Friday, March 4, 2011

IHH Ethiopia

***Edited: NEW travel dates***

Psalm 68:31 says "Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God." IHH, by God's grace, is privileged to be part of God reaching this amazing, historical, ancient land and the people who are so precious to Him. Their hands ARE outstretched. They are ready.

This past January, a team of 4 visited our ministry partners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where IHH has worked since 2009. The team went as part of a vision/planning trip. It was an amazing 10 days! The team consisted of Cyndi, (the wife of IHH President, Luke Krawietz) their daughter Bethany, as well as two family friends. During their time in Ethiopia, they were privileged to get updates from and strengthen our partnerships, meet with IHH's sponsor children, gather information about future involvement in projects, as well as pray through the possibility of returning with a team this coming summer. We held orphans, laughed and danced with children, ministered to widows, visited those who live in a dump, walked over 3 miles for water with those who don't have clean water in their village, and had a God-ordained time of allowing Him to break our hearts for what breaks His.

As a result of the trip as well as much prayer on the part of our board, we are pleased to let you know that we are planning to return to Ethiopia!

Travel dates: July 7-17, 2011 January 3-13, 2012
Cost: $2,800
Deposit: $350
Accomodations: Ethiopia Guest Home (http://www.ethiopiaguesthome.com/)
Purpose: James 1:27- visiting widows and orphans in their distress, evangelism, and compassion ministry
Our work will include:
  • Working in our partner village of Bole Bulbula, playing games with the children, distributing donations and clothing, doing evangelism, prayer-walking, home-visits, supporting the local church's outreach to children and widows, and partcipating in another "water walk"- taking a walk in their shoes as they get their water for the day.
  • Visits to 3 orphanages- hugging and holding orphans "in their distress."
  • Playing games and doing crafts in 2 Compassion Family International drop-in centers where very disadvantaged children are able to receive preschool education and one meal a day while their parent(s) work to provide for them.
  • Visiting the people who live at Korah, the trash dump. We will be partnering with a vibrant church that is situated right in the middle of the dump, reaching the outcasts who live there with the message of HOPE. You can learn more about Korah here: http://vimeo.com/13771428
Other ministry plans are in the works, but this gives you an idea of some of the exciting ways God is at work, and how we can directly be a part of it. We plan to post more specifics about our work in Ethiopia in the coming weeks. Here is a video with some glimpses of the beautiful people we are privileged to serve there.



If you feel that Ethiopia could be where God is calling you this summer, complete a mission trip interest form here or email us via our website.

1 comment:

  1. What a beautiful video. I used to live in Ethiopia, in Addis. I visited Entoto Mountain, went to the very top and found a little school up there. I am writing about it now, and hope that somehow I can come back and visit and help. Right now I cannot afford it, but someday.

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