Another Time, Another Place…
I have been living in Ethiopia for one whole month! It has been an interesting time for sure – eating lots of new foods, adjusting to cold showers (sometimes from a bucket!) and time changes*, killing some cockroaches, playing with some amazing kids in the street, exploring the fascinating city of Harar, encouraging believers in house churches, sharing the Gospel in cafes, even having an almost-run-in with police (for nothing bad, I promise)**! There has rarely been a dull moment.
All in all, I am learning so much every day – about culture and language but, more importantly about following the Holy Spirit. Without Him, this adventure would be only a vain, self-motivated expedition. He is my hope and strength every day.
*According to the Ethiopian calendar, it is year 2003, our time zone is 7 hours ahead of EST and time is counted from daybreak – like in Bible times (this means that what we know as 6 AM, Ethiopians know as 1 AM*)!
**To read about this interesting adventure, go here.
New Friends, Coffee and Kids!
My new team family: Samuel and Gabrielle, Pastor Ashagre, Pastor Mohammad, his wife Sinabwa and son Naphtali are incredible. They are always singing or laughing. I love when I get to follow the guys out to preach in the streets, or walk with Gaby to meet some children. Their motivation is always to share the love of Christ with everyone. I love them.
I cannot write to you without explaining the beautiful custom of Ethiopian coffee ceremony. It is not unusual to be invited into someone’s home for this experience – and fresh coffee is prepared at least once a day.
Coffee beans are roasted right in front of you over a tiny stove brought right into the living room. When the beans are a pink color, they are added to water boiling in a special pot. When the beverage is ready, it is poured into tiny cups and served with sugar and popcorn. Incense is typically burned for ambiance. The coffee is strong but delicious. I love coffee ceremony!
Here is a picture of my friend Hannah preparing coffee ceremony in her home. (Note the grass on the floor – this is a special decoration reserved for holidays. In this case, it was in honor of Meskal, an Orthodox celebration of “the finding of the true cross”).
And of course, I have to share about the children! They are everywhere here, some of them both go to school and work in shops or on the streets begging. It’s incredible and they are so easy to love. Here are some pictures of one of my favorite bunches of kids who live right in my neighborhood of Schenkor. :)
Pray!
I am excited to announce that God is allowing me to start up the children’s program here at Harar Church of Joy! It has been dormant for some months because of a lack of workers – but now we are planning the first program for Saturday, October 16th! This is a tremendous challenge, but also something that the Holy Spirit has put in my heart to do. Please keep praying!!!
Here are some other prayer points:
• Pray for the house churches. We have 4 now in place and are soon starting a 5th. Pray for the believers there to be strengthened in faith as we eat, fellowship, pray and preach – just like the early church in the Book of Acts!
• Pray for many salvations! Pray for homes to be opened to us so that the Gospel may be preached in new areas. The Holy Spirit is amazing; we are seeing people saved every week in the church and recently our Bible School students went out evangelizing in the streets of Jugol with 6 people saved as a result! Hallelujah! Pray for this continued grace!
• Pray that the new believers will grow strong in the faith and in the Word of God. Pray that we are able to contact them often and invite them to follow up meetings!
• Pray for me as I continue to study Amharic and the culture (I now know enough to get around the city or order in cafes, but I long to learn more conversational Amharic).
• Pray for the children’s program – launching October 16th! Pray for kids’ hearts to be opened to Jesus and that Jesus will prepare me with wisdom and creativity! Ahhh, He is amazing!
The month of September has been incredible – what will October bring??! Thank you, I love you all!
