Description:  A 30-year-old woman who grew up in Naples, FL (Marcie Erickson) spent her first year in Ethiopia at the age of 19 and now lives there permanently. With the Australian missionary couple, Deanne and Andrew Knife, together, they started a ministry called Grace Center for Children and Families. She has no missionary ... Read More A 30-year-old woman who grew up in Naples, FL (Marcie Erickson) spent her first year in Ethiopia at the age of 19 and now lives there permanently. With the Australian missionary couple, Deanne and Andrew Knife, together, they started a ministry called Grace Center for Children and Families. She has no missionary affiliation and no support other than what little fundraising she was able to do through family and friends. Marcie had to learn the language and overcome tremendous obstacles. She has personally adopted 4 babies as her own to save their lives and has impacted many people in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The project since it began four years ago, now serves 1316 people on a quarterly basis, most of whom are women and children. In the past quarter, Grace Center has served people in the following ways: The clinic served 668 people, the day care served 69 children, feeding program has 50 people, transitional care (for abandoned children) has 7, older child sponsorship helps 126 children, temporary care has served 11 children in the past quarter, after school tutoring serves 66, pre-school has 20 children, daytime tutoring for children who have never been in school has 9, the basket-weaving co-op has 13 women, jewellery making program has 7 women, the adult literacy program has taught more than 30 women how to read and write, and the water, house building and other services given to the Negede Village has served about 240 people. Personally I am in awe of this young woman and her achievements. She is proof of what one person can do and she is setting an example for us all. Please read her story and take a look at her photos. My family has committed to support her financially, but anything that we can give isn’t even close to what she has put on the line personally each day. So often we hear of young people who have given two years service in the Peace Corp. Marcie has commited her life to serving in the missions. Please pass this along to anyone who you think can help The Grace Center, either through financial support, as a volunteer, or just in your prayers.  Close