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Dear Friends and Family,
I'm sorry if you were a little confused when I said they were on the plane in Germany. I was having a hard time understanding Pastor Mike and what he was saying was that he would call when they got to Germany, which he did around 4am. He said they were about an hour delayed in take off, but I checked their flight status via the MIA website and it says they are scheduled to arrive at 1:40pm.
So I just wanted to clear up any confusion about when they arrived in Germany and to let you all know their new arrival time.
This is the link to check the flight status:
http://webvids.miami-airport.com/webfids/
See you at the airport!
Blessings,
Heather
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
the last leg of the journey
Pastor Mike called as they were on the plane in Germany and wanted everyone to know that they had made it through fine, all the luggage was accounted for, and they were all on board settling in for the flight. Let's pray that they get some rest on the flight - they have worked hard and will need it!
Blessings,
Heather
Blessings,
Heather
traveling home
Dear Friends and Family,
Pastor Mike called just as they were getting ready to leave. They had a nice day today, starting the morning off with a prayer walk and then went to the orphanage. Most of the children in the orphanage were there due to loss of family from HIV/AIDS or because of abuse. They were able to really love on the children and help them to feel the love of God.
They spent the evening shopping and then headed to the airport. I am giving you the flight information, please remember that you need to pick your student up at the Miami International Airport when they arrive.
Lufthansa Airlines LH 591 / LH 462 ADDIS ABABA to MIAMI (Via Frankfurt)
Leaves 9:40PM and Arrives 1:25pm on 4/14
Pray for safe travel.
Blessings,
Heather
Pastor Mike called just as they were getting ready to leave. They had a nice day today, starting the morning off with a prayer walk and then went to the orphanage. Most of the children in the orphanage were there due to loss of family from HIV/AIDS or because of abuse. They were able to really love on the children and help them to feel the love of God.
They spent the evening shopping and then headed to the airport. I am giving you the flight information, please remember that you need to pick your student up at the Miami International Airport when they arrive.
Lufthansa Airlines LH 591 / LH 462 ADDIS ABABA to MIAMI (Via Frankfurt)
Leaves 9:40PM and Arrives 1:25pm on 4/14
Pray for safe travel.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Sunday
Dear Friends and Family,
This morning the team went to a church that was the biggest church in Ethiopia, with 10,000 people who attend. While they were there they had the opportunity to hear a choir from a Korean church that was visiting. The Korean church that the choir came from is the biggest church in the world. So in one service they were Christians from North America, Africa and East Asia...the 3 churches together represented close to 130,000 believers from across the world! What an awesome experience! Pastor Mike had an opportunity to share with he congregation, taking a moment to make a bald joke with the pastor there...saying that they had the same haircut.
After church Alex Seagraves had the opportunity to meet her sponsored child. Compassion transported this boy 3 hours (one way) to get him to meet her and the team. Some of our guys gave him some of their clothes. This young man, who is 14 years old but by size looks more around 11 years old, was able to share what it has meet to be sponsored and how appreciative he and his family are that gift. They were able to share lunch with him, which Pastor Mike said was one of the best meals they had had the whole trip.
In the evening they had a cultural dinner, do their team debrief, and relax and play some games. During their debrief they talked specifically about what they have experienced socially, physically, emotionally and spiritually and what they have learned and what they will take back to the States.
Tomorrow they will go to an orphanage that has 100-200 children, they do not have the specifics of what they will be doing but they are excited to see what God has in store for them.
They asked specifically for prayer for their last day of ministry and for safety as they leave tomorrow night to travel home.
This morning the team went to a church that was the biggest church in Ethiopia, with 10,000 people who attend. While they were there they had the opportunity to hear a choir from a Korean church that was visiting. The Korean church that the choir came from is the biggest church in the world. So in one service they were Christians from North America, Africa and East Asia...the 3 churches together represented close to 130,000 believers from across the world! What an awesome experience! Pastor Mike had an opportunity to share with he congregation, taking a moment to make a bald joke with the pastor there...saying that they had the same haircut.
After church Alex Seagraves had the opportunity to meet her sponsored child. Compassion transported this boy 3 hours (one way) to get him to meet her and the team. Some of our guys gave him some of their clothes. This young man, who is 14 years old but by size looks more around 11 years old, was able to share what it has meet to be sponsored and how appreciative he and his family are that gift. They were able to share lunch with him, which Pastor Mike said was one of the best meals they had had the whole trip.
In the evening they had a cultural dinner, do their team debrief, and relax and play some games. During their debrief they talked specifically about what they have experienced socially, physically, emotionally and spiritually and what they have learned and what they will take back to the States.
Tomorrow they will go to an orphanage that has 100-200 children, they do not have the specifics of what they will be doing but they are excited to see what God has in store for them.
They asked specifically for prayer for their last day of ministry and for safety as they leave tomorrow night to travel home.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Day 9 - wrapping up
Dear Friends and Family,
This morning Pastor Mike, Leah, Jordan, Paul, Elijah, Woody, and Patrick got up at 5:30am to see the sunrise. The way Pastor Mike described the sun beams breaking through the clouds over the Africa landscape was magnificent and another reminder of God's splendor.
Christabel said that today was the most tiring day. They did VBS from 9am - 4 pm. They were all pretty tired on their way to the site and most of them fell asleep in the bus on the way over. When they arrived they prayed for alertness and that God would give them an extra measure of strength. The VBS they did for the kids under 8 was a mixture of Compassion sponsored students and kids from the neighborhood. The VBS for the 12-15 year olds was a different feel, they were really encouraging them to see this time as something that they can learn to teach the younger students.
The team unity is wonderful and even at the end of the trip everyone is taking ownership and really following through on their responsibilities.
Pastor Mike's team had a harder time in the morning with their VBS do to some translation issues, but they managed to get everything worked out and things went smoothly from then on. They had lunch with some of the church members and elder and then went back for their second VBS group. Before they started the 2nd VBS, Leah noticed 3 young men speaking to one another in American Sign Language and she was able to have a 5-10 minute conversation with them solely using sign. What a God appointment that was!
They played red light-green light during their VBS and used it as a way to illustrate times when God tells us to go forward and when He tells us to stop.
It rained quite a bit in the evening and the team was able to spend some good time together in debrief.
Tomorrow they will go to church in the morning, have lunch with the church staff, do some shopping and get ready to travel home.
Blessings, Heather
This morning Pastor Mike, Leah, Jordan, Paul, Elijah, Woody, and Patrick got up at 5:30am to see the sunrise. The way Pastor Mike described the sun beams breaking through the clouds over the Africa landscape was magnificent and another reminder of God's splendor.
Christabel said that today was the most tiring day. They did VBS from 9am - 4 pm. They were all pretty tired on their way to the site and most of them fell asleep in the bus on the way over. When they arrived they prayed for alertness and that God would give them an extra measure of strength. The VBS they did for the kids under 8 was a mixture of Compassion sponsored students and kids from the neighborhood. The VBS for the 12-15 year olds was a different feel, they were really encouraging them to see this time as something that they can learn to teach the younger students.
The team unity is wonderful and even at the end of the trip everyone is taking ownership and really following through on their responsibilities.
Pastor Mike's team had a harder time in the morning with their VBS do to some translation issues, but they managed to get everything worked out and things went smoothly from then on. They had lunch with some of the church members and elder and then went back for their second VBS group. Before they started the 2nd VBS, Leah noticed 3 young men speaking to one another in American Sign Language and she was able to have a 5-10 minute conversation with them solely using sign. What a God appointment that was!
They played red light-green light during their VBS and used it as a way to illustrate times when God tells us to go forward and when He tells us to stop.
It rained quite a bit in the evening and the team was able to spend some good time together in debrief.
Tomorrow they will go to church in the morning, have lunch with the church staff, do some shopping and get ready to travel home.
Blessings, Heather
Friday, April 10, 2009
Day 8 - a Passover picture they'll never forget
Dear Friends and Family,
The first thing Christabel said was, "we worked hard today"! They continued their work on the basketball and volleyball courts, filling in the volleyball court with the sand needed. They were able to test out their work with a game of volleyball, American's vs. Ethiopians, where the American team was not so successful!
They also did a home visit, Christabel commented, "the homes just keep getting smaller and smaller." Today they meet a single mom with 2 boys, whose husband had recently passed away. The mom is able to work only occasionally, baking a native bread called 'anjerra' for a resort. When she does this she makes about a $1 per week, her rent is $4 per month, so she barely gets by, but is thankful that Compassion helps with her boys education and food. They were able to encourage them to lean on the Lord and be strong by His strength. Christabel said that the students are being affected by the size of the homes and the conditions the people live in.
Pastor Mike's team continued their varnishing and painting projects but also took some time to build relationships and played some volleyball and soccer with the students and staff on site. They had lunch with the Compassion staff and church workers. Patrick was able to teach one young man how to play the guitar, he had never played before and by the time Patrick was done with him he was able to play a whole song.
They did a home visit to a family of 5 who live in a one room (6x10 foot) mud hut. The Compassion child there was a16 year old girl who had been sponsored for 11 years. She was very quiet and soft spoken, but so thankful for what she had and hoped to use the education she was receiving to become a nurse. Pastor Mike said how eye opening it is for the students to see these poorest of the poor.
The evening concluded with bonfire, but one unlike the students had ever experienced before. For us s'mores are a typical bonfire treat; for the Ethiopians roasting a lamb is their custom. What an opportunity the team had to learn first hand the symbolism of Isaiah 43 and the slaughtering of the passover lamb this Good Friday. Pastor Mike spoke with the team and prepared them for what was going to happen and each step of the way illustrated how Jesus laid down his life for us and made the ultimate sacrifice. Several of the students were able to help with the process, and by the end of the time everyone had a choice if they would like to eat some of the lamb and everyone took a bite, even the ones who don't eat very much meat. Truly this will be a Good Friday they do not forget.
Tomorrow they will finish up some of their projects and begin to pack up. Sunday they will have church and then head to the capital; they will be able to do some site seeing and shopping and then head home late Monday night.
Blessings, Heather
The first thing Christabel said was, "we worked hard today"! They continued their work on the basketball and volleyball courts, filling in the volleyball court with the sand needed. They were able to test out their work with a game of volleyball, American's vs. Ethiopians, where the American team was not so successful!
They also did a home visit, Christabel commented, "the homes just keep getting smaller and smaller." Today they meet a single mom with 2 boys, whose husband had recently passed away. The mom is able to work only occasionally, baking a native bread called 'anjerra' for a resort. When she does this she makes about a $1 per week, her rent is $4 per month, so she barely gets by, but is thankful that Compassion helps with her boys education and food. They were able to encourage them to lean on the Lord and be strong by His strength. Christabel said that the students are being affected by the size of the homes and the conditions the people live in.
Pastor Mike's team continued their varnishing and painting projects but also took some time to build relationships and played some volleyball and soccer with the students and staff on site. They had lunch with the Compassion staff and church workers. Patrick was able to teach one young man how to play the guitar, he had never played before and by the time Patrick was done with him he was able to play a whole song.
They did a home visit to a family of 5 who live in a one room (6x10 foot) mud hut. The Compassion child there was a16 year old girl who had been sponsored for 11 years. She was very quiet and soft spoken, but so thankful for what she had and hoped to use the education she was receiving to become a nurse. Pastor Mike said how eye opening it is for the students to see these poorest of the poor.
The evening concluded with bonfire, but one unlike the students had ever experienced before. For us s'mores are a typical bonfire treat; for the Ethiopians roasting a lamb is their custom. What an opportunity the team had to learn first hand the symbolism of Isaiah 43 and the slaughtering of the passover lamb this Good Friday. Pastor Mike spoke with the team and prepared them for what was going to happen and each step of the way illustrated how Jesus laid down his life for us and made the ultimate sacrifice. Several of the students were able to help with the process, and by the end of the time everyone had a choice if they would like to eat some of the lamb and everyone took a bite, even the ones who don't eat very much meat. Truly this will be a Good Friday they do not forget.
Tomorrow they will finish up some of their projects and begin to pack up. Sunday they will have church and then head to the capital; they will be able to do some site seeing and shopping and then head home late Monday night.
Blessings, Heather
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Day 7
The team was back in Debre Zeit today. Christabel's team did some work in the morning digging and preparing the way for a basketball and volleyball court on the Compassion property. Despite the hard and grueling work the team had a good attitude and worked hard.
After that they went to do another home visit where they meet a single mom and her 7 year old daughter. Although the daughter had been a part of the Compassion program for 2 years she had just recently been sponsored. They were able to speak with them about the importance of acknowledging God in heaven and had a time to present the gospel to them. Their religious background was very orthodox so they stressed the importance of a relationship with God as a Father.
Pastor Mike's team did work varnishing the outer walls (which are a mixture of mud, clay and brick) at the Compassion site. They also did some painting on the interior.
They visited a home where they meet a young man who has been sponsored by Compassion for 13 years. He told them he wanted to be an economist so that he could work to help the poverty in his country.
In the evening they went for a hike and played mafia together. Tomorrow they will have a campfire with some Compassion student in the evening.
The update were shorter today, they were very tired and said that the work is good and the team is all doing well, but they are all very ready for bed when the time comes.
Blessings,Heather
After that they went to do another home visit where they meet a single mom and her 7 year old daughter. Although the daughter had been a part of the Compassion program for 2 years she had just recently been sponsored. They were able to speak with them about the importance of acknowledging God in heaven and had a time to present the gospel to them. Their religious background was very orthodox so they stressed the importance of a relationship with God as a Father.
Pastor Mike's team did work varnishing the outer walls (which are a mixture of mud, clay and brick) at the Compassion site. They also did some painting on the interior.
They visited a home where they meet a young man who has been sponsored by Compassion for 13 years. He told them he wanted to be an economist so that he could work to help the poverty in his country.
In the evening they went for a hike and played mafia together. Tomorrow they will have a campfire with some Compassion student in the evening.
The update were shorter today, they were very tired and said that the work is good and the team is all doing well, but they are all very ready for bed when the time comes.
Blessings,Heather
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