I do not make the choice lightly. It is not easy to leave a project that is just beginning to bear fruit. The  school is up and running.  Sandy combined classes today and taught all our children spoken English. We have 30 children enrolled for the summer program.  I know she will do a great job with our kids. They love her very much.  No one { except of course JESUS} could love and care for our children more than she does. I continue to pray for a missionary team to come and replace us when the year is up in October.

Our little school will need volunteer English teachers with a sound foundation in Christ. There is such a need here for mentoring the youth. I have done what I can . The seeds we have planted will need watering if they are to grow to the full stature of mature  Christians. I trust in HIM . HE  knows their needs better than we do.

I am praying that I will be blessed with a ministry in Arizona after I have had a little time to recover. Yes, I said Arizona. I am moving there to get married . I was planning to move there in October and we are planning the wedding for November. I will just be home a few weeks earlier than I had originally planned. But that is a  whole  other story. Maybe I will write a blog about Tonto Basin Az.

It has been my pleasure and privilege to share the  stories of our ministry with you at home and other various places around the world.

In Christ Our Lord and Savior, Carole Anne Wilson

For several months Sandy and I have been praying that the Lord would provide us with a compound for teaching  our children . We  have our Saturday program but now that it is summer and school is out we were in need a place where we could hold classes for the break. We are about to lose the church compound we have been using since our arrival in Burayu. That compound has been available to us only on Saturday and most of the time we have held our classes outdoors because of competition for the few rooms  available. Now that it is full on rainy season we were at a loss for what to do. If the Lord didn’t provide us a compound we were faced with the sad thought of leaving this ministry before our 1 year had been completed.

I am so pleased to say that we have been blessed with a compound for the months of July and August. We will be sharing it in order to afford the space but we will have it for our childrens classes 5 days a week. I don’t know all the particulars yet but we have walked through the compound and it is really very nice although the construction is not quite finished. We will manage. There are 4 class rooms for teaching and a good play area. I am hopeful we will also have running water.

I mentioned the need to share the compound. Pastor Amanuel has enlisted a volunteer teacher of theology to train evangelists for the 2 month summer break. These students are each paying for their tuition and are helping to defray the cost of supplying our school . What will happen in September is up in the air but at least for now we have found an amicable solution to all our needs. Our covering organization has payed the rent for  2 months this summer and some of the cost of supplying chairs etc. God willing we begin holding classes on Monday of next week, possibly as early as Thursday this week.

It is our desire to find a sister Christian school in the U. S. to share curriculum with our school, that we can have translated into Afaan Oromo. The teacher of Theology has volunteered his services for the time being to translate the curriculum for the school. This is a tremendous blessing for us . He speaks fluent English and we are so grateful for his help. We will employ 2 teachers for the summer to teach the basics , reading ,writing and math and Sandy and I will  be teaching spoken English mainly through bible stories and Christian values and principles with the help of 2 interpreters. One is a volunteer who has younger siblings in our Saturday program and the other will be payed.

It is a small start on a much larger vision, we will see how the Lord blesses our efforts and if He will continue to open doors for future expansion of the school. It must become self supporting very quickly. If the summer program is successful then more parents will want their children to be enrolled for the the fall and winter semester. Perhaps in few years we will be able to offer KG through 8 th grade.  For now we will have to be content with only the lower grades.

By teaching in Afaan Oromo and English we can attract more students than if we offered  Amharic only. There is a strong desire in Ethiopia to teach English in the schools, but sadly very few teachers actually speak fluent English. Also the best teachers tend to end up at private Amharic schools. Pray that the Lord will call American  volunteers to pick up where Sandy and I will leave off. Our time here is rapidly passing and we so want to see the teaching ministry carried on.

Today Sandy and I had the pleasure of meeting the 15 theology students who will be sharing the compound with us. What an amazing group of young men. One of them was a muslim  that was called out of Islam and into Christ. He speaks fluent Arabic and Oromifa. Now he will also be learning English. What a tool he will be in the Lords hand.

So much to give thanks for and to praise God for!  Who knows , maybe some of our kids will graduate this school and then attend the theology school and become Evangelists and Pastors too. Nothing is impossible for the Lord.

In Christ, Carole

Well , Sandy and I are back from our trip to the Wellega region of Ethiopia. The area of Dungora Buna has captured both our hearts. It is where our Pastor Amanuel was born and raised. This was our second visit to the region. When we first visited Dungora Buna we were both struck by the extreme poverty of the the villagers . The children who followed us every where as we walked and took photos were wearing rags. In fact we wouldn’t even consider them good enough for cleaning rags in America.

Sandy I and I felt led by the Lord to return to Dungora Buna with clothing for the children if God would be gracious enough to give us the means for a return trip. We had to make some hard choices on just where we could afford to go and which ministries were most important to us as a team. Both of us had wanted to also make a return to Wondo Genet and to Gutu. Gutu was an easy yes choice as it is reasonably close but choosing between Dungora Buna and the village near  Wondo Genet was tough. The need in both places is very great.  Ultimately the desire to see familiar face at Dungora Buna won out.

I have  a habit as an optimist and an artist to put a positive and hopefully beautiful spin on things but this time I want our blog readers to really see the hardship and the poverty, the downcast faces, the raggedy clothed children. I am concerned that my optimism has done a dis-service to the people we minister to. Perhaps I have failed to communicate just how desperate these folks are.

The single greatest need in Dungora  Buna is for clean drinking water. It is about a half a mile down to the muddy stream for water and back up the steep hill to the village. Every day the women and children make the trek . It is a relatively short distance but the hill is steep and for a small child to carry 50 or more pounds of water back up is an incredible fete. The water is dirty, cattle,sheep, donkeys etc. all water there too. This is all they have for drinking and washing clothes and dishes. If God will bless me with the opportunity to return to Ethiopia I want to drill a well and install a hand pump for the villagers of Dungora Buna. They will still have to haul the water on there backs but at least it will be safe to drink. On this visit Sandy and I had to be content with delivering a suitcase of used clothing.

The church and Pastor were very happy to have received such a generous gift. It seemed pathetically small to me but it was all Sandy and I could afford . The cost of getting to this area is great , fuel is at an all time high in Ethiopia . Add to that the need to hire a driver for 5 days with a 4 wheel drive vehicle in good enough shape to make the journey and the amount left for the actual mission isn’t much. Still when we saw the children again , some of them I swear were wearing the same rags they had on in January we knew we had done a good thing. We had been able to bless a very poor community and to give the praise all to our Lord and Savior.

Pastor Amanuel with some  help from us was able to donate teaching materials to the Pastor and Elder board of the church. All of the material is focused on teaching the children about Jesus and His amazing love for all of His creation, especially His children.  The topic of Amanuel’s message to the congregation was on the importance of raising up our children in Gods Word, the Bible. It is the rainy season now and sadly we were only able to make two very short day  trips into Dungora Buna . The road is so bad that just 10 minutes of rain can make it nearly impassable. We got the landcruiser stuck twice on our first trip in and once on the second trip. Credit  to our driver Dereje for his skill  and competence. Praise to our Lord for keeping us safe and holding the rains at bay while we made the trip in on Saturday and Sunday.

We stayed in a little hotel in the town of Nedjo and were able to walk through  the market place on Saturday afternoon when we had returned from Dungora Buna. Again the extreme poverty really struck us. I hope our photos of this trip will cause you to search your hearts .

Pray for a well for Dungora Buna.

Please pray for Amanuel’s Mother. She came back to Burayu with us . She has not been well.

Please pray for the road to be improved to help provide access to future missions in this area.

Thank you for reading our blog.   In Christ, Carole

Monday was a difficult day for us. Ababa had another attack and when I found her she was rigid and face down in her own vomit. Afraid she might suffocate I lifted her by myself instead of getting help first.  I threw my neck out and have been out of commission since. Sandy has had to bear the bulk of our work load ever since and God Bless her for doing so.

Wednesday morning she and Tigist left very early to shop at a used clothes market in Asco. The objective, to buy as many children’s clothes as we could get for 4oo birr{$29.80 US dollars.  They were able to buy a suitcase full of assorted sizes . With that mission accomplished Sandy and I hopped in a car with Amanuel and went to Addis to buy food and supplies for our journey. We had to look at a potential car and interview a driver, and we  also needed to stop at a Christian book supplier for teaching materials for the church in Dungora Buna. It is such a blessing for Sandy and I to be able to use the money we are given each month for the spreading of the Gospel. Our free rent situation at Kifley’s allows us to spend so much more in our ministry.

Oops - It started raining!

It was very full day and by the time we got back to Burayu I was ‘finished’ as we say here.  As I am writing this blog Sandy is putting the finishing touches on her final exams for Bereket school , thankfully I had mine done before I put my neck out, and Tigist and Ababa are in the bathroom washing all the clothes and hanging them out . I just Pray it doesn’t rain today so that they will dry quickly. Our plans are to depart very early tomorrow, before the sun rises. It will take about 14 hours to reach Nedjo. On our last trip through the Wellega region we saw olive baboons and colobus monkeys. It is a very unspoiled part of Ethiopia. There are still wild animals and life is primitive for most of its inhabitants.

I really feel like I’m in Africa when we are at Dungora Buna. Sometimes here in Burayu it is easy to miss that feeling. Cars and trucks every where and a sort of urban hustle to the street. When we have the opportunity to get off the main road we are back to the rustic agricultural pace of much of Ethiopia. I have to say I like that pace much better having lived my whole life in a rural environment .

On the down side of our trip we will have no internet access and no phone service either. I am writing to all of you today because I will not make my usual weekend post. Upon our return I will post lots of photos and tell you all about our adventure. Time now for me to lay down and get some rest. Tigist and Ababa are nearly finished with the washing and Sandy has taken her exams to the school to be copied.

I am happy to report that Ababa is doing really well for 3 days now with out any attacks. I am praying she will be all right while we are away. You may wonder why she is able to be up doing laundry but she is really fine  between attacks and her and Tigist need the money we are paying them. It is a blessing to me to have their help. Stooping over the bathtub to wash out all those clothes is a bit beyond me right now. To Sandy also, so that she can run the many errands necessary before our departure.  Please Pray for  a safe journey for us.  In Christ’s love ,Carole

This week has seen a few little victories for our ministry. First is how our attempt at setting one of the older kids in the program up in a small business . We had initially tried to start a peanut vending business for Shaweye but her lack of enthusiasm caused us to give the business to Dinqa Chawaqa instead. He grabbed the ball and ran with it! Score! Touchdown!

Not only did he immediately go to work selling he returned a small profit on the nuts and made a suggestion of his own to sell Kolo mix instead. Ok How much? We sent him off to make the necessary purchases and those he also sold at a small profit.Then he suggested selling Shumbra and Suf mix. Ok Which after using our kitchen for the washing , boiling and roasting he was out the door to sell them . Once again at the end of the day he showed up with pockets full of birr, a huge smile and an empty Shumbra bowl.

Dinqa’s U. S. sponsor has generously offered to pay for a stove and bowls so that he can prepare the Shumbra at his own home. For which Sandy and I are very grateful, I love Dinqa but the 2 to 3 hours several times  a week roasting Shumbra in our kitchen is a bit of a strain on our time. And very messy Too. I have to think of the story of the 10 talents. This young man has shown himself faithful with a few and is now trusted with more. Although that was meant as a spiritual lesson I believe it also has a very practical application.  These are the little ways such a small investment can improve the quality of a families life here. Dinqa has shared with me that he would like to be a shopkeeper one day and I know he is developing the skills now at 15 that he will need to make that dream a reality.

Another little success is our friend Hunde. He is back in his father’s house, which is better than being on the streets , but not a whole  lot better. The success is actually his incredible efforts to learn English and apply it to improving his life. This is just a very little boy  yet  he is showing so much potential to Sandy and I. Today he sat with us during part of the conference at the church. We had an exceptionally gifted interpreter today which was such a blessing. Edosa was giving me the Book, Chapter and Verse for us to follow the message and Hunde was using Sandy’s bible to look them up and read them too. I think he was almost as quick as me at finding them. I don’t know for sure how much he comprehended of the message but it was pure joy to watch him searching out the scriptures. He had a friend sitting with us and the 2 of them spent the better part of an hour following the message. They had the distinct advantage of understanding  the Oromo speaking Evangelist.

The message today for this congregation was on the selection of leaders and the need for all of us to mature in the Word , to know the Word of God for ourselves. To live out the Word in our daily walk. That’s one we all need to follow.  As always the worship music was energizing and uplifting. I will miss the enthusiastic form worship takes here in Ethiopia. I pray I can bring it home with me and not become cool again.  It is just so easy to lift up ones arms to the Lord and to clap our hands with praise, to get caught up in the Spirit  here. I find myself swept away by our worship every time. Even though I get very little from the preaching due to the language barrier I still feel my spirit being fed because of the power of  the worship.

On another topic our week began with a heart rending visit form our friend Ababa. She came to our door early on Monday morning wrapped up like a muumy in her shawl. When  we got her in the house and unwrapped we saw her face was horribly swollen and it looked like she had been hit by a truck. It took a while and thankfully Sembeta was here to help translate . It seems she had some sort of seizure or attack during the night and went outside  into the street where she fell down and thrashed against the ground until she passed out. She woke up dirty, bloody, bruised and battered  a few hours later. I don’t know why she came to us, it may be for help paying the doctor ? I do know that she came to our door, the door of Christian friends.

Sandy and I took her to Dr. Feyissa’s clinic where she got very good care. They called in a dentist also. Dr. Mengistu had to remove one of her front teeth then and there ; then we took her  to her house and we ministered to her for 2 days with food and comfort and prayer. We took her back to the dentist on Wednesday and he had to remove 2 more front teeth.  Sandy and I will pay for acrylic front teeth for her, she is young and pretty and we cant bear the thought of her pretty smile with no teeth. We have payed for all her expenses so far. She makes the most beautiful hand woven baskets so it is our hope she can produce enough  to sell . We are hopeful to find a market for them.

What is the most troubling about this experience is that she believes that satan caused her attack. Sandy and I are skeptical about possession but know it does occur. We got her the medical care we could afford and we have been covering her with prayer. If she is truly possessed then she needs Salvation in Christ first, then it can be cast out. Either way she needs salvation. We have chosen to love on her and to continue to minister to her with prayer. Today, Sunday she is finally up and out of her house. She came over to visit us this afternoon, she was smiling . That brought me so much happiness . Her countenance for several days was that of a person in deep grief or shock.  I was very reluctant to blog about this all week, I just have been at a real loss as to how to proceed. I was not even sure how much of the story I should write.  In the west we treat seizures as a purely medical condition but here they are seen more often than not as demonic possessions. If that is what an individual believes is happening to them then their spiritual needs have to be met where they are.

Ababa has yet to accept Jesus as her personal Savior and until she does she will have to remain in her current condition. I know enough to know if it is cast out with out her receiving Christ then she will be worse off than at the start.  This is a matter for prayer. Prayer for discernment for how to help her best. Prayer for her healing physically and prayers for her Salvation.

I have another story to tell on a personal topic so look for the Title next to the’ Be careful what you pray for story’ at the top of our blog home page. I think that covers this week.

Please keep Hunde and Ababa in you prayers.  In Christ’s love, Carole

We had barely made it to the outskirts of Burayu when the pick up we hired stalled on the first big hill. After a few attempts at repair it was decided to seek alternative transport. Amanuel was on  his mobile when the road project manager pulled up, did we need a lift? I guess the assortment of boxes,bags, keyboard and generator etc. stacked along the side of the road were his first clue.

We all piled into his little truck with our gear and we were on the road again. We made it to Gutu without further mishap and found the congregation gathered under a canvas tent outside the little house that serves as the chapel. We unpacked the truck and two of the girls from the choir went right to work making the wat that would be served for lunch.

Sandy and I and Amanuel gathered the local kids together and had lots of fun teaching them songs and telling bible stories with Amanuel’s help translating.

When the kids began to get restless we all walked into the village to visit the marketplace. With Alamitu’s son, Tolossa as our price negotiator we were in good hands. We bought about fifty dough balls {as we call them} and I bought some raw coffee beans and and also some lubanja. Lubanja is this incredible incense made from pieces of bark and pitch and ? that is cast onto a coal fire. Hmmm! is all I can say. I want to bring home a whole suitcase full.

We got back to the Chapel in time for lunch. Sandy and I passed out all the dough balls to the kids, they were so well behaved it left us inspired to work harder with our kids in Burayu. Most of our Burayu kids are being raised by single mothers or grandparents who lack the time or energy to really discipline in the way of manners.We thought it was a cultural problem until we met all the kids in the Gutu congregation.

After lunch we walked to Alamitu’s house. She has the mud up on the inside now and it was still wet and curing. She was so proud to serve coffee to us in the house the Lord built for her. All four of her children were here this time.

You see when we first met her the local witch doctor had swayed her oldest son into serving him and forsaking his mom and her faith. He may be influential but he never built anyone a house. In fact he is in the business of selling spells for protection, sort of ‘spiritual insurance policies’. He is the worse kind of deceiver, preying on peoples superstitions instead of PRAYING for their salvation. It is apparently a lucrative type of business.We continue to pray against his stronghold in this community. Alamitu’s house is a powerful testimony against the forces of darkness.

We made it back to the conference in time for Amanuel to speak to the gathering and also to hear evangelist Saboka speak. The choir with Legalem on the keyboard led us in powerful worship music and soon the whole tent was filled with the Spirit as we all lifted up our Lord and Savior with songs of Praise.

An elderly man was sitting beside me and as is the custom here we take the hands of the people on each side as we pray. He was weeping softly and I held his hand and prayed for the Spirit to make intercession for him. I had no translator and I will never know what troubled his heart, but a little while later he was up front with Amanuel and Saboka and he had tears of joy streaking his face. The Holy Spirit knows our needs and hears our prayers even when we have no words. I left him with one of the Afaan Oromo  bibles we had brought with us to share.

Saboka delivered an awesome alter call and two men came up and received Christ. This group was about 2 thirds men, I counted 40 men and about 20 women plus all the kids. Africa, Ethiopia in particular is desperately in need of Godly men to be strong spiritual leaders in their homes and  communities .

We may never know this side of eternity whose  lives were touched during this conference but we follow our Saviors command to “Go  into all nations, to all men…” Our friend Addis had stuck pretty close to us all day, Sandy met him in the street one day selling eggs and he has been our friend ever since. He is a bit simple and we were so pleased with the way everyone treated him and helped him to feel at ease and useful. He was orphaned as a baby and also has  a malformed hand. It is hard for any young man here but all the more so for one like Addis. He is such a joy to be around, always has a smile for us and is so kind to the children. He made it his responsibility to guard the keyboard on the ride home.

While all of this was going on a bull dozer came down the rough track we had used to come the last few miles to Gutu. The driver was clearing a nice smooth road for our return trip. It seems the road project boss had given him instructions to improve the road all the way to the chapel. A big mercedes truck had also pulled up about the time the dozer was finished. It would be our ride home. It was a full day and the ride home in the open bed of the truck listening to Ethiopian praise songs was an excellent way to end it.

It is Sandy’s and my desire to visit Gutu as often as possible during our time in Burayu. Often the cost of return visits prevents us from the follow ups we would like to do. Gutu is only an hours drive so we are praying we can continue to minister there.

In Christ, Carole

Sululta is located on the edge of a wide open plain at the bottom of the mountains.There is a tremendous amount of industry here, water bottling, dairy production, flower farms and cement factories. There is construction every where you look. We wandered around on some terrible side roads and finally found the little church. It was just a mud and stick house, 3 rooms, situated in a grassy tin fenced compound. The congregation had gathered anticipating our visit and we joined in their worship . Sandy and I each spoke to the congregation and I have to say that Sandy really let the Holy Spirit shine through. She fairly lit up the room. She encouraged the congregation to keep the Gospel of Salvation  foremost, that this life and its struggles are fleeting but  our life  in Christ is Eternal.

We joined in with their worship . I always enjoy the simplicity of worship here. The evangelist played a traditional stringed instrument and a young woman played a jerry can drum. No electricity for speakers and microphones and overhead projectors, not even light bulbs. Pastor Amanuel asked Diriba and the congregation the reason for requesting our visit. Their primary concern was for Oromo Bibles. Secondary was for money to pay for electricity for the church .Thirdly for Kibinesh to be healed of her sickness. Fourthly, for support money for Evangelist Diriba to support his family while preaching to this congregation.

I pray that  electricity doesn’t become a burden rather than a blessing. No electricity , no bill , no burden.

What is the need for this church, aren’t there other churches in Sululta?  There are other churches in Sululta, but this is an Oromo speaking congregation in a predominantly Amharic speaking community. The other churches will not allow Diriba to preach in their churches  in afaan Oromo. We are not talking about a doctrinal problem here ,we are talking about language. This group of believers has had to provide its own facility to meet the needs of the Oromo speaking population. I counted about twenty adults and numerous children. All very poor, another problem with being Oromo in this community.

Are we not all ONE in Christ?  There is no place for cultural, racial or financial pride in the Body of Christ.   Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek , there is neither slave nor free ,  there is neither male nor female ; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

How do we measure up?  Where is our pride? Is it in our God and Savior or in our status?  Is there someone who we think doesn’t meet our standards?  Who we don’t want to worship with?

I am praying that Sandy and I can afford the afaan Oromo bibles  for this little congregation. It seems lately every where we turn some one has their hand out to us. The money seems to fly out of our wallets faster than we can count it.  We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give us discernment and wisdom. Who is truly in need? What is the greatest need? Our  first priority, as Sandy so poignantly pointed out, is to share the Gospel of Salvation.  <><  Carole

With that in mind this weeks prayer requests are:

Afaan Oromo Bibles for the Sululta congregation

Healing for Kibinesh,evangelist Diriba’s wife

Financial support for Diriba and his family as he brings the Gospel to the Oromo people of Sululta

Humility and unity in the Faith of true believers

First I want to tell our readers about our amazing family of friends within the compound where we live. Kifley’s compound includes the two story residence where  we live on the ground floor and an office and furniture manufacturing shop.  Several young men live and work in the compound, Sembeta, Dereje,and Desalla. They work in the office and factory and also serve as compound guards, a necessary part of life in Africa. They live in very tiny rooms just big enough for a bed and a few possessions. There are also a number of women who are day workers here, Ababa, Tigist, Salla and two twin girls whose names escape me at the moment. Salla and Tigist have been let go until Kifley returns from Germany in October . Then there is Babashey and Girma  who work days in the factory. With the exception of the twins all are Christian, either Orthodox or the born again variety.

This week Sandy and I began in earnest to learn to cook wat and also to prepare the coffee ceremony. Sandy focused on the wat making and I took on the coffee ceremony. Tigist and Ababa were very good and patient instructors especially when it came to learning to pound the coffee . Sounds easy, just pour the fire roasted beans into the pestle and pound them into a fine powder. Oh did I forget to mention washing the raw beans and roasting them over a coal fire. Oh and getting a charcoal fire lit with out starter fluid. Ababa was good enough to allow me to pound the beans, Sandy took a turn here too , but after I managed to spill some of the coffee on the ground and smack my thumb a good one Ababa  took over. This will obviously require a bit of practice to develop true skill. It looks so easy though?

Tigist was back and forth between the kitchen and the front porch keeping a watchful eye on our progress.  She got me roasting the beans and I was actually ok at that part of the process. As I mentioned the pounding was a bit more challenging.  Next is the actual boiling of the coffee over the coals. A kettle of water is brought to a boil and the coffee is put into the pot,about 4 handfuls then the water from the kettle is slowly poured into the pot, about half. The ceramic pot is then placed in the coal fire and watched closely, when it boils for one minute or so a sample is poured out and tested for color. Serving has its own special nuances that I had not fully  understood until my instructor pointed out my shortcomings. The cups are placed on the saucers and sugar or salt are put in the cups[ be sure to not mix them up] Uggghh! Some folks here like salt in their coffee and sugar on the popcorn.

All this while Sandy has been in the kitchen with Tigist and Ababa cooking Kai wat [meat wat] and cabbage ,potato, carrot wat [wat is basically anything in thick stew form that can be eaten with the injuera] and also a type of rice that is similar to dirty rice.

A true Ethiopian feast. Oh back to the coffee, Sandy made the popcorn in the kitchen on the gas burner but traditionally it too is cooked on the coals.

Coffee, where was I ,Well it seems I made a little mix up and served one of the twins a cup with sugar and salt. I did manage to serve Tigist’s mother her cup with out any error but then there is the matter of how to actually pour. It must be done with the cups on the tray and you start low over the cup and gradually increase the height from which you are pouring. Needless to say I made quite a mess out of the tray. I will definitely need to develop my technique.

I am looking forward to my next opportunity to practice. Good thing we have a compound full of ready victims, I mean guests. So we served a lovely feast to our whole compound complete with coffee and popcorn.  I think every one  enjoyed the meal. I have not acquired the taste for injuera yet. The wat was excellent  both the Kai wat and the carrot wat. Just to make it uniquely our own we also added toasted marshmallows to the menu, after all we had a hot coal fire right there. Pastor Amanuel was invited to share our feast and coffee and it was his first experience with toasted marshmallows. True to form he went right to work evangelizing the twins, they listened courteously to him, we will continue to pray for the girls.

The fellowship we share in our compound is amazing all on its own. An average of ten people are here working in some capacity every day and yet we have a genuinely harmonious environment. That is a tremendous blessing from our Lord. Perhaps it is the peaceful garden setting or maybe it is  the effort of true Christians working  together, loving one another , being kind and tenderhearted, forgiving one another  as God has forgiven us  in Christ.      <><  CW

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The house itself is just a one room structure of sticks and mud with a tin roof.  Again very typical for Burayu. The bunk along one wall and a couple of chairs were the only furnishings, a few baskets hung on the wall.  When I took the kids photo it revealed  a cross drawn on the wall. We had not seen it before because there was no light and no window ,only the door. It was a tidy little space like the yard outside. They live here with their father. He is a pleasant man and Markamo has his dads smile. Maskaram is a very quiet girl and we never have any trouble with her or with Markamo. She is one of the girls who is always hugging on us. Such affectionate people, the children even more so. Just one of many reasons why it is so easy to fall in love with Ethiopia and its people.

We realized we were close to the church construction site so we decided to walk over and check on the progress there  but that is another blog.    <><  CW

It is just a large tin shed roof structure  big enough for both a day and night guard to share and to store building supplies and tools in. We were happy to see a bunk had been built along one wall and also a small bench. Both hand made  from eucalyptus poles. The structure itself is made from the poles and then has a corrugated metal skin.

On Thursday Sandy and I had walked the 2 miles up to the site and realized when we got there how the guardhouse  had no creature comforts whatsoever. BTW by creature comforts I mean things like a jug for hauling water, a charcoal stove for cooking ,a basin for washing dishes and a larger tub for doing laundry, candles, blankets and food staples would be nice too.

So after a short visit with the two guards and Abate the contractor we walked back to town discussing the matter of supplying the guard house. We quickly agreed we could afford the supplies. Shopping is just plain fun especially when it is for someone else who has such a great need. Being a guard doesn’t pay much, being a guard for a church pays even less. The supplies we purchased will remain as church property, in the event the guards quit we wont need to resupply.

We called Pastor Amanuel to see if he had time to go up to the site with us and the supplies and make sure the guards understood the supplies belong to the Full Gospel Church. He was quite surprised by our purchases. It seemed he and the church elders had just finished a meeting where they had been discussing the very matter of how to afford the additional expense of supplying the guard house. They had prayed for God to provide a way. Isn’t our God a great and awesome God!

If you are ever wondering where the money goes that my sponsors  send to support me this is a perfect example. On the way home from the site on Saturday we passed a man carrying two big sacks of charcoal . We asked each other did you see if they had any charcoal at the guardhouse? I didn’t see any. OK. Yes we bought both bags of charcoal and Sandy returned to the site with the man carrying the coal.

I came home and mopped up the muddy mess from hauling water from our house up the street to our Kids club so that we could wash the kids hands before meals and also to wash up the dishes. The current location of the church and kids club does not have a water storage tank {neither does the new site} so any time the power is out or the city water is shut off we have no water for our needs. Running water is just another of those things we so take for granted in America. Not only is it piped right into our home, it is also safe to drink and we have water heaters too!

Bayush and I and Mimi took turns carrying the water jug on a broom stick between us.  I really need to take a photo of that for this blog. Anyway we thread the stick through the handle on the jug and each person takes and end of the stick. The jug ways about 8o pounds when full so it is tough to carry alone all though we often see  women and children doing so. They wrap a shawl around the jug and squat down and hoist it on to their back and lean over and carry it like that.

I am grateful to live in a house that has water storage tanks and a water heater in the bathroom. We still have to heat water for our dishes but that is a small inconvenience comparatively. The cost for a storage tank is around 1500 birr, that’s about  $110 US dollars a seemingly small amount of money until you realize that the average wage earner in Burayu makes about 350 birr for a month of work. $26. Dollars. It is no wonder they eat injeura and wat every day.  It is all they can afford.

Well I seem to have wandered off topic.  At any rate our guardhouse is now supplied with cooking fuel and many of the necessary items to make life a little more comfortable. God is good all the time!

If I haven’t said thank you to all of my sponsors lately, THANK YOU ! Your faithful pledges to support me are actually helping many of the people Sandy and I have come to see as our Family in  Ethiopia.

Faithfully Yours In Christ, Carole