Since our hearts were in Africa, we decided we would research the possibility of doing the same there. When researching, we came upon a town called Hosanna. Our hearts were telling us something and we could not shake this feeling. We starting sharing what we felt God was saying to us about Hosanna, Ethiopia. While sharing this we discovered that little Teshome Eide was actually from the town of Hosanna, and the Eides had been there when bringing him home. Also sharing this with Jennifer Needham she shared that when she was holding little Teshome, she was looking into his eyes and had a sense that our church Hosanna somehow needed to be connected, but did not know how to go about it. So when I called Jennifer up the day I was researching the town, I called exclaiming, “I just found out that there is a town called Hosanna in Ethiopia!” She was certainly not shocked and said “I know.” We laugh at this now as we see this was just the start of a continuation of confirmations and open doors that kept leading us to a deep knowledge and anticipation of more of God’s revelations. I knew that when I saw the name and town of Hosanna there was something about this place and I could not stop thinking about it. My heart yearned and there was a deep longing to seek God in what he was stirring inside of me about this town of Hosanna.
During this time of seeking and praying God continued to speak to others about Hosanna, Ethiopia through dreams and words. Many had dreams of Ethiopia like Caroline Hatt about JoAnn Palo being in Ethiopia. Paul Yado had prayed over Randy, Marybeth, Jennifer and Krista Gorman regarding Ethiopia and had very specific words for us regarding the orphans. We later find out, that it was at this very time that the Lord was also speaking in dreams and visions to the Pastors and lay people in Ethiopia about what he was preparing to do.
God used these people to encourage us to know we were to keep pursuing this journey. Soon after, Tim Hatt received a phone call May of 2009 from a man named Alan Bachman. He had just recently returned from Hosanna, Ethiopia and felt the Lord telling him someone from Hosanna Lutheran Church needed to know about, Hosanna Ethiopia. Alan works for Children’s Home Society and knew Tim, but does not go to Hosanna. He asked if he could come to give us a presentation. He came in August of 2009, to share with Tim, Anna Mansfield, Jennifer Needham, Randy and Marybeth about the demographics, the needs, and the people of Hosanna. He had no agenda of what we suppose to do, but only knew he was just suppose to come and share with us about this city. This was another very big confirmation for us all. This was another very big confirmation for us all.
So with this much of God’s voice speaking to so many, and having the support and excitement coming from many avenues Randy and Marybeth felt God was calling them to go, see, sense and hear what God wanted to do. With Tim’s blessings and the support from many in the church Randy and Marybeth got tickets to go to Hosanna, Ethiopia in March to walk, pray and seek His voice.
We had no connections at this point except in November of 2009 Marybeth, along with the Malawi team met a man from Hosanna Ethiopia in a hotel in Nairobi on the way to Malawi. This was a fun connection and gave us a starting point to feel we had a “point man” to help us while there.
After the trip to Malawi, Marybeth had a strong sense she was to take the Perspectives Course in downtown Minneapolis in May of 2010. While taking the course, she met a man from Bethlehem Baptist, who had just returned from Bethlehem’s first Mission trip to Ethiopia. He said he felt I should call a lady by the name of Alemnesh who belongs to Bethlehem Baptist. She had led the team to Ethiopia as she is from there and has a huge heart to help orphans in her native country. Marybeth called her that night and told her we were planning on going to Ethiopia in a month. She asked what our interest was there and where we were going. As Marybeth was sharing her the story she could hear her weep on the other end of the phone. She then explained to Marybeth that she had just gotten a phone call form a friend who is a young Minister named Abinet two days prior. He had called and asked her to pray for the town Hosanna and that the Lord would send someone to help him with the plight of the orphans. He was asking for prayer as it was heavy on his heart after the Lord had given him a dream of two white people coming to Hosanna. Together Marybeth and Alemnesh cried on the phone. She is now a big part of our family, “our Ethiopian Grandma” as we now call her.
Gods provisions for our first trip had just begun.
Our Trips
Our First Trip
Our first trip to Hosanna, was in April of 2010. We really had no idea what we were going to do and what we were going to see, but had an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation for what was to come.
Our whole week was orchestrated by God. We have never felt the Holy Spirit upon us more. It was one powerful encounter after another. Abinet met us at the airport and was with us the whole time. Instant friends, and lifelong partners. God made it clear to us, that this was a partnership not a mission agency helping people in need. God had bigger plans than that. We were able to meet many orphaned children who were not able to eat during the day, a beautiful woman named Fantu with a huge heart to help the hurting prostitutes, a couple who had a heart to reach the neighboring town of Muslims, and many leaders with a passion to be called further on into God’s plan for their lives for people such as these. This was all so compelling and simply overwhelming for us.
We left knowing God was calling us to this place. What a feeling, as we have sought the Lord in this for over 16 years together! To see why we ached, why the restless nights, and why the hunger for what we did not know. God’s heart was finally revealed to us in this place, a town called Hosanna! We also knew that this was not just about our calling… it was bigger than that. It was a calling for our whole church to come alongside as fellow soldiers in fighting the good fight together, with our brothers and sister in Christ from a town called Hosanna.
As it was clear God was leading us back to Hosanna, we were very excited to share all God showed us. We did a power point presentation in May letting all know what we felt the Lord calling us to do. We were very blessed by the support and excitement we received. We shared how we felt our next steps were to go again and bring others on staff to get confirmation of what we were feeling. Our sense was to bring the leaders and pastors of the town of Hosanna together from the 26 local churches.
Pastor Tim agreed to go with us and suggested we contact Dr. Gemechis Buba since he had just spoke at our Faith Lift Conference. In a conference call with Pastor Gemechis he whole-heartedly agreed to go with us and described to us what he sensed God doing in the town of Hosanna. Unbeknownst to us, he had been to Hosanna before. What he sensed was a great confirmation to what we felt God doing in this town, “raising up leaders to go out and beyond the borders of Ethiopia”. This had been exactly our words and was exciting to hear God’s confirmations once again.
Second Trip
In November of 2010, we made our second trip to Ethiopia, this time with Pastor Tim, Pastor Gemechis, and JoAnn Palo. Words cannot describe our week in Hosanna, Ethiopia. Our trip was one confirmation after another of what God had laid on our heart during and following our first trip. We are eager and excited to partner with these beautiful people. What God is doing amongst them is such a parallel to what God is doing here!
The first part of the trip was spent in Addis Ababa. Here we were able to reconnect with the leaders and pastors of the Adis Kidan Baptist Church whom we will also be partnering with.
In Hosanna, we were scheduled to have a 3 day conference. The first day of the conference was for all the leaders and pastors of the surrounding churches in Hosanna. There were over 400 pastors and 26 churches represented. It was a great day as we worshiped and celebrated with these leaders. We told of how God led us to Hosanna and how he wanted to form a partnership with them to help in advancing His kingdom. It was a powerful night as we spoke, sang, worshiped and prayed over all the pastors.
The main conference was way beyond what we had expected. The participants were all so hungry for God. Pastor Tim described it as "riotous joy". It was a great description as they sang, danced and hungered for God. It was an amazing sight to see over 25,000 Ethiopians in the town of Hosanna seeking and desiring more of the Kingdom. Much different than many other African nations in that the overall need was not to help them, but just a need and deep hunger for more of Him. This hunger is why we believe God is starting this "new movement”. He is beginning a revival of sorts to build up, love on, and honor this town for the desires and love they have for the Kingdom. We believe God desires to do this so He can send them to the rest of the country and beyond. In Zachariah it says "Whole Nations will come to know the Lord" Amen! This is the beginning of God raising his faithful up to be strong, fruitful, and effective in changing the way Africa is to that which Africa is meant to be... a Nation belonging to God!
We have seen God move in mighty ways connecting us with leaders, pastors and city officials to bring us all together to bring about His purposes. We are excited, as He has made it very clear for us what His desires are for the town of Hosanna, and with our church, Hosanna! We see that this is not only ministry for us to go and help the people of Hosanna, but believe it is more of a partnership. There is much for us to take back and learn from the many leaders and pastors. They have lived lives of strength and a deep knowledge of the power and passion possessed by knowing God with little hindrances. We took away much as we sat with and listened to these honorable men and women. Hearts so pure, so devoted! This we see as the Lord calling us to “Build a Bridge” We see Him doing this in many realms and in many different nations. Here, it is “Hosanna! to Hosanna! God is bringing us together for a purpose far bigger than us, and beyond what we could see or imagine.
We have met many leaders and formed wonderful relationships with many influential people in the community. It is obvious that much can be done as we partner together. We are excited to get started on many of these areas. Dr. Gemechis stated on his return home "The church was very, very grateful for this visit and one can never doubt that there is greater hunger for more of this empowering, edifying and leadership capacity building work for the sake of advancing God's Kingdom in these days."
After the conference we were able to meet with the Chief of Police. The policemen hold a prayer meeting every morning for two hours before they start work. They are bringing Christ into the lives of the criminals and changing the town of Hosanna. We were able to pray for all of the police. It was amazing how God brought us together to witness what he is doing in and all throughout this town. We then met the Mayor of Hosanna. He assured us that we were to come back and see him every time we are in Hosanna. This means much favor and help when we start new ministries and organizations. God is so good as He is weaving the way for us to come in with such ease and favor. All we need to do is to continue and follow His leading.
Since returning home we have been in contact with the church leaders, and it has been wonderful to hear how our time there has greatly impacted them. They stated that the Synod is in a time of real transformation since we left. They were greatly encouraged, and see God’s hand on the whole town of Hosanna, and look forward to a continued relationship.
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