Ethiopia Update 2

Again this is an e-mail we sent out to all of our prayer partners, and sponsors. 

A big Thank You to all of you!!!

2/12/12 Ethiopia STM Update

What to say? We ended our Bar Adar trip looking at the Orthodox Church

a famous monastery from the 13th Century.  From a historical point of

view it was neat to see the structure, and the paintings. On the other

hand it was sad to see that they missed the point of Christ’s coming,

and his sacrifice. Instead they exalt Mary, as if Mary paid the

sacrificial price.  – We got back to Addis and hit the ground running.

Meet with the Church staff in the am, and gave a devotional about

Paul’s witness to the Thessalonians.  – I am struck by how the people

worship.  You watch them sing, pray, and listen to the word of God,

and it is like you can see their hearts on their faces. They are so

full of expression. Yesterday was a energizing day for me,  I got to

work with the Children’s Worship – so fun! Then to top that off I got

to meet our MTN sponsor child Michelle Misfen, and his Mother Sabo. I

just cried, he is 5. It’s amazing how God can put a love for a people

in your heart so fast!  – I know that more uncomfortable things are

coming up, that will be out of my comfort zone. I am looking forward

to be stretched (kinda) I know it’s necessary. So please continue to

pray that God would use us as a team.   – Jenn

After our short visit to Bahir Dar, Addis Ababa seems incredibly busy,

crowded and modern. You are still reminded of the third-world status

by things like the water shutting off on certain days in certain parts

of town. I.e. as of last night, there is no water in the guest house

and it as of 10:00 pm; it has not come back on. We are working on the

building project to add on almost five additional Sunday school rooms

in the same compound as MTN. We westerners were completely unfamiliar

with the building techniques used here so it is difficult to help the

workmen. The last couple of days a foundation was put in using what I

would have called construction debris for building material. However,

the mason has made into a solid concrete foundation that would

probably last many years using all hand tools. The most modern tool I

spotted was his bubble level. Wooden stretchers are used to carry the

sand and rocks as well as the concrete which was also mixed by hand. I

believe that the foundation is now complete.

Saturday morning found us leading children’s Sunday school (held on

Saturday) and anyone who knows me would see that as a challenge for

me. Fortunately, we had another on the team who is phenomenal working

with the kids and developed a program that even a bunch of engineers

can pull off. It is inspiring to see the passion and excitement of the

Addis Kidan leadership and staff. They have developed many programs to

work with the different groups within their membership.

The language is still a real difficulty for me and I have not been

able to get beyond simple greetings. Fortunately, many people speak

some English and it is a whole lot better than my Amharic. Without the

ability to communicate, relationship is more challenging but not

impossible. I can really use prayer for that. – Richard

The team is doing a great job and we are encouraging the leadership

here at Addis Kidan (New  Testament) Church. Yesterday afternoon Jenn

and I wrapped up about five hours of teaching for the women. We spoke

about insecurities and that our security can only come from Christ.

Jenn lead a workshop at the end as well as a prayer time. The Holy

Spirit was obviously moving among these women and it was exciting to

be part of His work in their lives. The area around the church is ever

changing from the time we lived here as missionaries. What was once a

refuge camp in front of the church is now many four story condo’s. The

demographic is very different yet those who are poor and in need are

still here. The live a few blocks toward the north where we visited

our sponsored family. I think this was a shock for many on the team

but helpful to see that this family who has Christ has a hope for all

eternity. I would continue to ask you to pray for Mame (the mom) who

has been very sick for about 1 ½ yrs. She is terribly malnourished

because she is unable to eat and keep food down. She is also very

anemic and bed ridden. Curtis and I spent much of yesterday with her

and one of the church leaders at a nearby clinic where we finally,

with an ultra sound got a diagnosis of TB of the stomach. Please pray

for her as she begins treatment this next week. If she is able to

tolerate the medication for the next 8 mths then she will live. If not

she will leave the five children here with no one to care for them.

Please pray about this as yesterday it was difficult for her to even

take water and keep it in for the ultrasound. So this has been one of

the hard things and yet we have seen God’s hand even in this. Thank

you soooo much for your prayers. Cheryl

 Construction in Ethiopia is not quite like construction in America.

In fact, it’s about as different as it could be. In the US labor is

the major cost and every step of the process reflects a need to finish

quickly. Here, labor is cheap and the materials are very expensive.

People cut metal with hack saws because it is cheaper to pay someone

to cut by hand for a whole day than it is to buy power tools. This way

of thinking permeates much of life here. Another notable feature of

the people is their hospitality. They routinely go out of their way to

make us feel comfortable (sometimes at great expense to themselves)

and are always gracious and kind. -Alvin

It is exciting to renew friendship and meet new friends. It is also

exciting to work side by side with our brothers in Christ and to see

how their faith in God has grown. Addis Kidan Church continues to be

like a light house on a hill, evangelizing, guiding and discipling

people in the area. The construction is challenging and we are

learning many new ways to do construction. We even made a stretcher

for carrier sand and rocks. Using a stretcher you can go more places

than a wheel barrel. They also are right up front with the cost of the

construction materials and labors, as they have been for years with an

open book accounting system. Accountability is huge for the staff and

members of Addis Kidan Church as they go out of their way to remain

accountable, and open and honest with us and themselves, not just in

the finances but also in their spiritual life. It is a major contrast

to the world they live in and some of the corruption here in Addis

Ababa. I am also very impressed with how well they continue to use

their compound for multiply ministries. Every day of the week there is

a different ministry going on in the compound. The demographics of the

area around the church has greatly changed with all the Ethiopian

middle class apartment building all around them now, and they are

changing some of how they are reaching the lost and evangelizing in

the area.  Steve

It has been exciting for me to be able to spend so much time working

with the leadership. I enjoyed the opportunity to do devotions with

some of the leaders a couple days ago and I look forward to doing

devotions with the leadership each day for the rest of the week. It

amazes me how much is going on in the church. Every day of the week

the church is very busy with some multiple events going on. It has

been interesting to see how they make do without the Sunday school

classrooms which we are currently rebuilding. - Curtis

-- 

steve henry