by Roman S,
I am so blessed to have been able to visit Ethiopia. The culture is so different and has it been truly eye opening to interact with people. This is my first time being out of North America, and my first on a country where I speak none of their language. It has been fun to learn little bits of Amharic from our translators out in the field. On our fourth day I got to go with my Dad, and we had finished first. So while we waited for the other groups to make their way back to our starting point, I helped some of the Aunties prepare coffee and a sort of corn based food. They were very sweet to me and laughed a lot at my English. I don’t think I will forget how kind they were to me for a long time.
I had a great time sharing the gospel this week. I went to 17 houses with 5 different partners and shared in many other places as well. One moment that really stood out to me was when I was out sharing the gospel in fields by a market. I was on a team with Nate, Evan, and Erin, however Erin was not with us because she was attending to another team member. As we left a field we passed someone who had accepted earlier that day, and wanted us to tell her friends. However her friend’s family were all drinking and said they did not want to hear us. We had our translator triple check for us that we could not share because all 3 of us felt really pulled to share to them. As we walked away Evan and Nate lead a prayer over their whole house.
Another cool experience I had while out in the field was at my first house, on the first day. Pastor Dan had shared the message and many seemed receptive. Two boys and two women accepted Christ which was amazing. However after they were lead through the prayer of acceptance, the boys began having their beaded bracelets and necklaces cut off, which we learned were signs of following witchcraft. The cutting was a slow process because they didn’t have a real knife or scissors, and one of the boys was so excited to follow Christ he began ripping them off his body, beads flying everywhere. It was a really encouraging experience and I will never forget it.
We have just a few days left on our trip, and many hours of travel. I am looking forward to the comforts of home, but I find myself thinking about all of the houses we pass by on our way to speak to one of one prepared houses, and I wish we could have shared to them all. I will miss Jinka very much, and hope I can come back someday.
ethiopia missions 