Ethiopia 2015 - looking back

Well, we've been home for a few days. It's always a challenge getting adjusted, and this year is no exception. It's my prayer for our team that they would carry the spirit of our time in Ethiopia into their daily lives, and find ways to serve him and others like never before.

Speaking of our team...what a group!

Every single member of this team was amazing. During the time leading up to the trip, we went through a book to help us prepare. It talked about things like teamwork, flexibility, unselfishness, love for the group, being submitted to God's will and many more. I've got to say, these friends of mine got it. Everything they did was about God's glory, loving the children, respecting the culture, and loving each other. It was a joy to work with them. Here they are, in action:

Danny

Trisha

Clark

Kendra

Caroline

Scott

Sarah

Rachel

And then, there was our team member who supported us in prayer all week. Steve really wanted to be with us but circumstances prevented him boarding the plane. But through prayer and encouragement, he was with us all the way:

Steve, 2013

And so we are home. There is still work to do. There are our families and friends who need to see Christ in us every day. There are people in need right here in our hometowns. There are things we can do to support the work in Ethiopia from afar. And then, God willing, there is the opportunity to go back.

Whatever we do, I pray that for each team member, God will use the experience to bring them closer to him, so their lives can be an expression of his glory every day.

Ethiopia 2015 - last night in Addis

An empty living room. Our team has retired for the evening, and all that is left is one more day in Addis - a day that will end with us boarding a plane. I can't believe the time has passed by so quickly. It seems like a day or two ago that I was seeing old friends and meeting new ones in Dulles International Airport. We qucikly meshed into a team, but more than a team, a body of Christ-followers who have grown to love each other.  I am staying up a little while longer, savoring the glow of God's love that has filled this place throughout the week.

The last day is always a hard one in the field too. You spend time with kids, share the gospel, visit some of their homes, and see them every day for four days - it's not easy to leave. Thankfully, we still have tomorrow morning with one group of children. But that will be over soon too. I expect to be back soon, God willing. But that doesn't make it easy.

I will write more about the team after we get back - that is after the 43-hour jouney that begins tomorrow night. But I'd like the focus of this post to be on the ones who make this kind of ministry possible. I want to thank all those who have supported our team from back home. I mean:

- The spouses, parents, and other family and friends who will have gone 10 days without seeing their loved one(s).

- Those who have provided financial support for team members.

- Everyone who has been praying for our time here.  

- The staff of Visiting Orphans, Out of the Ashes, Mercy Ministries, and Holy Savior Guest Home.

All of you have made a difference in the lives of chidlren and adults here in Ethiopia. Your support has allowed children to know that God loves them enough to send us halfway around the world to see them. And you have been part of spreading the glory of God to the ends of the earth.

God's richest blessings on each of you. God said, "Go!" And you made it possible.

So let me finish with a few more pictures of what we have been doing here:

Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts. God bless you. See you all soon!

Ethiopia 2015 - Wednesday

Today was another awesome day in Addis Ababa. It had everything we've come to expect: time playing with the children, opportunities to talk about Jesus, meeting some needs by bringing needed materials. And serving lunch to But more than anything else, it has been fun watching our team pour out their hearts to children. Here are a few shots of that...

Hard to really see from pictures - but an amazing day!

We also got to spend some time with the local workers from Out of the Ashes. These dedicated men and women spend their lives year round making sure that the children have their physical needs met while hearing about the One who loves them more than they can imagine. It was an honor for us to get to know them better.

This is a special place. We love being here. Another great day in store tomorrow. We appreciate your prayers.

Ethiopia 2015 - what a start

Hello friends and family! I just wanted to write a short blog post to let you know thigs are going very well here in Addis Ababa. I have not had the internet connectivity I would have liked so this is my first post. And since the clock just struck midnight, it will be short. But I did want to let you know the wonderful things the Lord is doing.

First, our team is meshing and has already become an amazing group. Their selflessness, love for Jesus, love for the people of Ethiopia, and joy is evident. They are fun to be with, which helps to fill the work with enthusiasm. I can already tell this week will be way too short.

One way that spirit showed up today was when the OA staff asked for our help in moving some beds. They are moving some of the children from one location to another and today it was bed moving time. So without hesitation, our team jumped right in and carried these beds a fairly good distance. All with an attitude of wanteing to do whatber they could to serve the local workers - the ones who are with the children all year. God is working through these friends.

So here they are moving the beds:

And just a few more pictures from our first couple of days. Hope you can sense the joy:

Well, that's about enough - gotta get some sleep. Thank you for all your prayers. It's an awesome privilege.

Good night!

Day 4 - Happy

How are these days going by so fast? We come to the close of another day here in Addis Ababa and I can't believe that we'll be gone in less that 48 hours. The rest of the team is off to bed (surprise - I'm a night owl, ha!) and I'm sitting here reflecting on the wonderful things God is accomplishing.

I guess the big thing today is that it was the second of two full days with a ministry that is new to Visiting Orphans. Mercy Ministries Happy Children's Home is a place that provides an opportunity for children in its neighborhood with the greatest need - often single parent families where there is significant risk of them being orphaned. They give the children a year of preparation for school, and then after that they come back each year when school is out for a summer program. It was the summer program kids that we were spending time with.

I can't describe how it was to be with these 50 or so children. So I'm not going try, I'm just going to let the pictures (along with the ones in yesterday's blog post) speak for themselves:

Tomorrow we will spend the morning with No Ordinary Love, and then wrap up the week back at Korah to help feed the kids there a sheep/goat meal. Today we picked up the sheep and tok them to the site, and that was an interesting hour!

This amazing group of five individuals is really proving to be what Jesus had in mind for his church when he prayed in John 17:23. More on that later. For now, just suffice it to say that going out tonight with these brothers and sisters for some tractional Ethiopian food and culture was so much fun. Come to think of it, working with them has been so much fun.

On to the final full day...

Days 2 and 3 - being love

As our time in Ethiopia moves along way too rapidly (I can't believe it's already Thursday morning), we have been so blessed to see God working. The time Tuesday with kids from Embracing Hope and Out of the Ashes gave us opportunities to show love to children for a second time. Also, we had two more home visits, which are some of my favorite times here.

Then yesterday (Wednesday) we got to visit with the children of Mercy Ministries Happy Children's Home. This is the first time Visiting Orphans has sent a team there and so we didn't know quite what to expect. What we found was what we find everywhere - children whom God loves. We played, laughed, sang, and shared the gospel through Bible stories. I can't wait to go back there today.

There's no way to communicate how God is using this time in words. We just wanted to give you a glimpse...and ask for your prayers as we move through the rest of the week.

Thursday...let's do this.