Ethiopa Update – July 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director

“Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8: 22 – 25)

Unexpected Storms, Expected Faith

The Gospels record two occasions where Jesus instructed the disciples to get into boats, and cross over to the other side. On both occasions they encountered storms. Most of these disciples were experienced fishermen who grew up on these shores. They never would have intentionally set sail into a life-threatening storm. The storm was unexpected. Storms always are. What do you do when your perfect plans are interrupted by an unexpected storm? This is what the Galilee is all about.

Jesus showed up on both occasions and calmed the storm, but then turned around and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. This means that He was expecting them to have faith in the midst of the storm.

God is doing tremendous things in Ethiopia even through the storm. The followings are some of the things I would like to share with you so that you would thank God for His marvelous things and pray for us in our challenges and limitations.

 

I. Supporting the Orphans Continues

Supporting the orphans through our goats project continues. In the past three months alone, we are able to give 12 goats and one cow to 13 orphans. Most of them live with grandmothers, relatives, neighbors or their guardians that are provided by the Church.

Our orphans are now very much benefited from this project. Most of them are going to school, are able to buy their school uniform, books and exercise books. Now God is lifting up this project and we are able to buy a cow for the first time for one orphan. And we are hoping that in the near future the cow will reproduce itself and the girl will be benefited by getting milk for herself and sell the rest so that she can support herself.

II. Discipleship Training in Addis Ababa, Merkato area Church

Pastor Ephrem is one of our new master trainers and he is a young pastor in Addis Ababa, Merkato 7gna area. He trained 42 other leaders in his church in discipleship and shared with them what he has received from our previous training. Not only doing that he also has prepared a commitment forms for each ministers in his church so that they fill the form and vow to God to be disciples and to make disciples.

After the training all the participants had a group discussions on the issue of the current challenges on making disciples. They had also a good fellowship time by having meal together.

III. Youth training in Nekemete, Eastern Wollega

One of our master trainers Pastor Tesdaye went to the town called Nekemete in eastern Wollega region and conducted youth training. The theme of the training was to encourage our youth to keep themselves pure for the Lord and to give an awareness of the challenge of post modernism in the lives of youth in our country.

More than 40 youths have attended this training.

IV. Conclusion

We thank God for every thing he has been doing for us and through us. I would also like to thank you so much for supporting us in all our projects. We are grateful to God to have you as a body of Christ working together in His kingdom.

Please continue praying for us as partners in the following prayer requests:

➢ Pray for the completion of our additional classrooms.
➢ Pray for our new training hub and may God would use it to equip more leaders and missionaries for the great commission
➢ Keep praying for our goats project so that may God would use it to transform the lives of our orphans.
➢ Pray for all trainings so that God would use it as a tool to transform many lives for His glory.

Samson Weldemariam/Pst/
Director