Fall 2011 Trip — 1st Ever CHE Celebration Day!

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. 

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

11-10-10

-Diane Samson

We arrive in Dilla!  After a long bus/jeep ride and one macchiato stop, we land at a beautiful, new hotel.  We expected to possibly sleep in netting, using our bug spray and not having water, let alone hot water.  Our bedding has a silk cover, hot and cold water (thought not always), windows that close and a toilet seat!  The power is a little iffy.  Lesson learned…use your electricity when the power is on.
 
We were told to go to Werku’s church and meet the church planters.  So we loaded up again, no rest, no showers.  To our surprise, we were greeted by 30 or more elders and their wives and church members.  There were two girls and two boys, dressed formally, who greeted us with flowers.  Werku saw Greg and I, the Craig, and did not know we were on this trip.  Werku hugs Craig and lifts him off the ground, leaving Craig’s legs dangling.  All the women are crying for this grand receptions and obvious affection for us, most who they have not met.  It was overwhelming.
 
We entered the church and we all sat in the middle, the place of honor, with Craig and Mike in the front.  A special sign was made in our honor: ”Welcome Our Guests from USA Via NCF - Nov. 11, 2010.” 
 
Werku announced his delight in our arrival.  Bocu, an elder in the church, 86 years old, prays over all of us. The emotion we experience is son overwhelming…to greet Werku on Ethiopian soil.  Amazing!
 
We were ushered into another part of the building, a large room with tables and chairs and sodas on all the tables.  We notice two beautiful cakes, “Welcome our guests from the us.”  Greg and I cut one cake, Jani & Mike cut the other, while everyone was clapping.  We knew this was a great honor.
 
Though we have traveled all day and are eager to shower and change clothes, we immediately go to Werku’s house, where Hallelujah is waiting, as we want to honor Hallelujah for her efforts in preparing dinner.  After dinner we hustle back on the bus.
 
Their house is lighted by candles and the table is set for dinner.  We later find out the power has been out.  The scene is beautiful and peaceful, and no worries of no light.  We humbly accept their hospitality.  Hallelujah is excited to see us…her joy is evident by her scream as she hugs us.
 
A joy and a blessing to be so far from home, and united with our bothers and sister in Ethiopia.  God is good all the time!  All the time God is good.