Sunday, Nov. 1

Today's was a day of encouragement from the church service and amazement at the extreme poverty of the area where we will be working. Tsegay, from CHI took was to a evangelical church that many missionaries attend. The message was in English and was truly needed as we later saw the project we will undertake. The worship was refreshing and really neat to sing some of the same songs we sing with you all back at Harvest. We were even able to share in communion together.
After church we returned to the Ethiopia Guest Home (EGH) and rested before lunch. The food from the EGH has been very tasty. Everyone especially enjoyed the fresh mango juice this morning and strawberry smoothie for lunch. After some more naps, (it was the middle of the night in Billings) we then met with Tsegay to see the job site at Bright Hope School.
As we have been driving around this day we have seen many sites that make us take a second look. For one the driving, I think it was many times today that we almost took out a another car or a person. But we all made it safely to our destination. And to be perfectly honest we all trust our drivers very much. All the kids along the roadside, not with a older adult. Then we all drove into the region of the school, called Kore. We thought we were seeing poverty earlier, but this far exceeded the concept of poverty that any of us have seen. We got a lot of looks as we drove on a very bumpy, rocky road. For some of you, similar to the road to Blue Lake.
At the school we came to the understanding that we will not be repairing the wall, but actually building the wall. On Friday this past week, 200 people, mothers and fathers from the surrounding community, came to the school, moved the existing fence out, and proceed to dig 258 ft trench. This trench is where we will start tomorrow to put in a foundation with rock and cement. (I hope to have pictures tomorrow). This example from the community has been a blessing to encourage them and to help them feel like they have ownership in the school their children attend. And it is an example to their children of service to others. The officials hope this will pass down to future generations. We also found out today that we will not being working under a contractor, but we are the perceived porfessionals . So please pray that we will have courage for the task before us. God has already started to show us He has it all worked out.  We all took a tour around the rest of the school grounds. It was very exciting and helpful to be putting the pictures we have been viewing the past months to the actual place. We saw the site for the well, which will start drilling Monday!!! Please be praying that when they get to the water and take it for testing, that it will be drinkable right away and they will not have to raise money for a filtration device. This prayer item is huge for the purpose of the well and how it will serve the school kids.
Lastly, some members got to have some neat interaction with some children that walked in the gate at the school. They loved having there pictures taken, posing and smiling. They loved Edna Mae's gray hair and Kyle even taught them how to pound it with their fists. Which one of the boys took it up a notch by pounding fists, then hitting his chest, all with sound effects. Very funny and cute.
 Tomorrow we start work, so please be praying for unity with the team and with the Ethiopians we will working alongside. Pray for the well, continued good health for the team, and stength working in the elevation and heat. Thanks, Ariel