(Jared's Journal Entry)
We awake again to the sound of vain repetition. Men praying into loud speakers to be heard by man not God. ....."And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you pray, do not heap up vain repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words." Matthew 6:5-7 the words of Jesus
Sleep in Africa is like cell and Internet service, not guaranteed, spotty, and will let you down. God's provision for the lack of sleep is increased awareness and walking with the Spirit, and strong delicious coffee. I hope to bring both home with me. I enjoy a nice cup of coffee and a sweet time in the word before breakfast.
After breakfast we head to the feeding program organized by Yzelelem Minch ("never ending spring") See Isaiah 58:11. This ministry was started by the owner of the guest house where we are staying. This woman is an incredible testimony of the power of God working through his people. Through her guest home she trains and employs 5 women and 2 men. Through Blue Nile Coffee, she provides widows and orphans with work and income roasting coffee beans that are sold locally, and online to the US. Additional proceeds go to Yzelelem Minch, which can also be found online I am told. This ministry provides widows and orphans with education, skilled training, food, income, medical care, etc. Seeing it first hand is incredible. We start at their office and learn about their ministry, and then head to the compound where they feed. This ministry is incredible! The children are happy, fed, loved, and have a big family.... It's not perfect, it's not Norman Rockwell, but neither is yours. The women that serve are local widows. They serve in many ways as mothers to the children. These women have their own business through YM. They buy and cook the meals and charge per child. Today's meal is rice with onions, peppers, and Berbery (Ethiopian spice), fresh bread, and banana. It looked and smelled great. We got to serve food, interact with the children, all while praising God for using his church to meet the needs of others. This was one of the happiest moments of our trip. The ministry is a beautiful picture of discipleship. Men training boys and women training girls to love God and work hard. Their hard work is rewarded with employment, family, food, health care, and love. Some of the older children work part time after school roasting coffee beans. This provides them with income and keeps them out of trouble.
As the children were finishing up eating, the first rain of the rainy season hits and downpours for about an hour. People gather in the tin shacks and in the concrete school house.
While gathered inside the school house I notice the eldest widow shivering from the cold front. She is a bigger woman especially for Africa, very healthy, not fat, strong and broad, probably 65 years old, but it is hard to tell here. During the feeding she had taken charge and would shoot me hard looks if I wasn't keeping up. She was stern, but had a fun soft side. I noticed her rubbing her arms trying to keep warm since the rain had brought down the temperature some. Some verses hit me in the heart.....And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." Luke 3:11 and "He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18. My mind goes straight to the Mountain Hardware rain jacket in my bag, perfect for this climate, that is why I brought it. Really like that coat. I reach in my bag and take it out to her. She is sitting on the tin covered porch watching it rain like everyone else. Somewhere in Ethiopia there is an old widow with a nice Mountain Hardware rain coat. So far this is the highlight of my trip. She was thrilled and grabbed my face and hugged me. When I went back inside Betsy said, "Why didn't you give my jacket away too?" So I sent her out to give another woman her jacket. What a honor it was to give our jackets away.
The YM ministry supports 1400 orphans but only has sponsorship for 800 of them. Money is tight. They are praying for government approval for land for expansion. Part of their vision is to raise up leaders from the children in the program to expand to other areas in the city and surrounding villages. They have been successful at this. Burkitan who started YM is a product of World Vision, very similar to YM but much larger and global. Because of their work providing education, health care, and feeding programs, the government should give them the land they need. They still need sponsors to take in more children from off of the street, and to cover the 600 that don't have sponsors.
After the feeding we return to the guest house for traditional lunch and traditional coffee. The coffee is more of a ceremony. They take the beans and roast them, then grind them by hand. It is amazing coffee. I will bring this tradition home with us and share with my son. It's too cool not to and is perfect for camping or campfire activity.
The rest of the day is relaxing and fellowship with the friends we have made at the guest house.
We needed today. We saw some sad things but saw more happy things. It is an encouraging thing to see God at work through the obedience of his church.
Tomorrow is a 2 hour drive out of the city to a mountain with baboons and hiking. Pumped!!
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