Turtu - a story of loss and restoration
Turtu and family homeless on the streets of Addis
This is the story of Turtu Shemsu—a brave 28-year-old mother whose life has been shaped by both unimaginable loss and extraordinary strength.
Turtu arrived in Addis Ababa two years ago with her husband and their little daughter, fleeing conflict in the Oromia region. They came searching for safety… for a fresh beginning… for hope.
But soon after they arrived, tragedy struck.
Last year, when Turtu was only two months pregnant, her husband was killed in a sudden car accident. In an instant, her world collapsed. She was left alone—grieving, pregnant, homeless, and responsible for her young daughter, with no family support and no income to survive.
Life on the streets became her only option.
Night after night, Turtu slept outside with her child, facing hunger, fear, the biting cold, and the crushing weight of uncertainty. As her pregnancy advanced, her suffering deepened. And when the day came for her to give birth, she had no shelter, no one to help her, no medical care. She delivered her baby on the streets of Addis Ababa, holding her newborn in her arms with nothing but courage and faith to sustain her.
Eventually, a kind stranger offered her a small space to stay. But the place was broken, dark, and barely livable. Still, it was the only roof she had.
When we met her, Turtu was begging on the roadside—her 3-year-old daughter at her side and her 1-month-old infant wrapped against her chest. She led us to the place she had been staying. It was cold, cracked, and without basic necessities. Her face carried exhaustion. Her eyes carried fear. Her heart carried the weight of survival.
But today, her story has taken a new turn.
By the grace of God and through the compassionate outreach of Elizabeth and Feven and the support of Charis, Turtu and her children finally have a proper place to live. She now rests on clean sleeping materials, in a safe room where her children can sleep without fear. Her strength has returned. Her appearance is brighter, and peace has begun to settle in her heart.
What was once despair has now become hope; what was once mere survival is now a life being rebuilt.
With tears streaming down her face, Turtu thanks God for lifting her out of the darkest season of her life. She speaks with deep gratitude for Charis Ministries—the hands that reached out when she had nothing left.
Today, Turtu is not just surviving.
She is rising.
She is healing.
She is rebuilding her life, step by step, with hope in her heart and a future for her children.
Her story reminds us that even in the most desperate moments, God sees, God cares, and God sends help at the right time.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
Turtu and Mandy - October 2025