of town into the country for a field trip. The journey was designed to motivate the children to properly care for the agricultural project that was recently undertaken on site in Suluta. The children were to learn step by step care for the crops and the chicken, and then apply it upon their return to Hope for the Hopeless.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5

It is because of this faithful and fervent love in Christ coupled with many prayers and the work of the Lord’s saints, that Hope for the Hopeless is honored to announce the arrival of the bus.