October 2013

Training and teaching...                     
Each year, our church hosts the “Shepherd’s Conference” for Ethiopian national pastors, church leaders, and missionaries. This conference was started by Bethel as a way to provide teaching, training, encouragement, and fellowship. The conference is held the first Tuesday of October, November, and December. This month, I taught on evangelism from I Thessalonians 1:5-10. We talked about the Great Commission and the Great Commandment and how Jesus saw the connection and importance of both of these.

In the past, those who have attended have received notes to take back to their ministries. Normally, this material was made available in English. This year we were able to provide the material also in Amharic to better equip those wanting to use the material later. We are thankful for the individuals that attended this meeting. Next month, we will be covering counseling in the church. In the month of December, children and youth ministries will be highlighted. Please pray that these meetings will use God’s Word to equip those serving in Ethiopia.             

Membership...
Over the last few months, we have had several Ethiopians talk to us about membership in the church. Each person receives a membership packet explaining our church beliefs, membership covenant, and questions about their personal testimony. They are required to meet with us regarding their decision to join our local church. Please pray for Mekonan and TeeTee who are currently going through this process.

Ways to get involved...          
From the beginning, our church has had the theme of “Loving God and Loving People.” Every Christmas, we not only focus our attention on Jesus and the salvation He brings, but how that should impact our lives here in Ethiopia. One of the outreaches that is very practical for our church is “Operation Christmas Boxes”.  Leading up to Christmas, our church collects items and funds to be a blessing to children and families in our area. Many of you have given to this outreach in the past. If your church, Sunday School class, or an individual family would like to get involved in this ministry, you can designate any gift for “OCB”. Your gift will be used for this special outreach at Christmas time.

Special Insert...

This month you should find a special insert along with this letter. The purpose is to update you on the way God has been blessing with one of our current projects. Thank you again for your prayers and support. We know that your faithfulness is an expression of His grace in your lives!

August 2013

Refreshed...

Our family has returned to Ethiopia after finishing our furlough. It was a much needed time that God used to refresh us. We are so thankful for everything He allowed us to accomplish.

As always, the supplies that we take back to Ethiopia really add up. This time we took back fifteen suitcases with everything from clothes, ministry items, and medicine. We anticipated having extra luggage fees, but never know exactly what those fees will be until we check the bags in at the airport. We rented a small trailer to hold the luggage and arrived at the airport early. While I was parking the trailer, Amanda began the check-in process. I had to park the trailer further than expected from the airport so it took me a while to get back. By the time I returned, Amanda had the check-in process done! I couldn’t believe it. She quickly began to tell me what we paid for the extra luggage. Instead of charging us $200 per bag over our normal allotment, the first four extra bags were only $100. The next three were the normal $200. Instead of paying $1,400, she discounted the luggage to $1,000. Not only did our luggage fees end up being lower than anticipated, but they were totally covered by generous givers. We can’t thank you enough for sacrificially giving toward this important need!

In the end, all of our suitcases made it to Ethiopia together. The customs agent stopped me because of some sound equipment I had for the church. When I explained that I was not selling it but using it for our ministry, he told me to go on. We give God all the praise for His grace.

1st Day of School 2013-2014

Faithfulness... 

Our family wants to finish this update by simply reminding the churches and individuals that support our ministry how truly grateful we are for your faithfulness.  The work our family desires to do in Ethiopia would not be possible without your sacrifice. We truly are blessed!

June 2013

Furlough...

         
On April 30th, our bags were packed and we were ready to go. The day to leave Addis Ababa, Ethiopia had arrived. Furlough was right around the corner and all we had to do was wait to be picked up for the airport. To make sure everything was in order and our scheduled flight was still leaving; we quickly checked the Internet. What we found was not encouraging. It appeared that our flight to leave Ethiopia, had been moved to the next night. We thought it had to be a simple mistake. After a few phone calls, we discovered that our flight had been rescheduled. Kids ready to go, house packed up, suitcases full, and we were going to have to wait! If there is one thing in Ethiopia that our family has learned in the last four years, it is that waiting is part of life. Africa at times forces you to wait. What you often think is going to happen and the way you think things should work out, often don’t. God continues to teach our family these lessons, even down to the last few minutes before our furlough. With a one day delay over, we left Ethiopia on May 1st.

One of the highlights of being on furlough is family. God allowed us to visit Amanda’s parents, sister, and grandparents in Spain on the way to the United States. It had been almost two years since we were all able to be together. I also had the privilege of speaking in three different churches in Spain. Shortly after, we arrived in the United States to meet my family in Indiana. There is nothing like being with family that encourages and lifts your spirits.

The last month has allowed us to take care of medical checkups and dentist appointments. God gave us good reports and we are thankful for our health!

Luggage...      

In mid-August, we will return back to Ethiopia. We will be purchasing medicine, clothes, and church supplies. Taking back items for the next two years can be costly. Our family has been saving for this expense for months. However, the fees for the extra luggage is something that can quickly add up. If you would like to contribute to this cost, churches or individuals can sponsor a bag for $200. This would greatly help us get the needed supplies back to Ethiopia. You can mark the gift as “Baggage”. Thank you for your consideration and helping us bring the hope of the Gospel to Ethiopia.

Bethel has a new meeting place!

I love telling the churches and individuals back home the amazing things God is doing here in Ethiopia. Once again, God has opened doors that we never would have anticipated. Last month, our church was facing some major decisions. The contract on the small house where we had been meeting was about to finish. Our church had seen growth that was making a larger location a real necessity. Option after option for a new location was considered, only to have the offer on our final choice fall through. God seemed to be closing doors.

With just a short amount of time to make a decision, we continued to look. As we went from location to location, the broker took us to a house that was close to being finished. It was located in the middle of our community, good roads, and an amazing amount of space. It had real potential, but time was short.

Dawit, one of our church members, began making phone calls to the owner of the house. Negotiating the price is only part of the process. Making sure the owner is comfortable with the house being used as a church is another. Both are essential. Within a few days, the owner of the house called to personally talk to us on the phone. We told him our desire to rent the house for a church and to continue to be a blessing to the people of Ethiopia. As we talked, the owner seemed supportive. He said he would talk with his family and let us know their decision. With no other options that we liked, it seemed as if we had come down to the end. We waited with anticipation, praying that God would have His way.

It was only a short amount of time till the news came in. The house was OURS! God had opened a door in His time. The owner agreed to allow the house to be used as a church, the price was right, and the contract was signed for two years! We couldn’t have asked for more.

Bethel now has room to continue to grow. The property is a five-hundred square meter compound. The house has two levels, with the bottom being for adults, and the top having three classrooms for children. In the back are two rooms for the nursery with a connecting bathroom. With a small grassy area and plenty of room for children to play, it is an amazing compound.

Thank you to all of the churches and individuals that gave towards the rent of our new facility. Your sacrificial giving will allow the Gospel to be preached and taught week after week. God is good!

Finishing our second term in Ethiopia...  
We are preparing to leave for the United States to start our furlough. Our schedule is packed full and we are looking forward to seeing family, friends, and reporting to churches on what God is doing. Last month, a donor paid the remaining amount of our plane tickets. What a blessing!!!

As we prepare to leave, we thank God who has given us the strength, health, and opportunity to bring the Gospel to others in need. He has been faithful and we look forward to what He will continue to do!

 

February 2013

Decisions Ahead...

            I love church planting. I love hearing about a church opening their doors for the first time. The anticipation of a first service and the excitement as people begin to come back week after week. I remember when our church had its first baptism and the excitement that we all felt. Just recently, we had our first communion service. After teaching on the Lord’s Supper for two weeks, we saw our church celebrate the union we have with Christ and with each other as believers! These are all exciting milestones and precious memories for any new work.

            However, before all of that, there was the time when we were able to rent our first meeting place. It was amazing to have our own place to teach and preach the Gospel, hold activities, and see people enter every week. We rented that small house two years ago next month. In just a few weeks, the rent will expire on this little house. Craig and I have been praying that God would continue to give us wisdom as to our current location. On many Sundays, the children’s ministry is packed out leaving little room. We have opened up the double doors on the back of the main room and added a tent for our gathering time on Sunday mornings.

            Recently, we spent time looking at other locations in the area that might provide more room for whatever future growth God chooses to bring. Many houses were slightly bigger, but not exactly what we need. However, we have found one house that we believe would be perfect for our next step of growth. It is a large piece of property around four times bigger than our current location.  We began talking with the owner and are praying for God to open and close doors as He sees fit. Please pray that we will have wisdom in the next few weeks as we watch God continue His work in Ethiopia!

 Tickets!

            This year our family will be traveling to the United States for a furlough. As always, tickets for an entire family can be expensive. We have managed to save most of the funds for this purchase since our last furlough. However, we are still trying to raise $1,000 toward these flights. We appreciate your consideration in giving toward this amount.

            We are looking forward to sharing with many churches and individuals the work that God is accomplishing in Ethiopia. This will also be an opportunity for us to present the field of Ethiopia to several new churches. We ask you to pray that others might consider helping to spread the Gospel here in Ethiopia.

December 2012

Shepherds heard it first...

Living in Addis Ababa has changed our perception of what is normal. Traffic that once shocked us is now nothing more than chaos trying to find its way down the street. Food that once tasted different now calls to our taste buds. Animals that once seemed out of place in the city now blend in without us taking a second look. Normal has been redefined for us. This week I talked with the children in Sunday School class about the announcement of Christ’s birth. We discussed how this announcement seemed anything but “normal”. Political leaders, kings, governors, religious leaders were not let in on this divine moment. No, it was the social outcasts of the day. The lowest in society seen as unclean. The ones that may have spent more time with animals than people. The shepherds heard it first. That idea seems to break the “normal” when it comes to announcement making. Can it really be true that this life changing announcement that gave eternal hope was proclaimed in this way? Thankfully, the Gospel is not filled with our wisdom or our “normal”. Even in the announcement of the birth of Christ, the Gospel was being emphasized. The Gospel didn’t come only for the wealthy, powerful, religious or deserving. It is not a message to be given only to the socially acceptable. The Gospel is a message that truly is good news for all. Here in Ethiopia our ministry comes in contact with all different types of people. But the heart need is always the same, the Gospel. The Gospel is the message that we can give out to anyone at anytime even if it might not seem “normal” to the world. This Christmas we are thankful that the shepherds heard the announcement first.

Baptism Sunday...
 A few weeks ago, Feven was baptized in our church. She has been attending the services from the beginning and came to know Christ as Savior a few months ago. Before her baptism, we went down the street to meet with her parents. It was an amazing opportunity to share with her parents her life changing decision and also to tell them more about the Gospel. They expressed their thankfulness and gave permission for Feven to be baptized. It was a day of celebration as our church watched Feven proclaim her faith. Please continue to pray for Feven and her family.

 

Thank you!
We would like to thank our supporting churches, friends, and family for their sacrificial prayers and giving that allows us to stay in Ethiopia. We know that it is an expression of love for our Savior. The extra Christmas gifts that we have received are much appreciated. Also, we have received around $1,000 toward a future vehicle purchase! This is an item of prayer we ask you to continue to pray with us about as God makes known His desire.

Have a Merry Christmas celebrating His birth!

October 2012

At the end of his rope...

“I’ve got some problems,” he told me. Family, work and personal problems gave the face of Ayele a certain desperation about him. While he told me about his situation, he slowly unzipped part of his jacket to allow me to catch a glimpse of the rope he had placed around his neck. Not wanting anyone else to see, he zipped his jacket back up. As he spoke, details about the situation became hard to follow as he seemed to jester to the rope with his eyes. My mind wondered as I found myself thinking about the situation. “Was this guy serious?”, I thought. “Is he really considering hanging himself?” Either way, it didn’t matter. The yellow rope around his neck made it clear that Ayele was struggling. He was seeking something and he wanted others to know it.

I invited him to stay for the service. That day I spoke on the life of Joseph highlighting the fact that through the difficulties of life God works all things for His good. After the service, several people had already began talking to Ayele. As they talked with him, it wasn’t long before I saw him unzip his jacket and take off the rope that had been around his neck. The next week Ayela came back with his family. Please pray for Ayele and his family as we continue to offer them hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ and His Word!

Either way, God will provide!
When guests come to Ethiopia, one thing that often surprises them is how expensive vehicles are to purchase. One of the reasons for such high prices is the tax that is required by the government on top of the purchase price of the vehicle. A SUV that might cost around $35,000 can be over $80,000 after tax! Even older vehicles here in Ethiopia can be extremely expensive. It is not uncommon to be able to afford the vehicle, yet unable to pay for the tax. After moving to Ethiopia, God did allow us to purchase a used vehicle for around $23,000.

Over the last year, our family has considered the possibility of purchasing another vehicle. Primarily, this vehicle would give Amanda the ability to take the children to school, get around town, and do ministry work.  After talking with our sending pastor and having his approval, we are going to begin the process of raising these funds. The total amount to be raised is $25,000. Even as I look at the amount on paper, it can be intimidating. However, there are several reminders that set my heart at ease.

First, I’ve personally seen God do things, big and small, that remind me that ultimately, He can do as He pleases. Nothing is out of His reach or ability. He truly does have unlimited resources. No, it’s not the prosperity Gospel that we often see here in Ethiopia where we simply “name it, and claim it”. That would grossly misrepresent who God is and turn Him into our personal genie. It would make the Gospel about what I can get from God, instead of how I can love Him and the people around me. But I believe we can rest in the fact that all things are under His control. These are facts not because my experience tells me so, but because God’s Word proclaims them.

Second, I believe Scripture tells us that even when God answers in a way that might be different than what we expect or want, He provides the grace possible to respond Godly. In this situation, I believe that if God chooses to not allow us to purchase a second vehicle at this time, He will help us have patience, strength, and wisdom to make best use of what He has entrusted us with. Simply put, He will use the situation to grow us. What an amazing God. Either way, God will provide!