Sponsor Visits Child in Ethiopia

by Arlene Norton

A little over four years ago I decided to help support an orphan in Mekele, Ethiopia at an orphanage called Operation Rescue. The amount was only $15 dollars a month.

Patrick told me that he would personally pick me a girl to sponsor while he was there on a visit. I really didn’t know much more than a name, age and small photo at the time.

Her name was Emebet and she was twelve and had never been to school. We exchanged letters and I sent her packages of candy, clothes and books. I was amazed at how well she was doing in school and hoped to see her one day. In Ethiopia you have to pay to go to a government school. The cost is out of reach for most. The average Ethiopian makes only a dollar a day. With this in mind you can see how the cycle of poverty keeps repeating. If you’re an orphan, because of AIDS, war, sickness, death, or abandonment - then you have to survive by living in the streets and begging or worse.

Emebet’s father left when Emebet’s mother died of tuberculosis. Her grandmother took her and her sister in when they were just small children. The grandmother could not afford to send them to school and she prayed and cried about it often.

The grandmother cannot physically work, but she does rent out two small rooms about the size of a walk-in closet. With her windfall of $40 a month she has to feed, clothe, and take care of two granddaughters and an aging mother.

I decided to go to ORE in January of this year and meet Emebet. It took a precise series of miracles to get me there. My husband would have to get 10 days off in a row, and they had to be a certain 10 days. I would have get out of the U.S. before my flight was cancelled by a storm. I had an impossible 5-minute connection in Detroit. Patrick and I would have to get the last two tickets to Mekele on the major Ethiopian holiday weekend. We would also have to secure the last two rooms in the last hotel in town. I would not suggest to travel like this unless God is your “Plan A” and “Plan B.” Everything went eerily smoothly.

Meeting Emebet and her extended family was the highlight of my trip. She and her sister live in a two-room stucco tin-roof hut. They have no running water, sporadic electricity, and no kitchen. The two living rooms convert into bedrooms at night where Emebet, her sister, her grandmother and great-grandmother sleep.

I have never felt so welcomed as I did that day. I met her uncles, an aunt and nephews and friends. We had coffee, popcorn and a lot to talk about. The great-grandmother told me she had prayed that she would live long enough to see me. She was frail and almost blind, she walked with a cane over many boulders to meet me at the front gate because she wanted to be the first to see me. I don’t think that the Queen of England could compete with that.

I didn’t realize that going to ORE had helped so many people. ORE helped Emebet’s older sister start a small roadside business with her aunt. ORE gives the children an education, and a hot meal everyday, in addition to a family to live with. All grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers or sisters who are willing to take in an orphan are given a part of the $15 a month and free business classes, job skills and financial advice.

Emebet went from being a 12-year-old uneducated street child to an educated young lady heading for pharmacy school this fall. She completed all her classes at ORE and took computer classes at the Nile college in Mekele.

Emebet hopes to be a pharmacist in three years. Pharmacy school will cost about $3,000 total for books and everything! I told her we could pay for it and her whole family cried. I would suggest that you get involved with ORE on a personal level. Do write them and encourage them.

Emebet is well on her way out of poverty and of course I looked around for a new orphan to sponsor while I was there. I have a new girl, Blean. She is six and completely charming. Her father died of AIDS and her mother is very sick and is expected to die. She is being raised by a grandmother. Blean gave me a small bead bracelet while I was there and I will wear it as a prayer for her. I hope each day that these children can grow into their full potential .

Praise God.

Engagement

My change in relationship status...by Ben Hickey

Most of you know that I went on a mission trip to Ethiopia almost four years ago. I went To be a part of a ministry called Indigenous Outreach International.

The director of the ministry, Patrick Beard, goes to my church. As the name of the ministry suggests IOI supports Ethiopian pastors who are struggling to preach and also make a living. IOI provides funds so that the pastors can devote themselves to preaching and ministry without having to have multiple jobs.

One Ethiopian pastor in particular has been central to the success of IOI. His name is Negash Gemeda and he is the main overseer for IOI. Negash meets regularly with the other pastors, helps them send in reports, and does a lot of preaching and teaching himself. During my month in Ethiopia I stayed with Negash and his family.This was a great time for me.

In some respects living in Ethiopia is much harder for an American. You don’t have western style toilets, you have to filter your water, you have a greater possibility of getting sick, and so on and so on. I was all prepared for the difficulties, but what surprised me was the benefits! In particular the Ethiopian culture is much more people centered than America. Hospitality plays a bigger part of life. For example, if you go to a restaurant that is packed you don’t necessarily wait in line but you can go and sit at someone else’s table. They welcome you and you usually leave having made a new friend.

Living in Negash’s house I got to know his family. He has a daughter who is a few years younger than me. Her name is Abeba. She is a very beautiful person on the inside and out and I developed a friendship with her. When I returned to America we continued to correspond through email and our friendship developed even more. For many years I didn’t really think anything more than a friendship was possible. I could only think about the distance between us, the cultural differences, and the difficulties. Recently though, I have thought a lot about how special she is and how I want to move our relationship past being friends and onward to a deeper level. I talked to Patrick about this and he called Negash to see if she felt the same way towards me. I was very happy to hear that she had the same feelings!! Since then I have talked to the elders at my church as well as my family and many friends for counsel. The overwhelming response is very positive! Also many blessings this year have made it financially possible for me to visit.

Considering my feelings, intentions, and all of the pieces falling into place I bought a plane ticket to visit her in March (over my spring break). I have also been able to call her twice and develop our relationship over the phone instead of email. I know that this might seem sudden to many of you, but it hasn’t felt that way to me. It has been a long process to strip my doubt away and exchange it for faith and even love! (even though here at the end it seems to be happening quickly).

I would appreciate all of your prayers for safe travel and wisdom.

2008 Mission Bible Conference in Addis Abeba

The dates for the January mission to Ethiopia are January 17-27, 2008 - LORD willing.

The main purpose for this team will be to host the 2008 Mission Bible Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. We also hope to take a small medical team on this journey.

The cost should be no more than $2400 per person (or less depending on the number traveling generally about $2200 pp). The team will be housed at a conference center in (or near) Ethiopia's capital city Addis Abeba. All meals, transportation and lodging from Memphis departure and return are included in the trip cost (up to 2 nights and 6 meals in Europe included --additional nights in Europe not included).

The needs are for: VBS (missionary children), women's ministry, medical personnel, seminar instructors (for missionaries and family members), etc.

The team plans to depart from Memphis on January 17 (one night in Europe in route) and arrive in Ethiopia on the evening of Saturday, January 19. Sunday, January 20 the team will go to various churches associated with IOI and spend the afternoon preparing for the conference. The conference begins Monday afternoon, January 21 and concludes on Friday morning January 25. Many team members will depart on Friday to host a clinic in the countryside. Saturday will be a sight-seeing/shopping day with a late evening departure for home with a Sunday afternoon/evening arrival in Memphis on January 27. (There is an option to spend a night in Europe on the return with a January 28 return). The stopover will most likely be Amsterdam, Holland or London, England. Team members may also choose to extend their stay in Ethiopia where they can go on safari or take a "historic tour" which includes many castles (Gondor) and famous rock-hewn churches (Lalebella). Additional expense.

An information packet is available for those interested in joining with this multi-denominational team. Those interested in going should request this packet by September 28, 2007. A deposit of $1,200.00 will be due October 31, 2007.

Stateside Ministry News

Electronic Funds Transfer
Regular donors now have the option of having their monthly, quarterly or annual giving deducted directly from their checking or savings account electronically through our EFT service.
Simply fill out and sign a simple form, attach a void check and mail it to IOI. The donation will be deducted from the specified account as designated and instructed on the form until given notice to discontinue the service.
If you are interested in this new form of giving download the form from the www.IndigenousOureach.net website. We can also mail or fax the form to you. For more information contact Patrick at (731) 217-0750. v

Tax Receipts Change
In the past IOI has mailed receipts for giving on a quarterly basis. In an effort to reduce paperwork and be good stewards we will now only mail receipts twice per year (January and July). Donors may receive receipts on a more regular basis, or at anytime by simply contacting the IOI office at (731)664-9960. v

Concert and Banquet
Plans are being made for this year’s Robin Mark concert to be held in Tennessee on August 16. There is also an awareness banquet to be held in Mississippi on Thursday, September 6 (Corrected Date from date first published in newsletter). To volunteer or for more information please call Patrick at (731)217-0750. v

Building Up the Church

by Patrick Beard

Often in America we talk about “building” a church. More often than not our conversations involve brick and mortar, rather than the edification of individuals within the church. Our terminology reveals our error in that we call building a “church” rather than the congregation that has covenanted to follow Christ together.

As Christ ascended from the earth He promised to stay with us by sending His Holy Spirit. His Spirit now lives in the heart of those whom He gives faith in His gospel. He resides within both to comfort and empower all believers as we anticipate the return of Christ, make disciples and edify each other. Our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia are certainly no exception to this promise.
Each week in Ethiopia minister from eleven denominations gather to pray at the IOI prayer meeting. These meetings have led to many deep relationships. Often the diverse ministers gather around a common table to share meals and exchange their joys and sorrows. Each minister, and indeed each believer, has been specially gifted by God to fulfill a unique role in the Kingdom of God. Frequently the ministers will call on one another as they have become interdependent within the greater Body of Christ. This fellowship is just one way that God has used IOI to build His Church.

Our Bible conference this year focused on Following Christ. This following is done as individual parts within a greater body. It is our ambition as an organization to build up the Church as God gives us the resources and ability. Please consider joining with us in 2007 in the way that God directs. v

Ministry of Administration

Addis Abeba, Ethiopia - Amsale has been serving with IOI since the very beginning. For all those years she has struggled with health issues, but she has also had a growing ministry of administration.
Nine years ago Amsale worked as an editor in the publishing department of the Baptist Mission of Ethiopia. Both she and Negash Gemeda (IOI’s National Coordinator for Ethiopia) worked with Patrick, who was Media Center Manager for the mission.
When the mission began to dissolve, due to a change of strategy, and a new businesslike structure was being formed Amsale and most of her colleges were laid off. At the same time IOI was being formed in the USA, and the need for a trustworthy Ethiopian administrator became evident.
When IOI was in the formative stages some opposition was expressed concerning dependency, and poor management of money. Some concluded that sending “American” money to African ministers was a mistake, and simply could not be done in a good way. While the concerns were real and important, our scriptural mandate to care for our poor brothers and sisters took precedent.
The organization of IOI was created with a simple goal of supporting poor ministers in Ethiopia and a simple means of distributing the support. The funds are collected in the US, wired to Amsale in Ethiopia and paid directly to the missionaries, who sign for the receipt of the funds. It all sounds simple enough, but it was a novel idea in Ethiopia where burocracy was the order of the day in in both the national and international organizations that most ministers were familiar with. After eight years we still receive comments from many of the ministers that applaud, “I have received my support on time, every time!”
Amsale fulfills a vital role for IOI as she distributes the funds and keeps meticulous records. Furthermore she performs this same administrative ministry for no less than two other Christian organizations in Ethiopia. She also helps to lead Bible studies for ladies.
Amsale is married to her husband Mitiku, and they have four children. A grow daughter and son, and twin preteen sons. They live and minister in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia’s capital city. They are members of Mulu Wongel Church. v

Ministry Among the Poor

Thanks to a generous gift from a Jackson church the Bible conference in Ethiopia held a special blessing for the ministers supported through IOI. In addition to each minister receiving gifts of special shirts and medicine the ministers also received a Christmas gift of 500 Birr (about $60 US). The missionaries also received the same amount to give away to neighbors or church members who are in desperate need.
The monetary gift was especially timely as food in Ethiopia has increased in cost almost 100% over the past two years. The inflation has been particularly hard on the poorest Ethiopians who were already strapped financially and often go days without eating.
“I have never seen God’s people begging for bread, but I have seen them go hungry,” Patrick said. At the last board meeting of IOI the Board was unanimous in their resolve to increase giving as much funding as possible to help alleviate the suffering of church members of associated churches, as well as using the Micah and Agemba Funds to minister mercy to the surrounding neighbors. “We want to reach people with the love of God by preaching the Gospel of grace and ministering God’s mercy through tangible benevolence. v

Patrick's Paragraphs - Eight Years Blessed

This January we quietly celebrated the eighth birthday of IOI. As a Board we agreed that this year we desire a renewed focus on our primary ministry of supporting indigenous ministers through prayer, financial, educational and technical support.
Eight years ago the list of ministers supported contained eight names. It was a new beginning and everything was new. We developed a simple system of support that has enabled the missionaries to receive their full support each month on time (which is still apparently a novelty in Ethiopia). Over time we added ministers, began supporting ORE (the ministry to orphans in Mekele, Ethiopia), began working with the Breitenmosers in Germany, started building community development projects, sent American volunteers to assist the work in Ethiopia and expanded to Brazil as the Teixeira family moved from Ethiopia to Brazil. Certainly most of these changes proved to be positive as the ministry grew and continued to mature.
This year I hope to see an increase in the level of giving to human needs in Ethiopia, while at the same time being very intentional in our effort to make disciples through theological instruction, mercy ministry and incarnational living. It is my hope that giving will increase both to Missionary Support and the General Fund to enable us to minister more generously. We hope to see the establishment of the new Sanctuary Village as a model for discipleship ministry. I also hope that we can begin supporting indigenous ministers who are working with the Teixeiras in Northern Brazil.
Many events are planned over the next 12 months that I hope will be a benefit to all who participate. Robin Mark will once again be joining us from Belfast, Northern Ireland to present a benefit concert for IOI in Tennessee on Thursday, August 16. An awareness banquet is being planned for the Tupelo, Mississippi area on Friday, September 7. Through these events and a series of Coffee and Conversation meetings we hope to raise enough funds over 2007 to host the largest IOI Bible conference ever on January 22-25, 2008 with VBS for the children, preaching and a variety if seminars to benefit the indigenous ministers we work with.
For all of this to happen we will need more donors and volunteers. It is my prayer that God will give us everything we need to accomplish these plans.v

Ecki's Trip to Ethiopia

German Port Minister Ecki Breitenmoser visited Ethiopia this January. He met with the family of an Ethiopian seafarer, preached at the IOI Bible conference, visited churches in the countryside and met with many of the Ethiopian missionaries supported through IOI.

Fikadu's Wedding

Fikadu and his wife Dagmit had a lovely service. The wedding started in the morning at Negash's home, moved to the Mekane Yesus Seminary and ended at a resort on the Debre Zeit road. It was a joyful day filled with praises to God, dancing and celebration.

Bible Conference 2007 - Addis Abeba

Over 50 missionaries and church leaders attended this year's Bible Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. This year's theme was the command of Christ to, "Follow Me". A banquet was held for the noon meal at Sami's Resturant. This year's guest speakers were Ecki Breitenmoser (SCFS Port Minister in Bremerhaven, Germany), Patrick Beard (IOI Executive Director) and Douglas Merreck (Missionary to Mekele, Ethiopia)

Website Updated

It is long overdue, but it has finally happened -- The IOI Website has been updated! Check it out at www.indigenousoutreach.net and let me know what you think.