11-13-10

-Karl Ziegler

Today we split up into groups of 3-5 people and went off to different churches. The church I attended today was the Timtichu Church which is a Kale Hewett church. It was in a very rural area and is a nice building compared to most we have seen.

Jim Van Grundy, Paul Miller and myself along with an interpreter (who is a pastor from the Kale Hewett headquarters) were introduced to the church. After some song, which is very beautiful, we were asked to share some scripture. That was really out of my comfort zone! Around 300 people were in attendance with most eyes on us during the service. Now I know how others feel coming to speak at Life Center.  Jim took many pictures while a few members took pictures of us during the service.   

We were asked later on to give certificates to the people that have met their goals in the CHE programs. There where around 20-families that did. After the service we shook hands with many and were invited for snacks in the church office. They had many charts on the walls of the office that showed the demographics of the people, who had clean water, latrines etc.  It was very evident that CHE was working for this church. We prayed for help in evangelizing the area, for the people to hear the gospel and for the children. While I did not understanding the language, it a wonderful place to be.      

Large concrete Church with metal roof. It used to be a prison. Greeted by the music leader, and then they erupted in song. There was a sound was a sound system and a keyboard. A gentleman in the congregation came forward and sang several songs. The pastor preached out of the book of Thessalonians verses 1-3. The pastor preached the sermon in three separate languages. Fortunately, he did a quick translation for out English speaking team. We were fortunate to have a place of honor up front so we could see and experience first hand their service.

The points he presented to all out of the Thessalonians were thanksgiving to all our brothers in Christ, to pray for one another, How we do our own personal ministry to further the Kingdom and to hope together for the second coming of Christ. Our new friend, Nagash, sang a beautiful song of praise and they all sang along. Then he spoke encouraging words to his people.

I marveled at the Spirit filled participation. The only way to describe it was like being at a sporting event in the U.S. and you have just won. That was the roar of praise expressed to our God.

Our fearless leader, Mike Stemm, expressed his love and fondness for the body of Christ in Ethiopia. He shared some scripture and introduced the rest of the team. Each in turn shared with the congregation.

We then had more singing to the Lord. Then another leader gave us a little history of the church we were visiting. They asked for us to pray for them. For their ministry to share the gospel and for their children’s school.  John 14:6

11-12-10 

-Jani Mylner 

We traveled by a 4-wheel SUV over the roughest road I have ever been over. We climbed high up into the mountains seeing beautiful scenic vistas. We finally reached a place near the top where we were headed, the Kale Heywot Church. We were blown away by the amazing greeting from the church members. They were singing, clapping, moving rhythmically to the drum that a man was beating. Some were dressed in choir robes and the children presented us with bouquets of flowers. We felt such a Spirit of the Lord flowing out of them.

We followed them into their small church. We all sat down and were greeted by the elders. A male CHE leader shared with us how they have been teaching this group of people from Yirgacheffe. He was so pleased to tell us they all had pit latrines at their homes now and that they had one on the compound. All the church members have chickens now, so everyone has eggs. They have been taught about gardening and are all growing their own gardens.

A while earlier, they were all tested for HIV and found only a few of their community were positive. They have since lost two of them, but the others are being cared for. They all know how to drink safe water and they are given chlorine tablets or powder to put into their water to make it safe to drink. They have made drying racks outside their small huts to dry their dishes out in the sun for cleanliness.

For the children they now have a school on the compound where before they had a long way to walk and were usually late. There are 300 children in Grade 1-3. The church supplies shoes and clothes to all the children. There are five orphans and ten very elderly that they all care for.

For the men they have classes to teach them and separate classes for the women. The men don t share with each one another what they are taught, but the women talk freely and share their new teachings. In the culture of these people the men have everything, make all the decisions, and treat the women very poorly. Women are not allowed to own anything or participate in any decision making. With the teaching and the partnering of CHE the men have started to realize that God has created men and women equal. They ask their wives what they think. Women used to give birth and right away start working after one week. Now the men are helping them.

Childbirth used to take place in their huts with some bad outcome for the mothers and the babies, but now at the first sign of labor they are taken to the hospital. The women are taught about childbirth and the care of the infant after birth, vaccinations, cleanliness, and care of the mother.

Family planning is a huge idea they are being taught. These Ethiopian women would have 9 to 12 children and now they have the knowledge about birth control and options available to them for free. This whole concept of family planning was hard for them at first, but now they understand.

One great way they have learned to share their knowledge is during the coffee ceremonies. This is where they will discuss HIV, family planning, gardening, and other new ideas they are learning from the CHE leaders and volunteers.

We had the privilege of hearing a lot of this information from a delightful young CHE woman leader.

After our great visit at the compound we went to visit some of their homes to see what they had learned and put into practice. They were so proud of their new pit latrines and their chickens. I was impressed with their gardens and how clean their little huts were. I guess it is easier to keep things picked up and neat if you don’t have much. We prayed for them and then took our leave.

The next CHE site was up on another mountain top. The view was spectacular. We went into this huge church that 1200 brothers and sisters join together once a month and have church. One of my favorite parts was the children gathering together and singing two songs to us without adult participation. It was so exuberant and full of life. They had hand hewn benches in the church, pretty rustic, but I bet it rocks out when all 1200 gather once a month.

We wandered down the road with the people and all the happy children. We saw their health clinic and visited a few homes. Up in a tree we were privileged to see several black and white monkeys with long bushy white tails.

My greatest reflection of the day was all the sweet smiling faces of the children. As you wave along the road, they all smile and wave back. What a genuinely happy and friendly people. If we could be that happy.

Sunday 11-07-10

Here’s the first update from the team:

Hello All!

It was a beautiful day in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The sun was shining, but it wasn’t too hot. After breakfast we started the day with devotions from Rick Noll. Read Prov. 3:5-6 and you’ll get the gist. We went the the International Evangelical Church for the 11 AM service and enjoyed worship with singing and communion with a much more eclectic crowd the we were used to, but still one Spirit and one Lord. After church it was lunch and a seminar by our partners LifeWind and the Community Health Evangelism program. What a team and what incredible results! Pray for these wonderful Ethiopian leaders who are reaching literally thousands with the Gospel by teaching people how to care for themselves. It was a little free time and then off for a little treat; dinner at the Top View Restaurant. Good food, better fellowship! What an amazing and gifted group of people. All is off to a good start. And, Brad’s missing bag is supposed to come in on the Midnight plane from Amsterdam. We’ll find out in the morning.

All are well.

Blessings,

Craig Meredith, New Covenant Foundation