From the Lion's Mouth

If you are subscribed to our newsletter or follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll know that we currently have a team in Ethiopia. The team has been sending back their reports and you can now read them here:

November 2012 Trip Reports

If you’re on our mailing list, follow us on Twitter, or like our Facebook page, you might’ve seen a bit of activity regarding Team Anbassa. So what is it? Team Anbassa (you can find the origin of the name here) is a crazy group of guys riding 306 miles from Monroe, WA to Post Falls, ID between July 9th and 13th. Why? To help a disabled young woman in Ethiopia live her life a little easier. Tsehaynesh Digo is a young woman living in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia. When she was a child, she contracted polio. This left her without the use of her legs, forcing her to crawl through the dirt using her hands. Despite this, she always has a smile. Through the years we’ve gotten to know her and help her with her condition. Through the help of one of our partners, she is now able to walk. Right now, she needs a handicap accessible bathroom, kitchen, and a hand peddle bike to get to market (and you can read more here).

Team Anbassa’s goal is $6000. This will cover the building and shipping the bike, building the kitchen, building the bathroom, and all of the associated costs. But they can’t do it without you!

How can you help? Donate! Sponsor! Pray!

“Today we took Gopeeleo to church for the first time.

He arrived before the sun was up and was waiting at our gate dressed in his new clothes. I had told our guard to let him in when he arrived, and there he stood with a big smile on his face.

We still had an hour before we were to leave, so we invited him to have breakfast with us. I don’t think that he’s ever been in a firengee’s house before (“firengee” means white foreigner, which is what all white people are called whether you’ve been in Ethiopia five days or 50 years). His eyes were wide with wonder as he glanced about our house and watched me cook (I realize it is a great wonder to see me cook…Ha!)  When we ate he had a hard time navigating the fork (people eat with their hands here), so Mark and I put our forks down and ate our eggs and toast with our hands.

Then a beggar woman came to walk with us to church. One of our neighbors had taken her in, and had brought her to us for help. She only believes in the power of Mary, but we’ve already had some good talks about Jesus. So here she comes with no shoes, dressed in rags with a huge goiter (from lack of iodine) on her neck, and next to her stands our former witchdoctor in his new clothes! We must have been quite a sight walking down the road.

Gopeeleo was struggling bravely to walk in his new shoes (he kept insisting that they fit fine, but they’re really a couple of sizes too big). He was having such a hard time walking that Mark finally ran back to get our motorcycle and give him a ride to church. 

So Mark and Gopeeleo got there a little earlier than the rest of us, and Mark said that the people were singing when they arrived. Gopeeleo just joined right in, raising his hands in worship and praising his new Lord and Savior.

At the end of the service Gopeeleo went up to the front of the church to testify of his salvation (Mark and I went up with him), and the people began rejoicing with us! As the oldest of the elders slowly walked forward to pray for him, the whole congregation got on their faces to pray. The elder took his shoes off and prayed half an hour for Gopeeleo, and then he tenderly held Gopeeleo in his arms and thanked God for his salvation.

I sat in stillness awe watching these two men who were once opposing forces, but now have become brothers in Christ.  Many people came up and hugged Gopeeleo, and I know he was touched by the acceptance and love of all the people that day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers. This journey in Ethiopia is arduous, exciting, exhausting, joyous, frightening and hopeful—all at the same time. I’m praising God with you…and for you.

Sidney”

Dear friends, please keep Mark and Sidney and the person-to-person ministry God has called them into in your prayers. They are on the front lines against the strongholds of darkness that have long held the remote parts of Africa enchained. 

Also, as read the changes in Gopeeleo’s life, we can learn some universal truths sharing the love and good news of Jesus.

1. We can make Christ available. Offer his hope to those WE are in contact with and let them decide. 

So often we keep our mouths shut tight and don’t even make an offer of this good hope we have in Jesus.

2. Be generous.

Mark and Sidney have generously reclothed this witch doctor, they have given their time and money to walk him through the doorway into victory. They share meals and the good food of the word of God.

3.Be flexible.

We like it when the Holy Spirit moves in our time-frame, but this doesn’t always happen! God knows who he is going to bring and when he’s going to bring them to our doorstep or in our path. Be willing to trust that God knows who is responding to the Holy Spirit’s leading. We can “put down our forks” and we can let the unexpected visitor come along. It’s a privilege to participate.

4. Be willing to step out.

Mark and Sidney began this journey several years ago when they volunteered for a short time at the Soddo Christian hospital. They took a step in faith to serve. Then they came home and waited. They are in Soddo now because they walked in faith, then waited for leading and walked in faith again.

We can pause and pray for the Launders. We can also pray that we might be listening, too for God’s call in our own lives.

Where is God calling you today?

Mark and Sidney Launder are living and ministering in a poor neighborhood in Soddo Ethiopia. This story, shared by Sidney displays the personal God who loves us all and graciously transforms us.

The story of Gopeeleo is one of magnificent change and a stunning picture of what it means to be a new creation in Jesus Christ.

It was 10 years ago that Gopeeleo came to this same compound where Mark and I now live. He came with a two-foot machete in his hand, walked up to our pastor friend, Tesfi, and said, “Why did you bring Jesus to this place? I keep hearing Jesus in my ears—I am going to kill you!”

The night before Gopeeleo’s visit, Tesfi had been praying and asking God to touch the people on this hill—Tesfi lived here for seven years amongst the thieves and drunks. Although Gopeeeleo had once lived in town, he moved out here to Otonna to get away from some evangelists that had moved into his old neighborhood. Ha! I smiled as he recounted the last time he stood on this same ground, despising even the Name of Jesus.

Now that same angry man is a believer, and he’s laid his machete down.

Gopeeleo arrived at our home with the sunrise. 6:30 a.m.

His eyes grew big as he came into our garden to be greeted by our dikdik, Tazo (smallest member of the antelope family). Gopeeleo stared in amazement and couldn’t believe Tazo was so friendly (dikdiks are usually eaten by Ethiopians whenever they can catch them).  I told him Tazo was our dog, which made him smile. Tesfi, the praying pastor, was also with us as we sat down to talk about Gopeeleo’s new life in Christ. 

Gopeeleo was so anxious to tell us how different he feels, evidenced by his sparkling eyes and the peace we now felt in his presence. We prayed over him as he stretched out his hands, sang songs to God and proclaimed his love for Jesus. 

He is going to church with us tomorrow, and told us he wants to be clean physically as well as spiritually. He had already cut off his long grey dreadlocks (symbolic of his old craft) and asked for a razor to shave off his beard. Then Tesfi and I cut off his leather necklace (which was a symbol of worship to Mary). When he took off his purple turban (symbolic witchdoctor hat), Mark gave him the wool cap he wore on his climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Gopeeleo was delighted to have this. 

These gestures were all physical aspects of repentance for him. He no longer wanted to be known by his old clothes or appearance. So later that day, Tesfi and I went to the open air market and bought him two pairs of pants, two shirts, a coat, some socks and shoes. His face lit up when he tried on his new clothes! He said “I feel like I have had a new birth…much better than the first one! Bravo! Bravo!”  He is so excited about going to church with us tomorrow.

This is a new beginning for him in every way. As of today, he is done with selling tobacco, alcohol and “traditional medicine” (witchcraft) as well. He told us he does not want to make God angry, because God might pick him up and throw him across a field. I cringed inwardly, as I knew this had happened to him before when he was serving demonic spirits. It will take time for Gopeeleo to learn the love and gentleness of the one true God. This will all be a process. 

Now he is wondering how he will provide for his family. He accepted Christ knowing that he would have no means to take care of them for awhile, but Mark and I have a couple of ideas for new work. If we can purchase a few donkeys for him, he can haul water (which is at a premium right now). It costs about $80 to a $100 per donkey.

Pray and ask the Lord if you would want to help him in this way. The day he gave his heart to Jesus, he told us how the demons were angry at him and killed his only donkey. His journey towards God has been full of intense spiritual battles.

The neighbors have been finding out that Gopeeleo has given his heart to Christ, and they are rejoicing! Some fall to the ground in thanksgiving. It is amazing to watch their responses. We will write you again soon and share about his first time at church.

Well dear friends, I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers God is FAITHFUL!  

Amen and Amen.

Lovingly,

Mark & Sidney Launder

Mark and Sidney Launder are living and ministering in a poor neighborhood in Soddo Ethiopia. This story, shared by Sidney displays the personal God who loves us all and graciously transforms us.

The story of Gopeeleo is one of magnificent change and a stunning picture of what it means to be a new creation in Jesus Christ.

It was 10 years ago that Gopeeleo came to this same compound where Mark and I now live. He came with a two-foot machete in his hand, walked up to our pastor friend, Tesfi, and said, “Why did you bring Jesus to this place? I keep hearing Jesus in my ears—I am going to kill you!”

The night before Gopeeleo’s visit, Tesfi had been praying and asking God to touch the people on this hill—Tesfi lived here for seven years amongst the thieves and drunks. Although Gopeeeleo had once lived in town, he moved out here to Otonna to get away from some evangelists that had moved into his old neighborhood. Ha! I smiled as he recounted the last time he stood on this same ground, despising even the Name of Jesus.

Now that same angry man is a believer, and he’s laid his machete down.

Gopeeleo arrived at our home with the sunrise. 6:30 a.m.

His eyes grew big as he came into our garden to be greeted by our dikdik, Tazo (smallest member of the antelope family). Gopeeleo stared in amazement and couldn’t believe Tazo was so friendly (dikdiks are usually eaten by Ethiopians whenever they can catch them).  I told him Tazo was our dog, which made him smile. Tesfi, the praying pastor, was also with us as we sat down to talk about Gopeeleo’s new life in Christ. 

Gopeeleo was so anxious to tell us how different he feels, evidenced by his sparkling eyes and the peace we now felt in his presence. We prayed over him as he stretched out his hands, sang songs to God and proclaimed his love for Jesus. 

He is going to church with us tomorrow, and told us he wants to be clean physically as well as spiritually. He had already cut off his long grey dreadlocks (symbolic of his old craft) and asked for a razor to shave off his beard. Then Tesfi and I cut off his leather necklace (which was a symbol of worship to Mary). When he took off his purple turban (symbolic witchdoctor hat), Mark gave him the wool cap he wore on his climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Gopeeleo was delighted to have this. 

These gestures were all physical aspects of repentance for him. He no longer wanted to be known by his old clothes or appearance. So later that day, Tesfi and I went to the open air market and bought him two pairs of pants, two shirts, a coat, some socks and shoes. His face lit up when he tried on his new clothes! He said “I feel like I have had a new birth…much better than the first one! Bravo! Bravo!”  He is so excited about going to church with us tomorrow.

This is a new beginning for him in every way. As of today, he is done with selling tobacco, alcohol and “traditional medicine” (witchcraft) as well. He told us he does not want to make God angry, because God might pick him up and throw him across a field. I cringed inwardly, as I knew this had happened to him before when he was serving demonic spirits. It will take time for Gopeeleo to learn the love and gentleness of the one true God. This will all be a process. 

Now he is wondering how he will provide for his family. He accepted Christ knowing that he would have no means to take care of them for awhile, but Mark and I have a couple of ideas for new work. If we can purchase a few donkeys for him, he can haul water (which is at a premium right now). It costs about $80 to a $100 per donkey.

Pray and ask the Lord if you would want to help him in this way. The day he gave his heart to Jesus, he told us how the demons were angry at him and killed his only donkey. His journey towards God has been full of intense spiritual battles.

The neighbors have been finding out that Gopeeleo has given his heart to Christ, and they are rejoicing! Some fall to the ground in thanksgiving. It is amazing to watch their responses. We will write you again soon and share about his first time at church.

Well dear friends, I cannot thank you enough for all your prayers God is FAITHFUL!  

Amen and Amen.

Lovingly,

Mark & Sidney Launder

Please thank EVERYONE who is praying for us. Your prayers are more vital than ever to us here in Ethiopia. I must say that it has felt a bit grim these past couple of days.  We were able to fill up our water tanks using donkeys carrying water from the river (they strap 4 old plastic cooking oil jugs on the donkey’s backs and haul them to our house). We are not sure how long we can depend on this source as everyone is trying to get donkey water. Of course, the price went sky high. We were on an absolute ration of water, not taking showers or even flushing the toilet but once a day. 

 But PRAISE GOD the government brought in an emergency generator for the two hospitals in town as one had to close their doors. The Soddo Christian Hospital remained open as they have a huge generator and two good wells. The only problem is that the fuel to run the generators is very difficult to get and very expensive. 

As soon as the fire stopped we sent our guy down to get petrol for our generator. So we are limiting the use of our generator, using it just enough so the fridge doesn’t get warm. But yesterday with this emergency generator coming they are only giving power to the hospitals and we happen to be on the same line….so PRAISE GOD we got some power for a few hours yesterday which also allowed us to get some water.

 I cannot tell you how what a blessing that was. Everyone hollering with praise and tears. I just dropped to my knees, weeping and thanking God for His goodness to us. This is a temporary fix, so PLEASE KEEP PRAYING that the government thinks the power plant is important enough to fix in a timely fashion. It’s Africa…so one never knows what will happen.

I feel like I’ve been on the front lines for a long time, and everyday has such major demands. I have people at my gate daily asking for help. I feel spent and keep pressing on, but sometimes I’m just worn out. Please pray for my stamina. I love it here and am witnessing GOD doing amazing things, but it’s a hard life. 

We showed the Jesus Film last night under the broken power poles on top of the hill in front of our house. We were the only light on the hill (using our generator), sharing with the Ethiopians that Jesus is REAL LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Hundreds came, and you should have heard the cries of the people as they watched Jesus being crucified. They wailed beating their chests…their crying went on for at least 15 minutes. But the cheers at His resurrection were so loud and joyful. Many are giving their hearts to the Lord weekly as we show a Jesus film every Friday night.

We sing  ”YES….JESUS LOVES ME…..YES JESUS LOVES ME ….YES JESUS LOVES ME, THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO”  each time before we start the movie. I am so blessed as I hear the kids across the way singing it to themselves throughout the week, and when they’re playing together I hear them singing it over and over. 

 Since we have been showing the films more and more people come to our gate…the lame…the blind…the sick and the dying. The needs are endless. 

Love and thanks,

Sidney Launder

{This letter came from a friend of ours who supports our ministry partners in Ethiopia, Mark & Sidney Launder. They come from up here in the the Northwest, but they’ve recently relocated to Soddo to live with and reach with Jesus’ love the needy and oppressed in their community. Soddo’s main power plant underwent an explosion and destructive fire this week. Here’s what Sidney has to share.}

   One of the things that Sidney & Mark Launder are involved with is witnessing to the local Ethiopian people through their “Jesus Film Ministry”.  They have acquired a projection system that can be run off of power from their home, and on Friday nights the past few weeks have been showing Campus Crusade’s Jesus Film (translated into Amharic) to all comers.  They hang a white sheet in a tree by their home to project the film onto and invite the neighbors - last Friday they had over 150 in attendance.  Sidney is working with local pastors who issue an “altar call” after showing the film - last week 20 people gave their lives to Jesus. 

The entire area continues to be blacked out by the destruction of the Soddo power plant.  Only those who have access to a generator (such as the Soddo Christian Hospital) are able to have any light at night.  The Launders have a small generator, big enough to run a few lights and a couple small appliances, but as fuel sources are extremely tight they are limiting its use to a few hours a day.  There also is a critical water shortage throughout the whole area as there is no power to run the pumps that move the water through the local water system. 

 Here’s an excerpt from an email Sidney sent me last night:

“I am not sure how long we will be able to stay here, until they get this fixed. We did Donkey water yesterday and they are saying that the source is drying up. We have 2 full tanks. Which in normal use is just 3 to 4 days worth at best. …Rationing I don’t know. People are really sad about this. I went down to the power plant with Gold and I preached for a while to the people about bending their knees to God and repenting and having a relationship with him, as there are many people there staring at the charred remains. We will be the only light on the Ottano hill tonight as we will be using our precious fuel to show the Jesus Film right under the power lines….how about that…Showing them the real Light of the World. Pray.”

(“Donkey Water” is water hauled from a local polluted river or town water taps in jugs on the back of donkeys and as demand increases, so does the price). 

PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR PRAYERS -

 Pray for:

 - Many to come to know Jesus as Lord in the midst of this severe trial.

- The showing of the Jesus Film to bring many into relationship with Christ.  Sidney is showing the film on Friday night, which is 8AM-10AM Friday morning (today) in Spokane.

- Wisdom for Sidney, Josh & Lindsey Roe and other local missionaries as to how best minister to the people

- Protection and Provision for basic needs (water/fuel/food) for the Launders and Roes, and for all the Ethiopia people affected by this disaster.

And remember, we know a God more powerful than disaster, more illuminating than electricity. Remember to pray for his Spirit to woo the souls of the lost in Ethiopia and that they might respond to the God of all Power who died to save them and lives to make them free.

Isaiah 51:15-16

For I am the LORD your God,

who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.

My name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

And I have put my words in your mouth

and hidden you safely in my hand.

I stretched out the sky like a canopy

and laid the foundations of the earth.

Happy New Year!

I have goose bumps bigger than ever! I just finished reading one of the many stories we will share with you in the months to come about N.C.F’s church planters.

Listen to this young man’s own words. Tell me if you don’t get goose bumps?

From Regella we were invited where I am serving in to 400 KM distance to the house of woman witchdoctor. This woman has been opposing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ that nobody has to listen and go the Christian families of communities. She has been known as a qualified trainer for young witch doctors. A married couple who lived with her for a long time have a daughter whose name is Astoria. In the meantime Astoria has been sick and couldn’t be able to be healed. This daughter has been taken to many with doctors to be healed, but there was no help to the girl at all. After her father and mother spent a lot of money for their daughter, they came to discuss with each other saying ” we’ve done our best to restore our daughters health in spending a lot of money, but no help has come. It is better if we could invite these Christian preachers* to come to our home and pray to their God if he could help our daughter If their God help our daughter and get to be healed we well let our daughter to believe their God and we will believe too” So then they called us to their home and told us every thing in details. Then we shared the Lord Jesus Christ to them and told them how Jesus gave His life to them and to all man kind to save from eternal death to eternal life. Then we prayed for a sick daughter asking the kindness mercy, and compassion of the Lord. We prayed as Jesus prayed at the tomb of Lazarus the day he raised him. We prayed, Lord please let us not to be a shamed, that we are here by Your Holy name. would you please honor your great name. Please heal this girl for the sake of your name. The father , the mother and their daughter all received the Lord as their personal savior. Praise God a sick girl whom her family were waiting her death has received a complete healing for the Lord on that same week of their salvation.

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is one of my personal favorites. To see this Church Planter refer to the power that was present when Lazarus was raised from the dead to him calling upon the same Jesus for this little girl. Ohhhh the POWER of God. Doesn’t it make you thrilled this is the same God you serve? We are on God’s team beloved and our days are short. I thank you for your faithfulness in supporting these men and their families. Many of them continue to face very difficult circumstances yet they are thankful to be sent. Bless them! Would you remember them in your prayer this week as we continue to walk by faith.

May I ask you to join me? 15 of these men asked specifically for prayer for more soldiers to come to the frontline. Currently, N.C.F. has 60 men ready to go but the finances are preventing them. Please pray that God would raise the funds to release these willing men to go.

May God Bless you richly in the months to come!

Teresa Laher 
N.C.F. Volunteer

“I met a woman in a rural area during our sixth or seventh day. She was just one of many people along the roadside where I was shooting photographs, but I remember her because of the question she had for me. Why are you here?

I’m still trying to answer that question. I challenge you to do the same.”

Every tourist takes pictures.

Whenever we see new sights, different people or intriguing landscapes, we pull out the camera and snap a photo.

Upon returning home, we ask ourselves, “Now why did I take twenty pictures of that tree?” We realize, in the midst of adventure, we got carried away. The best ones go in the photo album or scrapbook.

For Jim Van Gundy, some of his best shots went on display at ClearStory Gallery, a gallery located in Life Center Church in Spokane.

Jim travelled to Ethiopia with NCF in the fall of 2010. A professional advertising photographer by trade, Jim knew he’d naturally fall into the role of team photographer, but what he’d capture on film was as unknown to him as the country he was visiting.

The idea of traveling to Ethiopia was an adventurous one, and Jim personally defines adventure as, “the result of poor planning” that “promises the unexpected”. Jim wasn’t sure what the expectations were of him as a professional photographer on a Vision Trip with NCF. At first he felt some pressure, but decided to refocus the lens of his heart on the idea that this would be an opportunity to see how God wanted to use him and what God was going to do.

It seems that God provided some spectacular picture-perfect moments for Jim. Later, when approached by ClearStory to “look for threads” in his pictures for a possible gallery installation, Jim realized he had enough to construct an entire “blanket.”

The show is simply entitled: Why Are You Here?

Through compelling images and dimensional full-wall collage elements, Jim draws the viewer into the conversation and gently, but pointedly, asks the same. Why are we here? Why are they there? Why do we converge and share this world? What else do we share? 

Jim doesn’t have the answers, but the questions lead on and the participants in the art end up feeling something like Jim did when he went to Ethiopia.

Jim opens this dialogue with a journal entry: 

Saturday, November 6 late afternoon — We are finally somewhere over Africa and the little cards they gave us for  customs ask for a reason for m visit to Ethiopia. I don’t have an anwer. And if I did, it wouldn’t fit into one of these boxes I could check.

The answers aren’t always tidy, or multiple choice or true or false. When dealing with poverty and culture and people, things get messy and multi-layered, and new questions rise to the surface and demand attention.

And that’s what this show does. It raises questions and leaves space for the answers.

It does what good art, and valuable people and big problems do: Posits the question and waits… for you to respond, to act and to interact.

Why Are You Here? will be on display for a little while longer at ClearStory Gallery. Part of Jim’s collage-style photo display will be available to see at  The Service Station, in north Spokane. The Service Station supports NCF by exclusively serving Dominion Trading Coffee.

Interested in knowing more about NCF? [click here]

Coffee Washing Plant

(Friday 11/4)

By Team Member Harry Amend

For me, the trip from Dilla to Yirgacheffe and the trip to the original DTC Holding coffee washing plant was another wonderful story about the beautiful people of Ethiopia.

The scenery along the roadway was stunning.  After a drenching rain during the night, the green foliage was glimmering and the Poinsettias were a deep red. We travelled from Dilla to nearby Yirgacheffe to see the DTC Holding coffee processing plant and to meet Tsehaynish.

The children of Ethiopia are everywhere. They’ll stay in my mind and heart long after I’ve returned home.  They are physically beautiful and bright-eyed, and as we returned their wave from the bus, they exploded with huge grins, jumping for joy.  Even babies who could not walk yet seemed to be able to wave their arms and join in the chorus of “You, you, you.”  

I continue to be amazed and envious at the way these people use every last bit of their natural resources.  Orderly stacks of all sizes of wood lined the road.  Children of all ages carried bark, hay, bamboo, sticks and the ever present water bottles.  After the rain,  many were washing themselves, their clothes, and yes, even their vehicles (we saw motorcycles, buses, trucks and cars) all with their wheels in the waster as the brown river water “washed” them.

Mike has spoken so adoringly about Tsehaynish, the beautiful 23 year old Ethiopian woman who had severe polio, causing her to live a life of crawling physically from place to place.  When Mike and Craig met her underneath the drying racks and learned of her plight, they made arrangements with Dr. Duane Anderson at the Soddo Christian Hospital in Soddo to bring her to the hospital where she underwent major surgery and a long rehab period, which allowed her to walk upright with the aid of crutches.

What happened as we approached Yirgacheffe couldn’t have happened in the most corny Hollywood movie.  As we drove along watching the children walking to school, Mike yelled out, “There’s Tsehaynish,” and there she was, walking along the road with her crutches and school books, heading  to her third grade class.  

Yili stopped the bus and Mike jumped out and from the inside of the bus you could hear her shout, “Oh Mike” as they hugged in the middle of the road and the people of the town quickly gathered around.  I thought to myself, “the rest of this trip is gravy.”

We let Tsehaynish go on to school for we had planned to see her later. We continued on to the coffee operation.

Spread over 3-4 acres, this was the site that Mike and Craig had so lovingly poured time, money, and passion into during the early years of this ministry. As the harvest has not yet begun, the workers were cutting up poles, driving them into the ground and re-constructing the drying racks, preparing for the months of work ahead. Mike proudly showed us around the site, educating us on the new processor they had installed and the equipment which could now be used as they expand the operation.

As we were preparing to drive out of the coffee site and elderly man, possibly in his 80’s came up to Mike and asked him “why did you leave us, why did you sell this site?” With the help of  Zele, this gave Mike the opportunity to share with the man the reasons why things had happened the way they did.  A group of 10-12 men were able to hear Mike’s explanation, but the old man was sobbing at the gate as we drove away.

I know that God must be well pleased with His good and faithful servants, Mike and Craig. Relationships matter in ministry. Relationships built on trust have enabled God’s work to continue on through the efforts of NCF in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia.

CHE Day of Celebration

(Thursday 11/3)

Buck Frymier - Director of Health Initiative for NCF

The day began with thunder and lightning around 4AM and the Muslim call to prayer around 5:30AM. It was a travel day—Soddo to Dilla—a trip of around 5-6 hours (lots of road construction from Soddo to Sheshamane) with a stop for lunch in Awassa.

We arrived around 2:30PM in Dilla and were greeted in the KHC Church compound by hundreds of clapping and smiling members of the church and participants in the CHE Day of Celebration.

The CHE Celebration Day was filled with prayer and singing, sharing with each other about their experiences, brief talks on the value and structure of CHE by Werku Golle, head of the KHC Dilla Awraja, and brief talks and words of welcome by National CHE Coordinator Melaku Affere, women’s ministry head Sharon Abebe, CHE master trainers responsible for CHE disability, Mulatu Lakew from the Life Wind Ethiopia Board, Tirus Karuga, Life Wind International Coordinator for all of East Africa (9 countries), Buck Frymier, Health Director for New Covenant Foundation, Mike Stemm president of New Covenant Foundation and Pastor Rick Knoll with Life Center Church in Spokane.

CHE volunteers numbered around 150 and were each given certificates of appreciation and t-shirts with the LWI/E Logo. The 13 master trainers from the 4 Awrajas were also recognized and presented with  special certificates of appreciation and nice polo shirts with the LWI/LWE CHE logos—with Tirus and Buck officiating. The certificates and shirts were all very much appreciated. The celebration ended with a wonderful group picture.

This was the first time in 6 years that the master trainers and CHE volunteers were so honored—so it was indeed a day of celebration.  

The celebration was followed by an intensive discussion of a 2-year extension agreement for the CHE program in Gedeo, attended by some of the NCF team, Tirus, Buck, Melaku, Ademe, Mulatu, and office manager Elsa—her first trip to the Gedeo region. The meeting went well and much was discussed—all focused on continuing for another 2 years with the 4 Awrajas. Agreements for approval were discussed and copies left for the Awraja leaders to study.

As is often the case in Dilla, the day ended with a wonderful dinner prepared by Hallelujah with the helping hands of husband Werku and others to prepare another wonderful meal—meatballs and gravy, mashed potatoes, boiled carrots, homemade bread and all topped off with Hallelujah’s special cake. It was a day to be remembered. 

Food Distribution

(Tuesday 11/1)

By Team Member Josh Arriola

As the bus left the second orphanage, we began our short ride to the next location, a food bank of sorts.  This food bank was located at a small church on a hill overlooking the city.  When we arrived we noticed tall brown metal walls with a long line of people gathered outside.  

Access to the bank is very limited.  In order to receive food from this food bank you need to be given a special pass from another local church.  Only the poorest of the poor are given access to the bank.  As we entered the gates, several families were seated in a large courtyard which was covered with uncut weeds and grass and jagged red rocks. The families sat patiently waiting for the event to start as they observed the foreigners and their oversized cameras attempting to discreetly take pictures.  

As the event started, Mike Stemm from NCF prayed for the people through an interpreter.  As each sentence was translated the people would raise their hands and call out a word of praise.  After the short prayer was translated it was time to begin the distribution of the food. 

In an open flat spot of the courtyard lay four large straw mats that typified the colors of Africa with deep greens, vivid yellows and reds.  Piled three feet high atop the mats was a large pile of dried corn with three blue 1 liter sized hand scoops.  The local church asked our team for three volunteers to serve the food.  Joe, Mary Beth and Harry offered to help.  

The church leaders began to call out family names from their list.  As they came forward I saw that there were very few whole families in the group.  The vast majority were widowed families or orphans.  James 1:27 “religion that’s pure and undefiled before God the father is this: to visit widows and orphans in their affliction…”   

The family would send one person to the front to gather the food.  They had to sign-in to collect their allotted portion.  All of the people there had never learned to read or write so they would dip their index finger in blue ink and place their fingerprint next to their name.  

As time went on the three Americans faithfully filled each persons bag with the dried corn.  As the courtyard got louder and louder with the business of the relief, I noticed Kristi Burns was sitting on the ground next to a very small young woman who looked to be about fifteen-years-old.  Tears were running down this girl’s face as her small eight-month old baby climbed on her.  Then the young girl collapsed in Kristi’s lap.  She laid there as tears continued to roll from her face and fall to the dry ground.  

Eventually she ran out of tears and passed out.  

Her baby began to scream in fear as she called out to her mom trying to wake her.  I tried to look away but Jesus spoke to me saying, “I don’t look away from you when you are in pain.  Look, see, watch what my people are enduring”.  Kristi gently caressed her face as a mom does to a child.  I wondered if she had not been touched with such loving hands in a very long time, if ever.  

Beside the young girl sat her husband who did nothing. He couldn’t see what really going on. He was visually blind.  

Kristi picked up the crying child and handed the child to her father.  He held the child for short time, but became irritated with the child’s crying and let the child return to her mom and begin hitting her as she cried and cried for help.  Eventually the man exposed the girl’s chest in an apparent attempt to calm the child.  The child quickly climbed to the young woman’s chest for comfort.  However the woman was so sick and suffered so greatly from malnutrition that there was nothing for the child to have, the crying got louder as the child began to realize she was alone and no one was helping her mom.  

I was overwhelmed by the spirit of God.  ”These are my people” he said.  Matthew 25:34 “then the King will say to those on his right, ‘come and inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink’ “.  

Kristi left the young girl in search of more immediate help.  She found a church leader and dragged him to the young girl.  The church leader rubbed his face as he said something in his native language and walked away.  He walked over to the American leaders and followed them  into a meeting.  The group of Africans that had gathered around me watched me intently as they smiled.  

I could not hold back my tears.  

“Hospital” I said pointing at the young girl, “hospital!” I sharply glared at the group. Seeing that I had become angry with them they stopped laughing and smiling. Did they understand my anger? Did they understand how desperate this girl’s situation truly had become?

Perhaps they had seen this many times before. Perhaps the urgency I felt was less about the circumstances in this courtyard and more about the heart of God reaching me. Perhaps I was here, seeing her for a specific purpose.

The church leaders were inside a building having a meeting while those still waiting their portion of corn watched from a safe distance.  The spirit continued to ask me, “are you going to help Jesus?”.  I knew I was reaching a boiling point.  I grabbed a church leader, looked deeply into his eyes, pointed at the girl and said “Soddo Christian hospital”.  He replied, “Okay” and walked away.  

Mike Stemm quickly came to Kristi and I. She told Mike, “This young woman is not sick, she is dying.  If we do not do something right now she will die.  I’m not going anywhere until she is taken to the hospital”.  

Mike, now being aware of the gravity of the situation began working with our Land Rover driver.  He instructed them to take her and her family to the hospital.  The church guard went to pick her up, however he was also so weak because of the lack of food. Seeing that the weak church guards could not lift this small girl, Craig Meredith quickly responded and picked her up.  

As he carried her to the vehicle she awoke with a cry as pain shot through her body from being moved.  The church guards helped her blind husband and her child to the car.  They were whisked away in the little white Land Rover.  With relief, the team breathed a collective sigh. At least there would be good care for this young woman at the hospital.

We boarded the bus and headed back to the hotel which was adjacent to the hospital. We got off the bus and Craig rushed to drop off his gear and so he could head to the hospital. I ran to my room and frantically began searching for a small white envelope in my bag.  As part of out trip we were asked to bring money ($100) for shopping on the last day when we would be back in Addis.  

As I tore through my room looking for my money I was again overwhelmed with emotions.  I quickly wiped away the tears and continued to rip through my room. There was no time to cry now.  I found it!  I raced downstairs and found Craig as he was leaving the compound.  I handed him the envelope and said please make sure she gets what she needs.  I didn’t tell him, but there was about $500USD.  I returned to my room, sat on my bed and began to weep and my soul experienced this moment.

But it didn’t last. Another stop on the journey and another meeting awaited. It would be a few hours before I could find Kristi.  ”Is she ok”?!  Kristi responded, “do you really wanna know”?  

I had to know.  I knew I was here, in part, for this young woman. I knew I could not turn away from her pain and just hope and pray.

What if the money I gave was not enough? God was watching to see how I would respond to his question.  I began asking people in our group how to find her at the hospital.  Eventually an older man from the area said he could find out as he was headed to a meeting there.  I was excited to have a way to find her.  I began to walk to the hospital with him.  As we were walking to the hospital the older man put his arm around me as if he was going to help me understand the truth about life.  He began to explain that we can’t help everyone and that we need to accept life as it is and just do what we can.  Just as he finished his thought he patted me on the back and said, “see ya later”.  He then crossed the street and began to head in a different direction.  

I was surprised for a second at his indifference but quickly composed myself and knew that I had to find her! What if she didn’t get the help she needed? I found the area where patients are admitted and discharged and saw her laying on the ground.  As I walked toward her, some people picked her up and began helping her back into the Land Rover.  She was awake.  She was alive.  

I asked our guide who stayed with her what had happened.  He responded that she had typhoid and malaria.  She was close to death but had received care and was going to live.  Our NCF guide helped her and her family home.  When he dropped her off he gave her family money to buy food because her husband was blind and she was dying.  

How much did it cost to save her life and buy her family a few weeks worth of food? $46USD.

In Soddo with Mark & Sidney Launder

(Tuesday 11/1)

by Team Member Rachel Archer

Anticipation swells as the van climbs the side of the mountain.  We wonder if it will make it.  Children shout to us as they chase.  As we round the bend, coarse mud huts contrast with beautiful foliage.  People in tattered clothing, some shoeless, wave at us “feringies” their word for foreigner.

Slowly we approach a gate.  A little, almost totally toothless man raises both his arms and looks toward heaven.  He seems to be crying out “Hallelujah!”  His joy warms my heart.

The gates open to a different scene.  Peace and order dwell behind these gates; the Holy Spirit is certainly here.  Finally, we have arrived at Mark and Sidney Launder’s home. The Launder’s are missionaries here with NCF. They moved to Soddo, Ethiopia in the Wolaita region last year. Nearly four million people live in the region about 125,000 live in the city, and this little haven of hope shines like a light in darkness. Smiles and welcoming embraces greet us.  I look around me.  Beds planned for vegetables, fruit trees, and sweet potato plants showcase practicality while wind chimes, a fire pit and little dik-diks (tiny deer-like animals) foraging in the yard add beauty, warmth and unique homey feel.  

After a few moments, we gather in the living room to hear Sidney’s stories of God’s work.  She tells of their nearest neighbor, a drunken blacksmith named Yeselamso, who beats his wife and child when he’s been to Liquor Mama’s bar.  Sidney was able to tell him of the unfathomable peace of God and that he could trade his unrest for it.  He believed on Jesus’ name and his countenance changed and now a man called “Danger-man” is renamed “Peace-man” —for he is a new creation.  Alcohol has a stronghold here. His blacksmith hammer is heavy and sometimes the pain in his back is too much to bear.  Peace-man goes back to his drink. Somehow LiquorMama doesn’t mind when Sidney comes and drags Peace-man from her bar. He repents and has found a church home where he can be discipled and grow. 

Liquor Mama isn’t ready yet for Jesus to be her Lord and her husband is hard-hearted, but her step-daughter ready to know Jesus! Liquor Mama is a king pin in this town. God has a plan for her life.  Although she is resistant to a personal relationship with Jesus, Sidney has developed a relationship with her and the family. Liquor Mama has allowed The Jesus film at her bar to a packed house. Already He has used her and her bar to change people’s lives through the Jesus film.  Imagine if SHE chooses Jesus…

The local witch doctor, Gopelio, is another influencer. Sidney is focusing on his wife’s sever goiter condition (more common in developing nations caused from a lack of iodine) and has arranged for her surgery.  Gopelio recently reported frustration because he feels he is “losing his power.”  Sidney has prayed God’s love around this man’s house. Someday soon, perhaps he’ll know the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. 

She tells us stories of bandaging wounds, cleaning worms from children’s feet and embracing bug-infested people.  Mark and Sidney live and rub shoulders every day with their neighbors. Their work requires patience and prayer and persistence.

Sidney asks if we want to walk around the neighborhood. I can’t wait for our walk.  I hope I can embrace these people too and that they can feel God’s love through me.  My heart is about to burst as we start our walk.  Sidney introduces the groundskeeper of the property outside the gate—the old joyful man.  As I get a closer look at him, I notice his shoes are about 5 sizes too big and his clothes are dirty and torn.  I shake his hand, bump shoulders and embrace him.  He is so tiny and so strong.  Sidney tells us he is a Christian and that he sings all the time.    

On our way to his home, we meet (Yeselamso) Peace-man’s two mamas.  They are so old and frail. Yeselamso leads us to a hut made of sticks and a thatched roof.  Inside the smoky room, a farmer sits and waits while his tool is heated and pounded into the correct shape.  We squeeze in to watch the blacksmith’s skill.  Dana Cowger, from our team, takes a turn at the bellows.  We all laugh at his lack of skill.  I hold the 10-pound hammer comprehending how hard this work is.  No wonder his back hurts incessantly.

Many children follow us down the red clay dirt path carrying schoolbooks. Intricate braids adorn the girl’s hair. I wish I could converse.

Sharon Abebe, one of the CHE trainers is with us. She shows me some different plants. Eucalyptus abounds here.  Originally imported from Australia, the fast growing hard wood makes it a great resource here.  She pulls another leaf from a tree.  The leaves are used to clean the pots before alcohol is made.  The fragrance is amazing!

We gather together again and Mark shows us the possible sites of future projects.  Cows graze nearby.  Two goat kids capture our attention as they forage on the land we pray over.  

My heart is full! 

Mark & Sidney Launder

(Tuesday 11/1)

By Team Member Kristi Burns

A few years ago, Mark and Sidney spent a few months serving at the Soddo Christian hospital. God planted seeds of love in their hearts for the people of Soddo. Their time was complete, however, and they returned home to Idaho and waited for the day they could return. Sidney Launder had a dream. We know throughout the Bible that God spoke to his people through dreams. Today, God is the same God of the Old and New Testament and sometimes chooses to direct us through dreams.  In the dream, she was told to go back to Soddo and the Lord spoke to her of laying a foundation for a home. Another dream was about a food line.  Today, God has built her home overlooking Soddo and he has engaged her in a ministry of bringing Jesus to the poorest of the poor in Soddo.

Once the Launders were in their home, God opened up countless ministry opportunities for Sidney and Mark.  God pointed out three key people in Sidney’s neighborhood, a drunk, a witch doctor and a women business owner - a key person in the community because she runs the local bar.  Through the ministry of building relationships with these people, the drunk came to Jesus; a Christian woman is now living with the witch doctor and the owner of the bar agreed to show the Jesus Film in her bar!  Jesus came to minister to the poor and the sinful.  Mark and Sidney Launder came to Soddo, Ethiopia to do Jesus’ work, and he’s led them to the same kind of people that Jesus loved.

The bar owner, “Liquor Mama,” as Sidney calls her, loves Sidney and is open to her love.  Sidney dances with her and hugs her and has told her that she believes that in three months God will send her a new business.  Today our group gathered in ‘Liquor Mammas” establishment and prayed that she would come to Jesus and that God would bring her a new business.  It was a powerful time of prayer for all of us.  You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit!  “Liquor Mama” is coming to Jesus - you can already see her heart changing.

Sidney and Mark are helping the poorest of the poor build new huts.  It costs about $600 to build a hut.  The Launders don’t give the people money, but they help with medical assistance and clothes. When the neighbors see the Launders caring for them, it begins to change hearts.

They also have a vision for trash clean-up in the city of 125,000 people and no sanitation systems.  Sidney says they have gone in and cleaned up areas and the neighbors are astounded.  This opens the door to spreading the Gospel.

Mark Launder took us to the property recently acquired by the Mossy Foot Foundation. It is next to the Launder’s home site.  Now, New Covenant Foundation is pursuing the acquisition of a third parcel of land where they have a vision for guest housing for short and long term teams.  This could be the property for the well that is needed and the future Mittin plant that will be built by New Covenant Foundation.

Join us in prayer for the completion of the business plan for the Mittin factory, the smooth acquisition of the property, and a clear vision for the guest housing. 

Please pray for opportunities to show the Jesus film to larger audiences. There is a central marketplace that could hold thousands of people. Arrangements for generators and projectors need to be made and the costs for projectors range from $1000-7000. The Jesus film has proven to be tremendously effective and there are Christians from India who help with following up with new believers. 

Our God can do anything.  We are simply to be still and know that He is God and that He will whisper his directions to the right person at the right time.

Soddo, Ethiopia

Team members - Dana & Susan Cowger

We traveled by bus from Addis Ababa to Soddo, a trip that took our bus and crew about 200 miles thru lush productive farmland–not a single motor powered farm implement spotted—hard work and a good year of rain make for a productive yield.

Once in Soddo, we bumped down a new cobblestone street to our hotel. The new street was made completely by women, who broke and placed the rock into beautiful circular patterns. This wasn’t done for esthetics—the labor is cheaper than for putting down asphalt.

Less than a block away stands the Soddo Christian Hospital. Far from anything close to what we have in America, this mission hospital is an impressive work in a third-world country. People from all over Ethiopia come to this hospital for orthopedic surgery.

Needs right now? An ICU nurse and an administrator. Really? An ICU in Soddo Ethiopia? Yup, a dozen beds in a ward and (very thankfully) a “new” respirator that is saving lives (along with Jesus saving souls).

Spreading the Gospel is one of the biggest delights of a mission hospital. It should be noted too that the Grays and the other doctors are missionaries, raising their own support to be able to do this good work.

Soddo Christian Hospital

(Monday 10/31)

Team Member - Mary Beth Baker

For hours the paved main road wound through lush valleys whose steep slopes held terraced fields resembling carefully stitched patchwork quilts in hues of green and gold. In the late afternoon we arrived safely in Soddo, a city of 150,000 about 250 miles southwest of Addis.  Many willing hands quickly unloaded our luggage laden vehicles. We checked into our hotel and then gathered to meet Becca Gray for a tour of Soddo Christian Hospital.

A short walk on hand-hewn red rock cobblestones, accompanied by an escort of very curious and bright-eyed children, we arrived at the gates to SCH.  Stretched out before us lay an oasis of  hope and healing for the ill and wounded of this impoverished region of Ethiopia.

Opened just six years ago under the ownership of St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation of Wheaton, Illinois, this 120 bed teaching hospital serves a population of approximately 2.5 million. Colorful flowers border red earth pathways that connect the multi-building campus of Soddo Christian Hospital beneath a canopy of shade trees. Here a staff of 140 is made up of Christian Ethiopian doctors and workers and expatriate specialists; together these medical workers provide an outpost of modern medicine that reaches out to rural Ethiopia.  

Here, on a fee-for-service basis, patients come for loving, compassionate treatment. They come with infectious diseases, tumors, cancer, trauma, birth defects, pregnancy complications and mossy foot, a form of elephantiasis.

Two Ob/Gyn’s provide obstetrical and gynecological care for women while a team of three skilled orthopedic surgeons repair the wounds from trauma, injury and birth defects.  So widespread is the reputation of the skills of the orthopedic surgeons at SCH that patients from all over Ethiopia travel here for treatment.

The medical services are supported with modern equipment, on-site electrical generators, and deep wells that provided abundant fresh water.  In a well-equipped laboratory, the lab technicians proudly showed me his new chemistry analyzer. Over in the new microbiology lab, a technician carefully inoculates blood agar plates freshly prepared with the blood drawn from the sheep peacefully grazing in a nearby field.  

In addition to caring for patients, SCH is a teaching hospital for African doctors who want to become surgeons and stay in Africa to practice.

Our tour ended in the cool and quiet pediatric ward where several tiny infants, swaddled in blankets of many colors slept under the watchful eyes and tender touch of this peaceful, special place.

Healing the sick constituted a great part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Medical workers have a unique opportunity to extend the healing and compassionate love of Jesus to so many. Soddo Christian Hospital acts beyond the surgical ward and outpatient clinic and provides a professional learning environment for nurses and doctors. If you would like to support this work or know more about how to volunteer as a teaching nurse, please contact NCF staff through the contact page on our website. 

The Trip

(Friday 10/28 to Saturday 10/29)

by

Harry Amend

As the team gathered at the Spokane Airport, it was cool to see the two types of anticipation and adrenaline.  The rookies’ anticipation of their first trip to Africa with the excitement of the unknown and the veterans eager to get back to Ethiopia and a ministry they love.

 We immediately began the adventures of the Dan and the magical boarding pass and tripod case.  The adventure lasted until we arrived in Addis when both Dan and “the case” arrived safely on the same flight.

Many of us were greeted going through security by a body scanner who asked us if we were missionaries and thanked us “for all we are doing.”  He also said that though he can’t go with us, “we will all be together some day.”

A young lady security guard took one look at Josh and his Grandma Molly and decided that she needed to bypass the main line and go directly through to the screeners.  Four of us were quite happy to join her family and skip the line.  As we found our seats for the Seattle to Amsterdam leg, we learned that our careful seat selection efforts had become random and most teammates got to sit with new friends on the trip. No matter how you cut it, or how much food they bring, 9+ hours is a long flight.

On the Amsterdam-Khartoum leg (6+hours), I made a new friend with a 70-year-old Lithuanian lady psychiatrist who was headed to the African backcountry to “observe the tribes.”  Her parents were lost during the Holocaust and she escaped to the U.S. “by private means” and worked in Boston for 40+ years. Never married, she now travels the world.

Things went smoothly during customs at Addis, in fact the customs worker directed our entire team to bypass the luggage search and x-ray lines! There was much rejoicing as when we met our African teammates as well as other team-members and Buck Frymier, our director of the Health Initiative for NCF.

We agreed in prayer as Mike prayed we arrived at King’s Hotel:  we are all thanking the Lord for our safe travels and for the challenges that He will place before us during these next two weeks.

Team member Rachel with our Administrative Manager for Ethiopian Affairs (our Main Man on the Ground)

Please click the link to the Bowers’ blog to read the full text:

http://thebowersinafrica.wordpress.com

Courtney Stokes, DPT

Right now I am sitting outside at 9:30 pm with the temperature at least 70 degrees. There is a soft breeze flowing and I can hear the waves crash of the huge lake nearby Sabana Lodge. I look up and I see many star constellations.

The orphanage where I recently volunteered is run by Stephne Bowers, a wonderful and amazing God loving woman whose passion is for these children. Stephne rescues many babies that are placed in CWA. We were able to witness a rescue of a four-day-old baby girl. Her mother died shortly after childbirth and left the father with four older siblings. The father was unable to provide for the fifth child, so an aunt brought the child into the hospital. The sadness in the aunt’s eyes was unexplainable, as she just lost a family member and now has to give up a baby. Stephne washed and cleaned the baby. She then prayed over the baby to rid of anything that is not from the Lord. Stephne prays over each child that comes into the orphanages, seeking direction and protection over the life of each baby. This baby, as with all intake children, was then taken to Soddo Christian Hospital, and recent reports are that the little girl is doing well.