It’s my turn to blog! (Erin)
Here in Ethiopia, they follow the Orthodox calendar, so they are gearing up for Christmas on Tuesday, January 7. Many of the local businesses have red and green balloons around their doors, tinsel garlands, and even some fake Christmas trees. One of the local traditions is to spread long grass on the floor, especially around the set up for the daily coffee ceremony, which is often served with popcorn. (See photo)
It’s the Sunday before Christmas and we experienced a special worship service this morning! There were a few differences from Hope Church, but many more similarities! As guests of honor, we were ushered to the front row. We sat down in blue plastic patio chairs and were warmly greeted by a row of adorable children behind us. A few of them were proud to practice the few English phrases that they knew.
After a time of prayer, the music started. We had no idea what the words were, but there were a few familiar tunes we could hum along with. One song even had a few verses in English. There was a worship team with an electric guitar and keyboards that led for awhile then another group came up to sing for us and lead us in more songs. We sang for over an hour!
Our team was asked to come on stage so they could present us with gifts of appreciation for HOE (Hope for Orphans of Ethiopia) ministries and Hope Church. We were each given the opportunity to say a few words to the congregation, which were then translated for those who didn’t know English. Then the kids (about 50) all gathered in the front as a little girl came up and recited the biblical account of the Christmas story. It was impressive! (See photo) They were then dismissed for their classes. I was very impressed with how well behaved the children were for that first hour and a half of worship.
Once the children left, a guest speaker was introduced. I wish I knew what he was saying. He seemed very engaging and the congregation laughed often. Frew (our local host) translated a few key points for us, but I know we missed out on a good sermon. Even though there was a language barrier, I felt comfortable worshiping with them. It was evident that God was there in our midst and it was great spending a morning with other believers.
After church, a group of ladies came to the church for lunch. (See photo) These are 22 women that have been selected to be part of the HOE project. They are very poor, either widows or single moms and they all have HIV. These factors make it nearly impossible for them to survive here, so HOE is giving them a chance. Megsana is the local project officer for HOE. She meets monthly with the women to foster community and help them build relationships with each other. They also receive individual counseling, financial support, and help with medical care. Most importantly, they learn about the love of Jesus, through singing and biblical teaching. The goal is for each woman to become financially independent. They receive help writing a business plan, often receiving seed money to start their business and encouragement along the way. We heard testimonies from 6 of the women. They told stories of coming from extreme poverty and sickness into “the project” at HOE ministries where they found help and people that loved them. They all expressed deep gratitude for HOE and the hope that it has given them.
It’s been so helpful to see firsthand what HOE is doing here and the positive impact that our church’s generosity is having here in Ethiopia. I hope that you are starting to see it too!
Erin Richter
