Shouting God’s goodness from the rooftops
The world needs to know that change is happening in the darkest of places - even in the hardest of hearts.
By Jeremy N. Willet
(Editor's Note: Jeremy N. Willet is the lead singer and oldest of three brothers who compose the band WILLET. In 2006, the band partnered with Food for the Hungry to promote child sponsorship. The band recently returned to Ethiopia after first visiting in early 2007.)
CHANGE. You find it in unlikely places. Sometimes in your pocket, other times on your dresser, under the couch, or in the backseat of a car. I recently found change. It was hidden in a village in eastern Africa called Zeway, Ethiopia.
Two years ago, my brothers (Justin and Jordan) and I traveled to Zeway as a band to learn about this village. The children in Ethiopia changed our lives in such a way that we could not stay silent about the poverty we had witnessed. Upon returning to the States, we promoted child sponsorship at every concert and event and, so far, we've seen more than 500 children from Zeway sponsored! Praise God! This year, we raised our own funds and led a mission trip with our family and friends so they could see how God is at work in Zeway.
After spending the first night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital city, we woke up early to meet with Food for the Hungry (FH) staff and drive three hours to Zeway. Twenty-four years ago on that day, I was born in a clean hospital in Westminster, Maryland. Since then, I have had clean water, food, medicine, shelter, education, and a Bible translated in my language. My birthday this year would be spent with children and families who have gone without those essential items most of their lives, and I couldn';t think of a better place to be! Upon arriving in Zeway, we learned how God is expanding His ministry there through improved infrastructure, a growing child-sponsorship program, better HIV/AIDS awareness and more cooperation among churches and pastors.
Change is happening in Zeway. Our prayer is that this will have a ripple effect across the entire country of Ethiopia for the glory of God.
God's heart for the poor
Last year, as a band, we released a concept project called "Virus," which included 10 songs written during our first trip to Ethiopia, a documentary, 100 photos, and an e-book about the songs" lyrics. On the record was a song we wrote called "For orphans and the King." The chorus of the song says:
Till the poor will have hope / till the broken find peace
And the hurting will know there is help on the way
Till the hungry are fed / till the children go free
We can't sleep; we are for orphans and the King
As I sat in a small room in Zeway surrounded by FH staff, the words of this song came to life. The Bible is full of verses showing that God's heart is with the poor, the lost and the broken, and if we want to experience the fullness of God, we are to live for those people. Sitting in that room, I was humbled to be in the presence of those who have surrendered so much in their own lives for the sake of saving lives!
At our hotel in Zeway, there were many days we woke up with no running water or electricity. Honestly, our initial reaction was that of disappointment and frustration, but as we tried to remain open to what God was teaching us, we turned each of those moments into opportunities to thank Him for what we did have and to remember those who would go without.
This was especially true on the day we visited Jiddo. The image that many of us saw that day will never be forgotten. After visiting a small school, we accompanied FH staff as they visited people's homes. After driving an hour and a half, we stopped at a desolate place with crying children, less than 6 months old, lying in the dirt with no clothes on. Soon, a very frail woman emerged from the hut and sat on a small stool. Through our translator, we learned that this woman only weighed 90 pounds and was seven months pregnant!
We felt sorrow in Jiddo, but this was soon replaced with joy as we visited our sponsored children. Regardless of how many times I visit those children, I will never be able to wrap my mind around the beautiful relationship built through simple letter-writing, photos and prayer.
Change is happening
On this trip, each team member had the opportunity to use his or her talents to serve. Some of us were musicians and led worship at team devotions and churches in the area; others were pastors and facilitated pastor-development sessions; while others were teachers, nurses, students or bankers, and were great with children. Each member served with an open heart and spread the joy of the Lord around the village of Zeway. My family and I also had the privilege of meeting Genet, a girl we decided to sponsor last Christmas in place of exchanging gifts. Genet is an orphan living with her aunt, and she has great dreams for the future.
During the debriefing session at the end of our trip, we realized how God has been orchestrating the plans for this community of Zeway. Back home in the States, prior to this trip, we had begun planning a nationwide concert tour named "The 500 Faces Tour," because our goal was to have 500 children in Zeway sponsored by 2010. We learned from the staff that day that 500 was precisely the number of children left to be sponsored in Zeway!
Change is happening in Zeway, and change is happening in my life. God revealed to me some things in my life that I could "go without," like my cable TV, so I could afford to sponsor another child. On the last day in Zeway, I wrote some lyrics for a song included in our latest record, "Somewhere In Between." The song is called "And Shout from the Rooftops:"
When poverty and wealth collide, it hits harder than a plane crash
And spreads love to the lost and forgotten places.
I found God today; He was right where He said he would be.
Here in the brokenness, here in the brokenness.
Learn more about WILLET and the band's ministry to American youth and churches at www.willetonline.com.