Reflecting on my trip and the last year of our Hosanna to Hosanna/Reach Point Ministry, my feeling overall if I can put it in one word would be "Movement"
The Lord reacts and is drawn to Movement. Like the women who bled for over 12 years. She got up went to Jesus and reached out to touch Him. This compelled Jesus, and He could not hold back.
This is what is happening in Hosanna, Ethiopia. The people are hungry. God speaks to them and through us from year to year. They act upon it and choose to move, and every year the encouraging words, the wisdom from the Lords heart is spoken and change happens. It only takes a bit of encouragement and vision from year to year in these different areas and when we come back the next year... there it is, it's in full movement. This is why this ministry has been as successful as it has been. The people see and know God is at work in them, and act upon it. Then this allows us to step away and let it be theirs. So beautiful isn't it? So as always I am again taken back by The Movement of God in this community.
I was beyond blessed to have a good friend join me to help me in Ministry. Anna Mansfield, who moved to Germany with her family as Missionaries a little over a year ago from Hosanna! Church where she was on staff. She has walked this calling and journey to Hosanna, Ethiopia with us as God too was calling her into her own Ministry and journey.
This year I tried something a bit new and had Our HopeChest/Hosanna! Impact Team be lead by Debbie Erickson so I could really be engaged while in Ethiopia and not be so limited with my time. This allowed Anna and I to make a presence in all of our ministry areas and it proved to be very useful and productive as well as our presence was more engaging and sweet.
This first day we were there, we went to see for the first time the new Women's Training Center. The Mayor met us there for the opening Ceremony of the Launch of the Training Center. We all worshiped together, spoke of the Lords goodness, and watched the women do a skit of the story of their lives. It was beautiful, inspiring and so funny. It was great seeing them having fun and being silly even at the thought of where they were verses where they are now.
The Mayor presented us with scarves that the women had already made. After that ceremony the Mayor and I cut the ribbon on the New Women's Training Center. It took my breath away to see the room where the looms were and to think what this now meant for them. A new, sweet dignified living, a place for them to be the creative women they were created to be and and a place for friendship and growth.
Ribbon Cutting
I was so taken back by the site, by the store and by the beautiful scarves they had already made. These women are very talented and they were beaming with pride. They far exceeded what we expected for them at this time and the scarves are already store ready. I brought them home to sell. So keep tuned for how to purchase or contact me if you'd like one... they are beautiful and a priceless thing to have as a conversation piece to aid them in prayer.
The money will go right back to the women for purchasing more product and needed items.Also stay tuned for the announcing of the the name of the Women's Ministry. God really spoke to us as I was sitting with Fantu the leader and her husband as we contemplated what He wanted this ministry to be named. I am so thrilled to bring this all together. We were all giddy with excitement as well. It has been 5 years we have been working on this. It is so fun to see what was a stirring in hearts, become reality.
Anna and I also spent an afternoon with the Seminary students. There were over 80 of them that Anna and I spoke to about stepping out and grabbing hold of that which God has called you to. We talked about "The Movement" and how when we move it draws God to move. It was a sweet time with these incredible men and women. We are so encouraged to see these leaders seeing the vision of our Ministry and working alongside us, even though this to them means working with a church outside of their own. This is something we have encouraged and are seeing the evidence that they see and sense God is at work more in us when we all work together.
Our most amazing moments were again at the women's prison. Oh I wish words would do, or to even have pictures. To have this ministry to the women in this town and the women in this prison... what a divine plan. I love these women with my whole heart. Not a day goes by I do not think of them and the life they've been given, and the life I have been given. For this I press on... their faces... the
pain... the stories. I could say they are so different then I, but that would be far from the truth. They
are just like me, they are alive, they are women, they are funny, crazy, and special, and they are chosen and I love them with all my heart. They keep me real, they keep me connected to remembering who I truly am without all the distractions, the assumptions, the comparisons, just real life... I need Jesus and nothing else. For once I saw in these women's eyes death, loneliness, hopelessness. Then Jesus came in and rocked their world! Now they just are. That's what I desire everyday... to just be.
After speaking to the Chief Prison Guard, Anna and I were anxious to go in to speak to the women after what God did last year, we were anticipating seeing them again. Before going in I asked the Prision Wardin if my friend Cammadoer Adissa was back after his 2 year Police transfer to Sudan... and indeed he was and to my delight met us there just 10 minutes later. You see, this is just not any Police Officer. This man has helped changed this town by the passion and presence of the Lord he carries. He also loves our friends at Hosanna! Church and is committed to helping us in anyway he can.
The first to greet us as we stepped into the gates of the prison walls, was the broken soul who God dramatically transformed her life right before our eyes, just one year ago. She was in Priosn for Murdering a baby out of spite for her neighbor. They brought her to me and said she needed prayer as she was demon possessed. There was no life in her eyes, and she looked almost dead. You can read the full story on an earlier blog post. In short she was fully restored that day. I was delighted to see she was not in solitary Confinement anymore and was the most beautiful, alive women I have ever seen. Talk about a Makeover, a Heart Transplant and Personality Change all in one. What a difference Life in the soul... in the bones... and in the heart makes.
Emmebet is her name and she was now leading us in worship!!! I had to take a moment and lift my face to the one who makes Beauty out of ashes, and takes the desolate and makes them breathtakingly beautiful. This is where words cannot explain... the joy! Oh the joy! So different from last year. It amazes me what God can do with a group of women as we brought a message last year of how they are not alone! God see's them, hears them and is walking this with them. They believed it as it was all they had, they owned it, received it and walked in it. It again was the Movement that cause God to be drawn to.
Anna and I spoke to the women of how we get out of step sometime with the Lord, and how we only need to step right back in line with Him. He uses the yuck, and the trials for good. We encouraged them to see this time as a beautiful time with the Lord. That they will look back at it sometime and say, "that what a precious time." Loud shouts of amens and halliujiahs and the native Elillta shouts were evidence they again we're embracing the words The Lord had that day were for them. Anna spoke after me and had them repeat truth in scripture after scripture about what it says in the Bible of who we are. They spoke these truths with such confidence and shoots of excitement... it was powerful and beautiful to hear. Then another powerful word came from Commander Addisa! How amazing is that to have Hosanna's Commander speak life into these women. They in return blessed him. That what so sweet and extremely touching. We have a unique relationship with him, and God showed the Commander and I this as we talked and shared together that it was evident that he is key for us in the future plans of Hosanna, Ethiopia!
We were able to pass out clothing for each women this time there were 53 women and we had 54 shirts. One left over for a sweet little boy of one of the moms in prison who seemed to need it very much. God knows and sees you too sweet one.
Anna, Cole and I were able to take about half of the children of the Care Point over to the 50+ acres that that Mayor has given us to pray over the land. Plans were drawn up, meetings with plans and regulations with government happened and now its all up to God. Please walk with us in prayer as this will be a multifaceted Life Center for the vision of the whole community in mind.
There are several big things in the making that we are working on that we will reveal in the proper time. Please know your prayers and involvement are so needed, especially now.
Please also keep in your prayers our key Ministry Leader that lives in Addis! He is constantly at work with us to help oversee all that is happening in our Ministry when we are not there. He has a beautiful wife Sigrut and three beautiful boys, one just over a month old. He is gifted and devoted to this ministry and we could not do it without him.
I wanted to thank you for all your love and support in this Ministry. It is rare that a Ministry like this can even happen or stay afloat when we are not working on the ground but working from here and its maturing just as fast as if we were there. Or I could argue to say that it is actually moving quite faster because we are removed and they are taking ownership and God is allowed to be the one that does the changing. We'd love to see this type of model multiply and feel that is Gods plan for us to do so. It's defiantly a model the Lord is creating and showing us to create and Train Disciples to go and Disciple others themselves. Just as the example Jesus modeled for us to do.
Sometimes this seems very overwhelming as these amazing things are happening it is usually partnered for us with private battles in which we never foresaw when we choose to step out in this calling. It has been such a blessing watching these children grow, and thrive. It has been humbling to walk side by side with leaders and help equip them to see the Kingdom advanced, and it has been an honor to walk alongside women who were delivered from prostitution, and who are facing life sentences. The Lord is revealing to us this is just the beginning. "There is more," He says. So as we learn how to balance this Missionary Journey with a busy family life that in itself is it's own journey, we are asking you to please help us walk this however that looks to you. We need the support and encouragement the guidance and wisdom. Since we are doing this from here, it requires much balance and discipline, as well as determination and vision.
Below is a link to our Nonprofit ReachPoint Ministry page. If you feel led to partner with us financially here is the link to do so.
http://www.globalhz.org/what-we-do/church-partnerships/reach-point/
We are so grateful for the partnerships we have with the different organizations that are working with us. HopeChest, Women at Risk, and above all the support from our Church Staff, friends and Congregation from Hosanna! Church. We love you all and look forward to what the Lord is going to do in this "More" together.
Other Projects and Pictures
Last Spring Cole helped with the fundraising at Power life and Catalyst Youth Group at Hosanna!, Church. They raised over $4,000 for a Motorcycle so they are able to get to the children's homes easier then on foot. The Motorcycle had just arrived a week prior to our arrival. This was so fun for Cole to have helped fundraise and speak on his experience in Ethiopia 3 years prior, and then he got to actually be there to see the bike in full use and how in benefits the kids greatly.
Motorcycle Fundraising!
This is the first of 5 Water Kiosk that Hosanna! Church is helping us put in, in a wide spread area for the use of all the community. It is also providing jobs for 5 workers, this is one of the beautiful ones who is benefiting from the newly built Water Kiosk. This one is right in front of our Children's HopeChest Sponsorship Program.
Water Kiosk
