A Return to the Fields ...

It has been a very busy late summer and early fall season back in Ethiopia...

Rains have been heavy but they are getting less. The sun will soon return, marking another season shift. 

I know many people globally are also in this time of shifting from summer into fall, from vacations and time off to work and school, from hot weather to cooler fall temperatures.  

Maybe you are also like me...I can't believe it's already this many days into September already!  

There has much activity and transition and movement here ... I'm still reflecting on it all.

Over the past few months .. I've gotten a look at the "youth" generation of Ethiopia... younger brothers and sisters in Christ ... who are usually far out in their regions and doing the hard work of sharing the gospel and making disciples on university and college campuses all over the country.  

I saw buses and taxis pull in with them inside ... as busload and taxi-load after busload and taxi-load arrived bringing them together from all corners of Ethiopia. 

They were gathering for the two national conferences EvaSUE hosts each rainy season. 

Some of these students looked dusty... some looked drenched in rain.  Most carried backpacks and many looked tired from travel but all arrived EXPECTANT for God to speak.  They came to be refreshed, recharged and recommissioned to serve back in their fields. An anointing was needed and I believe God indeed did anoint and speak!!!

EvaSUE staff first hosted 700 plus campus fellowship leaders from all over Ethiopia for the National Leadership Summit.  They received a week of training on how to be "Faithful Witnesses of the Kingdom." They heard a challenge to SEE, WITNESS, and ENDURE with powerful expository teaching from the book of Revelation.  I was deeply moved to see the respect, the humility, the prayer, the unity, the repentance and the power of God cover these dear servants.  

Three weeks later, over 400 mission mobilizer students came together to get trained for mission at the National Mission Summit. Testimonies were given and current statistics on what God was doing globally were shared. God again moved and spoke and stirred and anointed these students for the fields they were called to.

My pieces at both conferences went so well and I was so thankful to help contribute some new ideas and strategies for these students. I taught Biblical Leadership and on Sport Evangelism. I helped lead mass sport and helped organize art and creative activities to reinforce main plenary sessions. I also helped with story collection- testimonies of God at work... recording these to be shared later on various platforms.  I was amazed at how everyone had a story to tell! Praise God! What an honor to be part of mobilizing a generation for Jesus Christ! I couldn't help but feel I was part of something big that God would water to get the remaining task done... that God would mobilize this humble team to get the gospel to the remaining people groups of the world who are still unreached. Let it be God!

My Creative Design Team- Yoyo, Tita, Edu

Art display

mass sport in the morning

I'm so thankful for my supporters, prayer partners, new friends, and for Global Outreach International- for the prayers, financial contributions... these all made it possible for the work and seeds tossed to get done!

The most moving activity of these weeks for me was a prayer activity we had at the Leadership Summit.  Robel (EvaSUE's main leader) preached on turning from Babylon and called everyone to repent and to turn towards God's plan and way. Students wrote repentance and prayers and then turned to go through a prayer line of EvaSUE staff... as they left the building ... receiving a "Faithful Witness of the Kingdom" wristband... marking them and their commitment to turn from Babylon and to go back to the fields. The staff wept as we prayed for them, students wept as they exited.  It reminded me of the verse:

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with them... Psalm 126:6 

These students were returning to hard areas, "fields," that in many places of the country have drought, extreme need, fighting, and war.  But these students had counted the cost and were saying... we will go back, we will return, the gospel is worth it ... Jesus needs shared!  I will never forget that prayer line and power of God felt there... and the example these young people showed!

Sometimes God calls us to hard "fields." Fields we wouldn't choose and fields we'd rather leave from.  We might not like where God is telling to go and or where God is telling us to stand and stay.  These fields can be painful and uncomfortable. There can be persecution and cost. It may even cost you your life. But if God calls you to a field and tells you to hold your position, He WILL give you what you need and shape you in that field. Nothing is better than being where God tells you to be and standing when He tells you to stand. He can accomplish in you and through you what needs done! Help us God to be faithful to you and to trust you! Give us sight! Give us opportunities to witness! Give us strength to endure!

Open your eyes and look at the fields, they are ripe for harvest... John 4:35

You will receive power when my Spirit comes you and you will be my witnesses... Acts 1:8 

He who endures to the end will be saved... Matthew 24:13

After the conferences and all of the work, things still have felt busy ... 

We celebrated the Ethiopian New Year last weekend.  The last Ethiopian calendar year Sept to Sept ... was one my hardest. Lots of job stress and change, instability in Ethiopia, sickness and death and Covid was everywhere... Yet, we gathered and gave thanks to God for seeing us through.  For He is good and has still been with us!

Two of my best sisters here had big news to share in the past month.  One is a big congratulations to Hidi...on her engagement to Yodi. Very excited for all God is up to in the coming time ....

Hidi and Yodi .... Engaged!

I started a new class at ETC, Intro to Missions. This class of 35 will meet every Thursday night this fall semester. I'm so thankful for this chance to continue to build into current and future church leaders here. 

ETC Intro to Missions, Fall 2022 Class

So thankful for all! Please keep us in prayer here...

Prayer Requests

-Fighting has started again in the northern part of Ethiopia. Please pray for peace and for wisdom for the leadership.  Pray that people in these areas will share the gospel and respond to the gospel.  

-EvaSUE- as we continue to reflect and plan for the school year ahead and all God is up to ... that we will let God lead and ready us for our place in it all

-for my transition to go under Global Outreach International fully by the end of the year, appreciate them so much!  I will be sending more information in the time ahead how you can join my team through them.

Thank you so much for your prayers and partnership!  I am blessed by each of you.

Blessed FALL season to you all... May we give God our best as we return to the fields!!!