From brokenness to purpose

My name is Yordanos, though many people know me as Jordan, I was born and raised in Ethiopia. My story did not begin with comfort and stability. It began with loss. When I was still young, I lost both my father and my younger sister after that my family’s world changed. My mother suddenly becomes both a mother and the father, caring a responsibility that no one should have to bear alone. She worked tirelessly to provide for us, but no matter how hard she tried there were things that only a father could have given.

Growing up without a father was one of the greatest challenge of my life. There was no father to guide me through life difficult decisions, to teach me what it meant to become a man, or to encourage me when I feel weak. There was no one to protect me when I felt vulnerable or to show me the path ahead when life become confusing. Like many children who grew up without a father I often struggle with feeling of loneliness, insecurity, and uncertainty.

I watched other children with with their father and wonder what it would have been like if mine were still alive. There were a moments when I questioned why my family had to experience such pain. Sometimes I believe that I have simply been unlucky. I thought my circumstance had robbed me of opportunity and the support every child deserves. The absence of my father left a wound that were not always visible. I had to learn many lessons through hardship instead of guidance. I made mistakes, faced disappointment and carried burden that feels too heavy for a young boy. Yet through every valley, even when I could not see God was walking beside me, God never abandon me.

Through every disappointment He became my comfort, through every unanswered question He became my teacher, through every painful experience He quietly shape my character. That once seemed meaningless become a lesson of compassion, patience, resilience, and faith.

Looking back today, I realized something that I could never have understood as a child. What I once called bad luck was actually God’s preparation. God was not wasting my pain. He was preparing my heart. He was teaching me to understand children whose story sounds like mine. Today I have the incredible privilege of working alongside vulnerable children growing up in circumstance similar to those I experienced. Many have lost parents, others live with single mother struggle with poverty. luck of guidance, love and emotional support. when I sit with them, I listen to them, encourage them or simply spend time with them to understand their silence struggle because I have lived them myself. I know what it feels like to long for someone to believe in you. I know what it feels like to wonder whether anyone truly cares, because God made met in my own brokenness and He has given me the ability to meet others in theirs. What once brought me pain has now become the very place from which I serve. God transfer my wounds into compassion, my struggle into purpose.

As I continue to follow God’s calling He brought two incredible people into my life: Janette and Theo. Their passion for children, their compassion for people and their love for Jesus have become a tremendous blessing to both to me and the ministry that God entrusted to them. Together we share one vision. to advance God’s kingdom by loving and serving vulnerable children and families.
Serving together has allowed me to witness miracles that cannot be measured simply by numbers. I have watched children who once believe they were forgotten to begin to smile again. I have seen children who felt abandoned, discovered that they are deeply loved. I have watched, fearful heart become hopeful, broken spirit become confident, children who once doubted their worth begin to believe that they have value and purpose. Education is opening doors. Counseling is restoring health. Simple act of kindness are rebuilding confidence. Most importantly the Love of Christ is changing lives.

Today, I do not simply see vulnerable children, I see myself in many of them and because someone worked with me because God carried me when I could not carry myself, I now have the privilege working beside them. I believe this is what redemption looks like. God takes what was broken and turning into something beautiful. He takes sorrow and create compassion. He takes suffering and produce Hope. He takes ordinary people whose painful story and use them to accomplish extraordinary things for His Kingdom.

This is my story,
a story of loss
a story of healing and
a story of purpose.

Most importantly, it’s a story of God’s faithfulness. This journey continue and I look forward with Hope, knowing that every child whose life is transformed is another Testimony that God is still writing beautiful story from broken beginnings.