Hooray!

Before I could even send out my request for others to help, the girls got enough support to go to summer camp! Notice Selu (top left)'s face.

Priceless.

More over at the blog...

El Roi

Some of you know a bit about the project Pick a Pocket supports in Mombasa, Kenya. This pre-school is run by a local woman (and good friend) Christine Opereh. We showed up on a Sunday to pay a visit. It was during our vacation week in Kenya so we did not intend on seeing the children, but only wanted to bless Mrs. Opereh with a few supplies for the kids. On our walk to the building with Christine we were greeted by a dozen or so children with faces brightly lit as they got a glimpse at their favorite teacher. It was Sunday and even though there was no class to be had, about 20 of her students caught word she was there and showed up on the steps to greet us. They recited the alphabet and a few songs in English for their new American friends. We got a tour of the one-room building and interviewed her to see what her next steps and needs were.

The pre-school was established to give street children the chance at an education. It is specifically for street kids who have AIDS/HIV. Christine had a dream to start her own school for children who suffer from this disease and had no chance at getting an education. Almost 3 years ago she saved enough money to establish a plan with a small one-room schoolhouse and a few volunteers from her own family. Today there are about 40 kids who attend classes on a daily basis. Because of Kenyan law, every child must have their own books, uniform, and supplies.

Because the children come from families with little to no income, their supplies must come from outside support, or from the pocket of Christine herself. I was able to give $100 to help pay for three children to buy uniforms and to go towards a fund supplying each student with their very own backpack. I know it wasn't much, but I know a little help, encouragment, and prayer can go a long way.

The schools' biggest need at the moment is funding to buy private land and a building. It would only take about $25,000 USD to get this started, and would also allow Christine to have one less worry of rent each month. Pick a Pocket hopes to continue to support these children and to spread the word about small things being done by local people with a huge heart.

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." - Mother Teresa

PRAISE BE TO THE GOD WHO LOVES, THE GOD WHO SAVES, AND THE GOD WHO IS COMING!!!!

Plain text version:
So as most of you know I entered into full time ministry over two years ago. I was compelled to act upon the things I saw in the third world. I wanted to help those in need with the talents and skills I possessed. Namely with my art and design. But God has had a different plan. I thought my service would come form through making designs and putting together brochures. Boy, was I off. Since joining Pick a Pocket in April of 2009, God has showed me the numerous ways He likes to further His Kingdom through our submission - by praying, teaching, fasting, or just loving others. My passion for prayer grew during my outreach as I had to constantly lean on God. I will have to say that my two and a half months stay in Ethiopia was one of the most lonely times of my life. I was in the middle of a desert with people I barely knew, thousands of miles from my family, and had one near death experience which changed my complete outlook on life.

During my time in Ethiopia, several Pick a Pocket founders led us to a tribe. This particular tribe in the Rift Valley of the Omo region of Ethiopia practiced an inhumane tradition called Mingi. As most of you know, Mingi has been the cause to over 77 infant and child deaths a year in the past. This tradition deemed any child born out of wedlock, or a child whos teeth grew or fell from the top first a curse. These children were drowned, abandoned, starved, or eaten by wild animals because they were not worthy to live. The Mingi curse was said to bring war and famine to this tribe. Therefore if one of these children was found on the land, the tribe as a whole was in danger.

This tradition has taken place for over hundreds of years. Many missionaries have tried to stop its vicious cycle since it came to the public's eye. My crazy leaders introduced it to us during my DTS while living in our comfortable homes in Herrnhut, Germany. We were shocked and knew even before setting foot on African soil that this must end. The first week in Ethiopia we sent a team down to rescue a Mingi child. Unfortunately for us and him or her, we were too late. I know that God has a special place in heaven for this child. This young soul changed the hearts in us all. We continued to press forward through prayer and fasting, but most importantly, though action. We loaded up three land rovers to taxi us through the rough torain of the Omo Rift Valley. Three days and tons of puking, mosquito bites, and sunburns later we arrived in the tribe. We learned of a two year old Mingi child who was to be killed by the elders in mere days. A small part of our team trekked several miles to the father land to consult the parents about a possible rescue. They were relieved to see us foreigners care, but numb to the idea we would actually follow through. We received permission to take the child and scheduled a meeting time 48 hours later.

Heat, exhaustion, dehydration, and stomach cramps were kicking in at full force, but beyond the pain of being situated near the Earth's equator during one of the driest seasons, the heartache of knowing a precious little girl would be killed on this land during our stay outweighed the pain by far.

But we did it. We followed through with our promise and we met that family 48 hours later.

Bale was bright and beautiful. I got the honor to ride in the Land Rover up to the nearest city with this jewel. We met with a former tribesman who has committed his life to Jesus and the stopping of Mingi. We started a children's home that day and thought this was just the beginning of something great.

But it wasn't. it was a nightmare. The home was taken away from us. We were not allowed to be in Bale's life anymore. Kristen, my leader and young woman who first held Bale was at the mercy of another church who had their own agenda. We now had no say in the lives of these children. Our hopes and dreams were to see these children (we rescued 9 on that outreach) grow up into a loving Christian community and return to their parents to share the love of Christ with them. This church decided to adopt out the children and make a ministry into a business.

It was heartbreaking and confusing to say the least.

"God, I did all the right things. I wrote and designed pretty newsletters. I became a missionary. I made a video. I. I. I.....

"I guess I did forget one thing. This is were we need YOU".

So we prayed. We prayed so much, we had this particular church telling us to stop. That was my favorite part. I had one of my first instances of persecution that season. I was not going to stop crying out to my Great King because I knew He was bigger. The team never stopped. Kristen led several girls in weekly prayer and encouraged all of us to not give up on this situation. We still wanted Mingi to end, but at this point we had no say in the lives of these children and no platform to speak into the tribe.

So we prayed.

Less than three years later, I stand (well, lay snuggly in my bed) today and say that God heard our prayers. Mingi is over. His GLORIOUS plans outweighed ours. Mingi did not end because we were there to tell the tribe elders it is wrong. Mingi did not end because we wrote nice, elegantly designed letters. Mingi ended because God is good and He is LOVE.

Today Mingi is illegal. Today punishment comes to those who chose to practice this form of evil. God reigns on high!

Since its founding in April 2008, Pick a Pocket has directly effected the lives of over 100 people. That means that each one of us 34 crazy young adults (mostly without a college degree) have directly helped at least 2 people out of extreme poverty. All of this in less than 3 years. This is just the beginning and I want to invite YOU to be apart of this!

I'm not saying that God moves in situations like these only through Pick a Pocket but I want to leave you with these questions:

Did you know God can move through you like he did this group? What are you doing with your life? How are you helping to further God's Kingdom?

Maybe you are serving at a homeless shelter weekly, supporting a missionary monthly, mentoring a single-parent child daily, or raising funds to adopt and Ethiopian child like my dear cousins Michael and Amy in order to change a life forever. Great! But if not, why? Why aren't you helping? I don't want to preach hear because it is not my place, but I do know that from experience, a life of service and Kingdom seeking is worth so so so much more than a selfish, comfortable life in a Western country.

But how can you change, you ask? Simple. You could quit you job. Drop all your responsibilities now and come join us in Herrnhut, Germany for a Discipleship Training School. Or maybe you could get in touch with a Pick a Pocket member and ask how you can pray for them, or even help us plan an event in your home town/church - a place which could give us a platform to share about more of the INCREDIBLE things God is doing. Sometimes I think to myself, "man, I could write a book with all the experiences, miracles, and lives I've been blessed to be apart of the past two years". Then I remember, "Oh yea, I already have!"

I don't want to challenge anyone to just "help out" once in a while. I'm calling you to a transformed lifestyle. One that will bring you closer to the presence of God. One that is way more challenging, yet a MILLION times more rewarding! I pray God shows you where He is pushing you to go.

One last thought:

”Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for the orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27


update: I don't want to leave this post with any sort of negative throughts towards the church that once did us wrong. Since many converstaions and discussions over our plans, we have come into full forgiveness on each side. They are and have always been part of our family... under God's Kingdom. Ethiopia continues to throw fast balls to each of our minstries persuaded us to leave or quit but we believe we are there by God's orders and will persist until the end. God be with them.

Art Day!

Thursdays mark Pick a Pocket's traditional weekly event: ART DAY. This Thursday I decided to give Liz a little visit. This was the outcome of my visitation:




This is honestly a normal Thursday in the Manchenn household.

THE REAL DUMPSTER DIVING

So last August I was ask to film one of Pick a Pocket's projects in Ethiopia. Immediately I was honored and became so excited for the opportunity. Just a few days into planning, God gave me a vision of what the video would look like. I was astonished. It was beautiful. I quickly studied up on how to work my camera, how to shoot, and even got some tips from a few guys whose work I admire. They had actually just returned from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I had missed them by just weeks.

The outcome, and the best Christmas gift I could give to myself is my rendition of what God showed me. Of course, it's not exactly what I had originally envisioned, because, well, that was God's idea.

Hope you are moved :)

The Latest // I'M GOING BACK TO AFRICA!

Read the whole story here:

Meet the team

This past week Pick a Pocket spent time in Hamburg to gain inspiration for our art, welcome in 9 new members, and talk about the next year of our ministry and work. Discussions are being held to pursue:

Publishing a magazine
Collaborating with Not for Sale Campaign
Building networks with other artists supporting social change
Obtaining official non-profit status
Expanded field projects
New training opportunities


Other exciting news...

I finished a preview of our last American tour!

Check it out:

Pick a Pocket Summer Tour 2010 from Pick a pocket on Vimeo.

UPDATES!

The book is almost here! We have just $2,000 more to raise and 18 days. It's really exciting to see everything coming together. Here is the newest preview of the book:



We leave for Stuttgart on Froday and have a few tour dates around and in the city. For more of that info, go here: http://www.myspace.com/pickapockettour

It seems we have tons of fans in Europe and cannot fufill all the requests to visit. We've had to turn several requests down, but not without promises to return later this year. We are currently scheduled to go to Austria on May 5 and then have a weekend in Hamburg before we venture off to the states...

Which means, NASHVILLE! WE NEED YOUR HELP!

If you've been to our myspace, you'll notice not many tour dates have been filled in. We still need to book a few more churches or venues around central TN. We'd love to come visit you with all of our art, merch, and music. We want to meet other artists, get inspired, and INspire. Please email me stephanie.eatherly[at]gmail.com to book an event! We also need host homes who don't mind sharing a few extra beds for our crew. There are about 15 of us that need a place to stay between June 2-28. If you can spare a room, or a meal, please contact me as well!

I'm printing my current poster and I am about printing my next:



On another note, I really hate bringing up the topic of money since it seems we all need more cash these days, but a few of our team members still don't have the money for flights, if you'd like to donate to me or another Pickapocketeer, please specify and you can donate through my donation button:

Be slessed,
Stephanie

Garbage City. New life :)

So many people have been asking me about Garbage City lately so I thought I'd compile all the updates and answers into one post.

Many of you know that I was in Ethiopia in for my DTS outreach in January-March of 2009. In this time we established the children's home by rescuing the first child at Drawn From Water

In the last few weeks of our outreach after trying time and time again to get into the garbage dump we finally succeeded - though not without a couple tiresome attempts that ended a few of our guys from our team in jail (more about this in our book).

In the few days we had there I was able to visit the boys and girls in their "home" and experience first hand their living situation. It's hard to describe the feeling (and the smells) without thinking about any family member of my own living in these situations - it's rough, and it's not fair. Which is why we had to do something. In these few days we joined the gang in games that involved dancing (my favorite), Bible study with a little help from our Ethiopian friend Abdissa (also featured in our book), and ate TONS injera (my other favorite :) at a picnic/Bible study we hosted one day.




Before, everyday a group of young girls from the slums would work and labor in the trash after school to find things to sell just to make ends meat for their families. In our time there we gained relationships with each of them. We wanted to follow through with our promise of keeping in contact with them - but more than that we wanted to help them out. Many tourists come through year after year telling them that they would help. But they never return. We could not do this to these young people again.

In November 2009 we established a "T-Shirt House" (yes, this needs a better name) thanks to the influence of artists on the outreach team at the time. Our group trained the girls how to sew and they thought of designs for t-shirts that portrayed their thoughts in working in trash. Now instead of going to the dump everyday, the girls come to our home to sew t-shirts and learn other crafts. So far they have made over 100 shirts that we will be selling on tour.



Everyday the girls come to our home after school to sew for 2 hours or so. The home is also a place for them to have a warm shower or cook a big meal - things they can't get at home. On the weekdays when a translator is not available we teach English and cook tons of injera and coffee (traditional Ethiopian food and drink mmmmm). On Saturdays or when a translator is available we have a Bible study and can talk more with the girls about their dreams and aspirations. Currently we are implementing several programs to help the whole group. We want to employ an English teacher to lead the whole group through an intensive English course so that we can communicate without a translator.

Since we started working with the girls, 8 have given their lives to Jesus. It's so amazing to hear about these changes that have come in these girls lives' since we met them. Through our discipleship, I hope that each one of them gets a chance to go deeper in their relationship with God. Maybe we will get to see them in a discipleship training school at our own base and can send them off the disciple others!

For the future, members from Pick a Pocket will be rotating out of the house making sure the girls are safe and the house is running. We hope that by the end of this year every member of Pick a Pocket will have had the chance to live in the house for a few weeks and meet the girls. We ask for your prayers for finances to make this possible. I personally would LOVE to go back to Ethiopia and start a documentary on the house. Possible news about this later :) ....

The girls in their new life:
[photo by Taylor Pool]





Here in Herrnhut, another team is preparing to go and help the men and boys reintegrate into society. Since we heard about Brahano’s dream to build a chicken farm, the staff began to look after chickens to gain some experience. We want to see this chicken farm become a reality. Providing guidance and assistance to the men, we hope to see them take advantage of the opportunities we are offering them.

A few exerts from the book...

"Salem is 16-years-old. Her aunt expects her to work in the garbage and contribute to the rent. Her mother died when Salem was eight-years-old. Her dad is an alcoholic and is now married to another woman. When we asked her about her hopes and dreams for the future, she answered after a long pause, “My only dream is to survive!”

Salem on our second visit to the trash:


Subalew is 16-years-old as well. She left her home because there was not enough money to feed the whole family. When she was eight-years-old she left her shanty. From time to time she visits her parents and her brother. Since she arrived here she has never left the garbage dump except for a few times when she went onto the loading area of a garbage truck. We asked her why she had not left already. “I wanted to a few time but I was ashamed because I have no money and somehow I do not fit into the world outside the dump. Here I feel safe and at home.” She says life in the dump “is very cold here and it is hard; but, I have no other choice. The most important thing for me is family, that we are for one another here where we can be there for one another...

Contact info{at}pickapocket.net to find out how you can get a copy of the book!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Only 47 more days to go and to get our books printed we HAVE to reach our goal of $7,000 or we get nothing.

PLEASE Tweet, Facebook, email, text this link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1951019426/pick-a-pocket-a-collective-of-artists-fighting-ex?pos=1

Just $10 can help us to reach our goal!

Love,
Steph

ps. go to the page to grab the widget :)

30 DAYS Challenge success!

We've raised over 300 Euro so far with our 30 Days Challenge! Last night was our first event on our German tour and we had a HUGE turnout (we'll it helps when you have a show at a huge castle where over 30 people live-but that's besides the point). A few of the pictures above are people who have done or are committed to doing 30 Days. Every single member of Pick a Pocket MUST do 30 Days as well. Over half the pictures are of my beautiful team members:)

We're working on showing this generation what it is like to live a little closer to poverty. For 30 days we challenge you not to pay for you own food, but rely on others to feed you (just like most of the world's poor does on a daily basis). After the 30 days you donate the money you WOULD HAVE spent on food and donate it directly to our projects. These projects include: Drawn From Water, Rahab Cafe, Garbage City, El Roi School, Rahab Second-hand shop, JK Girl's home, Mumbai Street Kids Ministry, Adoption Ministry of YWAM Ethiopia, Nepal Water Project, and Chittiwan Children's Home. It's so cool to see all these projects listed. I think it's the first time I've ever written them out :)

I hope you guys can join in on tour as we share more about these projects and show how YOU can do your 30 days! For more info send me a shout...

More pictures of last nights show including TRASHY HAIRCUTS coming soon!!!

OH BOY OH BOY!!

THIS is what I have been working on for over a year now. I really wanted to let everyone know that ALL profit we get from this book goes DIRECTLY into the projects introduced. We make NO profit. I am not paid and all of my work is entirely volenteer. I love what I do and I would not chose to be paid to do anything else :)

Any feedback would be appreciated...




To learn more about WHY we are making this book, check out the video on this site:




To help us print this book, please pass this link to all your friends: kickstarter!


CHEEERS!
steph

justice for all...

We must pursue justice, defend the orphan, stand with the poor, stop the ruthless, and protect marginalized women! Living lives of comfort comes with responsibility: without active participation in laboring for justice, our lives are without meaning.

-Carla Brewington, Director of Harvest Emergent Relief, January 2010

I'm ready. I want to be sent. I want to DO something. But I know for now I am called to become that voice for those who otherwise would not have a voice without my help. So, how DO I help, you ask? My role here in Pick a Pocket is graphic design, web design, and photography showing the world what is happening. In our Book 30 Days (the project I've been creating the designs for with my the past year) we tell the stories, share our pictures, and invite YOU to help out.

One of my passions also include video. I got my first camera from Santa in 10th grade and have been trying to learn how to edit ever since. My new flip does the job... to an extent. I recently discovered the new Canon 7D. It takes HD video with super crisp shots at 24/fps (the rate cameras film at for the big screen). I don't know when I can, but I am determined to get this camera. I want to show the world what India, what Ethiopia, what Kenya looks like from my eyes. I mean who WOULDN'T want to see a video like this in high quality?

besides video making, i've been artsy fartsy lately :)

my newest necklace + my newest painting =

Solomon

A little update from Ethiopia

So a few of you know the story of how Pick a Pocket was founded and why. Well, the story starts with a man named Solomon.



I met Solomon in the Mother Teresa home in Addis Ababa last year. He was so frail and fragile those few days we went to see him, but each time we went back I could see his face light up a little more. He has been in and out of the home for a few months. He is still weak due to his HIV, but just went through some miraculous healing after taking a fall and spending the night in the hospital.

He has requested only a few things: a coat, new sneakers, and a radio. Yesterday my friend Taylor brought a new radio to him as a surprise. It warms my heart so much to here how such a simple thing can brighten up someones day so much. Especially after all that he has been through.

Because of his illness Solomon as has trouble walking so the team is now in the process of finding him a wheelchair. They are also helping Solomon find comfort in his new home. We've secured him a place with a small church in Addis with his friend from the street to accompany and take care of him. I cannot wait to someday go back and see Solomon again in his new home. i cannot describe the commitment Liz, Taylor, Nathan, and a few others have made to make this one mans life so much better. They are all such an inspiration to me.

I hope someday we can all find our own Solomon, and get the chance to change someone else's life :)

Pick a Pocket summer Tour 2010.

Sounds exciting huh? We're coming to America this summer for our east coast tour May 16-June 23.



We would love to see you there! We'll be exhibiting our work from the past 2 years, playing music, and hanging out with the homeless.

This is Pick a Pocket :) come serve with us! We'd love to visit our church or heck even you're backyard, we just need the okay to do so. So please contact us if you are interested in having us come! stephanie.eatherly@gmail[dot]com

May 16-22 2010 - Boston, Massachusetts
May 23-29 2010 - NYC, New York
May 30-June 5 2010 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jun 6-12 2010 - D.C., Washington DC
Jun 13-23 2010 - Nashville, Tennessee







by Chelsea McCollum


by Taylor Pool

Addis Ababa and the children

Upon my stay in the capitol city of Ethiopia, I met a young man named Abdissa. Though his manner and intellect lead you to believe he's well into his thirties, this man was a mere 27 years old. For several years Abdissa went to the streets several times a week bringing the street children tea and cookies. He eventually became friends with many of them and a foe to some. He was know as the protestant man, taking about a man named Jesus, and sharing hope with the orphans. His heart screamed for compassion over these children, and after a few years, he decided to take his love into action adopting his first child from the streets. He is now the Children's Home Director and is in care of 25 children age 2-17. You can tell just how much the children love him like a father and he respects them just the same. It's a beautiful place. If you ever get the chance to go to Ethiopia, stop by to hang out and play with the kids and tell them Stephanie says hi


{Abdissa}


THE CHILDREN'S HOME WEBSITE <<< click here <<<