tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52450515821700570352024-03-05T01:01:56.118-08:00That We Might Be AdoptedMission 1:27 EthiopiaBecky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.comBlogger730125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-79204284673160144272016-06-27T11:42:00.000-07:002016-06-28T08:26:46.787-07:00We're taking you to our new blog page!Wait just a minute - you're almost there!<br />
<a href="https://m127.org/blog/">https://m127.org/blog/</a><br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-68885767649179044452016-05-05T15:32:00.000-07:002016-05-05T15:32:31.685-07:00Enough to EatMeet Olana. He is married to Tadelu and they have two beautiful daughters still living at home with them, Mabirat and Obse. <br />
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Olana rounded up some of his neighbors to help him build a little one room house made of sticks and mud for his family to live in, way out in the Western part of Ethiopia near Dembidollo. <br />
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Olana has dangerously high blood pressure which means he often cannot work and is in and out of the hospital. The effects of many years of malnutrition have left Tadelu very weak. Thankfully, the girls are going to school - Mabirat is 18 years old in the 9th grade and Obse is 14 and attends 7th grade. These two walk a great distance each day to get water from the river as their house has no running water - or electricity for that matter. <br />
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We are seeking a sponsor for this family, assuring them of enough food to eat each day. <i>Imagine that...</i> only $50/month to meet this most basic of needs. Your help will be received with so much gratitude!<br />
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To sponsor Olana and Tadelu, or another family in similar need, please visit our website <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/donations-page/adoption-family/" target="_blank">here</a>. <b>THANK YOU</b> for partnering with us in feeding the poor!<br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-363193386323945972016-05-02T03:00:00.000-07:002016-05-02T03:00:08.704-07:00Relationships Build Churches<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">by Joy Casey</span></em><br />
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Mission 1:27 supports indigenous, same-culture missionaries in thirteen villages throughout Ethiopia. The men serving come from M*slim backgrounds and are tireless in sharing the good news. The villages are patriarchal tribal communities and family and community relationships are highly valued. The villages have no books or libraries, no internet, few cell phones, no electricity and no place to go, so social outlets involve each other. <br />
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Jesus framed the first mission very simply… “The one who receives you receives Me.” It was more critical that His messengers were received than believed. The gospel has always been more than a message; it is an introduction to life under Christ’s lordship. When His messengers have connected with others in significant relationships, Christ can be introduced in powerful ways. (<a href="http://www.perspectives.org/" target="_blank">Perspectives</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zYCDyR2sVm0/VybVR3Ewn1I/AAAAAAAALeo/e8VhYpEhGQg/s1600-h/MWM_1657%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="MWM_1657" border="0" height="428" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rf5kkexaY9I/VybVSf_zO4I/AAAAAAAALes/ISuqOtVUKjQ/MWM_1657_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="MWM_1657" width="644" /></a><br />
Because we are working in tribal societies, the key to sharing the gospel is forging personal relationships. Same-culture missionaries purposefully move to a village where Christianity has never been presented in truth and love and where less than 1% of the population are Christ-followers. Several villages boasted zero Christ-followers until the missionary moved there. They begin integrating their families into village life by inviting neighbors over for traditional coffee ceremony and helping neighbors with projects. The women visit and lend a hand with chores such as hauling water. They build friendships by sharing in the day-to-day life of procuring and preparing food and caring for children.<br />
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The evangelist will find a person of peace and, after building a friendship relationship, will begin talking to him about what the Q*ran says about Isa. A dialogue using the familiar Q*ranic “voice” breaks down barriers and biblical truth can then be sensitively introduced. If the person of peace is an influential man in the community, it is doubly good if he accepts Christ. Because of the group mentality of the people, a leader can impact his family and neighbors and can more easily win over groups of people.<br />
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When someone shows interest in learning more about Jesus, there are several booklets available to confirm initial conversations and to give more in-depth information. One is a discipleship book called <i>Following Jesus</i> and the others explain the origins and contradictions of the M*slim religion and M*hammad along with a testimony of a M*slim man who came to Christ. There is also the Jesus film available in their language, and battery-run projectors can be made available to show the film, which is very effective. Because illiteracy runs high, solar-powered audio bibles are available in every church plant and can be listened to individually with ear buds or groups can hear God’s word spoken through the amazingly good speakers.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HKIXOmvpZVw/VybVTMT1dhI/AAAAAAAALew/kcNVotkkSrM/s1600-h/3%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="3" border="0" height="428" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mYsbicc_gnM/VybVT8lj_MI/AAAAAAAALe0/TEOoLGI-A4M/3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="3" width="644" /></a><br />
When a person or a family group comes to know the Lord, personal discipleship is essential. The evangelist initiates prayer times and holds Bible studies for all the new Christians and has the great privilege of baptizing them in a nearby lake. In the smaller villages, converts meet in each other’s homes until they outgrow the available room. In M*slim-dominated areas the recent climate has become much more intolerant of allowing Christian churches to be built anywhere. To solve this problem, converts in the outlying areas are donating their own land as a place to build a center for worship when they outgrow the house church. Leaders from the converts are selected for special teaching and taught strategies to reach their people. The results are spectacular in some settings and agonizingly slow in others. When it is impossible to create a central worship center, house churches begat house churches and the church is multiplied in this way. It is not ideal, though, because corporate worship and Bible teaching is effective in this culture to build community and also to offer group encouragement when converts are initially ostracized or experience overt persecution. However, the new Christ-followers remain in their village and eventually find acceptance as before.<br />
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In a few days I leave for Ethiopia and will be visiting many of the church plants. I am especially eager to visit one town where 250 villagers have decided to follow Jesus and two generous donors have provided for a church to be built. In another area, family groups are coming to the Lord and they are receiving in-depth instruction for one week followed by baptism. They are then sent back to their homes with Jesus’ instructions, “Make disciples.” We are hoping to experience spontaneous multiplication of churches as these individuals reach out to their extended family and neighbors. We are working in areas where we are wonderfully over our head and anything that is accomplished for the kingdom is because of the Holy Spirit in partnership with obedient people. It is an exciting time!<br />
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If you would like to help us in reaching many more people with the Truth of the Jesus Christ, you can donate to support his work <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/product-category/evangelists-needs-any-amount/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-23821393689506410602016-05-01T02:00:00.000-07:002016-05-01T02:00:10.191-07:00Melkam Fasika!Today is Easter Sunday in Ethiopia - called <strong>Fasika</strong> in Amharic - celebrating the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. During the 56 days of Lent in Ethiopia, Orthodox Christians don't eat or buy any animal products. On Palm Sunday, people wear head bands and rings made of palm leaves with crosses marked on them.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8C_n4vQKaY/VyVGPRj-EwI/AAAAAAAALd8/xHwOCbwPPg0/s1600-h/top10_easter_ethiopian%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Source: Time.com" border="0" height="331" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-16dVOkCnPH4/VyVGP3jdcFI/AAAAAAAALeA/jShoISMg-s8/top10_easter_ethiopian_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="" width="504" /></a> <br />
The first Easter Orthodox church service actually starts at 8.00pm on Easter Saturday night and lasts until 3.00 am on Easter Sunday morning! Most people go to the whole service and wear their best clothes. These are often white and are called 'Yabesha Libs'. <br />
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After Easter services in all Christian churches, people go back to their homes for a breakfast to celebrate the end of Lent with a bread or dabo. It is traditional that the bread is cut by a priest or by the head man in the family. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y_KVrdL5mUo/VyVGQppgmlI/AAAAAAAALeE/MUveCp-41uk/s1600-h/DSC_7096%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_7096" border="0" height="429" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0mUpAFzmnJU/VyVGREbnIPI/AAAAAAAALeI/VeL4b49VZlc/DSC_7096_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_7096" width="647" /></a> <br />
The main Easter meal is eaten in the afternoon. The meal normally consists of injera and, for those who can afford it, it is eaten with a mutton or lamb stew called 'beg wot'. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NNgcGe1f9-o/VyVGSSxPM3I/AAAAAAAALeM/22AlRJo6AE4/s1600-h/Ethiopia%2525202008%252520Lindsey%252520434%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ethiopia 2008 Lindsey 434" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RkxkHtOrrlM/VyVGS9dGXOI/AAAAAAAALeQ/sRiKW_A_W9A/Ethiopia%2525202008%252520Lindsey%252520434_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ethiopia 2008 Lindsey 434" width="644" /></a> <br />
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We know that our staff in Ethiopia are celebrating Christ’s resurrection on this Sunday and we wish them and you a very blessed Resurrection Day!<br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-54671636794649065112016-04-20T11:09:00.000-07:002016-04-20T11:09:23.825-07:00The 'John Deere' of Dembidollo<i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Originally posted November 2014</span></i><br />
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<i><strong>Dembidollo is a rural area in Ethiopia where most people make a living by farming or raising livestock. Three very poor families were given a pair of oxen to cultivate their land, resulting in successful harvests that have set them on the path of self-sufficiency.</strong> </i><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-827eqqV5zpc/VHUfzE_PiLI/AAAAAAAAJkU/gnYpYJE2d7w/s1600-h/dd-0031%252520%2525282%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="dd-0031 (2)" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-90MtNByis5k/VHUfz7bnp-I/AAAAAAAAJkc/2D8Lxpzr05M/dd-0031%252520%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="219" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="dd-0031 (2)" width="244" /></a>Mikiyas, his brother, two sisters plus two children live together in one room on a lush piece of property in the countryside that they could not farm because they did not have oxen. Their poverty was deep. The walls of their house were just sticks that let in the wind and the rain, and they all slept under tarps on the dirt floor. Mikiyas and his brother wanted desperately to improve their situation and provide for their sisters, niece and nephew but their earning power was low and without oxen, their property was worthless. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FNQwjiFgz5U/VHUi1bFO-3I/AAAAAAAAJl4/KFwysUAKJLY/s1600-h/IMG_9253%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_9253" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mL2iYg293d0/VHUi2YIWyqI/AAAAAAAAJmA/_7yXplAwLtc/IMG_9253_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_9253" width="644" /></a><br />
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A year-and-a-half ago the couple who “adopted” this family raised $700 to buy a pair of oxen, the yoke, and hand plow so the brothers could cultivate their land. Gratefully, they worked hard planting maize (corn), sorghum, barley and onions. The men also plowed their neighbor’s land, sharing 50/50 in that harvest. Their trusty oxen plowed seven acres, and the profit from the first harvest allowed them to mud the walls of their house and replace the broken door, but most profit went back into their second planting. After harvest in 2014, their profits were ensured and they no longer needed monthly help from Mission 1:27.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fzkgEMU81Ic/VHUf4NNXEOI/AAAAAAAAJk0/5uHufcc5LeQ/s1600-h/DD-0053%252520C%252520%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="DD-0053 C " border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UHqFtzoRw74/VHUf5D3qphI/AAAAAAAAJk4/3VkpWmvakVk/DD-0053%252520C%252520_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 13px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DD-0053 C " width="244" /></a>Debela was one of Etana’s 10 children who, for awhile, was farmed out as a servant because his father did not have enough food for his large family. After Etana’s family was identified for help through Mission 1:27, Debela was reunited with his family, but school was out of reach for the eight school-aged children. Etana’s family lives quite a distance from Dembidollo town in a beautiful valley on a fertile piece of property, but Etana had no way to plow it. He had a few sheep that he sold for a little profit, but without the supplement of monthly food that M1:27 gave him, his large family would be hungry most of the time. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B8fjZ-yzQ24/VHUlpGAEpOI/AAAAAAAAJms/0b4HEc0Cwmw/s1600-h/IMG_7657%2525282%252529%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7657(2)" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vOoE4cyo1Jc/VHUlqAkixBI/AAAAAAAAJm0/KEoRjLfJLKY/IMG_7657%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7657(2)" width="644" /></a> <br />
It was a gift almost beyond Etana’s comprehension when their sponsor offered to buy him the equivalent of a John Deere: a set of oxen. As is often done in Ethiopia, Etana cultivated his land and also a neighbor’s property to share 50/50 in that harvest. He planted maize, sorghum, wheat, teff and chickpeas. After the first harvest Etana bought a pregnant cow and the eight older children were enrolled in school. After a successful second harvest, it was determined that his family no longer needed outside help. The boost of oxen was just what was needed to set this hard-working man on his feet to proudly provide for his family.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GXa1l-_00FQ/VHUf9JytrbI/AAAAAAAAJlU/BmG9ESyczfk/s1600-h/dd-0064%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="dd-0064" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-deKkPBF9ocQ/VHUf9lwLT-I/AAAAAAAAJlc/_5XbN1Rkhvc/dd-0064_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="dd-0064" width="244" /></a>Galalcha and Sanaye have three children, and their son, Fedesa, is a strong young man who, with the help of his mother, has the responsibility of doing the hard labor required to be a farmer in Ethiopia. Galalcha is a personable older man who has been significantly weakened with leprosy. Before Galalcha contracted leprosy, he was a laboratory technician in a hospital and through his good salary bought a nice piece of property. However, life after leprosy has not been easy for him or his family.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NwBtv9hRrSU/VHUi7fxUGHI/AAAAAAAAJmY/akrt7cz02Tc/s1600-h/IMG_9349%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_9349" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6JfFeY9kKv4/VHUi8hKruWI/AAAAAAAAJmg/o9J5a895ono/IMG_9349_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_9349" width="644" /></a><br />
Eighteen months ago, Galalcha’s family received a set of oxen, a gift from their Mission 1:27 sponsor. Fedesa was ecstatic and promised to work hard to farm their property. He made plans to hire his oxen out to plow neighboring property as well. The farm has produced brilliantly under the competent hard work of Fedesa and Sanaye. The daughters are going to school and they now have a milk cow. We join Galalcha and his family in rejoicing over the amazing provision of oxen that has made the difference between dependency and self-sufficiency.<br />
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<b><i>Read more stories of people like these - families who someone just like you invested in and who are now operating successful businesses - on our website <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/success-stories/" target="_blank">h</a></i></b><b><i><a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/success-stories/" target="_blank">ere</a>! </i></b><br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-36368510943129290482016-04-05T14:51:00.000-07:002016-04-05T14:51:32.976-07:00Out of the King’s Storehouse<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">by Joy Casey</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>How sweet are your words to my taste, </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Sweeter than honey to my mouth! </b></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Psalm 119:103</b></span></i> <br />
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There are a lot of good people in the world and I think I have been ultra-blessed to have a lion’s share of them in my life. Nice people. Kind people. Thoughtful people. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DcTH863jlxo/VwQyhPNfXtI/AAAAAAAALc4/QCBVRsBB2HA/s1600-h/Bob-and-Pat%252520Warren%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Bob-and-Pat Warren" border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zMV81-ykHpw/VwQyhozCBGI/AAAAAAAALc8/xdT7M4q18uQ/Bob-and-Pat%252520Warren_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 16px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bob-and-Pat Warren" width="223" /></a>Then there is a smaller sub-category of good people whose lives focus on Kingdom work and everything about them reflects a worldview that God is in charge, God is our provider, and God receives all glory. Bob Warren and his wife Pat are a couple that shine as an example of people in this category. <br />
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Bob’s organization is called <a href="http://tkshouse.org/" target="_blank">The King’s Storehouse</a> and his focus is <u>God’s Word</u> and <u>clean water</u>. He provides high quality solar-powered personal audio Bibles in many different languages to Christian organizations who will get them out to indigenous churches and pastors. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wnU4CMTo-QQ/VwQyiU0ylwI/AAAAAAAALdA/IC2ignCNLt0/s1600-h/IMG_8164%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8164" border="0" height="431" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3AE-BJp8b0E/VwQyjm_oXwI/AAAAAAAALdE/N1f5XoJCKKY/IMG_8164_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8164" width="644" /></a> <br />
For years, Bob has provided Mission 1:27 with audio Bibles in the Orominya and Amharic languages. I have 20 sitting in my office right now that will go to Ethiopia with a team next month. These precious tools are used in places where illiteracy is high or it is dangerous to carry around a bible. The audio bibles look like an iPod or some other innocuous device with ear buds. Our goal is to have one or two audio bibles available in all the new church plants so anyone can come to the church and listen to God’s word whenever they can. I cannot overstate what an invaluable tool these solar powered Bibles are! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCRNhDMjh0NerrFcIE92LUiIAc3j2dg_KQLu5tu_cSzgd9gBVVx5wbcAjvnam7fINy8nneRGqrHfRyONCqTAG_s9LZTP5pga3i7UlZzLy3YZzrLH6HNtRotH4csIeM9uG9wkT5ogU6Js/s1600-h/sawyer%2525201%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="sawyer 1" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ggU1NIJQoNg/VwQyk5XQLVI/AAAAAAAALdM/qo00HJQUPRY/sawyer%2525201_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="sawyer 1" width="328" /></a> <br />
The King’s Storehouse has also provided us with Sawyer Point One water filters that are effective, portable, and <u>easy</u> to put together and to keep up. We have given out hundreds of these and have seen waterborne illnesses drop dramatically when people use them. <br />
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As people purchase portable water filters and audio bibles through our gift catalog, we send Bob a check, but he typically doesn’t wait for the money. He calls and asks me, <strong>“Can you take God’s Word to Africa any time soon?”</strong> And then he sends me what he can in the languages we need. If I can reimburse him at some point, fine. If I cannot, he is unconcerned because God will provide another way. <br />
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Bob and Pat keep their eyes on the goal: serving God well until they are with Jesus for eternity. They are the genuine deal and we are so grateful to partner with them! <br />
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If you would like to help us deliver clean water and the Good News to many in Ethiopia, each costs only $50 and can be donated with a click below…<br />
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<a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/product-category/personal-audio-bible/" target="_blank"><img alt="Image 7 / 34 iPhone-sized MegaVoice Envoy. Solar powered, light weight, inconspicuous" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fscGKGF6zSQ/VwQylD2o4fI/AAAAAAAALdQ/0vZCELWWIp8/audio%252520bible%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image 7 / 34 iPhone-sized MegaVoice Envoy. Solar powered, light weight, inconspicuous" width="244" /></a> <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/product-category/portable-water-filter/" target="_blank"><img alt="water filter" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JD1_A4eytwM/VwQylqm9-tI/AAAAAAAALdU/VqYeQp332ZA/water%252520filter%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="water filter" width="244" /></a></div>
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-7139396843735495892016-04-04T12:57:00.000-07:002016-04-04T12:57:51.194-07:00HerStory videos<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year, the US Embassy in Addis Ababa invited people
to submit a 3 minute film about women and girls' issues in Ethiopia. All were made by Ethiopians and all of
them highlighted the extreme challenges faced by women there - access to
education, violence and the burden of domestic work. Many are difficult to watch but they reflect a reality that can't be ignored.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are several of the top ten winners...</span></span><br />
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Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-61412780144389063632016-03-03T09:02:00.000-08:002016-03-03T09:02:16.805-08:00Birth Family Talks<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b-_64ZkE15s/Vthrz588ncI/AAAAAAAALbw/RFN0ft-C68c/s1600-h/Candle-flame-no-reflection%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Candle-flame-no-reflection" border="0" height="302" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bNo64EDt2e4/Vthr0c251OI/AAAAAAAALb0/plBqtV7U4eY/Candle-flame-no-reflection_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Candle-flame-no-reflection" width="355" /></a><br />
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"Am I like my Ethiopia mommy?"<br />
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"Did my tummy mommy love me?"<br />
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"Why didn't she keep me?"<br />
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These questions can pop up any time but birthdays and holidays are sometimes a trigger and provide a special opportunity to process the grief that is part of every adoption. Here is a beautiful way to help your adopted son or daughter honor their birth parents on their birthday – a time when lots of questions and feelings may come to the surface and grief is revisited…<br />
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<a href="http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/my-learning-curve-how-to-honor-birth-family-on-birthdays-and-why/#.Vthi6vnR-Uk" target="_blank">How to Honor Birth Family on Birthdays (and why)</a><br />
@onethankfulmom</div>
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We have some other links to articles and posts that may be helpful below. </div>
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<a href="http://www.onethankfulmom.com/adoption/missing-his-first-mom/#.VthoifnR-Um" target="_blank">Missing His First Mom</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flowerpatchfarmgirl.com/2013/05/the-honor-of-sharing-mothers-day-with.html" target="_blank">The Honor of Sharing Mother’s Day with Birth Mothers</a></div>
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<a href="http://expertbeacon.com/embrace-discussion-about-birth-parents-your-adopted-kids/#.VthrVvnR-Uk" target="_blank">Embrace discussion about birth parents</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.adoptionmosaic.org/talking-to-your-kids-about-adoption-11-tips/" target="_blank">Talking to Your Kids About Adoption</a><br />
11 points to help get you started</div>
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Please leave a comment and share your own ideas for ways to help kids process their emotions about their birth family.<br />
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Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-84673428289412393612016-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:002016-03-02T10:59:51.168-08:00Exquisitely Beautiful Ethiopia {a re-post}<br />
<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">by Joy Casey in Ethiopia<br />(originally written in May 2014)</span></em><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O4l_6DCNy6Y/U3ojrtpWbpI/AAAAAAAAH5A/E3VIUQhaxZM/s1600-h/IMG_83986.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8398" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6dls0IPgxHY/U3oju6pehzI/AAAAAAAAH5I/QAEL1DCjVIA/IMG_8398_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8398" width="644" /></a> <br />
Jeff and I have spent five days traveling out west to an area called the Wollega in Ethiopia. Going to the countryside is like entering a time warp of sorts. We are transplanted to an agrarian lifestyle with farming, cattle, and other livestock the bedrock of life. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LmkZ0DqDpME/U3ojwyPcCyI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/7e3vNOoKvfY/s1600-h/IMG_6881%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6881" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P0JF7KinmJM/U3ojzDEMguI/AAAAAAAAH5Y/VLhjNqNB_hE/IMG_6881_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6881" width="644" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CD8PTeKUAD8/U3oj1sYhlyI/AAAAAAAAH5g/2GF8xnPfXNM/s1600-h/IMG_835413.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8354" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p67syOmzhXg/U3oj4Mfe45I/AAAAAAAAH5o/zsuO_RqaGVk/IMG_8354_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8354" width="644" /></a> <br />
Market days are crowded and noisy with people walking miles either to sell their wares or to buy necessities. Cooking is done outdoors over open fires, and laundry is washed by hand and laid on bushes to dry.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nXQd3pk7mZ4/U3oj6tDrUKI/AAAAAAAAH5w/rLtLlUQoAfo/s1600-h/IMG_8492_2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8492_2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gBh9xjEBkyM/U3oj-NONAfI/AAAAAAAAH54/U_wu4SMFG-w/IMG_8492_2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8492_2" width="644" /></a> <br />
Women dress in long dresses with scarves around their shoulders and their heads covered with bright colored cloth. Some carry umbrellas to ward off the sun. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ulExtiBvSEs/U3okAQA9kqI/AAAAAAAAH6A/IEuwadAAvNo/s1600-h/IMG_8438_26.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8438_2" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FlbPy1F_byI/U3okDetxMeI/AAAAAAAAH6I/BgkanIbFUt0/IMG_8438_2_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8438_2" width="644" /></a> <br />
It is not uncommon to see men and women and boys and girls walking with baskets loaded with papaya on their heads. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L7-NCZ8TIeY/U3okFsduqXI/AAAAAAAAH6Q/XqS_dOCgEr4/s1600-h/IMG_7236%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7236" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sNgY0YkXDo0/U3okIXDjVdI/AAAAAAAAH6Y/CiFUsPDYbrs/IMG_7236_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="644" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7236" width="431" /></a> <br />
It is normal to see women working or visiting with babies on their back and toddlers running around barefoot with nothing on but a shirt and sometimes not even that. In the markets and along dusty paths, bananas, avocados, pineapples and papayas are readily available... and so very fresh and yummy. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XJToGiSBVNg/U3okKtbabDI/AAAAAAAAH6g/RE3zMroQlA4/s1600-h/IMG_655310.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6553" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_Ufn4tt1EOg/U3okMPSPHFI/AAAAAAAAH6o/dHnX7gHatQw/IMG_6553_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6553" width="644" /></a> <br />
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Hungry and want some fast food? Roasted maize is available for a very small price. <br />
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I know I am in “real” Africa when I see villages dotting the countryside comprised of mud houses topped with thatched roofs. Now is planting season, and the fields are being tilled and the dark, rich soil readied for planting in anticipation of the rains that will arrive soon. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cFx2qzHroH8/U3okN6fTFoI/AAAAAAAAH6w/ejxKqm1Cn5w/s1600-h/IMG_7659_2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7659_2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eHPQmX9GmLA/U3okQMUtlMI/AAAAAAAAH64/1FnUaER_xm4/IMG_7659_2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7659_2" width="644" /></a> <br />
Farmers walk to their fields carrying their plow or hand spades. It is amazing to me to watch the oxen pull hand plows and to know that field after field is tilled by the strength of oxen and the man walking behind, guiding the crude plow. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yH19we0Zfro/U3okSju_O_I/AAAAAAAAH7A/Y3z-fqfzBcM/s1600-h/IMG_8374%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8374" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e_8ShS44sRs/U3okVVpilvI/AAAAAAAAH7I/LxxVQXtuFUo/IMG_8374_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="644" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8374" width="431" /></a> <br />
As we sit at a small buna stand taking a break from our work, I love watching the colorful and friendly people as well as watching and listening to the brightly feathered birds flitting among the trees and exuberant flowers. But what always captures my full attention are the beautiful children! <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wF3eHaNc90Q/U3okYbdtOnI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/OsWHeT6RSDg/s1600-h/IMG_7574%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7574" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u-vJm0IdpTc/U3okbbENh8I/AAAAAAAAH7Y/czBsuA35A3k/IMG_7574_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7574" width="644" /></a> <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AYXGj6EBVWQ/U3okeGYqq7I/AAAAAAAAH7g/y7fkguaozmE/s1600-h/IMG_6433%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6433" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XS4pZP3SM64/U3okgFH2ZbI/AAAAAAAAH7o/gZx1F4OmLc0/IMG_6433_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6433" width="644" /></a> <br />
Years ago I fell in love with the children of this great land and the love affair has not waned. I am charmed by the innovation of the children to make toys out of nothing. <i></i> <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vKXS3gMBZ_Q/U3okjd9XmcI/AAAAAAAAH7w/3_EWcZI2944/s1600-h/IMG_5947%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5947" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W16XoW4A32E/U3okmGji6TI/AAAAAAAAH74/EDeR0cHB254/IMG_5947_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_5947" width="644" /></a> <br />
Ethiopians are hospitable to the extreme, and Jeff and I are honored when we are invited into a home for coffee ceremony. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cgWg85xcEWY/U3okpruBfDI/AAAAAAAAH8A/XDankmI4I_8/s1600-h/IMG_6399%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6399" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OsJeYmBjX9Y/U3oks2U4GxI/AAAAAAAAH8I/hxO97rTm3qU/IMG_6399_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6399" width="644" /></a> <br />
Coffee in Ethiopia is not a quick cup. There is an order and meaning to each step, and it is a time to relax and visit. You cannot hurry coffee ceremony. The strong coffee smell mingles with the incense as our hostess roasts the coffee beans over a charcoal fire. When they are perfectly roasted, she carries the beans around the room and the guests appreciatively inhale the rich coffee smoke. Then she puts the beans in a mortar and crushes them while a pot of water is set on the coals to boil. She carefully puts the ground coffee in a beautiful coffee pot and slowly adds hot water until she gets the just right taste and consistency. Then, the coffee is carefully poured into small cups and served to her guests. Three cups of coffee are the norm. We are also offered handfuls of popped corn that surprisingly is just the right compliment to the coffee. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2KDguP0IyMg/U3okvgv53OI/AAAAAAAAH8Q/Eo3yAr04WYI/s1600-h/IMG_6848%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6848" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Rlv3w91cZZc/U3okwowPGcI/AAAAAAAAH8Y/HzkP80L4LQw/IMG_6848_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6848" width="644" /></a> <br />
After church on Sunday, we went to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant… one where the locals congregate. This place is known for its meat, and our friends ordered the delicacy of raw meat. The meat is fresh and the men were given sharp knives and they sliced off hunks of meat and ate it with injera (Ethiopia’s cultural bread) dipped in berbere spices. They said it was yum. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bCn9WKXBNVY/U3okzhVWa3I/AAAAAAAAH8g/5lg60yiIpAA/s1600-h/IMG_6853%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6853" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ClDV9aV6VTU/U3ok1IWcwMI/AAAAAAAAH8o/U932MxoWRe0/IMG_6853_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6853" width="644" /></a> <br />
Jeff and I declined to go “Ethiopian” and instead had roasted lamb tibs. That, I can tell you, is <u>delicious</u>! <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vV4bIFEgiys/U3ok2HMQn6I/AAAAAAAAH8w/U47v92WeCp4/s1600-h/IMG_8239_2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8239_2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CDZQuPytzGA/U3ok3LcpriI/AAAAAAAAH84/RuE6LobyQqc/IMG_8239_2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8239_2" width="644" /></a> <br />
As if all of these sights and sounds are not enough, Ethiopia closes out its day with spectacular sunsets. I love to be outdoors around 6 p.m. and watch the sky turn vivid orange and reflect its benediction on the land below. My work here entails bringing relief to desperate situations, families to orphans, and the Good News to unreached people. But never do I feel sorry for these proud people. They have a rich culture and a society that by and large is centered around <u>family</u> and where <u>relationships</u> are given top priority.<br />
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Last night, four of us took a walk around Nekemte in the balmy evening air, and the streets were packed with people greeting each other with kisses, laughing over coffee, friends looking over wares in tiny shops along the street, and people generally enjoying each other’s company at the end of the day. With all our material advantages and technical superiority, I yearn for this kind of camaraderie that takes <u>time</u> for people and values friendships. I am enriched by my experiences in exquisitely beautiful Ethiopia. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W5BP5e0xnOc/U3ok4NmqGEI/AAAAAAAAH9A/GvJny6cj13s/s1600-h/IMG_7006_2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7006_2" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aAq0vmK7m30/U3ok46E62tI/AAAAAAAAH9I/cvDtsdQzdvc/IMG_7006_2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7006_2" width="644" /></a> <br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-16778521176304545062016-02-22T10:08:00.002-08:002016-02-22T10:08:52.515-08:00Intercessary Prayer<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">by Joy Casey, <br />Executive Director, Mission 1:27</span></em><br />
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I am in the midst of taking a fantastic class called <a href="http://www.perspectives.org/" target="_blank">Perspectives</a> that gives an in-depth teaching on the world Christian movement. Spurred by one of the teachings, I have been mulling over something about prayer that brought up some interesting aspects I had not thought of before. You, too, might be interested since prayer is essential to Christ-followers but there is so much about prayer that is a mystery.<br />
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<b><u>Rebellion Against the Status Quo</u></b> <br />
Have you ever looked at prayer as rebellion? I usually recoil from the word ‘rebellion’ because it has many negative connotations and I am basically a rule follower… but in the area of intercessory prayer rebellion is vital. How? Intercessory prayer is essentially rebellion against or the non-acceptance of the status quo. It is refusal to accept as normal that which is abnormal and completely opposite to God’s ways. Rebellion is wholehearted rejection of every scheme and agenda that stands against God. And we must be diligent to recognize the sometimes subtle acceptances that creep into our psyche. Becoming resigned to “life as it is” will cripple our prayer lives. Although we may feel powerless to change our broken society, we must remember that God’s power, realized through prayer, will overcome evil with good. <br />
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<b><u>Do we accept the politically correct version of our world?</u></b> <br />
Other religions have taken resignation and incorporated it into their doctrine. Could it be because experientially they have found their gods powerless to affect change? Religions which stress quiet acceptance of the status quo disparage petitionary prayer. The Stoics believe in total acceptance of the existing world and asking for change is a bad thing. Buddhists and other Eastern religions hold a similar view, and the idea of “fate” in Hinduism imprisons millions of people in spiritual and economic poverty. Secularism, which we perhaps are more familiar with, says that life is disconnected from a relationship with God. We must come to terms with life and accept things as they are. Some believe God may be present and active in the world, but it is not a presence that changes anything. It is easy to adjust to the PC version of our world. <i></i> <br />
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<strong>Petitionary prayer expresses the hope that life as it is encountered can <br />and should be different.</strong> </div>
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If we accept, however despairingly, that the situation is unchangeable, why would we pray? It is not that we are unaware of what is happening around us, but a sense of impotence leads us to resignation and acceptance of what is wrong. It is a truce with the world that is deadly to intercessory prayer. <br />
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<b>“At all times we should pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1) </b></div>
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<b><u>Two huge impacts on people… let’s pray!</u></b> <br />
In a substantial area in Ethiopia where we are engaged in orphan care, family sponsorship, small business starts, kindergartens, church plants and evangelism, two devastating things have happened… one is man-made and one is the fault of El Nino. In very broad strokes, the Oromo tribe (Ethiopia’s most populous people group) is at odds with the prevailing government and their dissatisfaction has resulted in attacks on non-Oromo people living in Oromo territory. Just one week ago, anger erupted violently erupted in two areas where Mission 1:27 is heavily involved. The Federal police were called in to suppress the uprising, but not before non-Oromo people were threatened. Fundamental Muslim agitators took this opportunity to strike against Christian churches, non-Oromo Christian individuals and Christian-owned businesses. Many churches, businesses and homes were burned. <br />
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<i>Prayer points </i><br />
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<li><i>A mighty move of peace and rest by the power of the Holy Spirit</i></li>
<li><i>That the Good News would spread rapidly in the midst of crisis</i></li>
<li><i>Protection and favor over each individual situation (Psalm 5:11-12)</i></li>
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<b><u></u></b> <br />
<b><u>80% are farmers</u></b> <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9LjGLjdAWWA/VstM_Bps0XI/AAAAAAAALZw/vqxl4NSMyRU/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="clip_image002" border="0" height="246" hspace="12" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qZoQbAnT2Js/VstNAPcqj2I/AAAAAAAALZ0/k_eq2KEzbp0/clip_image002_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image002" width="364" /></a>Farmers plant in the late spring just in time for the rainy season. However, this year the rainy season did not materialize and maize and teff (Ethiopian wheat) stood stunted and dry in the fields. There is little food for the table and even less for the animals. Harvest in the fall was bleak leaving no currency with which to purchase needed staples. Shortage of food caused by the drought brings a sharp increase in malnutrition, secondary ailments from malnutrition, escalating food prices, and a higher rate of school dropout. Household debt has risen sharply and dietary diversity has narrowed significantly. Children are separated from their families to either work as a servant in someone’s home or to live with a relative who is better off. Livestock, if they live, command lower prices at the market because of their deteriorated physical condition due to lack of water and pasture. To put inflationary food prices in perspective, the food budget for our orphanage increased 178% this past month. <br />
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<i>Prayer points </i> <br />
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<li><i>Rains will come in their proper time to soak the earth</i></li>
<li><i>Provision for the hungry</i></li>
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We serve a big God who is an expert at finding a way where there is no way. We are helpless, but the Lord of the universe is not. <u>Please pray</u> for the nearly 10 million Ethiopians (75% of them Oromia people) affected by this terrible drought. Don’t accept the status quo and pray for Almighty God to intervene! <br />
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<b><i>“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right side, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8</i></b></div>
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-32586142744793886012016-02-12T09:27:00.001-08:002016-02-12T09:27:50.956-08:00Drumroll please...<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gK2UibYU5Zk/VrjbIQzuEkI/AAAAAAAALZc/CjkDzt7fGuc/s1600-h/new%252520name%252521%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="new name!" height="360" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EtM9yA3m32Q/VrjbJYG67GI/AAAAAAAALZg/BSTLT9yB9s8/new%252520name%252521_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="new name!" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today we're excited to announce our brand new name… <strong>Mission 1:27</strong>!</span><br />
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You may have noticed this name appearing on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mission-127-Ethiopia-123269113215/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/M127Ethiopia" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and websites in the last week or two and perhaps you’ve wondered what this is all about.<br />
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The work being done in Ethiopia – family preservation, small business starts, orphan care, adoption and Muslim evangelism – <i>encompasses so much more</i> than our old name implied. <br />
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<strong>Mission 1:27</strong> more accurately represents who we are in Ethiopia... bringing care and support in a variety of ways to the orphan and widow as commanded in James 1:27. <br />
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<strong>The people, the focus, and the motive for all we do remains the same.</strong><br />
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For our ministry partners who give via credit card, nothing will change.<br />
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<em>For those of you who send support with a check, please make payments to Mission 1:27 from now forward.</em><br />
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Our new website is currently under construction and we can’t wait to roll that out in the near future. In the meantime, our <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/" target="_blank">ywamethiopia.com</a> and <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/" target="_blank">adoptionministry127.com</a> websites will remain active. Family sponsorship and <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/" target="_blank">Gift Catalog</a> purchases will be available as usual.<br />
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<b>We are eagerly looking forward to following God and implementing His plans in 2016. </b><br />
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Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-63430801804391150112016-02-04T15:09:00.000-08:002016-02-04T15:09:22.324-08:00Thank You for Giving!It’s really an honor to promote our Gift Catalog as a way for folks to give. What more meaningful way to spend your gift-giving dollars than on someone you’ll never meet but who will appreciate the gift more than most?<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xgXmd7IzJvo/VrK13ZcmOTI/AAAAAAAALYU/0nQu_iRYtYM/s1600-h/never%252520repay%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="never repay" border="0" height="431" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nd-LHqDLxbk/VrK14ThYfUI/AAAAAAAALYY/b8WCafhZtPI/never%252520repay_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="never repay" width="644" /></a><br />
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I thought you might be blessed to see what was donated via our <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/" target="_blank">Gift Catalog</a> in the month of December:<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">15</span> portable water filters</strong> mean water free of parasites and bacteria<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">14</span> complete bed sets</strong> – frames, mattresses and bedding <br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">5</span> bags of charcoal</strong>, used for cooking fuel<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span> solar light bulbs</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">8</span> goats</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">4</span> new houses </strong>to replace dilapidated ones<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">6 </span>soccer balls and 2 pumps</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 </span>financial packages to help an Ethiopian family to adopt a child</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 </span>surgery for a widow</strong> for things like cataracts or fistula repair<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">9 </span>sets of food staples for a month</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span> new set of clothes</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span> new pair of shoes</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">5</span> bibles</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 </span>audio bible</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">9</span> school packages</strong> – fees for one year, supplies and backpacks<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 </span>Jesus Film dvd</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">$150</span> in emergency medical help</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">$250</span> in evangelist support</strong><br />
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<u>For our orphanage</u>:<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span> crib and mattress </strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">15 </span>cans of formula</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">4 </span>baby swings</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">4 </span>packages of cloth diapers</strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">$540</span> general orphanage support</strong><br />
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Several people chose to give toward the ministry’s <strong>‘Greatest Need’</strong>, which is a huge blessing that allows us to address a variety of urgent needs. We received <strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">$3595</span></strong> in this category!<br />
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It doesn’t take us very long to distribute these wonderful gifts and we are <em>always</em> in need of your generous donations via the Gift Catalog. If you’d like to give, you can do so easily and securely on our Gift Catalog webpage:<br />
<a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/" target="_blank"><img alt="gift catalog button" border="0" height="217" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fGQvtnVtPzA/VrK14zuR4zI/AAAAAAAALYc/-zjZTktDfQ8/gift%252520catalog%252520button%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="gift catalog button" width="204" /></a><br />
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We know that for many of you, this giving is sacrificial. “<strong>Thank you</strong>” seems a very inadequate way to express how much your generosity means to those we serve in Ethiopia. We are grateful that God, above anyone else, sees your hearts and blesses you!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "dream orphans"; font-size: x-large;">The generous will themselves be blessed <br />for they share their food with the poor.<br /><span style="font-size: large;">Proverbs 22:9</span></span><br />
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Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-28230831461463906952016-01-27T18:36:00.000-08:002016-01-27T18:58:02.477-08:00One Woman Can... Change Her Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Visit us at <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/" target="_blank">Adoption Ministry 1:27</a> to learn more about giving women the opportunity to have their own small business and thereby change the future for themselves and their children. It's happening right now in Ethiopia for 28 people like Asnakech (Ahs-nah'-ketch). With your help, we can help change the future for <b>many more</b>!<br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-80705582404992220322016-01-18T08:28:00.000-08:002016-01-18T08:28:29.570-08:00Adoptive Parenting Links You’ll Like<br />
<a href="http://perspectivesinparenting.com/" target="_blank">Perspectives in Parenting</a> is a website/blog written by an adoptive mother of eight children who is also a missionary. Selina writes about many adoption topics, with a goal of sharing experiences, encouraging other adoptive parents and bringing God’s word to bear on all of life as a parent. Below are a few links to some very insightful posts but be sure to spend some time on the website looking at all the topics available!<br />
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<img alt="Dear Parent of a Newly Adopted Child" src="http://i1.wp.com/perspectivesinparenting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Dear-Parent-of-a-Newly-Adopted-Child.jpg?resize=708%2C708" height="400" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://perspectivesinparenting.com/dear-parent-of-a-newly-adopted-child/" target="_blank">Dear Parent of a Newly Adopted Child</a><br />
”You’ve spent months (maybe even years!) <em>dreaming</em> of bringing home your child. Somewhere in the midst of the excitement of choosing a name and the fun of decorating a bedroom, you lost sight of the one truth that you so desperately<em><strong> need</strong></em> in order to survive this adoption…”</div>
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<img alt="for the parent ready to quit" src="http://i0.wp.com/perspectivesinparenting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/for-the-parent-ready-to-quit.jpg?resize=708%2C708" height="400" width="400" /><br />
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<a href="http://perspectivesinparenting.com/for-the-parent-ready-to-quit/" target="_blank">For the Parent Ready to Quit</a><br />
”Maybe you’re struggling with a special needs kiddo and you’re feeling stretched beyond what your body feels it can stretch. Maybe you’ve adopted a trauma/RAD child, and you are just TIRED of cleaning up poop. (Figuratively and literally.) Maybe you’re a mama who <em>thought </em>you could trust God with the children (both number and needs) He felt you could handle—but you’re pregnant <em>again</em> and the little ones aren’t listening and the laundry has turned into Mt. Everest and your friends and family keep asking you <em>“Don’t you think you have ENOUGH children?”</em><i>…and you’re wondering if HE really can be trusted?”</i></div>
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<a href="http://perspectivesinparenting.com/10-things-you-wish-you-knew-about-older-child-adoption/" target="_blank">10 Things You Wish You Knew About Older Child Adoption</a><br />
Really good, practical and eye-opening truths about what it’s like to adopt older children – both before coming home and the journey of healing and bonding afterward.</div>
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Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-29566550965258162972016-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:002016-01-08T03:00:07.671-08:00A Wonderful Challenge<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">by Joy Casey</span></em><br />
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“The world is going to hell in a handbasket” and “Things are spinning out of control,” are phrases I hear often these days. And, if headlines are the indicator, I might tend to agree. But when I meet with my Savior in the quiet of morning and open His Word and listen, He confirms that things are not spinning out of <u>His</u> control. He also continually challenges me to persevere in the work He has set before me that prevents many from going to hell. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-thIWZRqrA5o/Vo8DYJ5S79I/AAAAAAAALXs/b8RO-Tbl0lw/s1600-h/383588012_8e3d489796_b%25255B3%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="383588012_8e3d489796_b" border="0" height="455" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VmaWmm5CcCE/Vo8DY1pwJ7I/AAAAAAAALXw/SpSlAyiLrdE/383588012_8e3d489796_b_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="383588012_8e3d489796_b" width="644" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Creative Commons</span></td></tr>
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Some of the most important aspects of Adoption Ministry’s work in Ethiopia are done behind the scenes and the details cannot be communicated for security reasons. In various pockets in Ethiopia, God has raised up warriors in unlikely places using unorthodox means. These warriors are assigned to the front lines and live uncomfortable lives in the trenches. They are severely beaten, threatened with eviction, their cattle are poisoned, their houses burned, they have minimal food and shelter, and suffer under unfair practices of the local government. These men and their wives give what little they have to their converts who face immense persecution, sometimes losing their jobs and homes because of their newfound belief in Christ.* <br />
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And they cannot take a breather and get re-fortified during a furlough! <br />
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Yet … God’s hand is clearly seen! In 2015 six churches were planted in areas where the Christian faith has <u>never been before</u>. They are crude buildings, nothing fancy at all … they don’t have electricity, most don’t have benches to sit on, and the people are packed tightly together, hungry for God’s Word. Some converts are illiterate and when we can supply audio Bibles in their language, they will memorize the Word and be transformed by the renewing of their mind (Romans 12:2). <br />
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* <i>Did you know that Ethiopia is #22 on the <a href="https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/" target="_blank">World Watchlist for Persecuted Christians</a>, right after India and ahead of Egypt, Djibouti, Myanmar and China? </i><br />
<b><u></u></b> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m55oKeOcHfQ/Vo8DZYvSyfI/AAAAAAAALX4/DmcSn4P8AdU/s1600-h/MosqueinAbuja%25255B4%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MosqueinAbuja" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nKLuZ7HZkm8/Vo8DZ9yWo1I/AAAAAAAALYE/3V9pi9tgPiU/MosqueinAbuja_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="MosqueinAbuja" width="644" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Creative Commons</span></td></tr>
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<b><u></u></b> <br />
<b><u>Support strategies for the frontline troops</u></b> <br />
A man from Saudi Arabia has written three pamphlets and two books in the Amharic language that are incredible tools for evangelism. Trainings have been facilitated throughout Ethiopia and the pamphlets distributed to Christian college students, pastors, and, of course, the warriors in the trenches. Adoption Ministry has facilitated two workshops for evangelists and many more are needed on college campuses and in churches. More copies of the pamphlets (about 21 pages) and books (about 200 pages) need to be printed. <b>Will you help? </b><br />
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· The first booklet <i>Uncovered Truths</i> is just that … uncovering the true roots of the Islamic faith. It provides answers to questions posed by Muslims. <br />
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· The second booklet, <i>The Question of My Soul</i>, is described by the author as a drill machine that breaks apart the big mountains of Muhammad and the Quran. <br />
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· The third booklet, <i>The Question of My Dear Ahmed</i> is a testimony of a converted Muslim and shows there is no salvation through Islam and the <u>only</u> way to salvation is through Jesus Christ. <br />
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<b>These booklets cost $ .25/each to print</b><br />
<b></b> <br />
· A 100 page book was written as a response to a book written by an Islamic cleric 5 years ago called <u>Who is Christ? 303 Questions</u>; 303 questions directed against the person of Christ and the Holy Trinity. The response refutes every argument and equips Christians to meet the challenges the Muslim community is bringing. <br />
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<b>This book costs $ .50 to print</b><br />
<b></b> <br />
· The Muslims have been aggressively criticizing the Christian faith and because most Christians are not equipped to understand and respond to these accusations, fear has spread among Christians resulting in avoidance of Muslims or conversion to Islam out of ignorance. This publication is an apologetic and has changed the atmosphere. Once the Christian man nor woman understands the question and has a good grasp of the truth, they boldly challenge the Quran and Muhammad and are prepared to joyously share the Good News. Especially on college campuses this book is equipping Christian students to easily defend their faith and their witness is winning over their Muslim neighbors. The book has four chapters and 192 pages. <br />
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<b>This book costs $ .80 to print</b> <br />
<strong></strong> <br />
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If you would like to make a donation to help us print these materials or for bibles (either audio bibles or print versions), please go to our website <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/" target="_blank">here</a>. THANK YOU for helping us meet this great challenge and spread the Good News of Christ throughout the country! <br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-61380400864439413752016-01-05T16:52:00.001-08:002016-01-05T16:52:48.946-08:00Children at Play in Ethiopia<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x3j1LcS_EMU/Voxj5BU4aDI/AAAAAAAALTk/hZ9ii4fIheE/s1600-h/IMG_6384%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6384" border="0" height="431" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oQE5PZ66y14/Voxj6Iz8V8I/AAAAAAAALTs/IJ04eLw1yPU/IMG_6384_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_6384" width="644" /></a><br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-75503426217843866442015-12-31T08:43:00.000-08:002015-12-31T08:43:00.080-08:00Our Deepest Thanks!What better way to communicate to you, our partners in this ministry, than in the words of our staff in Ethiopia? They speak on behalf of the <em>thousands</em> of people you are impacting through your prayers and your financial support… <br />
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<hr />
<strong>From Abebe Getachew, In-Country Representative</strong> <br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nun5w6NeP38/VoVZ-JOc5AI/AAAAAAAALR8/P0qVyikrwJU/s1600-h/Abebe_thumb1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Abebe_thumb1" height="185" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZXBAh_Mkzuc/VoVZ-i3-ZXI/AAAAAAAALSA/JdLan-oROww/Abebe_thumb1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px;" title="Abebe_thumb1" width="156" /></a><br />
Happy Christmas and New Year,! I would like to express my deepest and genuine appreciation and gratefulness for the work you have accomplished by your extraordinary support. The monthly support and the extra support you made to <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/">Adoption Ministry 1:27</a> did amazing things in the lives of many helpless families who are supported by the ministry. Some of the accomplishments are: <br />
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<ul>
<li>All families got the opportunity to eat 3 times a day (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner), where it was impossible to have it previously. </li>
<li>The provision of the monthly food support by the donors makes the parents free from their daily stress and tension where this makes the family enjoy good and better health. </li>
<li>Many children have got the opportunity to go to school with all the necessary school materials and good lunch in their lunch box, equal to their classmates.</li>
</ul>
Therefore, it is my greatest wish to say thank you very much for all what you are doing for the poorest of the poor in this country. I hope you will continue working with the ministry in the future to change the lives of the helpless. <br />
<br />
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<strong>From Abonesh Kebede, IGA Program Manager</strong> <br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n8kLpMhSZA8/VoVZ_O6Cw2I/AAAAAAAALSI/N3m3m5isp6w/s1600-h/Abonesh-e_thumb2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Abonesh-e_thumb2" height="185" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w1JUfNd6MPk/VoVZ_94kF-I/AAAAAAAALSU/Surog53bGws/Abonesh-e_thumb2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px;" title="Abonesh-e_thumb2" width="150" /></a>I am very happy for the chance to express my feelings toward the donors who were sharing their lives in order to change the lives of the poor families here in Ethiopia by supporting them to start a small business beyond the monthly food support you give. <br />
<br />
Those families who started a small business have got the monthly food support so that they cannot use the business money for food. Since the beginning of the small business support (IGA) the families started to work with good desire and passion and they are becoming successful. Therefore, as we plan they will graduate after 2 years and they will enjoy a sustainable life by themselves. So, I am very thankful and pleased for the valuable support you are doing to change the lives of the hopeless family and lead them to a sustainable future. God bless you and Happy Christmas & New-year. <br />
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<strong>From Pastor Zerihun Girma, Lead Evangelist</strong> <br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n70vUTbbwsE/VoVaAqingqI/AAAAAAAALSc/nqQf5aRm0es/s1600-h/IMG_2354_thumb7%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="IMG_2354_thumb7" height="185" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s2gdN4u00JQ/VoVaBHUkKPI/AAAAAAAALSg/mnFIuxMeyT0/IMG_2354_thumb7_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px;" title="IMG_2354_thumb7" width="151" /></a>I am very grateful to our Lord Jesus for giving us a tremendous harvest in the Muslim area of Ethiopia. I believe the Holy Spirit is moving mightily in these last days and Jesus is coming soon. I send my warmest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to you for covering the missionaries and my salary and transportation expenses. This has greatly helped us to pursue the vision we have to reach the Muslims in different places through evangelism. Moreover, giving this opportunity to all the missionaries and myself to fully engage in the evangelism activities with much less worry about our family’s monthly expenses. In 2015, our ministry reached more than 5000 and about 600 peoples are saved through our missionaries. We acknowledge God is the only One who deserves all the glory and honor. We have 41 missionaries; all of them are former Muslims. They all have powerful testimonies and work wholeheartedly in complete dedication, love, and unity. <br />
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I will continue on working committed to our missionary goals as long as God be with us and your support to the mission work stick with. I would like to say many thanks again. <br />
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<hr />
<strong>From Ephrem Gebremariam, Orphanage Director</strong> <br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fWCdJn7BmKQ/VoVaBlYfw0I/AAAAAAAALSo/Zzsuc_SfPH8/s1600-h/Ephriam3_thumb2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Ephriam3_thumb2" height="185" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bgcx2KXiwjg/VoVaCbWKRlI/AAAAAAAALSw/tok0sD0SGBE/Ephriam3_thumb2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px;" title="Ephriam3_thumb2" width="150" /></a>Right now in Shashemene we care for 13 orphaned children who receive care and support until they get a permanent family either through domestic or inter-country adoption. During their stay in our orphanage center children will be provided with food, clothes, medical service, and everything they need. In this regard, the babies get formula, milk, comfortable cribs, and toys. The nannies love them and are very helpful to make them healthy and strong. <br />
<br />
So, I would like to thank you very much in my name and on behalf of the organization for your support that you generously donate for the orphan care services of Mana Gammachuu. Even if the formula is very expensive, you donate every time. Due to this, the children have high quality care and will keep very healthy and happy. They also thank you very much. <br />
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I hope you will continue to help the children in Ethiopia, and we will keep praying for you. I assure you that we have endless thanks for you all the time. <br />
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Have a very blessed Christmas and may God bless you. <br />
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You can read more about these areas of ministry on our websites… <br />
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<div align="center">
<a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/"><img alt="Ethiopia-Logo-copy-600-transparent-e" height="143" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Ni5EiBm9yI/VoVaDPbbO5I/AAAAAAAALS4/3nTXNOI7N94/Ethiopia-Logo-copy-600-transparent-e%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="Ethiopia-Logo-copy-600-transparent-e" width="132" /></a> <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/"><img alt="admin127_logo-transparent10" height="134" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QqDad18YhBA/VoVaDeRJKtI/AAAAAAAALS8/qfMuvT6FA9k/admin127_logo-transparent10%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="admin127_logo-transparent10" width="108" /></a> <a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog/"><img alt="gift-catalog-button6" height="141" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TEQbwffz1sI/VoVaD3Z__-I/AAAAAAAALTI/NlcTkaL-fq0/gift-catalog-button6%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="gift-catalog-button6" width="132" /></a></div>
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And if you haven’t yet completed your year-end giving, many in Ethiopia would be very grateful indeed to receive your help! <br />
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<div align="center">
<a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/donation/"><img alt="donate-button-4" height="148" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g-ho_mb1f0M/VoVaEcJdWdI/AAAAAAAALTQ/FbK1u2Vzw1Y/donate-button-4%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="donate-button-4" width="148" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<b>Happy New Year!</b></div>
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-42112804035643446482015-12-20T18:10:00.000-08:002015-12-20T18:10:18.394-08:00Christmas Outreach Boxes<br />
We have the tremendous privilege of helping our dear friends Samy and Ruth in their outreach to several villages near Debra Zeit, Ethiopia by providing Christmas Boxes for children.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbeyTE-haQDzwS3DiqOE_ZJfJWN4lakCB9fEUALPNyley1gOUnwF9e_UsRs59Fw5EyNiT86StTORL2FYz6nlRyhN60fS_wAFshCGloy9IeAFgtooE778e5PXdYL0CnT3lcq3EaoJ1vFQ/s1600/IMG_1737e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbeyTE-haQDzwS3DiqOE_ZJfJWN4lakCB9fEUALPNyley1gOUnwF9e_UsRs59Fw5EyNiT86StTORL2FYz6nlRyhN60fS_wAFshCGloy9IeAFgtooE778e5PXdYL0CnT3lcq3EaoJ1vFQ/s400/IMG_1737e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Samy and Ruth are YWAM missionaries serving people in a remote area called Bishoftu. These two have incredible hearts to bring the Good News to men, women and children. Many on our mission teams have met them and had the privilege of serving alongside these two saints of God.<br />
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In this rural area of Ethiopia, it is a daily struggle for parents to provide even basic needs for their children and many children and families have not yet heard of Christ’s love for them. Samy and Ruth have committed their lives to make Christ known in this area God has called them to.<br />
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You can touch the kids in this village with the love of Christ by giving them a small gift box for Christmas. Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7th so there is still time to do this! Each box costs <b>only $5.00 </b>and includes:<br />
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<img alt="[xmas%255B4%255D.png]" height="455" src="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-dTPC7b3ODQE/Uo413o-h78I/AAAAAAAAHNQ/5dPGVXaC-_E/s1600/xmas%25255B4%25255D.png" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /><br />
<div align="center">
Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, Vaseline, comb,<br />
bath tissue, spoon, cookie biscuits, candy treat, a boiled egg,<br />
a pen, a notebook, a small toy and a New Testament.<br />
<br /></div>
In years past they were able to reach hundreds of kids with the gift boxes. You can read about the impact those Boxes of Joy had on many children <a href="http://thatwemightbeadopted.blogspot.com/2014/01/boxes-of-love.html">right here</a>! Samy and Ruth have nurtured ongoing relationships with the children in those rural areas where they have started Sunday schools so that the Gospel is still going out. This year they will be giving boxes and sharing the Good News in a different area. <br />
<br />
If you’d like to bring a huge smile and bless a child in this way while opening a door for the Gospel to be shared, please donate via check payable to 'Adoption Ministry' with a note attached designating ‘Bishoftu Ethiopia’ or call our office to give your information over the phone: 253-770-2283 Our mailing address is: PO Box 1145 Puyallup WA 98371.<br />
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Thank you on behalf of all the grateful recipients of these Christmas boxes! <br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-63813302013603716512015-12-18T15:49:00.000-08:002015-12-18T15:49:22.618-08:00A FULL Christmas<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">by Kristen Welch</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">@(in)courage</span></em><br />
<em><br /></em>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-ZRCjs-DrXJVbbJ3lu3aoaf_C1GYD5_nro7_UNcNDn5wQOe-hA-hTAjaO4S4LU5sZACd4-5lxrT-ggFEH3WK9qHcP7_eJhNO2lr-3emKcO5OQbhTtjkc-ApJxCnvWgck3Wcas7r8r6M/s1600/IMG_1046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-ZRCjs-DrXJVbbJ3lu3aoaf_C1GYD5_nro7_UNcNDn5wQOe-hA-hTAjaO4S4LU5sZACd4-5lxrT-ggFEH3WK9qHcP7_eJhNO2lr-3emKcO5OQbhTtjkc-ApJxCnvWgck3Wcas7r8r6M/s400/IMG_1046.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Kristen Welch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Christmas break starts today for my kids.<br />
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The excitement is electrifying. Kids and Christmas just go together.
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It’s time for hot chocolate and Christmas lights. Carols and nearly Christmas
Eve candles.
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It’s time to do something for someone else.
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<strong>This Christmas we will give to those who can’t give back. We will
empty ourselves of time and resources because that’s how we get full.</strong>
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That’s how we will find the heart Christmas this year.
<br />
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But it hasn’t always been this way for our family . . .
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<em>Continue reading at (in)courage <a href="http://www.incourage.me/2015/12/how-to-have-a-full-christmas.html" target="_blank">here</a>…</em>
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<em>______________________________</em></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<em><div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Thank you, Kristen, for always inspiring us, challenging us and for being REAL!</em></div>
</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
<em></em>
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-25690617328611350362015-12-09T09:05:00.001-08:002015-12-09T09:08:35.877-08:00In Honor of Friends and Family<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8YOJ6JoxTIg/VmheDD9cPfI/AAAAAAAALP0/TpP5xPwHbm0/s1600-h/not%252520too%252520late2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="not too late2" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jwxDW94qsrM/VmheDmjoOeI/AAAAAAAALP4/UpbcuP-SS68/not%252520too%252520late2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="383" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="not too late2" width="500" /></a><br />
You still have time to give the gift of HOPE to someone in Ethiopia in the name of a family member or friend... we'll send them a card telling them what you donated and your Christmas giving will have huge dividends. <br />
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100% of your gift goes to purchase what you choose. <b>Order by Dec 15th</b> so your gift notification card reaches your loved one before Christmas! THANK YOU for these much-needed and much-appreciated gifts!<br />
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So far this Christmas our generous partners have given 5 goats, 5 cans of formula, 2 packages of diapers, 2 sets of clothing, 1 pair of shoes, 1 water filter, 2 month supply of food for a family, 2 bags of charcoal for fuel, 3 blankets, 3 soccer balls, a school package and a donkey! <br />
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If only you could be there in person when these gifts are received! What a blessing they will be to the many folks who will be receiving them! Thanks so much on behalf of many grateful recipients!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog" target="_blank"><img alt=" Click here!" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BvbpQE_kSeq5UVswGS-NFlWV1WFzDNWta2wnONQ1yAixEJqttiEhHUX35qqwcx4SnSJRWdTFjbK4GrP2ux42LSkVu9zE5uNjn00nlhfzPYRmiMlLVdZ_Tfq66w4wML_nm6zcJMCiIB4/s320/2015+Gift+Catalog.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-49643007407232718112015-12-08T18:49:00.000-08:002015-12-08T18:49:15.157-08:00Are We Dealing With Sensory Issues? {a repost}<br />
For most kids, sensory integration (how the brain receives and processes information from all our senses but particularly the sense of touch, sense of body movement and sense of body position) happens as a result of normal development. For <em>some</em> adopted children, this process is interrupted and can result in a wide range of behaviors. Sensory integration disorder is common in children who were born prematurely, had no prenatal care or who have lived in an orphanage for more than a year. These ‘out of sync’ children have learned not to trust the information their bodies provide so they can experience anxiety, poor school performance, difficulty listening and sensory-seeking stimulation to feel better. They will either magnify or minimize input from their senses. <i>Sensory issues can be magnified during the holidays!</i> <br />
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Typically, a child with sensory integrative disorder will show more than one of these signs. <br />
<ul>
<li>Overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights, smells or sounds (ie. hates tags in clothes, seams in socks, textures in eating, strong odors; withdrawing when touched, trantrums when bathing or grooming, crying or withdrawal in crowds or noisy places) </li>
<li>Under-reactive to sensory stimulation (constant falling, tripping, bumping into things, don’t react to pain, aggression with toys and other children, seemingly unaware of objects or people) </li>
<li>Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low </li>
<li>Coordination problems (poor balance or motor coordination, an odd gait when walking) </li>
<li>Delays in speech, language, motor skills, or academic achievement </li>
<li>Poor organization of behavior (impulsive, distractible, frustrated at change of activities, aggressive) </li>
<li>Poor self concept (may appear lazy, bored, or unmotivated)<br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://postadoptinfo.org/articles/07_98_sid.html" target="_blank">Harriet McCarthy</a></span></li>
</ul>
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Everyone has sensory processing issues (you may have read the list above and thought, ‘I am a bit impulsive or unmotivated myself!’) but <b>they become an issue when they interfere with normal daily life functions</b>. <em>A professional therapist should <u>always</u> be consulted when you suspect your child has significant struggles in these areas and there are many wonderful OT’s with experience in sensory processing issues.</em><br />
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There are also many things you can do at home to help your child regulate their senses and feel comfortable. Many adoptive parents whose children struggle with sensory issues have shared ideas they’ve received from professionals and have used at home. Here are a few:<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o78N0Wu0lRo/UYftRtvjk1I/AAAAAAAAF-Y/pGhJT9emxB4/s1600-h/sensory-activities-hands-on%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="sensory-activities-hands-on" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_QGssgndS_8/UYftScyI5qI/AAAAAAAAF-g/yfV3y7sIhVI/sensory-activities-hands-on_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="315" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="sensory-activities-hands-on" width="226" /></a><br />
<h3 align="center">
<a href="http://handsonaswegrow.com/sensory-activities-from-hands-on-mom/" target="_blank">15 Quick Sensory Activities from Hands on Moms</a></h3>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><a href="http://pinterest.com/mamasmiles/sensory-activities-for-kids/" target="_blank">Sensory Activities for Kids (on Pinterest</a>)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.spdfoundation.net/homeactivities.html" target="_blank">Home Activities for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder</a></span></strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://special-ism.com/category/sensory/" target="_blank">Articles by Professionals on Sensory Issues in Children</a></span></strong><br />
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Shameless plug: An excellent OT in the Seattle/Tacoma area specializing in sensory processing issues is <b>Sally Carman, OTR/L</b> at the <a href="http://ctigigharbor.com/" target="_blank">Center for Therapeutic Intervention</a> in Gig Harbor, WA. Sally, an adoptive mother of two, has been a contributing instructor at each of our International Adoption Training weekends, providing valuable input on attachment, bonding and sensory processing issues in adopted children.<br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-24619583096950494962015-12-02T08:14:00.000-08:002015-12-02T08:14:17.050-08:00AmazonSmile – a 'no cost' way to give<br />
Here’s a super easy way to support Adoption Ministry of YWAM while you do your online Christmas shopping! <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7Kkgk6oSFxU/U1WTkd57xnI/AAAAAAAAHpI/s9ylsMgDu78/s1600-h/AmazonSmile3.jpg"><img alt="AmazonSmile" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GlGAJMShais/U1WTlWWOMdI/AAAAAAAAHpM/Lyzc_3vDi-U/AmazonSmile_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="90" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="AmazonSmile" width="246" /></a><br />
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Amazon, the online retail site where so many of us find great deals, has created a way to donate toward your favorite 501c3 charity every time you place an order. Without any additional cost to you, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase price (.5%) to Adoption Ministry. Here’s how it works:<br />
<ol>
<li>Visit AmazonSmile at: <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/">smile.amazon.com</a> </li>
<li>Select our ministry by typing in "<strong>Adoption Ministry of YWAM</strong>"</li>
<li>Amazon remembers your selection and every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation to our ministry. </li>
<li>There are two things to remember in order for us to receive the donation:<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">* </span></b>You need to complete your shopping at AmazonSmile (not the regular Amazon website – you can add items to your cart there then go to smile.amazon.com to check out). Set your bookmark to AmazonSmile for all your online shopping! <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">* </span></b>Amazon’s phone app currently doesn’t support AmazonSmile so you need to use the web browser (we hope they are working on making this function via the phone app as well!)</li>
</ol>
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<strong>You shop. Amazon gives.</strong> Pretty cool, right? We hope that by taking just a few minutes to select us as your charity of choice and then remembering to shop from the AmazonSmile webpage, we can better help vulnerable women and children here in the U.S. and in Ethiopia. Thanks so much for helping us spread the word!<br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-12709738297944113472015-12-01T03:00:00.000-08:002015-12-01T03:00:00.866-08:00Giving (Hope) Tuesday<br />
How does a woman who has received help to turn her life around say thank you?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1E27yja5DBA?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></div>
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Her rent is $25 a month. $55 pays for school expenses for one of her boys. New shoes or clothes is $25. Food staples are $40 a month. $600 sets her up in business for life! <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4KJ7cm4h_KQ/Vl0WP38UkdI/AAAAAAAALNw/cRbiajvmmOk/s1600-h/nov2014%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mV14dKjHHeM/Vl0WQiB-JSI/AAAAAAAALN4/fHUTo79NROg/nov2014_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="" width="644" /></a> <br />
One year ago, Asnakech couldn’t provide any of these things for her family and the future for her and her three boys was hopeless. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2SzgOmtZWRs/Vl0WRV6MB0I/AAAAAAAALN8/hcpAa2KyEk4/s1600-h/1%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="1" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-upM4M6m9RWs/Vl0WSf0SbYI/AAAAAAAALOE/LL6RN7M9aJg/1_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="431" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="1" width="644" /></a> <br />
Today, this industrious lady has a little shop where she sells the produce she grows and other food items. She is faithfully paying back her loan, all the boys are in school and doing well, and she can pay her rent. <br />
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This is not an isolated story! You can help another single mother in Ethiopia do the same thing. Give <strong>hope </strong>and empower a woman to become self-sustaining. It’s not an exaggeration to say you will change the future for an entire family! <br />
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With <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/donations-page/business-starts/" target="_blank"><em>any amount</em> donated for an IGA</a> (Income Generating Activity), you can know that 100% of your gift goes to a deserving woman to start a small business in Ethiopia. What a wonderful way to take part in #GivingTuesday! <br />
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<blockquote>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/donations-page/business-starts/" target="_blank"><img alt="sm bus start" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GFRW3jSrFpA/Vl0x6w_3QVI/AAAAAAAALPk/yaiQtcNwo9s/sm%252520bus%252520start.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="sm bus start" width="244" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
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You can read about many other women who are success stories in the making on our webpage <a href="http://www.adoptionministry127.com/success-stories/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RfoYNj2Tcuw/Vl0aBSND53I/AAAAAAAALPA/dpxhqepTCiQ/s1600-h/IGAs%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IGAs" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_4wCXMYS8kk/Vl0aCUEYa5I/AAAAAAAALPI/3ujzxYQ05tY/IGAs_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="640" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IGAs" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<br />Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-22712613927874110832015-11-28T11:32:00.000-08:002015-11-28T11:32:10.521-08:00Giving Hope!<div style="text-align: center;">
The Christmas season is here and we have lots of ways to help you <br />
make your Christmas giving have a huge impact! <br />
It might sound like a cliché but giving through our YWAM Gift Catalog<br />
<b>really does change lives</b>.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nttarETGM08?rel=0" width="640"></iframe></div>
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Visit our Gift Catalog here:</div>
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<a href="http://ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>ywamethiopia.com/giftcatalog</b></span></a></div>
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Becky - Mission 1:27 Ethiopiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997793334205089786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5245051582170057035.post-31446302143058831372015-11-19T08:16:00.002-08:002015-11-19T08:16:48.699-08:00Emotions<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>by Jennifer Johns</em> </span><br />
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Both of our daughters lost their first mamas due to childbirth complications. We had the privilege of meeting their birth fathers when we traveled for court and were able to learn more about our girls' biological mothers and the circumstances that led their birth fathers to place our girls for adoption. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GBgoOiAs8GU/Vk30So5pA2I/AAAAAAAALNI/_DzJ-rj3OuY/s1600-h/1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="1" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z7OqR0IgvSI/Vk30Tb2ElaI/AAAAAAAALNM/JCgBVU2FdAk/1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="1" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t7fMDUMyARo/Vk30UpZwP6I/AAAAAAAALNQ/RE2nT7PsuHo/s1600-h/2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-58RkHxXtYiQ/Vk30VWmApCI/AAAAAAAALNU/GN1WpbOsaaI/2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="337" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2" width="504" /></a> <br />
It was obvious to us that both of these men loved their baby girls, but felt unable to care for them. One gave us his blessing and asked us to raise his little girl to know Jesus. The other told us how much he wanted his daughter to have both a mother and a father. We looked both of these men in the eye and promised we would love the girls as our own and would raise them to the best of our ability. We also told them we would keep them updated on how the girls are doing.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eugxTMqXji4/VkvzwvGQpII/AAAAAAAALMQ/7Arli_l2PuI/s1600-h/17-IMG_2322e%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" height="431" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8yvRhl8gGKQ/VkvzxXTU_TI/AAAAAAAALMU/epb2hYBmY74/17-IMG_2322e_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" /></a> <br />
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We were so grateful to learn that Joy was willing to travel to Gimbi and meet with our girls' birth families on her recent trip to Ethiopia. We prepared photo books, an update on how the girls are doing, and some questions we hoped the birth fathers would be able to answer. It was an incredible blessing to receive pictures, answers to our questions, and video footage of Joy's meeting with these men who will always hold a special place in our hearts. What I wasn't fully prepared for, though, were the emotions that would be stirred up in my own heart. As beautiful as adoption is, it is also quite complicated. <br />
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Our girls are 6 and 4. We talk about Ethiopia often and we have shared with them the details of their stories that we feel are age appropriate. It had been a while since we had talked in detail about the circumstances that led them to join our family, so we used Joy's recent update as a conversation starter. For a few days afterward, our older daughter asked me to tell her again about her Ethiopian father and her siblings that remain there. One night before bed, we were praying and her prayer was this, “God, please tell my birth mama that I am six years old and in first grade.” The floodgates broke at that point. How is a 6 year old supposed to reconcile the incredible losses that she experienced so early in her life? <br />
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It seems that even our four year old has some understanding of the complexities in her story. She was recently telling her brother about how she will be in Heaven with her birth mom someday. She immediately followed that comment by telling him how much she loves Daddy and Mommy. She will also say things like, “I never want to leave this family.” There is some part of her that intuitively knows that her situation is not the norm and she makes an effort to smooth things over for our sake. <br />
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While we are so grateful for the pictures and video that we received, they also serve as a vivid reminder of how challenging life is for our girls' families in Ethiopia. As I watched them look through the book of pictures, I wondered what in the world must be going through their minds. I know they were happy to see that the girls are growing and thriving, but I know it must also be painful for them, too. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MXECyFmWLRo/VkvzydHk3lI/AAAAAAAALMY/DNZATK1MN1Q/s1600-h/12-IMG_2311%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" height="431" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--mYxEBmzJl0/VkvzzKzR_zI/AAAAAAAALMg/xKDdtNIREZg/12-IMG_2311_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" /></a> <br />
Our older daughter's birth father and two birth sisters came to the meeting. I couldn't help but notice on the video that the girls made some of the very same facial expressions that Sena makes. I watched them interact with one another and my heart just ached at the realization that they are missing a sister. One sister is just a few years older than Sena and it was almost as if we were looking into the future at Sena in a few years. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GVfciRM6wVg/Vkvz0KNwc7I/AAAAAAAALMk/ehGG2ypel34/s1600-h/25-IMG_2380%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" height="431" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tzXnL5uTjf4/Vkvz1KYxPvI/AAAAAAAALMo/c-eoaQBoHOw/25-IMG_2380_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" /></a> <br />
Our younger daughter's birth father is very thin and shared with Joy that he is having some health issues. It is so hard for me to know that anytime I am sick, I can drive myself to the doctor and I will be treated while this man is suffering and does not have access to medical care. It just doesn't seem fair. <br />
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Our hope is to take both girls to Ethiopia when they are older. I know that will present a whole new set of challenges, but we believe that they need to see and experience their beautiful country of origin. In the meantime, we will continue to navigate the complexities as they come. Ultimately, we trust in the sovereignty of God and know that He has a plan for our girls that is good. They are resilient and I look forward to seeing what He accomplishes through them as they grow. <br />
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<i>Special thanks to Jennifer and all of our adoptive families who made this trip to Gimbi financially possible. Your photos and letters brought great joy, peace and amazement to the birth parents with whom they were shared.</i><br />
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