Should I carry my passport or keep it in my room?
It is advisable to keep your passport with you at all times, especially when traveling. While in the orphanage, you may choose to keep it securely stored in your room.

Do I need a first aid kit?
There is a small clinic located at or near the orphanages. Most emergency medical items would be available there. You may bring some first aid supplies as you feel comfortable, and perhaps you could leave them for the clinic.

Should we take antibiotics to prevent getting ill?
Antibiotics are not recommended for prevention of travelers' diarrhea. The decision is based on 1) concern that prophylaxis of travelers' diarrhea may cause emergence of resistant organisms in developing countries, and 2) the number of side effects associated with antibiotics, 3) prolonged or excessive use of antibiotics could in itself lead to other gastrointestinal symptoms, which include diarrhea. However, those at hig risk or those planning a once-in-a lifetime brief vacation may want to take an antibiotic like Cipro once a day while traveling.

Can we adopt children from the orphanage?
In Ethiopia - we encourage those able and interested in adoption to consider children they may meet in our programs.  Many are adoptable; however a ministry that operates an orphanage/children center is not allowed facilitating adoptions.  There are a number of qualified adoptions agencies you can work with, like Bethany Christian Services.

Can I serve as a short-term or career missionary?
We need both short-term and career missionaries who are interested in serving a few weeks, a few months, or a few years. While education and child care are two areas of high priority, we have many opportunities for you to serve God in a Foreign Missions environment.

What is the cost for extended stays or short-term?
We encourage people to come as their schedule permits. If extending your stay longer than the two weeks included in a base trip cost (), the cost to stay is $84 per week in addition to the base trip cost.  For volunteers staying more than 4 months, we join in helping to raise the support over time as follows:

• Months 5 through 8 are shared 30% by us, so the cost is $59 per week during this period.
• Months 9 through 12 are shared 60% by us, costing you $34 per week during this period.
• After 1 year, Blessing the Children International participates 100% in your support, so there is no weekly cost during the second year and longer, because we raise your weekly support.

Can I go to the old Kamashi Orphanage on a mission trip?
No. We have phased out the Kamashi ‘institutionalize care’ of children, and place children now in ‘family’ based care. Similar to foster homes, but when a child is placed in a loving family, it is for the duration of their childhood (unless the child is adopted). We believe the Lord created families to raise children, not institutions. It has been a great two years in Kamashi and we were blessed to lay the base for ministry in Ethiopia through that style of outreach. The new location in Debre Zeyit is allowing us to reach many more children with the same amount of ministry resources.