Asni’s Search for More
Orphaned at a young age after her mom passed away and her father left her, Asni* spent most of her life searching.
Searching for joy. Searching for a home. Searching for family.
Suffocated by the weight of early childhood trauma, Asni began running away from her grandparents' home.
Asni's loneliness was fueled by unimaginable grief and led her to isolate even further.
Asni saw one more glimpse of hope when she made contact with her long-lost uncle. He promised to meet her and give her a better life. And she prayed this relationship would be what she had been searching for.
A relationship that would allow her to cease searching. Allow her to rest. Allow her to be a kid again.
Asni left her hometown on a bus and began hitchhiking more than 400 miles toward another Ethiopian town. Despite days of travel, she never found her uncle.
Asni was lost.
Alone, afraid, and aching from the bottomless hunger she felt in the pit of her stomach, Asni began begging for food and money. Doing whatever she could to survive.
Just as she considered the possibility this might be her life forever, God unlocked a new future for Asni. A few local police officers intercepted her, brought her off the streets, and led her to the AGCI House of Hope.
Asni was found.
When Asni entered the House of Hope, she was physically unkempt, dirty, and wincing from an infection on her head.
Thankfully, our amazing team of healed caregivers was ready to respond.
Before doing anything else, one of our trauma-informed caregivers bent to her level, gently touched her shoulder, and attended to her immediate needs thanks to the First Responder Kit a generous trauma disruptor like you provided.
Then, she walked Asni through the home and continued to provide for her most immediate, essential needs.
A nutritious meal. A warm shower. A clean bed. Basic hygiene items. New clothes. Medicine for the infection.
Disrupting trauma isn't easy. And it definitely doesn't happen overnight.
But because Asni was welcomed into the House of Hope. Because her physical needs were provided for. Because she was loved. New possibilities were unlocked for Asni.
Asni was a hurt young girl trying to hurt other people.
But that didn’t stop us from loving and caring for this precious child of God. And nothing could have stopped us.
Where others maybe would have considered her a “lost cause", we knew Asni was only reacting out of her past hurt.
Instead of giving up, we met this hurt child with healed adults who could patiently walk alongside her in both her hurt and healing.
And although her behavior didn't initially show it, God was working in Asni's heart.
Through the consistent, intentional care provided by our trauma-informed team, the wall Asni had built so high began to chip away—and a stable, compassionate girl remained.
While Asni lived in the House of Hope, our family-locating team was busy trying to track down Asni's roots.
Determined to reunite her with a loving family member, they located Asni's aunt—unlocking the opportunity for reunification!
After counseling and preparing the two for reunification, Asni and her aunt were joyfully reunited.
Asni’s healing journey was made possible because someone like you provided her with a First Responder Kit.
Designed to care for children as Jesus did—providing first for a child’s immediate needs—a First Responder Kit opens the door to deep emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual healing. Allowing Asni and children like her to experience full, transformational healing.
Asni spent most of her young life searching for something only God could provide. And thanks to the provision of a First Responder Kit, we're thrilled to say she finally found what she was searching for: Jesus.
God never gives up on us. And we will never give up on a child who needs family.
Because no child should be alone.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
$20 provides 1 First Responder Kit to a child in need.
Each First Responder Kit includes life-saving essentials like food, shelter, medical care, and the comfort of trauma-informed caretakers.