The cutest way to start your Friday, yes?

We are so grateful for all the support given to our Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children project. It means we all get to continue seeing smiles on the beautiful faces of well fed, well taken care of, well educated children.

Food glorious food!

Though it looks pretty different than what Americans eat on a daily basis, this food is nutritious and provided multiple times a day to these kids thanks to those who support our Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children project.

The boys at the home in Nyamlel, Sudan wait in line for their afternoon meal. This home is able to provide food and many other necessities to over 400 boys and girls.

Your support of our Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children project ensures that this home continues to be a safe haven for many children.

We love seeing the smiling faces of students!

Your support of our Education project allows for these kids to receive a full education with a trained teacher and adequate supplies.

That’s something to smile about.

Our home in Nyamlel, Sudan provides safety for over 400 boys and girls. These children are now protected from both the slave raiders and potential hyena attacks and are provided with complete care – food, education, spiritual direction, medical care, and vocational training.

You can support this home by joining with our Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children project.

Africa's newest country? (image from Persecution Project)

The Sudan Tribune recently reported that 24 humanitarian organizations issued a report that Sudan is “alarmingly unprepared” for the secession referendum in January 2011.

One of the key factors in insuring a peaceful transition is to clearly define the North/South Sudan border, something that has not yet been accomplished. Without both sides agreeing on what constitutes northern and southern Sudan, the possibility for a renewed conflict between the two regions is greatly increased if the South votes for independence.

The referendum on secession was one of the terms specified in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed by the North and South in 2005. A key player in the peace negotiations was the United States, which is accredited with making the CPA a reality.

However, since taking office, President Obama has been criticized by the Left and the Right for his lack of action in Sudan. Obama made many promises during his campaign about intervening in Sudan, especially Darfur. And experts agree that a strong U.S. presence will be needed to ensure that the referendum vote is honored by Northern Sudan. Few people seriously believe Southern Sudan will vote to remain part of the North.

Salva Kiir was overwhelmingly elected President of Southern Sudan and will likely become the President of Africa's newest country next year. (image from Persecution Project)

The bottom line is that the next several months are going to be crucial as Northern and Southern government officials work to reach an agreement on what a post-referendum Sudan will look like.

Many millions of Southern Sudanese live in the North. So their citizenship status would be a major issue if the South secedes. Moreover, there are questions on how to dispose the national debt, water issues (since the Nile runs through Southern Sudan, and is the lifeline for the North), and trade agreements (since all oil in Southern Sudan must run through the North to get to Port Sudan).

Please keep the work of Mocha Club and Persecution Project in your thoughts and prayers, so the security situation will remain stable enough for our work to continue.

We love our little friend Vincent, one of the kids that Mocha Club has helped build a safe home for in Nyamlel, Sudan.

That smile. Who can resist it?

You can support this home in Nyamlel by joining with our Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children project.

Ethiopia one-month team in their van - Melissa is on the front right in the black hood (photo by Asher Wood)

“…our team members washed the street boys’ feet as a gesture of our love and gratitude towards them. The boys then in turn washed our feet. Such humility and servitude was really astounding…”

by Melissa Kohne

The Mocha Club one-month team of six arrived fresh from America on July 29th and just left on August 23rd.  The team had a great dynamic and every team member brought their own unique and refreshing outlook on Africa. We divided our time between three Ethiopian cities: Addis Ababa, Nazaret, and Ambo.   Here are some of the highlights:

• In Nazaret we spent 2.5 days with the Women At Risk that Mocha Club supports. They are going through a nine-month program that focuses on counseling and job training. Each morning with the women we had devotional time together and then two women and two team members shared their stories with the group. To see such trust and hear such strength from all was truly one of my favorite times. The women also sang worship songs better than any other group I have ever encountered!
• In Ambo our team taught English to children sponsored by Compassion International (at a school Mocha Club funded), and worked with street boys. Four street boys in particular were adopted by our group. Our last night together in Ambo, our team leaders surprised us with a nice dinner, and after a coffee ceremony, our team members washed the street boys’ feet as a gesture of our love and gratitude towards them. The boys then in turn washed our feet. Such humility and servitude was really astounding and I wish I could capture that feeling of love and place it in this blog post for you all to feel.
• One of days in Addis Ababa, we had our own version of Thanksgiving.  All our team members were there, as well as our friends we had worked with the previous month. Seeing everyone interacting made it feel like a family Thanksgiving for sure.
• On the last day, all the girls of our team got our hair braided.  Some of the girls even wore traditional Ethiopian dresses on the plane ride home. The sight we made all walking the streets together was really quite hilarious!

Yesterday an Ethiopian friend told me that I was not a tourist, I was instead part of the Ethiopian “dispora” (meaning I was an Ethiopian who left and has returned). Although it was said in jest, my hope is that the way I interact with all gives off that impression. I don’t want to be another tourist who comes, gives physical gifts, and leaves. I’m still learning each day how to live beside my African friends (and not simply observe how they live), and how to keep these relationships alive and well once an ocean is between us.

For more about Melissa’s trip, you can check out her personal blog.

Not only are these women taught how to sew and hem and stitch clothing, they are also trained in fashion design. So a portion of time is spent creating new styles, combining new colors, and designing new clothing lines for the Learn to Earn facility to create.

You can join our Education project and be a part of this continued training and encourage the creativity of these women.

The Fly Me To The Show tour is probably coming to a city near you. Check the schedule, grab a ticket, throw on your Mocha Club swag, and have a great time!

Grab a picture with the band and send it to us- we love seeing pictures of our members with our artists. We’ll add it to the MC Artists + You facebook album!