Category: Christian

Hi again…
So we had another full day today. We taught English and computer classes in the morning. Jade was brilliant with coming up with ideas of incorporating skills and active participation by asking for a project of coming up with a computer ad.

In the afternoon, we had the pleasure to go to a part of Addis Ababa called Jaja. It’s the part of the town abandoned by the city and the people, and currently is the sole community area for HIV/AIDS infected people. It’s so sad to find out that in today’s times, people still shun out others based solely on superstition and indifference. We met a family who were shunned out from a nearby neighborhood just because the father was HIV positive. The organization we went to Jaja with (forget the name now) supplied 300 birrs (~$33) to setup a tent so that they can live and carry on.

Our guide, Mr. Teferi told us of Pastor Solomon who is HIV-positive himself but was so convicted of how one can live positively if he/she can trust God and live. He married a HIV-positive woman (after having lost all of his family, ie. wife and kids) and have a 1 year old daughter who is HIV-negative. His perspective on life was just so tremendously God-centered and not situation-oriented that we were all just so very encouraged.

Of course, knowing that, when we got down to the community village (had to walk down the hills as it’s not accessible by cars), we met in a hut put up by mud. We went into it to be greeted by a group of children and some adults. These are the epitome of poverty, living on a less than $1/day and having lost at least one parent to AIDS, and having been outcast. However, we could sense that there wasn’t a total hopelessness. They greeted us with dramas and songs, and the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The condition may have been terrible (Peter got about 20 flea bites on his left leg) but one could sense that they had joy about them and in their lives. Pastor Shawn totally won the little kids over by lifting them up, letting them ride on his back, and we could sense the parents’ being touched by our actions that showed them that we did not reject them for who they are. It was hard for all of us to suppress the tears from our eyes because we did not want them to think that we pitied them or anything, which we didn’t. We were all so touched how Mr. Teferi (who is only 32 years old!) kept reminding us, and through Dorothy (who is just a wonderful woman of God, by the way) that it’s all about positive living in Christ, being content with what God has given us.

We all left just so blessed and wanting to desperately help these who need some of the most basic needs of life like latrines. One of the biggest prayer request is God’s discernment for us in how to prioritize and which “projects” (I don’t want to call it that) to support. Christine did awesome just by being brave enough to go down these treacherous hills (remember she’s still blind) and showing to these kids that even us the “have all Americans” can still lack something. Joy is feeling a bit sick and tired today so please continue to pray for her well-being. Gotta go now… Good night.

It’s late Monday here near 11 pm so it’s about 4 pm your time. We are well. Joy felt a bit sick in the morning but she is better now. Christine’s sight is still in recovery process but she’s a mighty big trooper.

So far, we had a full day. After an 8 am morning service with Pastor Teferi, he along with 4 other missionaries, gave us a run down on the history of Bethel Synod (their adapted name for Presbyterian). We also got to hear some missionaries’ testimonies and what they have been doing. We also asked what their thoughts were on short-term mission trips. Some emphasized on the importance of long-term missions while others encouraged any kind of help. We had a good discussion about it and our decision for the time being is that we would try to encourage other local Houston churches to get involved so that there would be more coverage.

And then we had a tour of Bethel Mekane Yesus School, a school for the girls. This is a school started by the Bethel Synod almost 20 years ago and got a good view on the status. It is very much run down but has been great at supporting the girls’ education, which is rare here.

After lunch, we had visit with Pastor Yama who is an HIV-positive advocate on making the country aware and face this taboo. He had lost his wife and kids to it. We also met a sister Meskara who also had lost both parents and few siblings. In their fight against the country’s ignorance and taboo, they have been sharing their lives trying make aware that even though one has the virus, we can still live in happiness if we trust Christ with our lives. That didn’t do even half of the justice of Pastor Ayama’s passion.

We had also learned of a Korean hospital in the area and missionary sister Rachel wanted to start some kind of cooperative relationship and Joanna and Peter wanted to help start to bridge the gap.

In the evening, we met up with the sisters who are staying in the hostel nearby and got a chance to learn a bit about their lives. Most have lost their parents to AIDS and are learning to keep on living in Christ.

We are going to start teaching tomorrow and visit some orphanages in the afternoon. Please pray for our health (high altitude of 8000 ft is a bit hard to get used to) as well as everyone’s alertness and open heart to whoever we meet.

So! We have arrived here in Addis Ababa! Thank God! After what felt like forever, we landed safely! Christine is doing well though she is still blind. Pastor Shawn lost his bag for a bit but they eventually found it!

We are all in good spirit here. We met up with Dorothy, the PC-USA missionary, who showed us the Bethel Synod Compound we are staying at. It’s too nice!

Please pray for us as the biggest difficulty has been dealing with street beggars that flood the car if it stops even for a bit. Lots of disfigured, sick, and just hungry people here. Dorothy warned us against giving food out (or even money!) blindly ’cause they fight for the food!

Just wanted to let you all know we are here. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us! We have morning service @ 8 am here. Thank you for your prayers!

Peter on behalf of the Team.

Thanks to everyone who helped out anywhere from dropping off items of donations to help in setting up, selling, and cleaning up!  We raised over $550!!  Next one will be June 30th at Jin Mi Market again so please start looking for anything that is sellable!!