Be the aroma...

Every Tongue, Tribe, and Nation

2010-08-09T13:17:00.000-04:00

Written by Michael M.

I was humbled, to say the least. After leading a few western worship songs this Ethiopian youth group was showing us another glimpse of how beautiful our God is. Glory was pouring forth from a packed room in Addis Ababa last night with chants, clapping hands, African drums, and a guitar drowned out by praise so loud no heart could ignore it. The passion was so strong, and the music so powerful my heart was taken in worship even though I didn’t understand a word of the beautiful melody.

This was a sweet taste of heaven. People from many nations gathered together praising God as the body of Christ. Despite the obvious difference in skin, language, and ability to keep a beat, we were all brothers and sisters in that room last night and forever will be.

And as the lights inconsistently shine of the circle of redeemed swaying and clapping together, I smile, so willingly humbled.

A Unique Encounter

2010-08-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about having a project full of MKs is the unique encounters we can have because of our international experience. Sometimes even in random countries, MKs can find people who share the language and culture of the place they live. Here’s one of those encounters from Sam J.’s time with campus ministry.

This past Tuesday, Max D., Jon Y., Mercy (our Ethiopian translator), and I were evangelizing near the stadium. We were having a pretty successful day when a man, claiming to have a mental illness, came up to us asking for money. Mercy told him, “I’m sorry, we don’t have money, but what we do have we would like to give you. So, can we pray for you?” At that moment, I remembered Acts 3:6, when Peter and John were just outside the temple and the crippled man asked them for money, and Peter replied, “I do not possess silver or gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus of Nazareth – walk!”

So in the middle of our prayer for this man, an Ethiopian man walked up to Jon, who was praying for us, and started speaking French to him. Jon promptly called me over to speak to the man because I lived in North Africa for eight years and learned French there.

Even though our meeting was brief, it was definitely touching. While I was talking to the man, I found out that he was the director of French Missions here in Ethiopia. He was a very interesting man. Although near the end of our conversation, I tried to ask him more personal questions, he just seemed to brush them aside. All in all, it was a pretty interesting day, and Jon later told me that that conversation will forever be etched into his memory.

God’s Will is Always Greater Than Our Will

2010-08-07T13:45:00.000-04:00

Written by Josephine A.

We have been doing ministry in Africa for several weeks, and God has continually guided our ministry. He has constantly lifted us up in his hands and used us as vessels of his blessings to bless the women, children, and students of Addis Ababa.

The children are ages 5-13. When we are with the children, we sing praise songs, share Bible stories, play games, share testimonies, and do crafts. We bring joy, surprises, and God’s truth to them. But we hadn’t had a chance to hear their stories or have deep conversations with them. So I prayed to God about this – I shared my heart with God and asked him to prepare an opportunity for me to have this depth with the Ethiopian people to mutually encourage each others’ lives.

Friday morning we did children’s ministry at a local international church. We had to look for another room because there was a prayer meeting in the room we planned to meet in. While we were waiting, a woman came and talked to me. At first we had normal conversation, and then I began to think that this was the person God has prepared for me. We discussed that her parents are Catholic and none of her siblings were Christians. When she was 20, somebody shared the gospel with her. Then she shared the gospel with her family, and they all received Christ. One year later, her sister got cancer, and her whole family and village prayed for here. And now she is healed. Now she serves at this church.

Her story greatly encouraged me. Then I shared my testimony with her, about how when I was young, I didn’t have a real relationship with Jesus. Then after I explained the transformation God did in my life, she very excitedly grabbed my arm and said “Yes! Yes! Praise the Lord!” I shared with her Job 42:5 – about seeing God with our own eyes. She hugged me, again praising Jesus. I was so excited that we both were able to encourage each other and have a deep conversation. We then were able to start are VBS, and I had to leave, and I didn’t see her again. I felt a little sad because I didn’t even know her name. But I was thankful to God for preparing someone to encourage me and for exceeding my expectations.

Then on Sunday afternoon, we were walking down the road, and a woman got out of a bus and grabbed my arm. At first, I thought she was excited because I am a foreigner, but she kept holding onto my arm and speaking excitedly. Then I realized that it was the woman from the church who had encouraged me a few days before! This amazing thing happened on the road – it we had been father up or back on the road, it wouldn’t have happened. But God knew all of this. We were able to continue our conversation, and I asked how I could pray for her. I also found out her name – Genet, which means heaven.

I am so thankful to God that he prepares each step of our way and answers our prayers.

Leprosy Hospital

2010-08-06T09:34:00.000-04:00

Written by Haley L.

The other day we went to a leprosy hospital. I thought like most people that leprosy could be spread very easily just by touching someone with leprosy, that leprosy wasn’t curable, and that leprosy didn’t even really exist anymore. But when we got the hospital, they gave us a lesson on leprosy, and I learned that everything I thought about it was wrong. There are a lot of people who still suffer from leprosy. It isn’t spread easily, and touching people with leprosy or just playing with them won’t do anything. It can be easily cured, but most people don’t know that, so it goes untreated and gets worse.

We took a tour of the hospital, including the places where the patients make all the items that they sell in their gift shop. They were amazing – some of the old men were making woven rugs with no hands. I couldn’t believe it. This one little girl with leprosy grabbed my hand. She hugged me and told me her name and asked me to take a picture with her. She led to some other girls around my age. While everyone else shopped, we sat together, playing and laughing. It was very humbling for me to experience how these girls, who are suffering from a terrible disease, were so joyful, kind, and welcoming.

Some of our students show off their newly purchased handicrafts from the Leprosy Hospital

Ministry Snapshots

2010-08-06T09:18:00.000-04:00

Bryan B. enjoying himself playing with kids

Children’s Ministry (by Josh G.)

Children’s ministry is a blast here in Ethiopia. The kids here are amazing at soccer and hopscotch. It truly is a blessing to show God’s love to these children. The best part about little kids is that they have a great imagination so they can have fun at any moment of the day. It is definitely worth getting laughed at doing silly songs like The Funky Chicken just to see their faces light up with joy. I remember one VBS we did, and I was literally getting torn in half because all the kids were pulling me to play with them. Even though we get exhausted at the end of the day, we feel good inside that these kids got to see God’s light shine through us. Being in Ethiopia is an exciting experience, but the highlight is always getting the bus and knowing you are going to put a smile on a kid’s face that day.

Some girls from Freedom House making crafts

Women’s Ministry (by Amy T.)

Every day in women’s ministry we teach a Bible story before teaching/learning a new craft. A few days ago Tori M. told the story of the woman at the well who talked to Jesus. After the lesson, we watched a clip from Magdalena (the Jesus Film for women). There was a stillness in the room as the video played on a small TV screen. Even though they couldn’t understand English, afterward I could tell some of the girls around me were deeply moved by the story and could relate to the woman with a hard life who wanted living water.

Soularium, one of our evangelism tools

Campus Ministry (by Owen T.)

Seeing God work through the people we’ve talked to on campus ministry has been incredible. Last week I was able to talk with three men, each on separate occasions, and two of them prayed to receive Jesus Christ. When these men accepted Christ, it was as if I could hear rejoicing from heaven as the kingdom had grown. One of the most amazing parts was how God completely spoke through me and gave me words to say. It was so humbling to see God use such a big sinner like me to bring two men to himself.

Some Thoughts From Us...

2010-08-02T14:05:00.000-04:00

Last project we collected thoughts from everyone on project and put several of them into a post (see Just a Few Thoughts from the Project #1 portion of the blog). This week, we did the same thing with Project #2, asking all students and leaders on project to share a little bit about the things that they have experienced and are learning. I hope you enjoy reading about the things we're experiencing through women's ministry, children's ministry, campus ministry, and overall team life.

I’ve really been enjoying learning from the women in women’s ministry, watching them, seeing how they interact. For me, that’s a peaceful way to experience the culture. I’m excited to get closer to them. Sometimes being surrounded by a new culture is really intimidating, but I like going through that anyway. It’s a great growing opportunity for me. –Nicole M.

Last week my small group was out shopping after a day of outreach. We were surrounded by chaos and people. One beggar woman tugged on my sleeve so I would look at her. I could see so much pain and suffering in her eyes. She never knew when her next meal would be. It made me realize just how blessed we were to always know when we would be eating. The only piece of food I had was some chocolate, but I gave it to her anyway. The thankfulness in her eyes reminded me of how we should be thankful for God’s love. –Kelsey R.

Part of the reason I wanted to come on this trip was to discover whether or not I want to pursue missions in my life. This next year I will face big decisions for my future as I decide where to go to college and what to study. Already I feel like God has answer that question. I have just fallen in love with the women at Freedom House and the work we are doing there. I still don’t know what exactly I want to do with my life, but I have definitely discovered a true passion. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the women and singing and dancing with them has filled me with so much joy I could almost burst! I love being able to minister to both their physical and spiritual needs, giving my testimony and Bible study, and then teaching them a useful skill. I have already been so blessed on this trip, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store. –Sarah G.

Yesterday at women’s ministry, I really felt like I connected with the women. There was so much laughter and joy that my face hurt from smiling. At the end they taught us Amharic songs, and we taught them English songs. It was a great exchange of culture and love. Dancing with the Ethiopian girls is definitely going to be a highlight of my summer. –Masha B.

God has taught me to depend on his in these past few days. I have been doing stuff I didn’t think I could ever do. God has stretched me a lot, and I have learned that God is the one who does all the work. He goes before us as we go out in ministry. He gave me strength and courage so that I can be part of his great plan. I have nothing to boast but boast in Jesus Christ. He also showed me during this project that he is in total control and that he never forsakes us. When half of the group fell sick three days ago, I felt a little hopeless. But as we prayed, things got better and we were soon back on track. I really learned to depend on God and got to know him more on this project. –David

I think it was impressive when the electricity went off while we were singing worship songs, and at that moment we were singing, “when the darkness closes in Lord.” I think it was God’s work. –Claire L.

Today the Lord used me to evangelize the first person of my life. Seeing the way the Lord gave me words to say was incredible. Yibtal was excited the whole time and heaven rejoicing that this man had accepted Christ. God works in great ways. –Owen T.

I’ve experienced no greater joy that getting to celebrate the spiritual birth of a new sister in Christ. I will never forget this woman who has no home here on this earth and is living with HIV but is now born again and starting a new life with Christ. –Jessica L.

I have been thinking all day about how crazy it was that in the campus ministry teams today overall there were 64 people exposed to the gospel, and that 13 of these were saved. It’s amazing how God can work. –Katie H.

Going to the Fistula Hospital and seeing the movie about it really caught me off guard that even us MKs can be totally unaware of the things going on around us. Seeing the state of these women also made me feel a longing to help make a change but at the same time feeling hopeless to do so. –Bethany O.

This trip has truly opened my eyes to the poverty in places other than America. The main thing that led me to understanding this happened only a few days after the project began. Half of the team was loading onto a bus after we visited a museum when a little girl, probably no older than five, came up to the door of the bus with a small box of gum she was selling. She was very small, probably homeless. She looked at me, and at first, I was not extremely shaken because I had been seeing poor beggars all that day. But then she made a longing pleading face. I was immediately struck with a strange feeling, because when she made that face, she reminded me of my little 5-year-old sister I had left behind in Florida. It was then that I was reminded how much me and my family had been blessed. –Corey S.

Today after the first half of Children’s ministry, we went outside with the kids, and we were playing with a yellow ball. When it was about time to go, one of the boys I was playing with came up to me and gave me a hug and kissed me on the check. He was probably only 5 or 6, and I had only played with him for an hour or so. It just shows me how God is working through us to reach these kids. I can also see how God is working through them to touch our hearts. –Shay C.

The reality of the intense stretching God has planned for my spiritual growth is terrifically terrifying. With only 5 days of feeling 100%, relying on him to be my strength for my next step, courage to share my faith in a café, words to encourage a student, energy to listen to the stories of an orphan as she braids my hair. Knowing he’s at work in my life, yet called to serve outside my comfort zone – terrifically terrifying! –Jenn S.

They have homes, smiles, laughs, and stories just as much as I do, but I think they forget. I walk by the homeless everyday and pray for a response. The lucky ones have what I call “90 degree angle homes.” Tarp or cloth or who knows what tied from wall to sidewalk. What do I do? There are so many. Always with us are the poor, but even so, the faith of one can move mountains. I pray I won’t forget their faces and the love of Christ is shown to them all. –Michael M.

Every time I ride a bus, it almost brings me to tears seeing people who have almost nothing sleeping under a lonely bridge. God has really shown me how needy people are, including orphans. Every time I have been to an orphanage, the children just want to be loved by someone, and so I am always honored to show God’s love to them instead of my own. I really felt that God is tugging my heart towards the children. Playing with them is by far the highlight of my day, and that’s saying something because the food is amazing. God is showing me how to love and share God with others. I definitely want to come back here later on in my life. –Josh G.

Another View

2010-07-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday was a busy day for us – we participated in tree planting around tow, visited Mt. Entoto (a tourist attraction in Addis), and that evening watched A Walk to Beautiful, a PBS documentary about the Fistula Hospital here in Addis Ababa. The hospital is the first of its kind and has been transforming women’s lives for decades. Here is Heather S.’s account of the day and the things God has been teaching her through her experiences.

Yesterday was Saturday, our main day of rest and fun on project. After helping with a citywide tree planting campaign in downtown Addis, we went up to Mount Entoto, one of the highest points in the city. There we took a hike, a scenic route through the woods with a great panoramic view of the city. The view of the city was beautiful, but the view we got into the hopeless situation of many Ethiopians was heartbreaking.

During the hike, there were about ten kids, varying in age from about four to maybe sixteen, who generally took care of the goats and each other. They were all eager to shake our hands; but as I passed one five-year-old boy named Cado and patted his head, a view opened for me to see a desperate longing for love and comfort he had never received. His brothers and sisters were mostly interested in getting money from us, but he took my hand and didn’t let go. He even picked a flower for me. He kept looking up at me with such simple gratitude on his face. When we got back to the buses, I gave him a huge hug. That’s probably the last I’ll ever see or know of him, but he’s taught me one lesson: one touch of love can go farther than a million words. I think that’s why Jesus healed the outcasts with a touch.

What affected me the most, though, was the bus ride up and down the mountain. All along the road we saw women who, as a part of keeping house, hiked up the mountain to chop wood and carried enormous bundles of wood back down the mountain on their backs. Day in and day out, they carry these bundles down the mountain; huge water jugs, too. Some women are even taken from other homes and made to do this work. But that wasn’t the worst part – that night we watched a video about the Fistula Hospital in Addis. It had me in tears. The same women we had seen carrying wood often start the work when they are two years old. The weight of their burdens reduces their ability to grow so badly that some 19-year-olds look like 12-year-olds. They are married off young, sometimes as young as eight years old, and when they have children, their bodies aren’t equipped to handle it. These girls are out in the middle of the countryside and have no doctors to even make sure the baby is faced the right direction, much less perform a c-section. Labor can last up to a week, and the baby rarely survives. On top of that, the extended labor damages their organs and these women perpetually leak urine or feces or both. When this happens to them, their families and friends ostracize them because of the smell. Many of these women live the rest of their lives this way, with nothing to do and no reason to live. This is where the Fistula Hospital comes in. We heard stories about women who had lived this way for years before hearing about the hospital and traveling for hours, even days to reach it. The doctors at the Fistula Hospital sew up the damage and give these women back their lives. The weeks spent with other sick women and kind nurses is balm for their souls. But this is an epidemic, and not near enough people are doing anything about the original cause or the problem itself. The video broke my heart. I prayed for God to break my heart this trip, and He has. The plight of the Ethiopian women is kept under the rug for the sake of face. But hearts and lives are being broken because of this.

Praise God that the women’s ministry will be working to help teach new skills to some women who were illegally stuck in the labor that causes this kind of sickness. Please pray that they would have an enormous impact both spiritually and physically.

First Project 2 Post!

2010-07-28T13:18:00.001-04:00

The internet is back! Welcome to our first entry from Project #2! We spent last week getting oriented to the culture, receiving evangelism training, and preparing for ministry. One afternoon, everyone went out to some of the orphanages where we’ll be working. Here’s Tori M.’s experience at Little AHOPE.

I’ve always wanted to come to Africa, and how my dream has come true! Even though we’ve only been here for five days, Ethiopia has already had a major impact on my life. However, our trip to Little AHOPE orphanage has been the most important.

As we entered the gate, we were told the kids were asleep, so of course I was disappointed. The director took us around, and all of a sudden we heard voices! My heart actually skipped a beat; the kids were awake. We mostly sang crazy songs and kicked soccer balls around. Ekindu, Amanda, and I grouped together. Ekindu decided to juggle the ball, and I was so amazed by his determination. He would kick it once, and the ball would roll away. This happened multiple times, and Amanda and I would cheer him on. As we had to leave, I was upset that Ekindu didn’t reach his goal of four juggles. But then I heard a little voice count, “1…2…3…4!”

Even though it took a good thirty minutes before his goal was reached, Ekindu wouldn’t stop. We can learn so much from him. As Christians, we evangelize time and time again, many times without results. We feel like we fail, but we have to keep going. In the end, our goal – Jesus winning over the world – will be met! Whether we are sowers, waterers, or harvesters, we have a purpose; we will have joy like Ekindu, and we will meet our ultimate goal.

Project 1 Mural

2010-07-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

One of our Project #1 projects was painting a mural at Big AHOPE, one of the orphanages we frequented. One of our staff, Sharon W., both designed the mural and headed up the painting efforts. She and her trusted sidekick Micah L. anchored a rotating team of students who worked hard to get it completed in a week. Here’s Micah’s description of the experience.

I had the opportunity to be present for the entire creation of the mural, and spending time with the AHOPE children, Sharon, and my fellow students impacted my time in Ethiopia in a big way.

We started work on the children’s mural from a faded chalk outline of Sharon’s design. I had been to the big AHope orphanage two weeks prior, and going back this time had me feeling at home. Sharon’s sketch had been there last time, so I knew where we were going from the start. Our helpers for the day, Reed S. and Lillian F., began work on the background. Reed was quick to coat his side (and at least one of his arms) with thick green paint by the first half hour. The children were so excited to help us, and their enthusiasm helped spur us on. By the end of day one we had completed the right side of the back wall.

Day two we had Evan S. and Katie R. The left side was easily slapped on, leaving time for the more important central part. Finally prying open three other colors, we managed to finish filling the circles, arrows, and silhouettes for a near-done look that ensured completion by at least the next day. The kids could help in a much more restricted manner today, seeing as there was more specific work to be done.

Day three was mainly made up of Sharon outlining the figures while Ian E., Elisa N., and I finished touch-ups and second layers. With an hour left over, the mural was done. We took pride in our hard work, but we still had work to be done. The orphanage coordinator requested that we paint pictures on some of the buildings outside as well, so we students went to work on brainstorming ideas. I made some sketches for my ideas.

Day four we stopped at Little AHOPE to meet with the orphanage coordinator. We presented my sketches and asked for permission to use them. They gave us the go-ahead, and we bused back to the other orphanage to begin. Along the outside wall of the boy’s rooms we plotted the designs. Keeping the theme of the original mural, the idea was simply silhouettes performing different virtues: Sharing, Happiness, Praying, and Love. Our helper today was Susanna L., and as the two of us painted the outlines, Sharon worked on a third painting, an AHope sign on the front wall.

The last day of painting, Lillian was back again, and we finished outlining the virtue murals. Sharon completed the AHope sign and painted a banner above the front door. We finished all but the banner, as we never figured out how to say welcome in Amharic. That along with the paintings for each of the bedrooms will be left for the second project to finish. With more than an hour left, we headed back to our compound, saying goodbye to the kids.

The painting project is done, and we couldn’t be prouder of our work. It was probably the most fun part of being in Ethiopia for me, and I look forward to seeing the fully beautified AHope orphanage when everything is done.

Here are some pictures of the mural in progress (and completed!):

The old wall


Sharon, Micah, and Lillian expressing their inner Charlie's Angels

Susanna, Micah, and Sharon are excited about the AHOPE sign

Celebrating the completion of the mural!

The new wall

Project 1 Women's Ministry

2010-07-28T08:45:00.000-04:00

And we're back! Sorry for the delay, folks. We were experiencing some technical difficulties, but we seem to be back up and running. If the internet holds for me, we'll have four blog posts today - two from Project 1 and two from Project 2. Without further adieu, here they are!

The women’s ministry team had some unique opportunities to serve low-income women in Addis Ababa by teaching them some marketable skills such as cooking and crafts. Here is Cori H.’s experience with women’s ministry.

From the time Amy K. [one of the project staff] told us about human trafficking in Ethiopia and the world, I knew I wanted to serve on the women’s team. She explained that many women lacked an education or the skills needed to support themselves. Many women choose prostitution or servitude in other countries so they can send money back home. When we signed up for ministry teams there was no doubt in my mind where I wanted to be. I hope to work with destitute women sometime during my life, and women’s ministry really excited me. This past week we taught cooking and crafts to former prostitutes and unemployed women. One of their dreams is to start a restaurant; we’ve bought them a stove and are giving them the cooking supplies at the end of the second project. I love cooking and helping them learn something I love. Today the women pulled out previous crafts we had taught them— beautiful rag rugs and paper beads. We also had them practice making peanut butter cookies. I find it really encouraging that the women enjoy and take seriously what we are trying to teach them.

The first women’s ministry we ever did involved visiting women with HIV/AIDS. I remember feeling burdened by the hopelessness and loneliness of their situation. But God also gave me a spirit of excitement and joy as I visited the women’s homes. I have a whole life to give to him and possibly to women like the ones I’ve met—if that’s His plan. I realize that in every part of my life, God has a way to use me to reach people. Whether I actually become a trauma surgeon, become a pilot, or finish college, my purpose in life is to serve and love Christ. I can’t wait for the rest of my life, and the opportunities waiting.

Jesus Film

2010-07-20T13:21:00.000-04:00

One Friday night, our team split into three teams to participate in Jesus Film showings all around the city. One of the groups went to a remote location on the outskirts of the city – here’s Connor O.’s story from that night.

We were all excited as we stepped into the bus, setting out for the Jesus film showing. It was about 5:30 in the afternoon, and everyone was energized and ready to go. After about 30 minutes of driving, we were met by some of the J-film staff who showed us the way to the site. It was quite humorous to watch so many of us foreigners tread through the slippery mud in order to reach our destination. All of our shoes were covered in sewage filth by the time we finally got there. But what we were about to witness was completely worth the effort, and it would etch a memory into our lives that we would never forget.

As we gathered around, we were swarmed by little children. All of them were exhilarated by the presence of so many “white” people, and they quickly found that we provided some high quality entertainment. We started out by doing the Funky Chicken, followed by about five other kids songs. By the time we finished our fun, we had gathered a sizable crowd.

By now, the Jesus film staff had finished setting up, and we were ready to watch the movie. As the projection began to play, I couldn't help being overwhelmed by what was happening. There were at least 200 people standing in mud, all prepared to watch the 2½ hour-long movie. I had never been in a similar situation before in my life. It was amazing.

As the sun began to set, I began to see stars dot the black sky. I could feel the Holy Spirit working in that place, and it was an absolutely humbling experience. As I looked behind my shoulder, I could see people stacked along the streets. There must have been over 350 people watching! The constant murmur of the crowd filled my heart with joy as they would whisper “Hallelujah” or “Amen” after every miracle. The fact that there were so many people who, for the first time, were being exposed to the gospel was simply awesome.

Yet the most fantastic thing happened near the end of the movie. When Jesus was being crucified, the film stopped, and tension filled the air. Then, an Amharic voice began to speak, and I quickly recognized that it was a call to prayer. Suddenly hands started shooting up. Nearly everyone present were raising their hands, accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Tears streaked down my cheeks as I realized what was happening. All these people, who lived in what we would describe as slums, were receiving life. They were receiving a hope that is greater than anything this world has to offer. They were receiving Jesus.

I will never forget that day. Not because of the sewage mud that we stood in, or my aching legs after standing straight for nearly three hours, or even the sheer number of people that came. I will remember that day because of how the Holy Spirit worked a miracle in the hearts of so many desperate souls, and how they now have a purpose in life to live for.

Father, We Adore You

2010-07-20T13:06:00.000-04:00

Written by Courtney R.

The rain patters against my window, and the misty air swirls between the gray clouds. But I pull on my jacket and put on my shoes. I take a deep breath as the cold slices the air and chills my body. I keep my head down, my Bible tucked under my arm. As the rain drops fall faster, my pace quickens and soon I’m gently jogging, trying to avoid mud puddles and torrents of icy water. Soon I face a tree lined path. I quicken my pace and hurry down the path. I come to a small building with several stained glass windows. I peak through the dim glass and smile when I see that no one is there yet. I duck under the cover of the chapel and scurry through its door. Once inside my chills die down. I take off my jacket and shoes and sit on one of the wooden pews in the back. As the clock ticks 5:28, a few people trickle in. By 5:30 six people are sitting on the pew next to me. We wait a minute, hoping that a few more students will risk the rain and cold, but no one else comes. So we begin. We close our eyes and bow our heads. Our lips form words of thanksgiving, adoration, and petition. The chapel is silent for the next half hour, except for our voices in quiet prayer. As 6:00 draws near, we open our eyes and smile, our eyes a little misty at the beauty of going to our Creator together. Then someone suggests we sing. Slowly six quiet voices sing in a beautiful broken harmony, “Father, we adore you and we lay our lives before you, how we love you! Jesus, we adore you, and we lay our lives before you, how we love you! Spirit, we adore you, and we lay our lives before you, how we love you!” And thus ends our beautiful time of prayer. We all pull on our jackets and shoes and venture out in the cold and rain. But now there’s a small warmth radiating inside, and somehow it doesn’t seem that cold outside anymore.

Just a Few Thoughts

2010-07-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

Hey folks! We're back from debrief, and Project #2 Briefing/Training is underway. We still have a lot of Project #1 posts to put up, so I'll be trying to get those up in the next few days. Each story should have a label telling you which project it's from. For those of you looking for the missing Project #1 stories, keep checking back!

This is a special entry of stories and experiences from lots of our students in their own words. We asked all the students and leaders on the project to share with us some of their experiences and the things that God has been teaching them. Here are just a few of the many, many ways that our students have been seeing God work.

An older man came up to me and was wondering what I was sharing with all of the people around the bus stop. I told him that I was sharing the good news of God and my faith. He gave me a strange look of surprise and contempt. He asked why I was sharing about God. He told me it was not yet my time to teach. I looked up into his eyes and smiled as God put the words in my mouth: “I’ve been changed. And it doesn’t matter how old you are if God changes you. I can’t keep this joy to myself.” The man was thoughtful for awhile and we continued to talk for a little bit more, but he had to leave. But he said he was really interested in talking to me again. Me – the boy who was “too young,” but the boy who God changed. –Josh W.

It’s hard to look in the eyes of a woman infected with a deadly disease, who has three children, no husband, and has been ostracized by her community and give her hope. But it struck me that I, a 16-year-old, could give these women all the hope in the world by telling them about God. So when Aunt Donna asked me to share my testimony, and I had no idea what to say, God spoke through me and one woman prayed to receive Christ. But the moment I will never forget is when I looked up at her, and she was crying as she was saying this prayer to receive Jesus. I knew then that God used me to give this woman eternal hope. –Misa C.

A popular thing here is having your shoes cleaned by boys on the street for about 40 cents. While doing this, I looked down at the boy in rags and realized he was about my age. Instantly it struck me how easily that could have been me. Why did God decide to make the rich person getting his shoes cleaned instead of the impoverished, ragged shoe cleaner? How easily could the roles have been reversed? What did I do to deserve who I am, and what did he do to deserve who he is? –Ben J.

We were at Hanna’s Orphanage playing games with some of the younger kids. One girl sat in the back of the classroom, refusing to play. I went over to her and started talking to her. At one point, I asked her if she had any brothers or sisters with her at the orphanage. She looked at me, confused. Then she made a motion to all the other kids playing games – “They’re all my brothers and sisters.” – Catherine S.

We were so excited about evangelism, but as soon as we stepped off the bus, it began to pour. I wasn’t sure how we would reach people with everyone off the streets, but we ducked into a coffee shop. The place was packed with influential-looking men who had nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait out the rain. After ordering tea, we sat down next to a man who said he was willing to talk, probably intrigued by our presence. Through a translator, I asked him if I could tell him about something that changed by life and went directly into the Four Laws. But the man wasn’t interested. After explaining everything to him, he said he did not want to pray. However, by this time, the entire coffee shop was interested in these foreigners and their religion. So we began a conversation with a man who seemed really interested. He began to question us about denominations, saints, angels, and baptism. These are major points of conflict between Orthodox and Protestants, and I was warned that anything I might say about these subjects might turn him off. But the voice of God reminded me of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2 – to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I told the man that doctrinal details were important but that a relationship with God is all that ultimately matters. It was amazing to see the peace and joy on the face of that man who heard that Christianity is a matter of relationship not details. The man gave me his phone number, and we made plans to talk again. He said he wanted to pray with me, and it was amazing to watch God work even through the things I thought would hinder our ministry. –Justin G.

I have been amazed by the emotional needs of Ethiopian orphans. Every one of them reaches out to be touched, to have their tiny hands held in mine, to be hugged and carried, to be loved. I entered one nursery room with another leader and two tiny boys bee-lined to each of us, heads at our knee level and arms outstretched. We carried and played with them, and to leave broke our hearts and theirs. Me need for God should be that great, my desire to never be away from Him. –Sharon W.

One thing I’m learning is that God’s timing is always perfect. He has a reason and a plan for everything, and he’s been showing me this multiple times this week already! On our second day of campus ministry, we were on our way to the campus trying to figure out the best way to share the gospel when all of a sudden it began to pour. We sprinted across the street into a café where people were waiting out the rain. We began to talk with a man about the weather and when we dove into the Four Spiritual Laws. We were only talking to one man, but the whole café was hearing the gospel. Finally he said he wasn’t interested, but two other men were, and we went to share the four laws with them instead. They weren’t quite ready to accept God, but we set up an appointment to meet with them again. God allowed us to go into that café and his hand was definitely in this meeting. –Elisa N.

VBS kind of gets repetitive. We sing the same songs, listen to someone tell the story of Zacchaeus, play the same games. It’s really easy to not have the same amount of enthusiasm that we had the first day. I was thinking about this on the way to the church on Wednesday, and as soon as we stepped off the bus, we heard chanting. As we got closer to the church, the chanting grew louder. When we stepped inside, one hundred little kids began screaming like we were some huge rock stars appearing in their tiny church. It was then I realized that it doesn’t matter how we feel about the things we are doing. Why would I ever want to have less enthusiasm when it is clearly the biggest deal in the world to these kids? I am here to serve them, not for them to make sure that I don’t get bored of making little kids happy. I am here to serve, not be served. –Kendall S.

My eyes were opened earlier this week by a lonely man on the side of the road. My Ethiopian ministry partner Meklit and I were out evangelizing and sharing the good news. We had just left a rather disappointing conversation with a group of Orthodox Ethiopians who would not listen to our stories. As we were walking to our meeting place, Meklit stopped and pointed to a man sitting along trying to sell nuts. We rushed over to him to ask him if he knew Jesus. After conversing with him in Amharic, Meklit explained to me that his name was Marcus and he was once a fervent protestant believer who loved Jesus. He lived in the countryside but had come to Addis Ababa to find work. When he came, he had no friends and no one to talk to. He felt as if Jesus had left his life. So he became Orthodox, just like so many people around us. Meklit asked me if I had anything to say to him. I said that Jesus had not abandoned him, and that Jesus loved him. After I share the Four Spiritual laws with him, the strangest thing happened. He said he wanted to follow us to our meeting place. When we brought him, I prayed for him, and he prayed to receive Christ once again. For someone to just get up and follow because of Jesus is the most powerful thing I may have ever seen. The Holy Spirit was working in me and Meklit, and God himself brought Marcus back to the Cross. –Micah L.

This week we went into the slums to visit women with HIV. I didn’t know what to expect at all, so I couldn’t prepare myself. There was one woman we visited who lived in a house that was ¼ of my room, made out of scraps of metal and newspaper. We all squeezed into the room as she told me the story of how she was sold as a house girl. She was living in the place with seven children. I couldn’t believe that they all had to live there with only one bed to sleep on at night. She was abandoned by her family because of her disease and living in secrecy as well. I wonder how she presses on without knowing God. God has been reminding me of the purpose of life – those women live in such harsh conditions, and I go home to luxury. It’s made me realize that all the things that consume my life at home aren’t important, but that all we truly need is God. –Amanda A.

I was evangelizing in a park outside of a university with four others when a man came up and said he has a question for us. He had apparently overheard us sharing the Four Laws the other day. He asked if we believed in truth, which then led to a discussion that headed nowhere. But nearby there was another man who later I was able to share Christ with and who prayed to receive Christ. If the first man hadn’t held me up, I most likely wouldn’t have met the other man. It just shows God’s ultimate purpose and planning, even using seemingly negative situations. –Marc S.

I’ve seen more poverty this week that I have in my entire life. I’ve seen countless begging mothers, families living in mud houses half the size of our bathrooms, and children with no home or family. As sad as this is, it’s easy for me to push it into the back of my mind, simply because I don’t want to feel the hurt and the sadness they feel. If I strive to be like Christ, doesn’t that mean I should want to feel the way he feels when he sees these people? Doesn’t this mean I should let God break me and let in the sorrow he feels? –Susanna L.

Recently, through Campus Ministry, God has been teaching me the importance of sharing my faith. In the beginning I wasn’t very thrilled to begin conversations with people on the street by asking them if they’d heard of the Four Spiritual Laws. I was afraid of being insulted, scoffed at, or simply rejected. I had no confidence, and the idea of sharing my faith was incredibly intimidating. Though sometimes I was insulted and told that Ethiopia doesn’t need “converters” like me, God has constantly amazed me by providing me with the words to say. He has showed me that with his power, I can have confidence in knowing that the words he has given me to say are truth. I don’t have to be afraid because he speaks through me. –Hannah K.

This is my second time in Africa, and I can honestly say that Jesus has used Africa to mold me. The Good News is so real here, and it has been awesome to see the Ethiopian nationals giving their lives for the cause of Christ. I realize we cannot change the world in a month in Africa, and it has been a blessing to help train Ethiopian students and share the gospel alongside them and know that when we leave, we are not leaving in vain. I wake up every day and pray that Americans as a whole can delight in the Lord as much as Ethiopians do. Africa will keep my heard broken until the day I die. It haunts my dreams and life and I am thankful. Jesus allows me, by his grace, to live a broken life always dependent on him. –Chris T.

Note from the Blog Moderator

2010-07-13T15:41:00.000-04:00

Greetings, friends. I don't have much time, since we're all in the midst of last minute packing and cleaning for debrief, but I wanted to give you all a quick update.

We've been busy these past few days (and the power has been out at inconvenient times), so trying to upload blog posts has been a challenge. There are a number of good stories from or students (and many more pictures from Sharon and Jeremy) just waiting to be uploaded. We won't have internet at our debrief location, so it'll be just a few more days before we can put all our stuff up. Even as the next project starts, we'll probably still have some good Project #1 stories to tell, so keep checking back.

In case you hadn't noticed, we've added pictures to some of our earlier posts, so feel free to go back and check those out. Sharon and Jeremy are our extremely talented photographers, and we hope to have even more from them in the future. Just a disclaimer about the pictures - some of them correspond to the quotes/stories they're next to, but others don't. Just wanted to clear that up to avoid any potential confusion.

Please keep praying for us as we wrap up our project!

Remember Me?

2010-07-10T13:02:00.000-04:00

Our women’s ministry team joined with Great Commission Ministry’s Lydia Ministry to visit women with HIV/AIDS. These women and their families have been ostracized from society, have difficulty finding employment, and live in extremely poor neighborhoods. Here is Hannah M.’s take on the experience.

As the group of girls walked into the straw and mud plastered house, we knew we would forever have a new perspective on life. This was the women’s ministry team’s first time going into the homes of the HIV positive Ethiopian women. Our main goal was to go into the homes of the women who have been diagnosed with the virus and to talk to them and ask about their lives and pretty much show them the love of God. Then to finish off we would pray with them. This would normally take up to 10-15 minutes, and with four groups assigned to 5 women each, it took about 3 hours.

These women who we were talking with suffered depression, lost family members, and saw little or no hope in life. But even with all these miseries, they still had some of the most giving hearts we had ever seen. They all wanted to make us food and coffee. Some of the women even wanted to give away their valuables, such as the only picture they had of their son. This all happened just because they wanted to be remembered.

When our group debriefed and discussed all that we had seen, we all agreed that it was emotionally draining; it was bitter-sweet. The second day we went out, one of the groups had the privilege of seeing two women pray to receive Christ. What a blessing.

Just reflecting on all that occurred, I can say that every one of those girls that went to the HIV visits has had a whole new perspective on value. Just a few days ago we were complaining on not having hot water and the electricity going out every other hour, but after seeing the homes and the lives that the women lived in, we will never forget how blessed we are.

You Give and Take Away

2010-07-10T12:58:00.003-04:00

Hey folks, sorry this didn't post yesterday - we had a huge storm that knocked out the power along our whole block. But now we're back! So here's part two - Courtney R.'s experience working with kids at a local orphanage.

Giggling girls; eager boys; joyful eyes; desperate hearts; only a few years left to live. These are the things we found on our recent orphanage trips. We have been to four different orphanages in our ministry teams, and everyone has come away with so much, but also left a little of themselves behind.

On Monday my team went to AHOPE Orphanage – a refuge for HIV positive kids. We played games, sang songs, and acted out a Bible story. The kids were so excited to play with us; I loved seeing their eyes lit up when we spoke to them! My favorite part of the day was when one of the girls braided my hair. I had just commented on how pretty their hair was and before I knew it I was on the ground and my hair was being twisted and turned. It hurt like crazy, but it was definitely worth it! Minus the fact that it is blonde, my hair fit in perfectly! Well, at least for a few hours…

Overall, it was a beautiful day and I loved getting to make a small impact on their lives.

Here are some thoughts from other students:

“It was fun to play with the kids, but even more amazing was the fact that they had AIDS and yet still enjoyed life as much as they could.” –Andrew K.

“They were very cheerful.” –Ian E.

“They were so happy with what they had!” –Alex M.

“It is amazing to see how much hope the kids have, even though their situation is virtually hopeless.” –Katie R.

“I feel like they impacted us more than we them. They were so joyful, even though they were in a hard situation. I enjoyed telling them Bible stories and seeing how they got into it.” –Susanna W.

“It expanded my perspective on extreme poverty.” –Micah L.

“This is not how the world is supposed to be.” –Chris T.

“It was such a blessing to work with the kids and see how much holding their hand and picking them up means so much to them!” –Savannah J.

“Exhilarating experience.” –Conner O.

“Awesome!” -Kyle S.

“It’s been truly amazing to show them love, especially because they don’t always get individual attention because of all of the other kids in similar hard situations. It’s good to love on them and show them that we care each and every one of them regardless of the fact that they have HIV.” –Anna E.

Campus Ministry

2010-07-08T14:03:00.001-04:00

We have three main ministry teams - Children's Ministry, Women's Ministry, and Campus Ministry. Students from each of those teams have written about their experiences serving on those teams. Here's part one - parts two and three will be posted tomorrow (hopefully). The Campus Ministry team focuses its efforts around Addis Ababa University and its many campuses. Here is Chris T.’s overview of some of the work that they’ve been doing on campus.

Every morning we load up the shuttle and set off for the Campus Headquarters and get ready for a full day of ministry. We start the day off by having a 30-minute long devotion all together before we split into our three groups – Bible Study/Discipleship, HIV Awareness, and English Club. The three groups are each split into around five of our MK students and between four and ten(ish) Ethiopian students.

The Bible Study group is led by Chris T. and is a three-day study on three passages from Ephesians (2:1-10, 3:14-21, 6:10-20). Each day the MK students lead a study on a specific passage with testimonies and prayer involved in both large group time and small group time. The training is meant to teach the Ethiopian students how to lead a Bible Study among their friends and the principles of discipleship.

HIV Awareness is led by Ben J. and is a jam-packed extremely interactive time. There are lessons in which the MK team ties HIV facts in with the truth of Jesus. There are five different lessons and each one is full of games and skits.

English Club is led by Connor O. It is a time where the MK team gets to really enjoy personal relationships with the Ethiopian students. It’s meant to be interactive and not only help the Ethiopian students with their English but also help all participants with their people skills and is over all a really fun and crazy time to get to know everyone.

Each week the MK teams for the different groups switch to the next group so everyone will be able to meet all the Ethiopian students and experience and serve in as many ways possible.

After the training sessions each morning, groups go out to evangelize around Addis. There is usually one Ethiopian students paired up with two or three MK students. We go out and simply talk to people on the street about how Jesus is better than anything else this world has to offer. It’s been a really amazing time and many, many, many people have been exposed to the Gospel and we have had over 10 people choose to start following Jesus. Hallelujah! All glory and praise to God! Please be praying that Jesus continues to move in amazing ways and this next week and a half of ministry is fruitful and God-honoring.

The whole experience is amazing and it’s been an extreme privilege for us to be a small part of God’s heartbeat for Ethiopia. We realize that we’d be hard-pressed to change the world in two months here in Ethiopia so we have really set our hearts on equipping and training these Ethiopian students so they can do just that. We may all leave here soon and return to our lives, but they stay here and we are praying that they are ready to make an impact and difference for Jesus.

A Day in the Life of a TCK

2010-07-08T13:53:00.002-04:00

Here is Lizzy G.’s account of a typical day in the life of an MK on our project. I hope you enjoy reading about all the fun things that take up our days!

MK Life
MK2MK is not only known for its spiritual impact but also for its ability to throw a party. As soon as one MK sees another, they become the best of friends. And when you only have one month, you want to go deep with someone as fast as you possibly can.

In the Mekane Yesus Seminary compound where we live, there are two guys’ houses and two girls’ houses. Each has adopted its own character and title: TIA (This Is Africa), Schmidt-haus, The Red House, and Double A, (also known as Chocovilla). The most popular hangout spot on the compound is Schmidt-haus, where Aunt Donna and Uncle Yale rough it with ten-plus teenage boys. Most nights there will be Catch-phrase, spiritual discussions,and a spontaneous guitar concert. TIA won the creative house cleaning competition with their “Conflict Resolution Zone” (complete with hemmed curtains/bedsheets), but Red House’s recent redecoration has made it the place to go to talk, laugh, and get a friendship bracelet made. Double A/Chocovilla hosted a movie-night-ice-cream-social just last week, where fifty teenagers in pajamas sang songs from Mulan at the top of their lungs.

Though we are not quite cross-cultural pros, we have connected to the local staff and students in great ways. Walking through the compound, you will often see one of the guys jamming with the Ethiopiansin the music shack or girls giving piggy-back rides to the little kids. Mass soccer games in the mud field are a common thing before dinner, and some MK cheered for Ghana when the World Cup played on the grainy cafeteria TV. We have eaten injera, taken part in coffee ceremonies, and traded songs with the Ethiopian Evangelicals. The nationals have taught us how to Jabulani, Africa! (Rejoice, Africa!) for the rich culture he has placed us in.

A Day in the Life of a TCK
At 8:00 a.m. every morning our chilly group trickles into the cafeteria, where a breakfast of rice porridge and bread waits for us. Gulping down our tea or coffee, we rush off to the buses in our close-toed shoes and rain jackets.

By 2:30 p.m., the last muddy group finds its way home from ministry for a quick shower, nap, or quiet time. Most afternoons are taken off from ministry because of the rain, so we use that time for meetings with small groups or service teams and to prep for the next day’s ministry. The drama team has also been meeting and practicing mimes used to help share the Gospel.

Dinner at the seminary is a routine affair, with many assorted breads, potatoes, pastas, and a soda of your choice. Afterwards, the teens head to the chapel for worship and to debrief the day. Then the bubbly emcees kick off a talk or fun activity. The leaders are adept at adapting their speeches when the power goes out – sometimes as often as three times a night.

We have all gotten used to having our lesson plans destroyed. When working in a different culture, it is hard to predict what people want or what supplies to bring. Our theme should be “No Expectations,” but as MKs, we’ve all gotten pretty good at going with the flow when unexpected things come up. So we pray like crazy for our ministry, and as we good naturedly say, “TIA” (This Is Africa). We are in unfamiliar territory, we do not know what we are doing, and the future is in God’s hands. Pray for faith and for the Holy Spirit to truly work through us.

After the meeting is small group time, but when that closes up, packs of people head over to one house to hang out. The girls crack down on curfew – when 16 girls share one bathroom, we need all the time we can get to ensure that everyone has a chance to shower.

At 11:00 p.m., we all get ready for bed – sometimes by flashlight, sometimes to find a gift from a secret saint on the pillow – and crash in our rooms to get the most sleep we can before a crazy tomorrow begins.

A Few Images...

2010-07-06T10:04:00.003-04:00

Hey folks, I know I said last post that there would be a slew of blog posts coming up, and that still holds true. In fact, they're on my thumb drive ready to go. However, due to some technical difficulties (and not wanting to waste our precious internet time while I try to figure them out), I'm not able to upload them right at the moment. We've got posts about our kids ministry, women's ministry, campus ministry, and our team's daily life, so be looking for those once we get our act together over here.

In the meantime, here are a few images from Jeremy, one of our many talented photographers. At least I think the images are there. We can't actually view the blog from over here, so I'm going on faith and your comments that these things are actually posting. If the images don't show up, please let me know, and I'll do my best to fix those technical difficulties, too. This is Africa, after all.

We're Halfway!

2010-07-04T07:47:00.000-04:00

Happy Fourth of July!

We just got back from church - hundreds of people worshipping the Lord in Amharic with high energy singing and dancing. We were able to understand a good portion of the service thanks to the sweet older gentleman who took it upon himself to translate for those of us fortunate enough to sit in the front row - and got himself a job up on stage translating the sermon for us!

It's been a busy week - we've had groups working with children at several different orphanages and with the children of the Ethiopian national staff. We've also had a large group go everyday down to the university campuses to share their faith with Ethiopian college students. Next week looks to be even busier, as we add in our women's ministry team (teaching marketable skills to low-income women) and a team working to repaint one of the orphanages where we've been working.

It's hard to believe we're already at the halfway point of the project - please be praying for our health and stamina and that we will be able to maximize every minute of our time here in Addis. Several of our students are working on blog entries about their ministry experiences from this past week, se we should have a slew of entries in the next few days to tell you all about the things we've been doing.

We're so thankful for your prayers and encouragement. Keep your comments coming - everyone loves hearing from you!

This Is Africa

2010-06-28T07:48:00.002-04:00

*Thanks everyone for your all your comments! All the messages are being delivered, and we're so encouraged to have you all thinking about us and praying for us while we're here.

**Today's blog entry is our very first student entry - so please give a warm round of applause to Courtney from Italy and Lizzie from East Asia who worked very diligently to put this together. They're already working on a second installment, so anticipate that coming your way soon.

….It all began one foggy morning at 3 am – the students from Europe arrived in Africa and the project was officially underway. The next day everyone else arrived safely, but not until after the bug crisis in one of our four houses. We were all playing cards, happily waiting for our teammates to get here when suddenly our house was swarmed with huge monstrous bat-bugs!!!

Good Morning, We Have Internet!

If you were worried about the bat-bugs, don’t worry – we all survived. By the 20th of June all the students had reached their destination: the Makane Yesus Seminary of Addis Ababa. The staff welcomed us warmly and fed us traditional Ethiopian food. Their specialties are spicy soup called wat and a sour grey sponge bread called injera, which is made from a fiber called teff which only grows in Ethiopia. And yes, we have tried the famous Ethiopian coffee. It’s strong, black, and as rich as the culture which we now find ourselves immersed in. The Ethiopian staff are friendly and open, even calling us their own children. The beautiful green compound where we are staying is filled with cute little kids and people who love the Lord and love to laugh.

However, our sixty-three Americans have added a whole new flavor to this peaceful scene. MK2MK is known for surpassing cultural differences and gluing people together. Here in the shelter of great leaders we crazy teens learn how to change the world. This summer’s theme of being the aroma of Christ encourages us to be a light (or smell) in dark places. Already we’ve made fast friends with the local children and national staff, and though we are wearing out their power and toilet paper supply, there is mutual gratefulness to God for bringing us all together.

Briefing and Tea Break

For the past week, our meetings have taken place in the stained glass chapel of the seminary, our tracts lit by fluorescent lights and our ears serenaded by the rain pounding against the windows. Thankfully, not all of the day is spent inside, because our hosts have provided us with traditional Ethiopian tea breaks. Fifteen minutes of cream and sugar can do a lot of good. It’s a great time to discuss the talks we’ve just heard (or discuss our the shower schedule) with our joyful leaders. The Kushners are here again, of course, providing us with as much cultural insight as we could possibly desire. Also Rich Street and his son, little Rich Jr., have been a blessing to our team. Rich has conducted most of our training, capturing the audience with his casual attitude and easy apologetics, and little Rich has contributed with a love of adventure, soccer and piggy back rides.

This week the students were also divided into main three ministry teams, each focusing on a different aspect of service:

Student Ministry

The campus ministry is divided into two teams. We’ll be partnering with national staff and volunteers to reach out to the Coptic Orthodox, Muslim, and agnostic students through teaching English, AIDS awareness (using CCC materials from Crossroads - for more information go to www.crossroadslink.org), Bible studies, the Four Laws, videos, surveys, translators, and about as many other things as you could name.

Women’s Ministry

Ethiopia is one of the top world source countries for human trafficking; every year over 20,000 women are taken from their homes and put into service in the Middle East. The atrocities that are committed to these women leave them desperate and penniless. The women’s ministry focuses on teaching skills and crafts to women in Addis so they can support themselves and not have to sell themselves. And of course, our teams will be incorporating the Gospel throughout their service.

Children’s Ministry

The VBS (vacation Bible school) team will be ministering to orphans, Sunday schools, and Campus Crusade staff kids by telling Bible stories, teaching English, singing songs, playing sports, and leading bible studies for their moms. They will be ministering to 500 plus kids so please pray for sanity and stamina!

2013

Where should we start? In Acts 20:24, Paul says this: “I don’t care about my own life, the most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.” This verse perfectly describes the attitude of the Ethiopian national staff. Yesterday we visited their tiny, campus office where we witnessed our hearts being set on fire through their powerful stories.

History Check: Ethiopians are extremely proud of their heritage. It is the only country in Africa that has never been colonized. They are also proud of being an official Christian nation, but the numbers of Evangelical Christians have fallen away, leaving them today with 34% of the population Muslim and 43% Coptic Orthodox.

We had the privilege of hearing Tariku, (Ethiopian, and recently appointed to be the Student Led Movements director for Southern/Eastern Africa Campus Crusade), give a presentation on the organization’s recent activity. He spoke of the huge growth of their student ministry—they have over 1000 key student leaders working around Ethiopia. In the past five years, the teams have planted 500 churches. And that’s just the beginning.

Here the staff in some rural parts of the country are getting beaten for their faith and thrown in prison, but they return and continue to devote their whole lives to serving Jesus. By the year 2013, they hope to send out 10,000 missionaries into the world. We’re here to do our small part, to help see this plan become reality. As Tariku says, “It only takes commitment. It only takes seeking the face of the Lord. You can change the world.”

We're here!

2010-06-23T07:41:00.000-04:00

Seulam from Addis Abeba!

This will be short because I'm sitting in an internet cafe, but we wanted to make sure you all knew that our whole team made it in safely (and only lost 1 bag!). We've been really busy these past few days getting acclimated to the altitude, the food, and the weather (which is beautiful when it's not raining).

We've also been doing a lot of training for ministry and learning about Ethiopian culture because tomorrow is when we start our first day of ministry on the university campus!

Here are a few ways that you can be praying for us:

For our time on campus tomorrow to be fruitful and encouraging
Health - no one's sick yet, and we'd love for it to stay that way
For our outreach on Saturday distributing food to children

Hopefully we'll be able to update again soon with stories from our first few days of ministry. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Plan A

2010-06-17T11:17:00.001-04:00

Since we leave in two (two!) days (excitement/stress level has been turned up to 11), it seems about time to post a new blog entry and give you all an idea of what we're planning to do in Ethiopia.

Our MK2MK staff and volunteers have been working extremely hard to put together some unique ministry opportunities in Addis Ababa. If you've been on (or followed along with) MK2MK projects in the past, you know that our M.O. is student ministry. We go into high schools, build relationships with students, share our testimonies, hold English Clubs, that sort of thing. We also try to incorporate any and every unique talent and gifting our students have into our ministry. Sometimes that involves making balloon animals. Other times it involves storytelling. One time, it involved juggling fire.

This year, though, we're trying to take a slightly different approach. On each project we've tried to incorporate some form of service ministry - things like working in orphanages or impoverished neighborhoods - but this year, we're making it an integral part of what we're doing in Ethiopia. We'll still be doing plenty of student ministry, but we'll be splitting out time 50/50 between that and holistic ministry. We've been working closely with the Ethiopian national staff to set up opportunities to serve in communities throughout our time there.

Some of what we're planning to do after the jump...

Service in a poor area with young women - health education, HIV/AIDS prevention training, teaching English, teaching marketable skills
Service in another poor area helping families with basic needs
Community beautification - tree planting, etc.
Kids ministry - both in poor areas and though local churches
Jesus film showings in villages
Student ministry - sports, English clubs, evangelism using tools like Soularium and short films
Encouraging and serving the Ethiopian missionaries and their families

Naturally, because this is 1) missions, 2) Africa, and 3) life, this is only Plan A. We're going to get thrown a lot of hard-to-read pitches, so we'll likely be on Plan B with a week, and by the end of the summer, we just might make it through the entire alphabet. But that's the beauty of missions, am I right? Being flexible and looking out for opportunities and trusting that God's going to work no matter how many of our plans go awry.

That's all I've got for now, folks. Please be praying for us as we all run around making last minute preparations and for safe travel on Saturday. Plan on the next post coming to you live from Ethiopia!

As always, you can follow us on Twitter @mk2mkethiopia (or on the twitter feed to the right of the page).

Welcome

2010-05-18T11:34:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the official project blog for MK2MK's Ethiopia Summer Projects!

There are many people around the world praying for us and supporting us that we thought it would be a good idea to set up a place for you all to track with us on our many adventures in Africa (especially for those of you who have teenagers who may not be the best at keeping in touch on a regular basis). Our internet access will be limited, but we'll do our best to post semi-regular updates.

A little breakdown of how this will work (subject to change as all well-intentioned plans are)...

As the summer progresses we'll use this blog as a place to communicate necessary information, tell our stories, share our prayer requests, and post a picture or two (video maybe? if we're lucky?). We'll try to get input from as many project participants as possible so you'll be able to get more nuanced picture of our experiences. We've enabled comments, so feel free to use them as a means of communication with our team.

Here's what our schedule looks like:

May 28-June 18 -- Internship in Orlando for our college student leaders on the project
June 20-July 17 -- Summer Project I
July 20-August 15 -- Summer Project II

We've got a month left before we ship out, so we'll be fleshing things out, blog-wise in that time. Once we get going, you'll be hearing from MKs from all over the world, but until then, you're stuck with me, Janna the default blogger/compiler of information. Check back for more info on what we'll be doing, specific prayer requests, and any and all randomness that may show up. And for even more scintillating observations/reminders/non sequiturs, follow us on Twitter @mk2mkethiopia.