After a six-year hiatus, PEC’s Ryan Krause returns to continue mission work in Ethiopia.
For more than a decade, PEC Vegetation Maintenance Manager Ryan Krause and his wife, Britany, have traveled to Ethiopia, working to empower children and families through community-driven, income-generating projects.
The Krauses began volunteering in 2013 when they decided to adopt a child from Ethiopia. But once they set foot in the country, they realized it would have been better for the children to stay with their families. So, they chose a deeper calling, one rooted in service. The couple saw an opportunity to extend their hearts beyond their own family and chose to dedicate themselves to long-term efforts that help a community thrive.
Since then, they have helped women start a jewelry-making business, provided funds to construct two water points to allow access to clean drinking water, and supported countless children on their journey to education and self-sufficiency.
These initiatives are made possible through the fundraising efforts of their church, Vertical Chapel in Kyle, and a partnership with Children’s HopeChest, a nonprofit that connects U.S. communities with those in impoverished regions to foster sustainable development.
“The whole idea is so they can self-sustain,” Ryan said. “We want them to build their own community in their own way.”
Over the years, the Krauses have watched children grow up, graduate high school, and launch small businesses — from reselling goods to making and selling injera, a pancake-like sourdough flatbread — that strengthen their local economy. Ryan recalled the particularly inspiring success story of a child who, at just 14 years old, published a book about resolving government conflicts without war.
“It was really amazing, and that’s just one of the many success stories we’ve seen, along with all of the kids who have gone to college and started their own revenue-generating businesses.”
COVID-19 puts the trip on pause
Before this year, the Krauses’ last visit was in 2019. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Children’s HopeChest had to postpone the trip. Now, after six years, Ryan and Britany were finally able to return alongside their church pastor, Doug Walker, their church managing director, Jenna Singley, and their youth director, Ali Soard, who documented the trip through photography and videography.
“It was really good to see all of the kids,” Ryan said. “I got to reconnect with all of them, have conversations with them, and play soccer with them. Now that they’re older, we can communicate more.”
On their first day, the Krauses were welcomed with an update on the community’s progress, a choir performance, and a children’s parliament demonstration, where every participant had a leadership role.
“It was so cool seeing how the kids and the community around them were thriving,” he said. “They had all of their income-generating projects flourishing, and everyone looked vibrant, happy, and full of hope.”
Later in the trip, Ryan and Britany saw the impact of one of the latest projects — an animal husbandry initiative funded by their church that is already generating income for families and supporting local dairy farms.
“We got a chance to see the cattle and the living quarters. It was amazing to see how it’s developed,” he said.
The impact of sponsorship has extended beyond the children; it has also helped their families thrive. Through programs like Children’s HopeChest, sponsored children receive vital support while their families benefit from resources that create opportunities for lasting financial stability.
Lasting connections and lifelong impact
One of the most moving aspects of the visit was how well the children remembered them. Ryan and Britany exchanged letters with the kids through the sponsorship program, but seeing them in person reinforced just how deep these relationships run.
One young girl wrote them a letter reminiscing about past conversations and sharing updates about her family and presented it to them when they arrived.
“The letter even mentioned my son and my daughter by name,” Ryan said. “For her to keep that, remember them, and then come up to us was just so beautiful.”
Their time in Ethiopia also showed them the strength of the local culture. Families and friends walk hand in hand, supporting each other in many ways.
“When they get just the smallest amount of something, they manage it wisely,” he said. “It’s their responsibility to manage these resources with care, and these kids jump at the chance to get into school or to get a job to support their community.”
They’ve also taken the initiative to improve their community without outside assistance and are now adding to and improving their worship center.
A ripple effect of change
For the Krauses, coming back to Ethiopia after six years was more than just a reunion. It was a testament to the power of long-term investment in a community. What began as small initiatives has become a self-sustaining movement driven by the people.
The programs they helped launch have empowered families to build lasting financial independence, and the community continues to thrive, improving infrastructure and expanding opportunities without outside assistance.
Because real change doesn’t happen in a single visit; it happens with the impact of ongoing opportunity, trust, and the belief that a brighter future is within reach.
