"You whose hand is not short to save”
Stock the shelves. Set the flour behind the counter. Feed the cows and wash out their stalls. Write in the notebook the money saved today. Spend a minute dreaming, then 60 more making dinner for the family. Laugh with a sister. Read the Bible with a friend.
No two days look alike for any one TOLI entrepreneur in Ethiopia. But every day holds the same gifts of working, providing, running a business, and dreaming.
In a place like Ethiopia, where the headlines are hard, where inflation rises and conflict presses in, God is still at work.
Families, who were once in poverty, can now afford three meals a day. Entrepreneurs are encouraging one another and praying together. Parents can pay their medical bills and send their children to school, some for the very first time. And people are seeing themselves in a new way. They believe they’re capable and loved by the Father.
During a recent TOLI prayer call, a TOLI Field Staffer reminded the team: God’s hand is not short to save, even in hard places.
Do you doubt it? TOLI is full of testimonies of His faithfulness. We see it every day in the lives of entrepreneurs like Abnet, a shop owner in Sekota, Ethiopia.
"Even when life was difficult, and I could not see a way forward, God gave me strength, hope, and the courage to continue. I believe God used this program and its supporters to bring change into my life." – Abnet, shopowner, Ethiopia
In an interview with Abnet’s story, she shared:
“My name is Abnet. I am 28 years old, and I have a four-year-old daughter. I live with my daughter and my younger sister, and I am responsible for taking care of them.
During the Northern Ethiopia Conflict, I was displaced. My café was looted. I lost everything I had worked for. After that, I rented a container shop and tried to sell cooking oil, but the shop was nearly empty. I faced business loss, theft of property, financial problems, and pain.
I first heard about Life Center [and TOLI] from other people. They welcomed me. They gave me business training, a microloan, advice, and guidance. I followed their advice and started selling different goods. Now my shop is full of products, and my business is doing much better.
The support I received brought many changes into my life. I now have better financial stability, peace of mind, happiness, and confidence.
I believe in myself again, and I know that I can succeed. The knowledge I gained from the program changed my mindset. My dream is to have a wholesale shop.
I give thanks to God for never leaving me during my struggles. Even when life was difficult, and I could not see a way forward, God gave me strength, hope, and the courage to continue. I believe God used this program and its supporters to bring change into my life. I am truly thankful for everyone who has helped me and my family build a better future.”
Abnet's words are powerful because the Lord has given her strength.
As conflict escalates again in Ethiopia, Abnet has new tools and support through TOLI and Life Center, TOLI’s partner ministry, to continue growing her business and building a better future for her family. She is moving forward in courage and knows God’s love in the midst of it all.
“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” — Isaiah 59:1
Please join us in praying for peace in Ethiopia, for Abnet and her family, and for the safety of the entrepreneurs and local field staff serving communities. Bless them in Jesus’s name with his protection, safety, and peace.