Chencha, Ethiopia
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
I Find Rest in Him!
The most common piece of advice usually given after a mission trip is “GET SOME REST!” But how do you find the rest that your soul requires after a visit to the center of God’s will and call upon your life? How do you process and categorize your experience with the Savior when you struggle to find words that seem adequate enough to explain, quantify and justify what proves to be pivotal in your walk with Jesus.
Psalm 62:5 (Amplified Bible) My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.
No two mission trips are ever the same and at the end of each, you return home from the journey “well spent” by Christ. The journey to Chencha, Ethiopia was not the first, technically, but for each person involved in the project it was a once in a lifetime experience. We are different in our perspectives on what took place and renewed and reformed in our understanding of waiting upon the LORD…SILENTLY…and in TOTAL SUBMISSION!
We touched the lives of more than 700 patients, 30 combined team members and staff. We lived in unusual circumstances, without hot water and on some days without any water and no electricity for at least a part of our days. We ate food that was new and different and found new loves like Gorman (Ethiopian greens) and mango juice. For some, it was a pleasant surprise to be able to cope so well in an environment for which we could not really prepare. For others, the feeling of “returning home” proved to be a challenge all by itself because the thought was, “we are here from our home!” But to be in the center of the divine will of Christ should certainly feel like home and by His grace that was what it felt like most days.
We are physically back to our own beds, showers, bath tubs, cats, families and friends, but our hearts will be divided between our love for our American lives and our new family members in Ethiopia. Please continue to pray for 8 year old Dubalech (DOOba – Lech) as she travels to Addis Ababa on Tuesday, March 1 to meet with a Norwegian orthopedic doctor in regards to her left leg. The road ahead for her will be a tremendous challenge as it is inevitable – to save her life she must lose at least her left leg. Pray for the ministry we have had the blessing of working with, Win Souls for God. What vision and passion they have…God’s agenda is their only desire. They face new challenges as they try to raise funds to staff the clinic in Chencha and continue the projects in Addis Ababa. Please also life up the people of Chencha – the prayer room housed members of several churches. They gathered for the first time ever from different church communities and discovered that since they serve the same one and only Christ Jesus, the buildings that housed their communities were simple physical structures and could not contain their unbridled love for the Savior.
Please continue to check our blog for our stories…and pictures.
Psalm 62:5 (Amplified Bible) My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.
No two mission trips are ever the same and at the end of each, you return home from the journey “well spent” by Christ. The journey to Chencha, Ethiopia was not the first, technically, but for each person involved in the project it was a once in a lifetime experience. We are different in our perspectives on what took place and renewed and reformed in our understanding of waiting upon the LORD…SILENTLY…and in TOTAL SUBMISSION!
We touched the lives of more than 700 patients, 30 combined team members and staff. We lived in unusual circumstances, without hot water and on some days without any water and no electricity for at least a part of our days. We ate food that was new and different and found new loves like Gorman (Ethiopian greens) and mango juice. For some, it was a pleasant surprise to be able to cope so well in an environment for which we could not really prepare. For others, the feeling of “returning home” proved to be a challenge all by itself because the thought was, “we are here from our home!” But to be in the center of the divine will of Christ should certainly feel like home and by His grace that was what it felt like most days.
We are physically back to our own beds, showers, bath tubs, cats, families and friends, but our hearts will be divided between our love for our American lives and our new family members in Ethiopia. Please continue to pray for 8 year old Dubalech (DOOba – Lech) as she travels to Addis Ababa on Tuesday, March 1 to meet with a Norwegian orthopedic doctor in regards to her left leg. The road ahead for her will be a tremendous challenge as it is inevitable – to save her life she must lose at least her left leg. Pray for the ministry we have had the blessing of working with, Win Souls for God. What vision and passion they have…God’s agenda is their only desire. They face new challenges as they try to raise funds to staff the clinic in Chencha and continue the projects in Addis Ababa. Please also life up the people of Chencha – the prayer room housed members of several churches. They gathered for the first time ever from different church communities and discovered that since they serve the same one and only Christ Jesus, the buildings that housed their communities were simple physical structures and could not contain their unbridled love for the Savior.
Please continue to check our blog for our stories…and pictures.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Final Day In Addis
Good Morning,
We are up and ready to go to the boys and girls' homes before lunch and shopping. We are tracking the medical report of 8 year old Dubalech. We are a little concerned that the doctors at the hospital think she just needs medications and won't lose her leg(s)/ so please pray for wisdom and special attention to her by the medical staff.
The weather is gorgeous but the smog in Addis is awful. I know I'll be sick by the time we land tomorrow in Atlanta. Salem went home last night and in meeting her sister here, her sister met a friend from elementary school who works with the ministry. Lots of hugs and screaming.
This was such a GREAT trip. Just so amazing to see the progress since last year and the organization at the clinic in Chencha is the one thing that we all agree made the most difference. Of course the question now is when do we comeback.
Take care and please, please, please pray us home safely! We leave tonight, 3:35 pm Atlanta time, and arrive back at ATL Sunday at 4:10 pm. After getting through customs and finding our bags, we hope to be back at the church around 6 pm.
Love and hugs to all,
Ingrid for the team
We are up and ready to go to the boys and girls' homes before lunch and shopping. We are tracking the medical report of 8 year old Dubalech. We are a little concerned that the doctors at the hospital think she just needs medications and won't lose her leg(s)/ so please pray for wisdom and special attention to her by the medical staff.
The weather is gorgeous but the smog in Addis is awful. I know I'll be sick by the time we land tomorrow in Atlanta. Salem went home last night and in meeting her sister here, her sister met a friend from elementary school who works with the ministry. Lots of hugs and screaming.
This was such a GREAT trip. Just so amazing to see the progress since last year and the organization at the clinic in Chencha is the one thing that we all agree made the most difference. Of course the question now is when do we comeback.
Take care and please, please, please pray us home safely! We leave tonight, 3:35 pm Atlanta time, and arrive back at ATL Sunday at 4:10 pm. After getting through customs and finding our bags, we hope to be back at the church around 6 pm.
Love and hugs to all,
Ingrid for the team
Friday, February 25, 2011
Back in Addis
We arrived at the guest house shortly after 5 pm our time. We left Chencha after 7 this morning. The delay was God's appointment. As Chika was saying goodbye to "Mama" they had opportunity to once again share the Gospel and Mama accepted the Lord. What an amazing conclusion to our time there.
Now we are relaxing, eating and sleeping. Tomorrow will be last busy day here.
Don't forget that our report meeting will be March 13th after the second service in Room 1370. We look forward to sharing pictures and testimonies. We have much to tell.
The Ethiopian Team
Now we are relaxing, eating and sleeping. Tomorrow will be last busy day here.
Don't forget that our report meeting will be March 13th after the second service in Room 1370. We look forward to sharing pictures and testimonies. We have much to tell.
The Ethiopian Team
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Finishing in Chencha
We are finished with the work in the clinic. We packed up the clinic and are heading back to the guest house. Efrim saw 66 and Chika 56 patients today. Leeshu and Karen saw 95 patients for glasses. “It’s a record!” exclaimed Karen. From the prayer room Patience reports that today 104 people heard the gospel and 7 accepted Jesus as Savior. One was delivered from demonic spirits. Kayenda and Diane filled 250 prescriptions. Selam explained close to 200 prescriptions today. She sent them away with the blessing, “May God’s healing be upon you and your family!” They left grateful and happy. We are in awe of the hand of God.
Friday we leave at 6 a.m. (10 pm Thursday Atlanta time) to drive back to Addis. The flight we had planned to take was canceled because of too few people on the flight. That means a ten hour drive rather than a short flight. But we will visit a boys home along the way, and Saturday we will see two others and the site for a new elementary school for 700 kids.
Ingrid
Friday we leave at 6 a.m. (10 pm Thursday Atlanta time) to drive back to Addis. The flight we had planned to take was canceled because of too few people on the flight. That means a ten hour drive rather than a short flight. But we will visit a boys home along the way, and Saturday we will see two others and the site for a new elementary school for 700 kids.
Ingrid
Special Prayer Need
Urgent prayer needed – we are sending an 8 year old girl, named Dubalech, to the hospital in Arbaminch because she has a bone infection called Osteomyelitist. Dr. Efrim Moore said she will lose her left leg and possibly the right. Pray ferociously please. She will live, but will need a lot of help adjusting to life. The team is giving $400 to help with her care.
Yesterday Efrim saw 64 patients and Chika saw almost 50. Selam is in the pharmacy all day explaining to patients how to take medicines. Kayenda and Diane cannot stop singing her praises. Karen is fascinated with everything and is a hit with the kids. We are all GREAT!
Ingrid for the team
Yesterday Efrim saw 64 patients and Chika saw almost 50. Selam is in the pharmacy all day explaining to patients how to take medicines. Kayenda and Diane cannot stop singing her praises. Karen is fascinated with everything and is a hit with the kids. We are all GREAT!
Ingrid for the team
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
More on Day Three
I wanted to add some stats to today's report. Leeshu and Karen saw 78 patients for glasses today. We saw cancers and tumors today that left us heartbroken. The Pharmacy crew hit 200 prescriptions today.
Ingrid
Ingrid
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