September 2016: Field Day 1

By Greg Shue:

So many thoughts, and in so many directions! Today my team only had the chance to present to four non-believers. One seemed to be looking for income as a tour guide, and he and his companion hurriedly and adamantly left as soon as we pulled out the Evangecube.

We then had a rich and open conversation with an Ethiopan Orthodox college student. He almost knew the whole gospel already, but didn’t have 100% confidence he would go to Heaven if he died today. Though he didn’t come to faith today, he did express a desire to study the Bible with the host family. (Ethiopian Orthodox laity are not allowed to own Bibles so this is a significant step and shows he must be a seeker.)

The last person we saw was an Ethiopian Orthodox woman who refused the gospel message, saying “What has been good enough for my first 35 years is good enough for the rest of my life.” Sad, but a mild reaction given what else we heard from the local believers.

I have heard about the persecuted Church a bit over the years but it was always “out there”. Today I was hearing the stories from the persecuted themselves. Stories of communal shunning, a mob trying to burn down a house and kill the believers (and God sending a vicious and feared neighborhood dog to drive the mob away), stoning and threats of dismemberment! What happened to tolerance? Oh yeah – it is getting redefined.

Now that I have connected with all of this, what am I supposed to do? What would you do?

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September 2016: Saturday at the Farmer’s Market

By Marcia McPhate:

Saturday, October 1st

This was the day The Lord made! We rejoiced and were glad!

We arrived in Arba Minch yesterday afternoon and checked into our hotel. There’s definitely a sense of long-held anticipation nearing it’s completion. We have joyfully greeted several of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ, and are anxious (Understatement!) to join them in encouraging the believers here and in being used by God to bring more into the Kingdom. (Pray!)

Today began with Rachel’s devotion on the topic of peace – peace that passes understanding in stressful times. Yes, some of us were a bit stressed – international travel, worrying over whether we are properly prepared for the important work God has for us, and fearing crocodiles and hippos, etc.

That’s right crocodiles and hippos. We rode in boats on Lake Chamo (2nd largest in Ethiopia!) to see crocodiles and hippos. The birds (white pelicans, Egyptian geese, Maribu storks, plover!) were a bonus. Allison J. says she saw 18 crocodiles. (Upclose, but not too unclose!) The beauty was mesmerizing. It was impossible not to marvel at the creation and even more, the Creator. “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?”

Later in the afternoon we went on a long but bumpy ride to the Highlands to see a typical Saturday “Farmer’s Market.” It would be impossible to paint this scene with words, I’ll attach a picture. The market was in a city called Chemcha and the people were of the Dorze tribe. They make the most colorful and beautiful scarves and hats, and their fences and dwellings have an artistry that is singularly impressive.

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We also witnessed upclose how very poor the people are. It’s hard to take in poverty like this. (Tears fell!) How wonderful it will be to return to the area next week to offer hope to a people who desperately need an eternal perspective.

The day concluded with Melissa’s devotion on overcoming fear through faith. It was a word that God gave her to share with the team. She had never before given a devotional talk, but was given confirmation that this was her moment and God’s message. (Cool!)

Tomorrow we will visit 3 churches that were planted after other E-3 teams shared the gospel here (Talk about cool!)

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April 2016: Post from Cathy: Third Day

As I write this rain is hammering on the tin roof of our hotel room in Fiche. It’s pouring and the Ethiopian people are probably glad for the water to soak their parched land. Ethiopia is an agrarian culture and for the last three days we have been visiting villages, watching out for donkeys,cows, chickens and goats, sidestepping to avoid them. The ground has been dusty and the terrain uneven but each home we have visited has welcomed us in the warmest possible way. The communities are close and you wonder why in America we isolate ourselves when it’s so obvious that the people thrive when the village takes care of each other and looks out for each other. Despite not having much they seem happy and joyful.Acts 4:20 says we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

What have we seen?

We have seen God go before us. We keep being told that we are entering a hard area for the gospel but each day more and more people are joyfully choosing to place their faith in Jesus. To see God at work is such a privilege. Just yesterday Laurie and I walked a fair distance to a home and we were met by an elderly man and has daughter. We talked to them both about the human trafficking and then presented the gospel. What the man said to Laurie and I after he and his daughter chose to put their faith in Jesus I will treasure always. He thanked us for coming to help him move from the darkness into the light. He blessed us for making the long walk from town to tell us the good news of Jesus that will change his and his daughter’s life forever. I will never forget his countenance , his face lit up with an indescribable joy.

What have we heard?

Each day we have the opportunity to share what has happened on the mission field. I can barely wait for dinner to be over so team meeting can start to hear what God has done that day.

Just today we heard from a team mate that 60 people crammed into a home eager to hear the gospel. The room was so full people were jostling others to be able to see and hear . Wow!
Each day is different and you never know who you are going to tell the gospel to. Just like Philip and his meeting with the Ethiopian official found in the book of Acts, he was told to go south to the desert road down from Jerusalem to Gaza , Philip went not knowing why God wanted him to go or whom he would meet. He was just told to go. His reward for his obedience was to lead the official to the Lord and we get the chance to do the same. Just today , on the way to a house a young man heard me speaking in English and he called out to me. We stopped to talk with him and we invited him to join us on the journey to the house.He listened intently to the gospel message and came to faith. He had many questions like the Ethiopian official and he chose to follow Christ when the translator was able to show him the answer in scripture . He was so filled with the Holy Spirit he started telling others immediately about Jesus.

If you have ever considered going on a mission trip , do it, you will see amazing things and your faith will be strengthened when you witness God at work and the passion of the local Christians who face persecution for their faith and yet it does not stop them from sharing the Light of the World to those in darkness.

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April 2016: Post from Taliah: Third Day

God is truly amazing and has been doing some great and mighty things in the villages of Ethiopia! In one of the homes we were in the middle of sharing the Evangecube when a man walked in and sat down and was intently listening to us as we finished sharing the gospel. When it came time to choose if they wanted Jesus Christ to be Lord of their lives, this man did not accept, but many others in the home did. After we had prayed the prayer of Salvation and given them some tools they could use to continue their walk with the Lord, we said our goodbyes and left the home.

Marela had asked if we could stop for a lunch break and our guide and translator picked out a spot that was in the center of a field that was surrounded by tall grass. The man who had walked in at the end of the Evangecube, along with a couple other people had followed us from the home, and into the field. The group was a few feet away from us and they were having what looked like a very intense conversation. Marela and I decided that it was not a good time for us to eat lunch and instead decided to go over and join them. As we joined them, the conversation continued in their native language of Aromo. We just smiled at them as they continued talking, but then I saw that in the tall grass surrounding the field there were people standing there looking at us from a distance.
Eventually, a few people at a time got the courage to come to where we were sitting in the middle of the field and a crowd formed. The man from the previous house was the main one speaking and occasionally other people would call out and our translator would respond. Our translator then turned to us and said, “They have some questions for you. They want to know, what happens to a baby when he/she dies. Do they go to heaven or are they sent to the fire? And when Adam took a bite of the forbidden apple, did that put a generational curse on man?” Marela and I looked at each other for a moment, these were two important and heavy questions. I began to answer the questions and looked to Marela to ask her if she agreed with the answers and she proceeded to add her thoughts as well. I then looked at the translator and said, “that is our answer.” He then turned to the crowd and translated what we had said, and a few minutes later he turned to us and said, “I will now pray for them!”
Those who had been sitting, stood to their feet joining those who had already been standing. They all held their hands in front of them facing upwards with heads bent and eyes closed, saying the occasional “Amen” as our translator prayed for them. Although I could not understand what our translator was praying, it was the most powerful prayer I had ever heard! After the prayer was finished, we moved on to the next home and some of the crowd from the field followed us. Including the man from the first home, who had asked the two questions.
When we got to the next home we started our Priceless cube and continued on to the Evangecube and this man was intently listening to every word. When it came time to make a decision to follow Christ, he was the first to say, “YES, I choose Jesus Christ, I choose eternal life!” It was the most amazing thing to see! If Marela had not asked for a lunch break at the time she did, his questions would not have been heard or answered. He would not have continued to follow us nor would he have been able to make that decision to follow Christ!
God was so apparent in that whole situation, He had gone before us and perfectly orchestrated every single detail! We serve a mighty mighty God, who is constantly at work in the lives of each and every one of His children at all times! I am so grateful and honored that I was able to be a small part in His bigger plan!

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April 2016: Post from Kelly: Second Day

Observing the Ethiopian people has been life changing. Their love for each other, as well as visitors and their community is something one can only be humble by. Not only are you invited into their extremely modest home, but are then given what may be the remainder of their food and water. I can honestly say I’ve never given the last of my food to anyone back in American.
When you go into their churches there are no pews, for they feel they should be humbled in front of God on the floor. But the sight of them holding themselves up with “prayer sticks” because they’ve become too weak from praying for so long is a sight that I will never forget. Have i ever prayed so long that I needed a stick to hold me upright??

I come to a place like this hoping to provide relief, love and encouragement and realize that I’m not here so much to change them, but to change myself.

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