Monday, February 8, 2010
Here We Go Again!!!!
For those of you who are interested in stretching your personal, spiritual, and physical boundaries I have just the thing for you. Bright Hope Work Team May 2010. That's right we are at it again, for round two. We will be taking another group of dedicated servants over to Ethiopia to put in some long days on the school's projects. Stay tuned for updates on the progress.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Now some pictures.
I hope you enjoy these photos of what the team experienced.
Clayton, 1st day, trying to understand what is being said.
With a couple of eucalyptus branches, nails, and able bodies, who needs a skid steer loader.
This was filled by noon on the first day!
By the end of the day, the wall started to take shape.
Some teachers at the school using the wheel barrel loaded with cement, during a break.
We also learned that we didn't need a cement mixer, although it would have been nice.
A portion of the wall.
Some interaction with the school kids.
How we got our water everyday to mix the cement.
The wall, really taking shape.
Some dancing at the thank you celebration.
What was completed on the wall before we left. Hopefully by Nov. 20 they we able to finish with the cinder blocks.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Back In The USA!!!!
All of us made it back to the US safely. We parted ways with Kyle in Washington last night, as he was heading on to Cleveland to speak at a youth conference this weekend. And Ariel and I went on the Denver. We made it in to Denver around 12:30 am and are now waiting at the airport to fly home. Our flight leaves at 8:15 this morning and we will be back in Big Sky Country by 10:00. We look forward to seeing everyone and sharing our adventures with you all. Ariel is planning on posting some pictures of the trip when we get home. In Ethiopia, it took an hour sometimes just to write the blog and get it posted so posting pictures was usually out of the question.
See you all Soon,
Aaron
See you all Soon,
Aaron
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Sacrificial Lamb comes to life...
Hello everyone, Aaron here on blog duty tonight...
Over the past few days, since the team left, there has been an intense battle going on here in Ethiopia. That battle is being fought in the remote regions of my heart and mind. Daily I have been wrestling with the extremes that we have become accustom to seeing during our travels here. Extreme poverty, living conditions, sickness, disease, and yet on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, extreme wealth, success, progress. And yet I find myself being drawn back to the former of the two extremes. My heart is despirately waging war with the comforts of this life in an attempt to return to the poorer communities, whose lives have touched us beyond all comprehension.
During our trips to the Acacia Village site I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of professionalism that has taken place at this site. It is truly a wonderful project and very much needed for their organization. The job site is very much a commercial project site similar to what you would see in the states, but much more primitive in their construction methods. Everything is built out of concrete and reinforced with re-bar. The scaffolding is built out of euclyptus branches. It was quite the experience walking up three flights of scaffolding on branches. Kyle and Ariel wouldn't try it the second time we visited the site, once was enough for them. It has been very intriguing for me to see some of the construction techniques and procedures that they go through to build a commercial building here in Ethiopia.
But during each visit my mind and my heart seem to wander back to our dear friends at the school and a simpler way of life. Everywhere you turn there is need in this city. Our prayer is that we are hearing God's direction clearly and providing aide where He wants us to, not where we desire to work. Our conversations with the contractors at the Acacia Village have been very promising and they are open for churches like ours to send work groups over when the timing is appropriate during the different phases. This was very encouraging.
This morning, we went back to the Bright Hope School project to see how the progress was going on the well and to work some more on the wall. When we showed up, water was flowing freely out of the well. They got the pump hooked up today and were getting ready to send some samples off to the labs to get tested. Keep this in your prayers that the tests will return positive and that they will be able to use this for drinking water as it is greatly needed. Today alone we began seeing how the well could save the other projects money as they now don't have to pay someone to haul water in for them to mix the cement. Last week we paid someone $2 per donkey per trip to haul water for us. There were 4 donkeys each of which made 6-7 trips per day. That begins to add up quickly as all of you can imagine. Our work today was kind of bittersweet. It was wonderful to be back working at the school, however all of the men that we spent the last week getting to know and working with were not there. We had a new set of workers to get to know and had to learn the process all over again. We also missed having the rest of our group with us, all of you were and have been truly missed this week. You guys made this trip so much fun.
As we were finishing up our work today, we were informed that we would be honored guests, again, in celebration of the completion of the well and what we accomplished on the wall. A celebration such as this consists of buying a sheep at the market and bringing it to the celebration alive. They then procede to slaughter the sheep, butcher it, and then cook it into a meal that is shared by all of the people at the celebration. Kyle and Ariel were present in representatives of our group at the slaughtering. And for all of you who are wondering, yes there is video footage of this event. This event has brought new perspective for all of us on God's sacrificial lamb, Jesus, was led to the cross. He was beaten, mocked and bruised for our transgressions. As the sheep was brought in to the school yard it was mobbed by children, who began to hit it and kick it. It was then tied up close to our jobsite waiting to be led to it's final resting place. Kyle helped drag it to the slaughtering floor. So if you are into comparisons, and trying to compare this event to Christ's walk to the cross, Kyle would be on of the Roman guards who led him to the Cross. Just kidding. But in all seriousness, this really was a real life depiction of what our Savior did on our behalf. And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. It really did bring that verse to life for me today and I will never be the same because of it.
Over the past few days, since the team left, there has been an intense battle going on here in Ethiopia. That battle is being fought in the remote regions of my heart and mind. Daily I have been wrestling with the extremes that we have become accustom to seeing during our travels here. Extreme poverty, living conditions, sickness, disease, and yet on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, extreme wealth, success, progress. And yet I find myself being drawn back to the former of the two extremes. My heart is despirately waging war with the comforts of this life in an attempt to return to the poorer communities, whose lives have touched us beyond all comprehension.
During our trips to the Acacia Village site I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of professionalism that has taken place at this site. It is truly a wonderful project and very much needed for their organization. The job site is very much a commercial project site similar to what you would see in the states, but much more primitive in their construction methods. Everything is built out of concrete and reinforced with re-bar. The scaffolding is built out of euclyptus branches. It was quite the experience walking up three flights of scaffolding on branches. Kyle and Ariel wouldn't try it the second time we visited the site, once was enough for them. It has been very intriguing for me to see some of the construction techniques and procedures that they go through to build a commercial building here in Ethiopia.
But during each visit my mind and my heart seem to wander back to our dear friends at the school and a simpler way of life. Everywhere you turn there is need in this city. Our prayer is that we are hearing God's direction clearly and providing aide where He wants us to, not where we desire to work. Our conversations with the contractors at the Acacia Village have been very promising and they are open for churches like ours to send work groups over when the timing is appropriate during the different phases. This was very encouraging.
This morning, we went back to the Bright Hope School project to see how the progress was going on the well and to work some more on the wall. When we showed up, water was flowing freely out of the well. They got the pump hooked up today and were getting ready to send some samples off to the labs to get tested. Keep this in your prayers that the tests will return positive and that they will be able to use this for drinking water as it is greatly needed. Today alone we began seeing how the well could save the other projects money as they now don't have to pay someone to haul water in for them to mix the cement. Last week we paid someone $2 per donkey per trip to haul water for us. There were 4 donkeys each of which made 6-7 trips per day. That begins to add up quickly as all of you can imagine. Our work today was kind of bittersweet. It was wonderful to be back working at the school, however all of the men that we spent the last week getting to know and working with were not there. We had a new set of workers to get to know and had to learn the process all over again. We also missed having the rest of our group with us, all of you were and have been truly missed this week. You guys made this trip so much fun.
As we were finishing up our work today, we were informed that we would be honored guests, again, in celebration of the completion of the well and what we accomplished on the wall. A celebration such as this consists of buying a sheep at the market and bringing it to the celebration alive. They then procede to slaughter the sheep, butcher it, and then cook it into a meal that is shared by all of the people at the celebration. Kyle and Ariel were present in representatives of our group at the slaughtering. And for all of you who are wondering, yes there is video footage of this event. This event has brought new perspective for all of us on God's sacrificial lamb, Jesus, was led to the cross. He was beaten, mocked and bruised for our transgressions. As the sheep was brought in to the school yard it was mobbed by children, who began to hit it and kick it. It was then tied up close to our jobsite waiting to be led to it's final resting place. Kyle helped drag it to the slaughtering floor. So if you are into comparisons, and trying to compare this event to Christ's walk to the cross, Kyle would be on of the Roman guards who led him to the Cross. Just kidding. But in all seriousness, this really was a real life depiction of what our Savior did on our behalf. And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. It really did bring that verse to life for me today and I will never be the same because of it.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Hey Everyone..
Ariel posting tonight.
Sunday we attended church with Haddush who is with CWA. The church is called Beza International. The time was very uplifting. The worship time allowed me to reflect on the week's events and pray for the Kore sub-city in Addis, where we did our work this week.
In the afternoon we toured the National Museum. After this we went to the Lion Zoo. Which has 6 breeding couples and 4 cubs. There was an extra charge for me to carry my camera, interesting. But once inside the area a gentlemen, the trainer who feeds the lions, took me personally around the park He put me in specific places to get the best pictures and get the most for my money. Very cool. They also have a rabbit from New Zealand and monkeys. We also got a chance to try some ice cream. After this we drove way up above the city of Addis, to the old city of Addis. We were at about 10,000 ft. You have to even pay to walk down the path and all along the way there are kids planted that have memorized certain facts about the area. They don't leave your side and want to be paid as you get ready to leave. This area up on the mountain is full of farming areas, much colder, and had refreshing air to breath. It was neat to see the city from above. I just wanted to go for a hike in the woods.
We have also located a little shop near the Guest Home that sells pop in a bottle. Awesome. Pepsi is much better in a bottle. Aaron and Kyle are really liking the Miranda orange soda. So we got to enjoy one with dinner. The chef here at the guest home has been blessing us with great food. He makes this spagetti sauce with some kind of chile powder stuff. Amazingly good. I plan on making it at home when we return. We have also gotten a chance to try avacado in a new way. First we had with pineapple juice for breakfast one morning. Very good. And for lunch one day we had a yogurt, banana, avacado pudding. Suprisingly delicious. Another recipe for me to make when I return home.
Monday, today, we went back to the Acacia Village building site to speak with the contractor. It was a good visit and helped us understand where in the future it may be possible to help with the project.
While here in Addis, we have developed many friendships with the staff at the EGH. They have become dear friends of ours. We taught them how to play dutch blitz and now they are beating us at the game. I can't begin to tell you the amount of good conversations we have had and laughter we have shared. For example the birthday party they arranged for Aaron. We hope that these friendships will only grow as we continue to do work in Ethiopia. But yesterday we received news that one of these friends had received tragic news. His sister had been killed while living in America. He has to find some way to bring her home to Addis. He hopes he can obtain a VISA and go the U.S, but this can be very hard for an Ethiopian. Praise the Lord she knew the Lord as her Savior and is now with Him in heaven and we will all get to meet her someday. The Lord has also provided a friend of hers in America to help our friend in Addis with the logistics in America. So we went and saw him today at his home. To try to offer some encouragment and to just be with him as he suffers through this confusion and pain. Thankfully we were able to just that. He needs our continued prayers as he wrestles with the confusion in his mind and the task of bringing her home. We also are praying that through this tragic situation his own family, that does not know that Lord, would be able to see His blessing and come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. May he give our friend the strength and discernment to lead his family. Will you please pray with us?
Sunday we attended church with Haddush who is with CWA. The church is called Beza International. The time was very uplifting. The worship time allowed me to reflect on the week's events and pray for the Kore sub-city in Addis, where we did our work this week.
In the afternoon we toured the National Museum. After this we went to the Lion Zoo. Which has 6 breeding couples and 4 cubs. There was an extra charge for me to carry my camera, interesting. But once inside the area a gentlemen, the trainer who feeds the lions, took me personally around the park He put me in specific places to get the best pictures and get the most for my money. Very cool. They also have a rabbit from New Zealand and monkeys. We also got a chance to try some ice cream. After this we drove way up above the city of Addis, to the old city of Addis. We were at about 10,000 ft. You have to even pay to walk down the path and all along the way there are kids planted that have memorized certain facts about the area. They don't leave your side and want to be paid as you get ready to leave. This area up on the mountain is full of farming areas, much colder, and had refreshing air to breath. It was neat to see the city from above. I just wanted to go for a hike in the woods.
We have also located a little shop near the Guest Home that sells pop in a bottle. Awesome. Pepsi is much better in a bottle. Aaron and Kyle are really liking the Miranda orange soda. So we got to enjoy one with dinner. The chef here at the guest home has been blessing us with great food. He makes this spagetti sauce with some kind of chile powder stuff. Amazingly good. I plan on making it at home when we return. We have also gotten a chance to try avacado in a new way. First we had with pineapple juice for breakfast one morning. Very good. And for lunch one day we had a yogurt, banana, avacado pudding. Suprisingly delicious. Another recipe for me to make when I return home.
Monday, today, we went back to the Acacia Village building site to speak with the contractor. It was a good visit and helped us understand where in the future it may be possible to help with the project.
While here in Addis, we have developed many friendships with the staff at the EGH. They have become dear friends of ours. We taught them how to play dutch blitz and now they are beating us at the game. I can't begin to tell you the amount of good conversations we have had and laughter we have shared. For example the birthday party they arranged for Aaron. We hope that these friendships will only grow as we continue to do work in Ethiopia. But yesterday we received news that one of these friends had received tragic news. His sister had been killed while living in America. He has to find some way to bring her home to Addis. He hopes he can obtain a VISA and go the U.S, but this can be very hard for an Ethiopian. Praise the Lord she knew the Lord as her Savior and is now with Him in heaven and we will all get to meet her someday. The Lord has also provided a friend of hers in America to help our friend in Addis with the logistics in America. So we went and saw him today at his home. To try to offer some encouragment and to just be with him as he suffers through this confusion and pain. Thankfully we were able to just that. He needs our continued prayers as he wrestles with the confusion in his mind and the task of bringing her home. We also are praying that through this tragic situation his own family, that does not know that Lord, would be able to see His blessing and come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. May he give our friend the strength and discernment to lead his family. Will you please pray with us?
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wrecked....Everything
Hello everyone, Kyle here again posting the blog....
Again for those who want the quick short and simple of what happened today here you go. Today I saw a man die, I meet a future neighbor, and lastly I was kissed by a leper.
Now for the details!
Today we started our journey by visiting Christian World Adoptions (CWA) Acacia Village. It is currently under construction and will soon be a brand new compound consisting of a 300 bed orphanage, a guest house, a medical clinic, and a chapel. They are currently finishing the orphanage house so we got to tour the construction site, it was impressive to say the least and will be a great place for kids someday. After we finished our tour of Acacia Village we headed to CWA's two childrens home, one is for the females and infants, and the other for boys. After touring both childrens homes we headed over to CWA's office to talk about adoptions and how our paperwork was doing for the Harvest families that are in the process of adopting, it was their that we found the info on a future neighbor and soon to be resident of Billings, MT; his name was Asrat. After realizing that he was at the boys home, the one we just visited we quickly made a U-turn and went to find him for a more personal and meaningful greeting. As soon as we entered the gate we received the same warm welcome as before, several young boys ran up to us arms wide open desperately seeking a touch or any form of affection, what else would you expect from the fatherless. We asked the attendant were Asrat was and she informed us that she would get him, moments later a beautiful, bright eyed 6 year old boy popped his head out from the door immediately my heart sank, it was as if i knew him. I didn't know what to do next so I just waved him to come and he came running with a look of confusion and joy on his face, then Haddush, the CWA coordinator began to tell him that we knew his future parents, as the words sank in you could see Asrats face change from confusion to excitement, he then turned to us and gave each of us a big hug and a very energetic high five, it was awesome! The best part is, he was wearing a cowboy shirt with mountains and horses on it, Asrat will be a great addition to the harvest family and to Montana.
After spending some time at the CWA orphanages we returned to the guest house for lunch and then headed back to the Bright Hope School to give the workers pictures we had developed of them and us, unfortunately they were not there, I am sure they were as exhausted as us and needed a break. So on our way back to the guest house we stopped in the community the school was located in to give clothes and shoes to some people that we heard were in need. The clothes and shoes came from the our team that returned early this morning, most of them left all the clothes they brought and their shoes, truly a sign of how impacting this place is and can be. What happened was something I have been dreading for months and months. For a long time I have known about this trip and have spent hours and days wondering how it will effect me, I am a very selfish person and I liked my life, I didn't want it to change.....but when you serve a God as big as ours and as crazy, you can almost expect a good shake up!
Now keep in mind the following...the only thing the bible promises is that it will cost you everything!
As we pulled up to houses made of sticks and mud, and then climbed out of the van with clothes in hand we proceeded through the door into a world of injustice and redemption! As we winded through the walls of mud and rocky paths we peered into homes barely five feet wide and into the lives of those who are in need the most we found ourselves in the home barely suitable for many of our pets. The house maybe 10 feet by 8 was the home of a lady suffering from aids and her 4 children also victims of the HIV virus. The women then proceeded to tell us her story of how she was raped and the impending result of that was HIV and how all her kids now have it but it was not beyond the reach of God's grace and how for her that was enough. After giving her and her family some of the clothes we then proceeded into another home this one 15 x 15 home to 13 people, yes 13 people. This is where our lives were wrecked, the home was not just a family but a community. See there was blind women with leprosy, and a elderly man with one leg who also had leprosy, another man was handicapped and blind, and then there was a man with elephantiasis in his leg, the list goes on. All of them beggars, living together, eating together experiencing the love of Christ together...it was a beautiful collision! After giving them the rest of our clothes and shaking their hands, we left broken and with a new holy discontent for the injustice of this world, tears in our eyes and our hearts heavy with the love of Christ we left confused and burdened.
Now I know you wondering when I am going to talk about seeing a man die, well here you go, that man was me! Today after experienceing the injustice of the world I lost myself to the battle of discontentment, the battle of consumerism, the battle of envy, the battle of greed, the battle of ungratefulness...today I died to myself. As I was leaving the house I spoke of earlier, I realized that I had to be like Jesus and touch people....not love at a distance but embrace those who need it the most! I hugged a man with Aids, I held a child from the slums, and I embraced a victim of rape, but most importantly I was kissed by leper! A man so hidious, so dirty, so forgotten, yet so beautiful, so tender, so grateful, so in love with Christ that he honors me by kissing my hand. Today I watched a man die, and that man was me, today I took up my cross and now with tears and heart burdenend for change I will follow....will you!
Ethiopia Hope is just that, its restoring hope to us and them! What will love make you do?
cho
kyle
Again for those who want the quick short and simple of what happened today here you go. Today I saw a man die, I meet a future neighbor, and lastly I was kissed by a leper.
Now for the details!
Today we started our journey by visiting Christian World Adoptions (CWA) Acacia Village. It is currently under construction and will soon be a brand new compound consisting of a 300 bed orphanage, a guest house, a medical clinic, and a chapel. They are currently finishing the orphanage house so we got to tour the construction site, it was impressive to say the least and will be a great place for kids someday. After we finished our tour of Acacia Village we headed to CWA's two childrens home, one is for the females and infants, and the other for boys. After touring both childrens homes we headed over to CWA's office to talk about adoptions and how our paperwork was doing for the Harvest families that are in the process of adopting, it was their that we found the info on a future neighbor and soon to be resident of Billings, MT; his name was Asrat. After realizing that he was at the boys home, the one we just visited we quickly made a U-turn and went to find him for a more personal and meaningful greeting. As soon as we entered the gate we received the same warm welcome as before, several young boys ran up to us arms wide open desperately seeking a touch or any form of affection, what else would you expect from the fatherless. We asked the attendant were Asrat was and she informed us that she would get him, moments later a beautiful, bright eyed 6 year old boy popped his head out from the door immediately my heart sank, it was as if i knew him. I didn't know what to do next so I just waved him to come and he came running with a look of confusion and joy on his face, then Haddush, the CWA coordinator began to tell him that we knew his future parents, as the words sank in you could see Asrats face change from confusion to excitement, he then turned to us and gave each of us a big hug and a very energetic high five, it was awesome! The best part is, he was wearing a cowboy shirt with mountains and horses on it, Asrat will be a great addition to the harvest family and to Montana.
After spending some time at the CWA orphanages we returned to the guest house for lunch and then headed back to the Bright Hope School to give the workers pictures we had developed of them and us, unfortunately they were not there, I am sure they were as exhausted as us and needed a break. So on our way back to the guest house we stopped in the community the school was located in to give clothes and shoes to some people that we heard were in need. The clothes and shoes came from the our team that returned early this morning, most of them left all the clothes they brought and their shoes, truly a sign of how impacting this place is and can be. What happened was something I have been dreading for months and months. For a long time I have known about this trip and have spent hours and days wondering how it will effect me, I am a very selfish person and I liked my life, I didn't want it to change.....but when you serve a God as big as ours and as crazy, you can almost expect a good shake up!
Now keep in mind the following...the only thing the bible promises is that it will cost you everything!
As we pulled up to houses made of sticks and mud, and then climbed out of the van with clothes in hand we proceeded through the door into a world of injustice and redemption! As we winded through the walls of mud and rocky paths we peered into homes barely five feet wide and into the lives of those who are in need the most we found ourselves in the home barely suitable for many of our pets. The house maybe 10 feet by 8 was the home of a lady suffering from aids and her 4 children also victims of the HIV virus. The women then proceeded to tell us her story of how she was raped and the impending result of that was HIV and how all her kids now have it but it was not beyond the reach of God's grace and how for her that was enough. After giving her and her family some of the clothes we then proceeded into another home this one 15 x 15 home to 13 people, yes 13 people. This is where our lives were wrecked, the home was not just a family but a community. See there was blind women with leprosy, and a elderly man with one leg who also had leprosy, another man was handicapped and blind, and then there was a man with elephantiasis in his leg, the list goes on. All of them beggars, living together, eating together experiencing the love of Christ together...it was a beautiful collision! After giving them the rest of our clothes and shaking their hands, we left broken and with a new holy discontent for the injustice of this world, tears in our eyes and our hearts heavy with the love of Christ we left confused and burdened.
Now I know you wondering when I am going to talk about seeing a man die, well here you go, that man was me! Today after experienceing the injustice of the world I lost myself to the battle of discontentment, the battle of consumerism, the battle of envy, the battle of greed, the battle of ungratefulness...today I died to myself. As I was leaving the house I spoke of earlier, I realized that I had to be like Jesus and touch people....not love at a distance but embrace those who need it the most! I hugged a man with Aids, I held a child from the slums, and I embraced a victim of rape, but most importantly I was kissed by leper! A man so hidious, so dirty, so forgotten, yet so beautiful, so tender, so grateful, so in love with Christ that he honors me by kissing my hand. Today I watched a man die, and that man was me, today I took up my cross and now with tears and heart burdenend for change I will follow....will you!
Ethiopia Hope is just that, its restoring hope to us and them! What will love make you do?
cho
kyle
Friday, November 6, 2009
Blood, Sweat, Tears and More of the Truffle Shuffle
Hello to all of our friends and family back in Montana and across the rest America. This blog comes to you from Aaron, I will try my best to explain in detail today's events. As Kyle said in the previous blog "Tell it like a Girl." I don't do that very well but I will try my hardest. So here it goes...
It's Midnight here in Addis and we just dropped the rest of the team off at the airport for their journey home. They leave the Addis airport at 2am and fly to Frankfurt, Germany. From there they will fly directly to Denver and will be home Saturday evening. Ariel, Kyle and I will be here for a few more days, as we go to see the Acacia Village project that CWA, Christian World Adoption, is doing here in Addis. We will miss having the team with us as we have become one big happy family. I am so very proud of the work that this team has done. Harvest Church and Billings Mt, can consider itself honored to have men and women with the character and convictions such as these.
Today, was a day filled with too many emotions to describe. It was a joyous day, as we were able to complete the almost all of the final rock layer by noon today at the school before we had to leave. I am quite certain that the contractors were able to finish the last 10 meters, 30 feet, this afternoon. To put this in perspective for you all. This morning was full of joy, laughter and tears. On previous mornings when we would pull in to the school to begin our work the contractors would wave at us and then go back to shaping the stones we would use to complete the days work. Today however was different. Each of the men dropped their tools as we pulled in to the school grounds and greated us as we piled out of the vans. Their faces were still glowing from last nights events. Our presence in this community half way around the world has left an eternal mark, which was evident on the faces of five men this morning. We exchanged hugs and handshakes, said Endemena derachu, Good morning in Amarhic, and laughed with eachother about the previous nights celebration. All of this ocurred naturally without any help from our translators. The language barrier had finally been reduced from a large hurdle to overcome to small obstical that everyone on our team nimbly stepped over and kept on going. We truly do serve an Awesome God!!! The relationships that we have developed here are truly amazing.
This week we have had cuts that made us bleed, pour out gallons of sweat and today their were tears. Tears of joy and sadness. Throughout this day we were bounced from ceremony to ceremony, all of which were in honor of the work that we had accomplished this week and the hope of the future. The Bright Hope School faculty presented us with two different certificates of appreciation this morning. We definitely felt honored and humbled to be chosen to be a part of this project. We worked until noon at the school, and then had to say our goodbyes to the contractors. After a round of hugs, thank yous, and many tears, we hopped in the vans and left to go to another coffee ceremony at the CHI House of Hope. On a side note, friday is literally called TGIF here and many of the schools let out at noon. It seems that they work very hard for four days and then on friday they kind of take it easy. Everyone still goes to work but their is a more relaxed atmoshpere around the work site. Once we got to the House of Hope we were treated to another celebratory meal and the traditional coffee ceremony. It was all wonderful. We have truly been honored guests of our brothers and sisters here in Ethiopia. When we finished our lunch and tour of the guests house that CHI has we headed off to the market.
Instead of going to the Mercato, Africa's largest open air market, Sammy one of our interpreters who had been helping us throughout the week, suggested that we go to the Alert Hospital to buy some souvineirs. The Alert Hospital, is where many of the disabled, and lepers go to get treatment. It is literally a stones throw away from the school. Many of the men and women at the hospital have children who go to the school. At the hospital, they make all kinds of woven wares, purses, table clothes, shirts, dresses. And then hand carved crosses, animals, and a varity of other souvineirs. This place was very near and dear to Sammy's heart as he grew up in that area and work at the hospital shining shoes as a young boy. Sammy's Dad was a leper and Sammy went to school at Bright Hope. He has seen more in his young 26 years then any of us will ever or should ever see in three lifetimes. God has done an amazing work in his heart and life. Throughout the day I was able to spend some more time gathering information about his life. His life gave me a brief glimpse into what God is doing here in Ethiopia on a personal level. As we were saying goodbye for the night, Sammy told us that when he wasn't working for the Guest Home, he would go back to the school and work with the contractors on the wall. I asked him if the contractors knew Jesus as their boss. He said that most of them are Orthodox Christians but they may not be walking with the Lord. I asked him to water the seed that we have planted in their lives. He was so excited and said, "yes I will water and grow into a big tree for the Lord."
From the hospital we went to the Post Office area market and finished our shopping. We then returned to the Guest House before going to dinner. As I walked in the door I was greeted with a joyous, "SURPRISE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY." Everyone has conspired together and picked up a birthday cake and card, and another coffee ceremony. It was the best birthday I could have asked for. I have made some amazing friends this week. God has truly blessed this trip and will continue to bless the work that will continue here while we are away for a period of time.
Aaron Koenigsberg
It's Midnight here in Addis and we just dropped the rest of the team off at the airport for their journey home. They leave the Addis airport at 2am and fly to Frankfurt, Germany. From there they will fly directly to Denver and will be home Saturday evening. Ariel, Kyle and I will be here for a few more days, as we go to see the Acacia Village project that CWA, Christian World Adoption, is doing here in Addis. We will miss having the team with us as we have become one big happy family. I am so very proud of the work that this team has done. Harvest Church and Billings Mt, can consider itself honored to have men and women with the character and convictions such as these.
Today, was a day filled with too many emotions to describe. It was a joyous day, as we were able to complete the almost all of the final rock layer by noon today at the school before we had to leave. I am quite certain that the contractors were able to finish the last 10 meters, 30 feet, this afternoon. To put this in perspective for you all. This morning was full of joy, laughter and tears. On previous mornings when we would pull in to the school to begin our work the contractors would wave at us and then go back to shaping the stones we would use to complete the days work. Today however was different. Each of the men dropped their tools as we pulled in to the school grounds and greated us as we piled out of the vans. Their faces were still glowing from last nights events. Our presence in this community half way around the world has left an eternal mark, which was evident on the faces of five men this morning. We exchanged hugs and handshakes, said Endemena derachu, Good morning in Amarhic, and laughed with eachother about the previous nights celebration. All of this ocurred naturally without any help from our translators. The language barrier had finally been reduced from a large hurdle to overcome to small obstical that everyone on our team nimbly stepped over and kept on going. We truly do serve an Awesome God!!! The relationships that we have developed here are truly amazing.
This week we have had cuts that made us bleed, pour out gallons of sweat and today their were tears. Tears of joy and sadness. Throughout this day we were bounced from ceremony to ceremony, all of which were in honor of the work that we had accomplished this week and the hope of the future. The Bright Hope School faculty presented us with two different certificates of appreciation this morning. We definitely felt honored and humbled to be chosen to be a part of this project. We worked until noon at the school, and then had to say our goodbyes to the contractors. After a round of hugs, thank yous, and many tears, we hopped in the vans and left to go to another coffee ceremony at the CHI House of Hope. On a side note, friday is literally called TGIF here and many of the schools let out at noon. It seems that they work very hard for four days and then on friday they kind of take it easy. Everyone still goes to work but their is a more relaxed atmoshpere around the work site. Once we got to the House of Hope we were treated to another celebratory meal and the traditional coffee ceremony. It was all wonderful. We have truly been honored guests of our brothers and sisters here in Ethiopia. When we finished our lunch and tour of the guests house that CHI has we headed off to the market.
Instead of going to the Mercato, Africa's largest open air market, Sammy one of our interpreters who had been helping us throughout the week, suggested that we go to the Alert Hospital to buy some souvineirs. The Alert Hospital, is where many of the disabled, and lepers go to get treatment. It is literally a stones throw away from the school. Many of the men and women at the hospital have children who go to the school. At the hospital, they make all kinds of woven wares, purses, table clothes, shirts, dresses. And then hand carved crosses, animals, and a varity of other souvineirs. This place was very near and dear to Sammy's heart as he grew up in that area and work at the hospital shining shoes as a young boy. Sammy's Dad was a leper and Sammy went to school at Bright Hope. He has seen more in his young 26 years then any of us will ever or should ever see in three lifetimes. God has done an amazing work in his heart and life. Throughout the day I was able to spend some more time gathering information about his life. His life gave me a brief glimpse into what God is doing here in Ethiopia on a personal level. As we were saying goodbye for the night, Sammy told us that when he wasn't working for the Guest Home, he would go back to the school and work with the contractors on the wall. I asked him if the contractors knew Jesus as their boss. He said that most of them are Orthodox Christians but they may not be walking with the Lord. I asked him to water the seed that we have planted in their lives. He was so excited and said, "yes I will water and grow into a big tree for the Lord."
From the hospital we went to the Post Office area market and finished our shopping. We then returned to the Guest House before going to dinner. As I walked in the door I was greeted with a joyous, "SURPRISE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY." Everyone has conspired together and picked up a birthday cake and card, and another coffee ceremony. It was the best birthday I could have asked for. I have made some amazing friends this week. God has truly blessed this trip and will continue to bless the work that will continue here while we are away for a period of time.
Aaron Koenigsberg
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