Amazing Ethiopia!!

Well, our heads are spinning with all that God is doing, the people we are meeting, the ministries we are coming in contact with.

It is amazing to us that as we meet people and start talking, they know people that we know and they know others and so forth. The ministries interact, the people interact. God is busily at work over here.

Now, we just want to know where we fit in.

Yesterday, Tuesday, we went to Hannah's Hope, the orphanage where Markos was and we met with Almaz, the director and Wazz, our driver. It was SOOOO good to go back there and see the children and the care givers and the babies and children. They have 40 now. Oh, such pleasant memories it brought back of the wonderful 8 couples we came here with and the sweet children we all took home to the US.

We rested much of the rest of Tuesday, as we both have managed to get an annoying cold with coughing and runny nose. We feel better today, but definitely needed to rest then.

Today, we went with our host, Alayu, to meet Jerry Shannon of Embracing Hope Ethiopia ministry. He and his wife, Kristi and 4 children are from Lancaster, PA. They have a ministry in Korah (next to the dump) where they have a daycare for children, so that the moms can work while the children are cared for. They feed the children and the moms, teach the moms about childcare and share Jesus with them all.

We learned that they know Chris Wheeland (our son-in-law Jon's brother) and the 2 former pastors of Brieanna and Jon. They also just visited the Vineyard Fellowship with Bob Morris in Wellsboro. We are being reminded what a small world it is when you are connected to the body of Christ.

We then met with Tsei, our host's brother,who is the director of Compassion International for all of Ethiopia. What a man of God and what a passion he has to share Jesus Christ with his people, to care for the needy chidlren of Ethiopia and to be a vessel God can use in any way possible.

We have made many contacts concerning clean water and wells and hope to have more answers tonight. Our host, Alayu, is meeting tonight, with our Pastor from here to discuss the best way to bring clean water to the multitudes. It is possible that we will use the money we brought and start a water project in one of the villages we will be in next week where there is NO water and then come home and try to raise whatever else it will take to complete the project. If not this village, then perhaps another area where they have begun a clean water project and help them complete it. God will make it clear to us, we know.

Next week, Mon-Fri, we will be in a very rural, mountainous area north of Addis, to do an eye clinic. There are other people from the US, as well as here, going along and it sounds like we will be busy from cold morning through hot afternoon to cold evening, diagnosing simply and fitting as many with eyeglasses as possible. So, pray for us as we minister in this way to the very needy of the rural Ethiopia.

We are having a hard time sleeping due to all the thoughts rumbling through our heads as to what God would have us do. The need is great, but it is also obvious to us that God is at work here and the people are open to hear about Jesus. There are many very good ministries here caring for the orphans and the widows and the poorest of the poor. We just want to know where God would have us get involved.

Doc was having a problem sleeping last night, and as he was lying there thinking, he was reminded that Brieanna had asked us before we left if we have been praying together for clear direction and if we were prayed up. Well, Doc said he realized he had some more work to do in the area of prayer. I would have to say amen to that. We are being, pleasantly, overwhelmed with the many good works going on here and need to know where God would have us get involved. So, praying for direction.

When we met with Tsei this morning, his challenge to us was: "You have seen the need, now what are you going to do about this?" referring to the needy and dying children. Almaz challenged us once again to adopt. We told her of 2 girls we are aware of in the US already in need of a home and she said, so????? Well, Lord, you need to make it clear. We are realizing that age is not a factor in God's book when it comes to doing His work. So, we are willing to do whatever it is He calls us to do, we are just waiting for a clear directive.

I do believe that we will be back here within 6-9 months, perhaps for only another 2-3 weeks, to assist the ministries already here and to bring as many supplies as possible. Clothing, medicine, supplies must be brought as it is far too expensive to ship them, so we will do our best to gather those items that we realize they need so desperately and bring them back with us. As well, we will try to bring to the US crafts and goods from Ethiopia to market there to benefit the poorest of the poor. Even this trip, we are planning to being back coffee and some other crafts as this will benefit the moms at the Shannons ministry near Korah.

I will close our posting for now. The pastor's wife is coming to pick us up to do some shopping and see more of Addis.

Thank you for your support and prayers. Keep the prayers coming.