Team Ethiopia is a short-term missions group from Central Church in Collierville, TN. They partner with our Ethiopian Team on the ground in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for about a week. Here is their daily update regarding their experience and the way God moves in and through this ministry. We thank them for their service! Written by: Liz Roberts, team member
Today was a glorious day indeed - on so many different levels! First, the temperature was perfect - 55*F this morning on our way to the Church where we’ve been having our VBS.
Second, Thursday’s lessons will be on relationships. And, as God does, He has already prepared us for those discussions by making today an experience in relationships - vicariously, and experientially. Today, several of us were blessed with seeing pictures of two brothers who are former participants/beneficiaries in the Forsaken Children/Onesimus Drop-In Center Program. These children go from living on the streets to being reunified with their families when available. To say we were overwhelmed by what we saw in those pictures is an understatement. In one of the pictures we saw the father and the two sons, with the sons bowing down to him and the father overwhelmed to see his children again. It was (is) a picture of how we should bow down to our Heavenly Father.
Third, Kelly and Liz had the opportunity to reconnect with four of the boys (Addizu, Tamarat, Yared & Ashenavi) from our first trip (2010)! Oh, what a wonderful reunion it was! It is a picture also of the wonderful reunion that we will have with our Savior Jesus when He returns. (Kelly McGoo - the boys still have a picture of you and them on their phones. They love you, Rooney)!
Fourth, our team was invited to dinner by the former manager at the guesthouse we’ve stayed at for the last three-four years. She is now working at another guesthouse and she told her manager that she was inviting some family members to dinner. Once again, the only word I can think of is “overwhelmed.” We had the sweetest time of fellowship with our friend (and family member) Titi; and her manager, Nardi. Interestingly enough, as families are apt to do when they get together, we began reminiscing and found that we knew so many people in common; right here in Ethiopia! The Biblical account that came to mind regarding our time with Titi and Nardi is that of John the Baptist and how he was preaching the word of God, preparing the way for Jesus; because that is exactly what Titi did for us when she told Nardi we were family.
Of course, our relationship with our driver, Tes, is more like family. In fact, Tes also refers to us as “family.” He takes such good care of us. He anticipates what we will need and sometimes just takes care of the things that he knows we’ll need even before we ask him to do so. And, what can I say about our TFC Ethiopian/Onesimus family? We thank God for them for making this trip possible! We love them so very much.
And last, but certainly not least, “our” children. They are so precious to us. We have had the sweetest time with them this week. We’ve had over a hundred kids every day. And they have been so engaged. We have been having question and answer time at the end of the day and they are literally falling over each other to answer the questions. It is such a blessing to know that they are paying attention and are participating in the lessons. The lessons this week have all ended with an invitation to know Jesus as Personal Lord and Savior. We are praying that the seeds that have been planted will bear fruit. We truly want to see each and every one of these children in heaven.
As our Theme Verse says; “...Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34).
- Liz Roberts
Follow Team Ethiopia all week on the blog. Take a moment to leave a comment, as well, the team reads them each morning.
