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. 

Fall 2011Trip — A Witch Doctor, A Drunk and A Bar Owner

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.

Fall 2011 Trip - Team on the Ground in Ethiopia

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 continue to pray.  Today it is off to Church, then some relaxing and getting used to the the 10 hour time difference.  Others of us get to start meetings.  
Mike and Craig already conducted an hour long meeting last night with a Christian coffee grower in Djimma. It’s coffee harvest season here in Ethiopia.

Water in Soddo…Tears of Joy and Sorrow

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

http://thebowersinafrica.wordpress.com
The pipes have water in them today! This is the 2nd day that Soddo Orphans has water after moving in 11 weeks ago!! We all rejoice - we allow the children to just wash and play a little bit before lunch! They love every drop and I delight in the joy of the few extra drops that bring such tremendous fun! We fill every possible hollow container - unsure when the next water would be available!
The pipes have water in them today! This is the 2nd day that Soddo Orphans has water after moving in 11 weeks ago!! We all rejoice – we allow the children to just wash and play a little bit before lunch! They love every drop and I delight in the joy of the few extra drops that bring such tremendous fun! We fill every possible hollow container – unsure when the next water would be available!

Our malnourished little one receives a good wash before she is taken to the hospital - but she did not enjoy the touch - her body is aching - she simply tolerated the moment - the staff stands strong and encourages her, plays and love on her..... but inside, we are all weeping......
Our malnourished little one receives a good wash before she is taken to the hospital – but she did not enjoy the touch – her body is aching – she simply tolerated the moment – the staff stands strong and encourages her, plays and love on her….. but inside, we are all weeping……

Source: thebowersinafrica.wordpress.com

Now This is Ethiopia! Trip Report from Dilla, Ethiopia

Church Planting - A professionally organized and geographically strategic ministry    

- Kevin Cole

It is clear that Ethiopia is a key player on the African Continent in many ways.  Geographically Ethiopia is a crossroads.  Politically it is the center of the African Union.  Militarily it is a major player in the region.  Religiously there are many forces at work pushing and pulling the people in different directions.  Muslim influence from the nearby Middle East at odds with the strong Christian influences.  The good news is the spreading of the gospel across the continent is being facilitated by a professional, organized, educated and committed church planting mission of the Ethiopian Kale Heywot Church.  One cannot help but be impressed at the level of commitment when a church in a third world country is supporting and sending out missionaries to the surrounding region.  These missionaries are called church planters.  They are well trained, married, committed men and women who suffer hardships and persecution and see miracles we in the western world have a hard time getting our arms around.  Besides the 60 or so church planters supported by the local church there are others being supported by people and churches from other countries such as the USA.  New Covenant foundation for instance has made a three-year commitment to support church planters.  More support is needed.  There are about 60 families who are trained and waiting for support so they can be sent.  Another 350 are currently going through training.  The cost to support a family runs around $150 per month.  The money is used for food, housing, medical support, and a small pension fund.  My hope and prayer is that Christians who read this will see the importance of this ministry for the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ to a region of the world that desperately needs the hope that Jesus offers. 

February 25, 2011

-Carrie Cole

We went to the Kale Heywot church compound in Dilla and met Werku, a leader of the Christians in the area.  As we walked along the building, there was an awful smell that made some of us feel sick at the thought of going inside.  We were led to the front where seats were saved for us. There were probably a couple of thousand church leaders gathered for the conference and a large choir sat on the stage.  The pastor was talking to the people in Amharic about CHE and the importance of caring for the whole person.  The choir sang and the building was filled with the most amazing sounds of praise to God, then all the people sang as they poured to the front to place their offering on a table in the front of the church.  All thoughts of my personal discomforts faded as I was drawn into worship of our Savior with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ.  Werku introduced us and we each shared with the people, they love to hear about us and how we serve the same God they serve in our homes on the other side of the world.  Werku closed by singing Mike’s favorite Ethiopian praise song.  It was beautiful and I could have stayed and praised God with these people for hours.  As our traveling partner Zele said, “Now this is Ethiopia.”

A Taste of Life in Soddo

-Kristi Burns

Friends,

Staying with the Bowers is very eye-opening.  Life in Ethiopia is filled with challenge.  There is still no rain and water supplies are drying up everywhere.  We finally have water coming into the orphanage again by donkey.  Thank you Lord!  Last night I worshiped at the Bower’s home with the missionaries working at Soddo Christian Hospital.  They sing praise songs and then have been following the sermons of David Platt who wrote the book Radical.  He has been preaching on Galations.  Last night was on chapter 5 and 6 and very good.  Life here is hard. The Bowers also have a friend, who is a surgeon.  He and another surgeon took out a four foot stick that was lodged in a 7 year old boy’s leg last night.  He will be okay but it was a gruesome surgery. 

The big crisis right now is the orphanage.  Last night eight of the older children who we believed were ready for court dates and adoption, were sent back to Soddo because certain paperwork could not be provided that the international courts now require.  They will probably be here for 2 months.  Since they departed from Soddo to Addis the orphanage has filled up with more babies and toddlers so it is at capacity and now…..8 more children.  We don’t have even mattresses for them to sleep on.  Today, Stephne will hold a staff meeting.  She tries very hard to have the Ethiopians who are employed at the orphanage serve as the problem solvers….but it is hard, very hard.  The Ethiopian culture is not geared toward problem solving.  So pray for mattresses.  Please pray for paperwork necessary to get the children back to Addis to come together and overall pray for the crisis in Ethiopian adoptions right now.  The head of Christian World Adoption is trying to work with the state department who will in turn work with the Ethiopian government.  Thousands of children and their future parents are currently in limbo until the Ethiopian Federal government completes a country wide inspection of all orphanages….and that is just one of the problems.  The orphanage in Soddo under CCC is a model orphanage but they still have to go through inspection.

On another note, life here is hard.  You can feel the heaviness of spiritual warfare.  Sidney Launder is getting over malaria (she and her husband Mark are the people overseeing the building project for Wolaitta Village) and two days ago, Sidney scalded her foot.  They are having huge water problems at their house and need a well that will likely cost $35,000 because they are on a hill.  I have been helping them think through their fundraising needs.  I’ve also been able to help the Bowers sort through who will assist them in raising the needed support for the Wolaitta Village Managers home and for the completion of the entire Wolaitta Village project. 

I took a tuk-tuk (like a taxi) by myself from the Bowers to the Launders two days ago and walked up a huge hill to their home for a visit and dinner and then I took the tuk-tuk home again in the dark back to the Soddo Christian Hospital grounds.  You simply have to trust God for all things here.  The driver was a Christian who spoke some English.  So please keep praying.  I am not joining the rest of the group at Sabana Lodge.  I will be returning to Addis on Wednesday.  We fly home on Thursday.  Pray for wisdom.  I am helping with daily life; homeschooling for Carmen Bower; fundraising for multiple families and projects; spiritual encouragement and help at the orphanage…….there is simply so much to do.

KB

NCF Trip Update

Friends and family,

This will go down as the trip with tons of technology challenges. Mike Stemm’s computer has not been working. The team has left for Dilla and I am in Soddo at the Bowers helping them with fundraising; helping their daughter with homeschooling; washing dishes…well just a little of everything. Please pray for the health of our team. Mike was quite sick yesterday but seems to have rallied today. Everyone else was holding up well.  We still need water in Soddo.  Yesterday we were here for a baby rescue for the orphanage which was nice. We have enjoyed time with our Ethiopian friends, Melaku, Sharon, Gebe, Zillie, Boozie (not sure how to spell his name…he’s our driver). We can feel the prayers. Below are the updates written by team members.

-Kristi Burns

February 22, 2011  |  CCC Orphanage Recap  |  Carrie Cole

This afternoon we visited the Children’s Cross Connection (CCC) orphanage. Ato Hanok gave up his successful business to start this orphanage. These are children that are mostly school aged and are not adoptable. The children are placed in family groups. The staff parent is to be involved in each child’s life. The older children also mentor the younger children to create a family atmosphere. Each of the kids also help with cooking, cleaning and other jobs to learn life skills for when it is their time to move out. The children are supported by people like us from the time they come in until they are through with university or a transitional home where they learn to live and work in the community. This allows them to have the education and training to be productive citizens in their home in Ethiopia.

What’s Happening With MItten  |  Vickie Stemm

The mitten production has moved outdoors in the side yard of Bowers’ home on the Soddo Christian Hospital (SCH) compound. The move was necessitated by the relocation of the CWA orphanage to a temporary smaller facility. The situation is cramped and far less than desirable. The product  is so coveted by the caretakers at the 4 orphanages and the hospital staff that the production must go on! Mittin is the nutritional supplement developed her to help improve the health of children in care of the orphanage. It is a combination of 11 regional grains which are washed, dried and hand ground here in the yard. This coarsely ground product is then taken to a mill to be made into a fine powder, which can be mixed with water for the children to drink as a nutritional supplement. Being outdoors in this cramped space is not a great situation. This time of year is hot, and that adds stress for the disabled Ethiopians who do the work… The rainy season is coming in July –September. It will be very difficult to get the grains dried. This is just one of the needs that will be met by the building of the Wolaitta Village project. Every one of the workers here is excitedly awaiting its building and completion.

February 23, 2011  |  Wolaitta Village Site Visit, Soddo, Ethiopia  |  Kevin Cole

Gorgeous is the way to describe the property for the Wolaitta Village project. Set on a west facing hillside overlooking the city of Soddo the site is the future home of the CWA orphanage. The multi-building complex, designed via a collaborative effort coordinated by the University of Arizona School of Architecture will provide a secure and welcoming place for the children that CWA cares for. The children are currently housed in a crowded temporary urban facility in the city and consequently the need for the complex to be constructed is urgent. While much has been accomplished there is much work to be done. Many people continue to devoted their time and talents to His service working towards the vision of the Wolaitta Village project.

February Team Trip Update

- Kristi Burns

We had a flawless trip to Addis Ababa.  We arrived at our hotel at around 11:30 PM and were in bed by midnight.  Sunday we worshiped at the International Evangelical church where the November team worshiped.  It was wonderful and we met a young couple originally from Montana, Shawn and Becky Cox and their two daughters. Shawn teaches at a private school in Addis and Becky, who is a community health nurse works with the leper colony in Addis, the second largest in the world and she does HIV education.  She is currently working on getting government approval to start an HIV/AIDS Hospice program.  Here small children are caring for their dying parents.  We had lunch at a nice place and then rested before having a CHE presentation (Community Health Evangelism) presented by our Ethiopian friends Sharon, Adame and Melaku.  The group enjoyed it.

We were also introduced to a couple who have been working in Ethiopia on and off with CHE since the early 1970’s.  Bob and Michael Anne Haakenson have known Sharon, who oversees the Women’s Health division of Ethiopia CHE, since she was a child.  We had a nice dinner after the presentation.  On Monday we headed to Soddo stopping for machiatos at the Rediet Hotel (where the November team members might remember spending many hours that included a rubber chicken dinner!).  As we approached Soddo, Harry Bowers, who serves at Soddo Christian Hospital called to tell us that our hotel had no water.  He hurried to book rooms for us at a hotel with water. What a blessing! The weather is very hot here and many of the water sources have dried up.  

We had a nice dinner at the home of Harry and Stephne Bowers.  Stephne is the director of the Christian World Adoption (CWA) Orphanage in Soddo.

Today, Courtney Stokes the physical therapist from Life Center was able to make rounds with the orthopedic surgeons because orthopedic therapy is her area.

Then the team toured the CWA orphanage that has relocated into a much smaller facility with no running water.  New Covenant Foundation is going to fund digging a well.  The Nannies are doing a good job of keeping the children clean and, indeed, the place was very clean even though the children do not have much space to play in.  We are all praying for rain and a well soon.

We learned about a sustainable project that Stephne Bower is now overseeing which enables very poor widows to raise chickens.  

We also learned about the changes in adoption laws in Ethiopia that now require a death certificate and picture of the deceased parent before an adoption can become final. This has slowed the process down considerably and CWA has 64 children at another facility (called Acacia Center) waiting to be adopted out.  The court has told Stephne without the proof of death of the parent and a picture that these children will be sent back to Soddo.  Stephne has pleaded with the judge who as she described it merely shrugged his shoulders. Pray for a miracle because there are currently more children at the orphanage in Soddo and the other two outside of Soddo than they can handle.  

Yesterday and this morning I helped care for one of the babies Stephne had at her house, a little boy who at two months old weighs only 6 pounds.  He was doing so well today that he was able to go back to the orphanage to be cared for by the nannies. 

I have reviewed the plans for the Wolaitta Village (the permanent new facility for the children) with key people and we have begun to talk about fundraising needs.  Please keep that in your prayers.  Also, since the move to this temporary facility the MITTEN has to be dried right outside Stephne’s home.  

Tomorrow the team will experience the El Shaddai feeding program.  Thanks for praying for rain, a permanent well and a miracle for the 64 babies and children whose adoptions are delayed because of red tape.


Outside the Gate

“This January, I had another opportunity to invest your donations into wheat for the traditional Christmas Bread in Wolaitta!

I arrived at the church compound where about 280 people were already waiting for their portion of wheat - they were called in by their pastors who carefully selected the few from their congregations who were in the most need.  

Outside the gate, I came upon a beautiful old man whom I have been watching now for the past few months, since I see him from time to time. He has a terrible gaping wound on his right leg that just does not seem to heal.  His eyes were filled with tears as he took hold of my hands and kept on kissing them. Through the tears, I only understand the ‘thank you’ in his fragile voice while my heart aches - an ache that rips my insides apart - I can hardly stand his joy and appreciation.  I yearned for the wisdom of Jesus as I paged through the fleeting files of scripture in my mind. Then it came:  ”Just bless him with MY love” - so, I did.  

An overwhelming awareness of gratitude and a newfound understanding of humility before the Father, is the only way to survive these moments!  To watch thankful tears wash shiny streaks on dusty cheeks as women, weakened by disease and poor nutrition, help each other load the 10kg of wheat on to their backs for the three-hour walk to their homes. They are carrying home hope in the form of sacks of wheat for that luxury bread that they would otherwise only yearn for during Christmas!   

You who have given to this ministry have been a part of this 2010 Christmas. Though you’ve packed up your Christmas decorations, here in Ethiopia we linger in the season for full two weeks into January. We marvel at we Ethiopians preparation - not much shiny stuff or much stuff at all, for that matter- only the power of the simplicity in this very important event!”

Outside the gate stood the man with the wounds that would not heal. Recall, if you will another wounded and suffering outside the gate:

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. (Hebrews 13:12-13)

In ancient times, and in present-day Ethiopia, gates represent protection, provision, belonging and inclusion (or exclusion). In Bible accounts where Jesus and the disciples encountered the sick and the poor, they were often “at the gate” begging, hoping, needing. This is where Jesus found them. When they were healed, they could venture inside the gate returning to society and safety. Yet when he was crucified, Jesus was not sacrificed in the Temple, for the saints, or even in the city, but outside the gate. This was a striking specimen of his humiliation, as if he had not been fit either for sacred or civil society! And this shows how sin, which was the meritorious cause of the sufferings of Christ [Matthew Henry Commentary] marked him for such punishment.

We may not have gates, but we have the limits and provisions that gates provide. What is your gate and who is standing beyond its locks, waiting for God’s love? We can venture outside the gate to bless another with the love of God the Father in the name of Jesus. We can offer hope in the sharing of both Christmas Bread and the Bread of Life. We can share in the disgrace Christ bore by sharing in the ministry of his love and grace.

** Harry and Stephne Bowers, along with their children, live and work in Soddo, Ethiopia where Harry has set up an eye clinic and training center and Stephne works with Cross Cultural Connection Ethiopia (CCCE), managing orphanages in the Soddo region and is a playing a vital role in the Wolaitta Village project. 

11-16-10

-Jerry Pederson 

And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him…Mark 10:21

Our day began with a beautiful sunrise over the Ethiopian jungle with smoke rising in the distance from the numerous huts tucked away in the hillsides. We began to gather on the deck outside the dining hall. A few of us were journaling, some were in quite meditation, and others in light conversation.  It’s very peaceful with the sounds of the jungle slowly coming alive. Today fells like the beginning of the end of our journey.

After breakfast, Gebe shared with the team on Mark 14 & 16. It was about the woman who poured expensive perfume over Jesus’ head. In Chapter 16, it talked about Mary Magdalene going to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body with spices. The take away from Gebe’s message is that we need to have our priorities straight and be discerning about timing.  

In getting to know Gebe this past week, it is apparent he is a solid man of God and a very gifted leader. Gebe is and will be one of the Ethiopia’s future leaders.

Our team then transitioned into our first debriefing sessions. The leaders of our team have realized we all need help in making sense of the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience we have just come through.  They want to prepare us, before we return to our families, friends, and jobs. Many people shared deeply and emotion from their hearts.  

We get on the road again to the Sabana Lodge on Lake Langano with a stop at Lake Awassa. After a short one hour drive, we arrived at Lake Awassa with an unplanned detour to the Haile Resort.

The Haile Resort is a luxury hotel only six months old.  It was built by Haile Gebresalassie, a NYC Marathon winner and national hero.  It just so happened that Haile was a the resort today. I couldn’t have been more excited, being that I run marathons too. When I got to meet him, have my picture taken with him, get his autograph, and personal phone number, my heart was pounding. This experience put the explanation point to my time here.

Boat rides out on Lake Awassa to see the hippos followed by macchiatos on the patio concluded our short stop at the Haile Resort.

Then we were back on road again for the final leg of our trip to Sabana Lodge. Traveling the streets and highways of Ethiopia has become one of the experiences I will remember most about this country and it’s people. Everywhere we travel there are countless people and children along the roads and standing in the doorways of their huts and houses. You can’t help but catch their eyes with yours, respond to their eager waves, or react to all the infections smiles.

As I look into the faces of all these anonymous people, I can’t help but feel a deep love for them.  For at the very basic level, when we strip all our stuff and layers away, I know they are just like me.  The have hopes and dreams, they love their wives, children and families, they laugh, they cry, and I’m sure they struggle with the questions of life too.

God, please help me to continually see others with your love.