TOGETHER by AGCI

Together by AGCI is a brand new podcast from the creative team at All God’s Children International.

        

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Episode 77

Inside an Institution

Melissa Rush, Together by AGCI Co-Host

You are listening to Together by AGCI. I’m Marisa Butterworth. Today I have the privilege of interviewing my co-host Melissa Rush, about her recent trip and also your first time to Ethiopia, right Melissa? Yes, my first time to actually see the work that we’re doing. Melissa is actually a part of our marketing team and is a brilliant writer. So it is so wonderful to have had her be able to be there in person really to help tell the stories of all the God is doing there through our incredible in-country team. So Melissa, I’m just gonna dive right in. I’m so excited that we’re doing this one. I’m also jealous because I haven’t been back since Covid happened and yes, I’m just like, so looking forward to hearing all of this. I’ve heard bits and pieces from you, but here we go. So you were able to go to Ethiopia, it was your first time and I know from talking to you it made a huge impact. Will you first just tell us all a little bit about why you went there in the first place with your team? Yeah, absolutely. Well, I have just, I was just so grateful that I got to go on this trip because it’s something I’ve heard about and been writing about for like, gosh, almost eight years now. So it’s just incredible. Has it been eight years? That’s crazy. Yeah, first trip. It’s been a long time. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

So I was really grateful I got to go. But so the primary reasons we were there was to capture a story for, I can’t go into that, but top secret information. Top secret, but a story for an upcoming event. So if you’re lucky enough to attend that event, sometime in 2023 you will get to find out about that. Ooh. So if we have any events, just sign up. If you wanna know sign up. Yeah. But it’s gonna be a really beautiful, impactful story. So I’m excited to get to, to work on that some more. But, and then another reason why we went, we got to be a part of a really awesome trauma-informed training that AGCI hosted for child welfare professionals in Ethiopia. And it was really cool because this was the first training of that kind. And like the largest one they’d had, like people came from all over the country to get to be part of it. How many people were there? Do you remember? Oh gosh, I don’t know the exact amount. Like hundreds. Hundred. Hundreds, okay. Hundreds. Hundreds. Yeah. And it was amazing and it was all in Mhar and all done by our staff there, which was so cool. And I felt really lucky because they did have headphones cuz there was one section where we had an English presenter and so everything was translated into Mhar for all the guests there.

But then our awesome sponsorship coordinator, Emmanuel, was on the trip. Oh nice. And he is from Ethiopia and fluent in English and Mhar. And so when people were speaking of Harar, I got to wear the headphones and listen to what everyone was saying. So that was super cool. I love it. And then another reason we were there was just to build relationships with our team. I mean for me and several other people, this was our first time there and it was just so crazy to people I’ve heard about for forever or have, you know, talked to on Zoom to get to see them in real life. Yes. Was so cool. That’s the best part. And, and you know, building those friendships, relationships, trust, especially as we’re, you do work with them so closely. So I’m so glad you got to do that. I’m, I’m jealous. Why didn’t you take me with you? So what did you like when you were there? I’m so curious. I know we talked about it beforehand cuz we were talking about packing lists, but what did you like Yes. What did you expect to see and experience? Did anything like surprise you? Was anything, was there anything that was like exactly how you imagined it? Like what was your first impression? Yeah, that’s such a good question.

Well, I felt pretty prepared hon honestly from conversations with you Marisa, by the way, if you’re ever going to Ethiopia or any Columbia anywhere, you gotta get Marisa’s tips list for packing. Her packing list was very on point cuz there were things like you told me to bring toilet paper, which is not something I was, we didn’t think about it, what to do. And man, I was loaning that out cuz not everybody did that. And so I had a roll of toilet paper in my bag at all times and it came good. I’m so glad. So those little things so much. Yeah. So, but I feel, I feel prepared for a lot of it. But you know, there’s always, and I don’t, you know, of course seen photos and videos and all of that, but I was surprised I am, you know, I’m, I feel like I’ve traveled quite a few different places and it was just so different from anywhere else I’d ever been I’d, the only other country I’d been to in Africa was Morocco, which was like polar opposite from Ethiopia. So like, not really comparable. And we were in Addies for, for most of our trip, which is the capital and a big city. And so when we were in meetings there, it didn’t feel particularly different, but going into cities and meeting with or going into the villages, I mean, and meeting with kids and families was just really different.

And this sounds kind of silly, but I was surprised by just how many animals there were. Oh, totally. Like walking in the middle of traffic, like horses and goats, like that’s totally normal to see them like amongst cars. Yes. And paint that picture, you just are driving by and it’s like horses are standing in the lane. Yeah. Or in the middle of the lane and, and really in hopes because their flies all over ’em. I’ve heard that they’re standing there because the, you know, momentum of the cars keeps the flies off of them. Oh, I hadn’t heard that. That is, that’s interesting. And they’re right there. I hope that that’s, they’re right there with you. Yeah. And the driving, I had been warned about the driving, but the driving is nuts. Like traffic lights don’t really seem to matter a whole lot. So that was, that was interesting. They’re a suggestion, a loose suggestion. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. If you’re car sick, like maybe bring some Yes. Some it’s, yeah and then I, I was surprised like, I mean these are just kind of the random things you don’t like think about, but I, I mean everywhere we, when we were driving around, you know, I’m just like glued looking out the window, like looking at people, all of that.

And there are so many people just like on the side of the road preparing coffee kind of in the traditional way, like they’re roasting the beans. Yeah. Which, and then like enjoying them in this, these beautiful like ceramic cups and I don’t know, it just, it’s very different from our, you know, in America we’re always in a rush. We have everything to go. Yeah. So I thought that was cool. And then something else it, this shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did was just like how much our American team like stood out like sore thumbs. Yeah. Like kids would openly like point at us and call us fren frenzy. Yeah. I think is how you say that. Yeah. Which means foreigner. Yeah, fren. And they yell at me and they also called. Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. And so that was just, did you get called China? China? That was the other thing, yes. Okay. Yes. We also got called China, which I was so confused by that. Yes. And then it was explained Chinese’s presence there and yeah, they’ve helped fund a lot of like their reconstruction or construct like building projects, engineering. So there is a large Chinese population and apparently we all look alike and they’re like China. So Yeah. That was surprised. That was surprising. Yes. But, you know, but yeah, it’s a beautiful country. The people are so incredibly kind and generous. Yes. Yeah. So, yay.

I just, those were just kind of funny anecdotes, but it was, it’s great. I love it. I love that you like processed it and like took the time to think through like, oh, that’s funny that you know, that I saw that. That’s, I don’t know, whenever, and especially Ethiopia, all the places that, you know, every country you travel to when you’re a foreigner, like you take in those things, but it’s, yeah, I would say it’s one of the more like complete polar opposite places to travel to in, in regards to like how everything works. Like it’s just opposite. It’s totally, and something that was pointed out to me that I didn’t know before I went there, but that’s so interesting was that Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that wasn’t colonized. And so it doesn’t have like the western influence that a lot of other African countries, countries have Yep. Af African countries have, which is, you know, obviously great wasn’t colonized. Yes. They, but it’s just, it’s such like a, a melting pot of so many different cultures and religions and all these different languages, all these different things. And so it’s, it’s just really, really unique in that way. Which is cool. Yeah. They’re very proud. But there it is interesting, like when you go, there’s like an Italian influence because Italy did try very hard to colonize them and it didn’t happen.

But there is some leftover Italian, so you know, you’ll go and be like, wow, there’s a lot of Italian restaurants here. And that’s, I didn’t know that. That does make sense. We did eat a fair amount of pizza, so, and it’s good. I mean it’s very good. Yeah, it’s good. That’s amazing. So like what was, what is the first thing that struck you about the work that we’re doing in Ethiopia? Especially through your lens, because you’re writing about it. I think you hear probably more than a lot of people on our general team because you’re getting all these stories that are coming through and working with them over there. So what, what struck you? I just think we’re doing things that no one else is, which is really cool. And I don’t think that I fully understood that, I guess until I saw it, like firsthand. Totally. The thing that sticks out in my mind is we went to the AGCI and Tim Tebow Foundation House of Hope, which was the most joyful place I think I’ve ever been. And if somebody doesn’t know what we’re talking about, scroll back some episodes to House of Hope and, and after you listen to this, go listen to that. Like keep going first. No, no, totally. I yeah, please go back and listen for just a quick, just so you have an understanding of what the House of Hope is.

It’s just a home for girls who for one reason or another have been separated from family care. A lot of times they are trying to help support their family, you know, trying to secure employment in, in Addies and you know, unfortunately a lot of times they’re preyed upon or things don’t work out the way that they’d hoped. And the goal of the home is to help the girls get the support therapy, all of the things that they need exactly. To heal. And then we also work really closely with their families and help the family get the support that they need. Parenting classes, counseling, you know, help them with job security, all of that kind of stuff. Yes. With the hope that they can be reunified. Yes. Because that is always our first like hope is that kids can Yes. You know, be within their first families and you know, if they get separated that they can be reunified. Yes. That’s so Well and right now, I mean the exciting thing I just talked to, like our Africa director today, there are 39 girls that have been successfully reunified with family and we don’t 30, we don’t really go by like, we don’t judge by, oh we have 39 reunifications. Our, our judgment is really like if they’re staying within their families after reun, I can’t even say a reunification. So we’ve had a 100% success rate. Yeah.

Which is crazy because I was asking her like, what’s the rate that, that we’re not the only place trying to do reunifications. First of all, it’s, it’s not a big thing, but we’re not the only ones, but we are the only ones that are going in and doing that deep healing work through the trauma therapy that we use TBRI. And so it’s so cool because the, the average in Ethiopia is about a 10%, 10 to 15% reunification successful reunification rate. Yeah. So for us to have 39 girls at a hundred percent, it makes me so excited because our team over there is doing something so Right. And yeah, it’s just like so amazing. So keep going. So that’s a, a look at at House of Hope, but you know, what else, what’s, so you were saying as I interrupted you No, and I didn’t know. No, I that’s amazing. I didn’t know that was the number as of right now and I, I knew it was a hundred percent, but, and so many of the girls who, you know, come into the House of Hope they have had or other organizations try to reunify them and you know, unfortunately what they, those organizations are doing is just kind of physically placing them back. Yeah. And a lot of times then the girls are leaving, you know, with sometimes even that day. Yes. Because the trouble’s still there that caused this in the first place. Yeah.

It’s not the physical separation, it’s the emotional. So Yeah. So just the work that’s happening there is, it’s just, it’s hard to, it’s hard to even describe without, you know, seeing it and seeing, I mean our team there and it’s, that’s the thing, it’s our team there. I mean they are so committed, they care so much and they work really hard to help. And some of these girls when they first come into care, like they have difficult behaviors. Oh totally. Cause they Oh totally are hurt. Yeah. And that’s how the only way they know how to ask for help is to act out and, but that can be really challenging. And so they just walk through them, I mean walk, walk with them through that journey. Yes. And it was just powerful to see. And it also was really cool because, you know, we’re we’re coming there. I, I didn’t know how they would react. You know, we’re obviously not Ethiopian, we don’t speak on hark, you know, like is this gonna feel like, oh they’re gonna feel like they have to put on a show or kind of, you know what I mean? Yeah. And that is not what happened at all. Yeah. They kind of were like, hey, and then they kinda went around they’re doing, which was amazing.

I’m, I’m glad that they don’t feel like they have to like change that their world is not, not like completely disrupted anytime any of us come to visit. Yeah, absolutely. But we got to play games with the girls. It’s just like a colorful, beautiful, joyful place. They’re laughing like love it. Just knowing all that they, I mean some of these girls have really, really hard stories and knowing what they have lived through and then you, if you saw them there, you would have no idea the trauma they’ve been through because they are in such a better place. That was just like powerful to see. Like it honestly brought tears to my eyes just to see I love that. How well this model is working and well Yeah. And how hard our staff is working. I love it for, so if you’ve been doing your work for the last eight years with us, you’ve seen so many iterations of what we do. Yeah. And you’ve been a part of like seeing what, how we’re planning for things, seeing how our international team’s doing things, seeing our hopes, dreams, prayers for this place. So I love like how powerful it is that you had a chance to actually go there and see what you’ve been writing about. Yeah. And I think it changed the way that I’ll write about it cuz I just have a deeper understanding, which I’m just so grateful I had that opportunity.

I love it. So what was it like for you? I know you’ve probably, have you met any of the team in person before? Like, I met Azeb at, in I think it was our 2020. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Azeb and High were there, which is so great. So what was it like to meet the rest of the team? And we have a lot of new team members, so how is that? We do, it was awesome. I got to spend time with so many people who I had just, you know, messaged or been in meetings with over the years and so to get to like develop those relationships was just like such a gift. Yeah. And it was just so cool.

Like, they are running things down there so beautifully and like it just, I just felt like we just got to kind of pop in and be like, observe and be like, this is amazing. Yes. Like this is so great. We’re not the ones, you know, coming in telling everyone what to do or anything like that. Which is by the way, not how AGCI works at all with anything. Yes. We always rely on our in country staff to guide us. Yes. And we just help support them. Yep. But yeah, so that was just, it was just awesome to see people that I’ve been, I love it. Working with for years.

So no pressure, but can you, can you tell us what it was like the, to walk into the first government rent institution? Like whatever you can get out. No, no pressure. Yeah, well that introduction I’m like, I’m like, no, it, it was, it was really difficult. You know, I’ve been to other institutions before and a lot of times, you know, there’s kind of a sense of, Hmm, we’re just seeing what, what they’re allowing us to see. Yes. If you know what I mean. It’s very, I I don’t know, like they kind of hold it close to the chest. They don’t really want you to see and they don’t, don’t allow us to take pictures. So no. If they’re, if you’re like, gosh, why haven’t we never seen what it looks like in there? It’s because we’re respecting their wishes to not take photos. So that’s why it’s important. That’s why I I asked this question. Yeah, yeah, exactly. We’re not allowed to record anything, but, so with this institution that we went to, it just, it, it felt different than other ones I’d been to in the past. You know, we walked inside to where the kids were, their, their sleeping area. And there’s, I mean, basically just in the building itself, there’s almost no light, which is kind of instantly made it feel more depressing, I guess.

You know, there’s just like, literally it’s just like a dark room. There’s, there’s not, there’s not lights. And which one did you go to first? I don’t age. What age group? Or, sorry, not the name, but what age group were they? Oh, so these were girls who were like, I think eight to 16 I believe. Okay. Yeah. So not really little kids. Okay. Yeah. And there, there were basically no caregivers around. Like I didn’t, I think I saw two and they were eating lunch. Oh wow. Like not with kids. Yeah. So that was, that was, I had not, you know, when I’ve been to institutions in the past, you know, they’re not great, but there, there’s at least caregivers around. And there, there weren’t, I I, I really had to kind of, the person who was giving us a tour, they kind of took us to like, they, they really, he, he was really avoiding showing us like where the kids were actually were. Like, he took us back to like a garden area and I was kind of like, what’s going on? This is confusing. And so I really had to push and be like, no, I wanna see where the kids are, where the kids like, and there weren’t that many around. Like they, they kind of weren’t letting us see where they really were. But I did get to go into an area for kids with, with special needs.

And that was, that was pretty shocking. I was trying to not, you know, physically react. And it was hard. So I, we were in a room and there were pro, you know, probably, if I had to guess, they were probably between the ages of, you know, eight and 12, the kids that were in this room and there were some that were in cribs and which isn’t really, you know, appropriate for a kid that age and they’re this one little girl, her, her, her limbs were kind of bent and con like kind of contorted I guess. So they could, she could fit in in, and I, I just remember, you know, I was kind of talking to her softly and you know, I’m speaking English, she doesn’t know what I’m saying and her eyes didn’t register that I was there, but she was smiling kind of in response to my voice. Like, even though she didn’t know what I was saying and I, it just made me wonder like, when’s the last time someone had talked to her like kindly. And besides just, you know, I, that was hard. And then the other kids in the room were in wheelchairs and they were kind of just facing the wall. There was nothing going on. There were no caregivers in the room. And that was, you know, I, I just hadn’t been in a situation like that. It was, it was pretty shocking to me.

Even though I’ve, I’ve heard stories, I’ve seen things. But just to personally experience that was really hard. It felt pretty bleak cuz I, especially the kids with special needs. Like, I just, you know, as far as I know, there isn’t, you know, there isn’t a home for a adults with disabilities. There isn’t, they don’t have anyone what happens to them when they age out, you know, if they’re just the way that there’s not like a government support system or safety net the way that there is here. So if they were put just on the streets, they just wouldn’t make it. Yeah. So that was hard to see. It’s really hard. Yeah, it was. That was hard. Yeah. And it’s hard. I think for me at least, it’s, you don’t know where to put it inside of yourself seeing something like that. Because, you know, in the line of work that we do, we hear stories, we know that this still goes on. We know there are places that are like this. Yeah. And just seeing it in person and seeing these lives and these souls, it’s like you’re looking them in the eye or you’re touching them or talking to them and you know, that that maybe hasn’t happened in a long time. It’s just, you know, heartbreaking. Beyond heartbreaking. Yeah. It, yeah.

And it just kind of like, it, you almost get kind of, when you’re there, you, you, I think it’s almost like a trauma response. Like you become kind of like shut down and like numb a little bit. Like you don’t really know how to react. And then it’s only after I left that I, Hmm. Marisa had to be deal with me. No, we had a staff retreat and we just to kind of, for people who hadn’t seen some of the work, we watched a, an an older documentary that, you know, kind of goes into some of the really difficult institutions and I had like a physical response to that I like couldn’t stop crying. And I was like, why is this happening? And I kind of afterwards was like, I think it was, it was like a week after I’d been in scene all of this and I was like, oh, this is what that is. But it just kind of, if this is hard for anyone to hear, I just want you to try to take that and and use it for good. Yeah. Use it to, to help people to, to, you know, to get up and there are things we can do. It’s really hard to see stuff like this and to hear about it. But there are so many ways that you can help kids that are in these kinds of positions. You know, adoption, sponsorship, psycho, our cycle breakers program. Yeah.

There are so prayer, there are so many ways that you can help these kids and it’s, even though there are moments where it feels hopeless and I’ve, it felt like that in that moment. But you have to just try to remember that it’s not that there is hope and that’s why we’re doing this because if there wasn’t, we wouldn’t be. Yeah. You know, I wish that we, there wasn’t a reason for us to exist in this capacity. I wish that too. That wasn’t the reality. Me, me too. Well it’s very brave of you for sharing that with all of us. I appreciate that you even did, especially knowing that that was a secondary trauma that occurred in your life and that it’s hard to talk about. So I appreciate that you shared about it. Yeah. Well thank you. And I, I think it’s important to talk about, even though it’s hard because Yeah. You know, I I hope it ins hopefully inspires somebody to wanna get involved. Yeah. So maybe this, maybe I am asking this and there isn’t an answer to it or maybe you’ve already answered, but what would you say on your entire trip was the most impactful thing that you witnessed? I mean, it hands down for me it was the caregivers at the House of Hope. It, it is just when you see the difference in caregiver, and again, everyone does the best they can.

I’m not putting, I, I, I truly believe that. But when you see the difference of caregivers who are equipped with the tools that they need to actually help girl kids heal and, you know, get the care that they need. It’s just night and day. It’s just night and day. These, and a lot of these caregivers have been with us since, you know, we had our Hannah’s hope home Yeah. In Ethiopia, which was, you know, 15 years and year. I mean now it’s like we’re coming into 15 plus years that a lot of these people, or if there was a break, you know, when we used to have homes when adoption, international adoption happened in Ethiopia, we had kind of a transitional home called Hannah’s Hope that a lot of these women worked at, they were called special mothers. And yeah. So we were able to bring a lot of people back that had worked with us there. And so yeah. And they’re incredible. They, they really are like something that was really cool that I got to kind of witnesses. So we were, we were at the home and the girls were doing, they were playing kind of a clapping song game that we kind of got to be a part of. And there was a girl who, I don’t know what was going on, but she was, you know, kind of having a hard time and didn’t wanna do it or whatever.

And instead of just kinda ignoring that and focusing on, oh we have these visitors here and we need to play this game, this caregiver immediately saw what was going on and went over to her and talked to her and comforted her and let her, you know, go to her room and do something else with no, no issue at all. And it was just kind of like a beautiful moment of like, for a lot of these girls, they haven’t had, they haven’t had anyone that they can count on for a while. They’ve been on their own, they’ve been, you know, maybe living as a house servant. They’ve, you know, gone through horrible things that no one should ever have to go to. And they now have, you know, regardless of what ends up happening in the future, they have someone that has them. Yeah. And that is something that I think everyone needs, you know, to know that there’s someone who has your best interest in mind and that you can come to with anything and is gonna understand and help you and support you and love you through all of that. I’m getting emotional about it, but I’m like watching you like, don’t ugly Greg. That’s what these, that’s what these caregivers are for these girls. And like that is just the most fundamental human need and just that they are, it’s so much more than a job to them.

I mean like they’re, and it would have to be to do that. These girls. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There I go. Oh gosh, sorry if you’re listening, you want to cry, you can watch this on YouTube or don’t. Let’s, or don’t Yeah, totally up to you. But yeah, so that was, I mean that was just beautiful to see. That’s such a privilege. I think that that’s something unique when we get to go visit these, the places that we work are seeing people like genuinely being the hands and feet of Jesus to people from that have been through so much that are from the hardest places. And yeah. To see them interact with people that have been through it. And at least for me, I don’t know about for you, but sometimes I just think like, gosh, I don’t think I would have the grace to react in that way, like in such a beautiful kind. It’s not, it’s not always, at least for me, sometimes it’s counterintuitive. Especially like these girls are like eight to eight years old to 18 years old kind of age group as you know, some are teenagers and, and you know, I think we’ve been trained our reactions to kids that are, are not performing. I say this for myself, like the way that I think that they should be. I have to take a step back and be like, oh no, no, no.

Like that’s, first of all, that’s not a healthy expectation for teens in general. Cuz if we all remember back, it’s a hard time to go through. But 100% Yeah. To have the additional traumas that have been laid at their feet from nothing that they did or created on their own to. And those women are there, you know, when they go home like that doesn’t, it doesn’t, the relationship doesn’t end. That’s going to always be a safe place for them. And those relationships don’t just disappear. They’re checking on ’em and making sure everybody’s okay. And so that’s beautiful. Yeah, absolutely. It was, I mean, there’s a saying that, or not saying I guess, but it’s like a thing in TBRI to see the need behind the behavior. Yes. And that’s what they’re doing. Which is like sometimes those behaviors are kicking and screaming and saying, I hate you and mean thing, you know, that that’s hard to respond to love with, love with love Yes. To that. And they’re doing that over and over and over and over again until the girls like actually know within their not are just, they’re not just told that they know it. Yeah. That they are loved and they are worthy and they’re special and I mean, that’s just like the most important work you can do. I think so. Wow. So after this trip, I’m, maybe, I’m assuming something, but why do you have hope for Ethiopia?

Our team, I mean our team there just inspires me so much. You know, even in the midst of all the hard things. Yeah. They are getting up every day and doing this work and they’re not just, they’re not just like looking at what they’re doing right in front of them. They’re looking bigger. They’re like, how can we help more kids? How can we help more families? How can we, how can we spread this work throughout the entire country, throughout the entire continent? I just, I don’t know. Like, it, it can be so easy to get kind of pulled down into the darkness, into like the difficult things. And I’m not saying to brush those aside, those are real. And you know, totally. We need to recognize that and talk to the therapist about it. Yeah. But, but there is so much hope. There is so much hope and I see it in our staff and just the care and commitment that they bring every day for these kids. And so I’m just so excited to see what they’re gonna do next. I love it because it’s gonna be something we can’t even imagine at this point. I just know it. Yep. I have no doubt. I think you’re exactly right. And it’s just like an honor.

I know you feel this way too, like an honor and pleasure and gift that we all get to witness how, how God uses them there and, and the work that they continue to do. And Well, thank you for sharing and I know, I think I can speak for anyone listening, like anytime someone’s vulnerable and open with what they experienced, we all get to experience something more powerful. So getting all choked up again. But it was really wonderful to hear how everything Mari was. I appreciate that you did that. So now I’m totally crying. It’s totally normal. You’re gonna make me, you’re gonna make me cry again. Well, thank you. It was, it was honestly a privilege to get to talk to you and you’ve been such a support and comfort to me through all of all of this. And I’m glad I could tell you to bring toilet paper cause that’s really the most important thing. Honestly, I use the whole role, so thank you. I know you. What? Oh my gosh. Well all wrap us up. Thank you to everyone so much for listening. We’re watching Together by AGCI. This is my incredible co-host and my friend Melissa Rush. Melissa, thank you so much for sharing about all that you saw. You’re inspiring to all of us and I hope that this opens the door for anyone listening to just have deeper, more meaningful conversation around this.

For more information on how to support the work that we’re doing at AGCI, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing us at info@allgodschildren.org. Or you can visit our website at allgodschildren.org. Follow us on social media @allgodschildreninternational. Thank you so much for listening.