Ethiopia
Click here to watch videos from our trip and learn more about this mission.
Diane, Pastor Asfaw and Pastor Nathan during one of the El Bethel church services
Keith taping one of our interviews
Some thoughts from Diane...
In April of 2009, Keith and I traveled to Ethiopia for an 11 day mission trip. We went with Pastor Nathan and Elder Brett from Historic First Presbyterian Church in Phoenix (www.historicfirst.org). While there, we were graciously led by Pastor Asfaw from El Bethel, an Ethiopian church that also meets in downtown Phoenix. We were to visit a few of the 35 churches that El Bethel has planted in the rural areas of Ethiopia primarily working with the Borana people. We went with the intention to better understand and document the mission of El Bethel...what we found was the incredible impact a small congregation in America was having on thousands of people in the southern region of Ethiopia. We were inspired by the simplicity of their lifestyle and the sincerity of their open worship of God.
Ethiopia has been a hub of trade and activity for centuries. In the middle of a Muslim dominated continent, Ethiopia stands as a beacon of light for its neighbors as the largest Christian nation in the Northern most part of Africa. Amidst our visit to Ethiopia, we grew to understand and embrace the untiring efforts by El Bethel and we found ourselves deeply changed by the experience and what we witnessed.
Brett, Pastor Nathan and Pastor Asfaw viewing one of the church buildings
One of the adobe style church buildings
We captured almost 1700 photographs and 13 hours of video footage of our trip! We edited several videos to be used to bring awareness to the Ethiopian needs. You can watch one by clicking here.
We want to let people know there are several ways to help El Bethel serve the Ethiopian people.
First and foremost they ask for prayer.
Second, they need financial support for the building of both rural and city churches. The church pictured to the left is made from sticks and tarps...not much protection or stability during a rainy season. For just $5,000 they can build an adobe style rural church (see next picture) that will provide a safer and sturdier gathering place in which people can meet and also worship God.
Third, the Ethiopian government is unable to build enough schools for the children of Ethiopia. However, if El Bethel can build the schools, the government has promised to provide the land for the buildings! So, raising money to build the schools is important.
Finally, it is a sobering thought to know that the $100 that I pay to take my family out for a nice dinner in America would pay for an entire year of education for a child in Ethiopia. Kind of puts things into perspective. It goes without saying that they need funds to educate their children.
The trip to Ethiopia was a way for God to remind me to be grateful for the blessings I have in America and also to find ways to participate and support the mission of El Bethel. It is easy to look out over a sea of faces and see just one mass group of people but when you begin to interact with individuals one on one by touching their hands and exchanging smiles, you suddenly realize that it’s not simply a mass group of people, but several individual people. Individuals that God has knit together with unique likes and dislikes, a personality and a passion. When you take the time to look them in the eye, you no longer look across the masses, but suddenly long for a way to make a difference for that fellow brother or sister in Christ.
If you are interested in finding out more about the El Bethel mission and the Borana people, please visit www.allnationsethiopia.org which will offer additional information and give you the opportunity to give up funds from one of your family dinners to participate in missionary work across this world that we share.
We are looking for generous individuals, groups, churches and businesses to provide assistance. If God so moves in you a desire to help our brothers and sisters in Christ, please visit www.allnationsethiopia.org May God bless your interest and please remember to keep El Bethel and our new friends in Ethiopia in your prayers. Blessings!
Diane
Click here to see a slideshow with more of the photographs from our mission trip to Ethiopia.
