Chesed was founded in 2024 by Bill and Brendy Pickler to help raise money and awareness of the orphan crisis in Ethiopia. Chesed is currently the sole supporter of an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, called Abenezer Orphanage. Elizabeth runs the orphanage and has done so for over 18 years since she was around the age of 30. In 2012, our family adopted a baby from Abenezer Orphanage, and we were privileged to meet Elizabeth at this time. She is the only reason, we believe, our “Abi” is alive and about to turn 13 years old!!

Elizabeth has given her entire life to the mission of loving orphans and saving children from the streets, abandonment, starvation, and death. In 2018, the Ethiopian government abruptly decided to shut down all international adoptions, leaving Elizabeth with many children to care for but no funding. She sold everything to keep these children fed and alive. Bill and I began fully supporting her in 2021 after we learned of the dire situation.

We decided to form Chesed Missions to allow others to come along side of us in this mission to give Elizabeth and the children the love and hope they deserve. Since then, Elizabeth has been able to take 3 more babies that were abandoned and give them love and nourishment. She currently has 9 children at Abenezer Orphanage ranging from 6 months to 16 years of age who are absolutely thriving. Pictures below are Elizabeth with our Abi in 2012 right before we brought her home to a current picture of Abi with Bill (her bonus dad) and me.

The love you see in these pictures on this website was all made possible because a young woman who many years ago gave up her life to follow the passion in her heart. Will you please consider coming along side of Chesed so we can make sure no child is ever turned away from Abenezer Orphanage and that they all grow up to know they are loved, cherished and they matter! WE SEE ALL PEOPLE.

Love,