A Brief History

A brief History
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At the request of Illubabor Bethel Synod, in the Illubabor region of Ethiopia, the Shenandoah Presbytery sought to find up to 50 sponsors for 50 children in the summer and fall of 1999. The children we were asked to sponsor were in dire straights in Ethiopia. We were told that the children, many of whom would be orphans, would be brought to the Gore Children's Home in the town of Gore, where they would receive reliable nutrition, clothing, access to the local public school, a spiritual lifestyle and a modicum of health care.
 
The Presbyterian Christians of the Shenandoah Presbytery responded quickly and by January 2000 all of the sponsorships were in place. From that time to this we have had extraordinary faithfulness on the part of sponsors.

The Gore Home has been in service as a children's home since 1985.  Sponsorships before the Shenandoah Presbytery became involved were from Germany.  The home currently houses approximately 125 students. Brian Gilchrest from the Shenandoah Presbytery served as a missionary  with the Gore Home for two and a half years. He was instrumental in putting in place policies and practices that have contributed to the quality of life of all the children in the Home.
 
In addition to work with the Gore Home in 2002 the iCARE committee received a request to help raise funds to build student shelters in two Presbyterys in the Illubabor Bethel Synod.  Most regions of Ethiopia have only one high school. If a child comes from a more rural part of the region and does not live within walking distance of that high school, or can not find residence with a family member or other who lives near the high school, they simply do not have access to school beyond the primary grades. Once again, through the generous donations of the people in Shenandoah Presbytery shelters were built in the Algae and Alito Presbyterys.

iCARE stands for Illubabor Children’s Agape Response. 

Sponsorship is for a calendar year with payment being due in the first half of November of the preceding year, i.e. sponsors pay $500 dollars, per sponsored child, in November for the following calendar year.