Greetings, and this catches me up to the present.

Sunday, Nov. 8: Discussed with a long term, trusted friend about a trip to visit Somali Christians, and location and timing were finalized (my safety is not at issue, but these are not public).  We’ve since had contact with key people on site, and my contact there asked “So, what do you want to do when you’re here?” My response was that the first priority was to see Somali Christians to the extent that is possible, to encourage them and be informed of their life situations, and then we can do the other things normally done in that locale. At the end of the 25 minute discussion I reaffirmed that the other activities are all fine (and interesting), but that priority #1 remains to see, and to encourage and strengthen Somali Christians.

Monday, Nov. 9: We purchased the video editing software that Tenkir was interested in ... or we thought it was purchased. There have been compounded problems with purchasing which have taken several hours with several of us working on, including his IT man. Even though using my personal USA-based accounts (PayPal, etc.), the purchase has still “bounced.” If any of you know of people coming to Ethiopia who could bring 2 CDs along, this month or even if in January some time, please let me know ASAP (thanks, from some very grateful people on this end!).

I was invited to meet a young (adult) Somali Christian. A vibrant young man, he is unusual in that he is an extremely rare second-generation Christian (his father was well known, to believers and non-believers alike). Stunning, to say the least! I asked him to recount his coming to the Lord – when, how, what happened, what changed, and so on – and another Christian who’s known him for a long time interjected “Oh, he grew up a Christian”! I never heard that about a Somali before!! It was not to negate the need for a true, direct encounter with the Lord Jesus; it was merely to say, in a casual social setting, that this situation likely won’t have the ultra-dramatic elements that are often present when one makes a complete, extreme move from Muslim to Christian. If initial observations are correct, it seems he did have a cleansed disposition, quite free from some of the lesser things that are frequently a part of the fabric of Somali life (… and we have lesser things in our milieu too!). I expect to see more of this young man in the days ahead, and intend to ask about more of his Christian conversion and subsequent experience. (More details can be shared in person.)

Tuesday, Nov. 10: The Guest House where I am staying was built and purposed for housing westerners coming to adopt Ethiopian children -the owners actually run a large orphanage, with several locations. Apparently business had been booming until the government banned international adoption. Since arriving, there’s only been one other guest, Jayne, an American lady who’s spend the last 30 years in this part of the world, speaks essentially fluent Amharic, and was part of the catalyst for this orphanage.

This morning a father/son arrived from the States – the dad is an American Jayne knows from the States, and the 21-year-old son, Sami (Samuel) is a significantly handicapped Ethiopian fellow he and his wife adopted nine years ago (before the adoption ban). This was their first trip back, and I just happened to go down to the courtyard in time to see the boy’s birth mother arrive, and to see them in one of the dearest embraces I’ve ever seen. In addition to the nine-year hiatus, they had rarely seen each other in the four years before as he was in various orphanages (he was only eight when he left home, so though a long time he clearly remembered her). What a touching moment to see the joy of each in seeing the other (especially the mother)!! It was also touching as Sami’s Amharic has gotten rusty, to say the least, and his mother speaks no English. At one point after speaking to him in Amharic (while still embracing), he couldn’t get out a response and she gently, with a smile, scolded him that his Amharic was rusty! His Amharic has since rejuvenated significantly – he understands quite a bit, though is still catching up on being conversational.

I was invited to join them for lunch - there in the courtyard with injera and wat – and the moments were precious, with Jayne translating most everything (in both directions - she was the only bilingual person among us). Among other things, the mother expressly thanked the father, from the bottom of her heart, for taking such good care of her son. He was obviously in good health, had a good wheelchair, etc., that she was genuinely and appreciative. It seemed she recognized that her son had received care that she could never have given here (especially in light of his special needs). It was clear the adoptive parents had done things right (I understood it can’t always be like this) – they had maintained contact with the mother and family-of-origin, and weren’t laying exclusive claims to the boy but looking to nurture the original family relationships as fully as possible, including with a possible transfer of Sami back to his original setting. Though there has been the pain of separation, the relationships were exceedingly vibrant and to be commended – there were no weak links. For a good while I let them talk and catch up, but when there was a break asked Jayne to convey to the mother my best wishes - that this was a day of exceeding joy to be reunited with her son, and that I was very happy for the joy they have in reuniting. I just wanted to add that affirmation of what was happening – Heaven had touched earth, in the lowliest and most humble of ways! (More on Sami later.)

Friday, Nov. 13: Had breakfast and the rest of the morning with Negash & Janet Kebede.* The three hours of conversation went far and wide -

• Talked about the poor, both literal beggars and otherwise, and our responses to them. Negash’s concern, even in his own giving and as an Ethiopian, is not to facilitate dependency. (For a bit more extended discussion of this, see “Charitable Giving” below.)

• We discussed the “BA” project he is working with – the rebuilding of the previous Bible Academy, of which he was headmaster. They have been working on getting land from the government (don’t recall if that’s been finalized), and have already made a major fund drive among those directly involved that there is working capital in hand. Though they are looking to primarily carry this forward with local funding, they are looking for a liaison in the west.

• I mentioned the possibility of continuing my studies in Jerusalem, but Negash was very affirmative of the “Polemics & Apologetics to Islam” program I am currently enrolled in, that this is what this part of the world needs.

• ... and we had guava sauce for breakfast – yum!! In Genesis where God said His creation was “very good,” he actually had guavas in mind!

Tuesday, Nov. 17: At supper with Sami and his dad I mentioned my photo of when Sami and his mother met (shown here), and wondered if he had seen it?? He hadn’t, so I showed it to him. Instantly he put his head down in his arms on the table, in tears. It struck to the heart of their relationship and it was quite a while before he came back up “for air.” I shared it with him, and immediately he set it as the wallpaper on his phone (which is where it still was yesterday when he left for the US). Touching. … I didn’t ask this, but thought I could if he knows anyone else who has been separated long periods of time from their mother/parents? Me. He is not alone (not to mention Biblical examples: Daniel, Moses, Joseph, others). But he seems in a healthy place about this - normal and very appropriate longing, and free of bitterness.

Thursday, Nov 19: Hopefully you have seen the testimony here of a Somali martyr. I met with a Somali Christian to clarify the translation of the next account (Liibaan – not posted yet). I’m aware of at least one situation where the first translation has been shared directly from this blog, to beyond my world of contacts, that I may increase the frequency of posts to sooner than once/month. Stay tuned ...

Had lunch with an American pastor and his wife (from one of the churches I’ve been attending - I’ve spoken of them before). Though I’ve been a bit careful in proceeding, his interest in seeing me involved is genuine. It looks like nothing will happen yet before my departure to the US. Also, he is an interim pastor, with the long-term pastor coming in January, so we’ll see where things are then (for them and me).

Got cash … finally!!  I’ve had an awful time since my credit card was inadvertently cancelled mid-October, and had very few “work-arounds” – one was to do a PayPal payment of my Guest House bill directly to the owner’s children who are in the US for college ... but that doesn’t solve the issue of needing raw cash for here (sure helps them though, as payment is in US dollars). Looks like I’ll be OK – hallelujah, and I’m relieved (and spared considerable embarrassment)!

Sunday, Nov. 22: “Attended” three services today – two locally and my home congregation remotely (thank you James!) Also walked past the Ethiopian Orthodox (outdoor) service at the bottom of the hill on the way to my ride - that is a beautiful site to see!

This afternoon Sami and his American dad left for the USA (the other photo of Sami here). They were very discreet and “mature,” but his mother had to step out of sight for a bit (overcome by emotion). I can only imagine what must have been going through her heart – heart wrenching, to say the least. Though not “fixated” on it in a negative way, Sami would like to return permanently – he knows he’s an Ethiopian, and rightly so. In the several meals we had together, we talked about this, and what it would take especially given the degree of his handicaps and current language limitation. Sami has been sending regular support for his mother for some time and wants to do quite a bit more – his bond with her is strong. He can also get around on crutches (for shorter distances), so they left his wheelchair here for an even more handicapped individual who Jayne knows. God bless them on their way!!

More generally, my studies are such that the possibility of switching to the Jerusalem Biblical Studies program in January is still a very real possibility. Through no doing of my own, some things are starting to happen that may lead to a conclusive decision about this. I have sought a trusted Christian Somali’s counsel about this, but he did not have much to say either way, though was affirming of its merit and worth.

This catches me up – my posts are now current to the present. God bless you on your way!

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Charitable Giving

This discussion item with Negash was partly as I’m needing to respond to some requests for help, and wanting to hear an Ethiopian perspective. Increasingly, I’m formulating a disposition that “my giving is to organizations that can help many people, rather than giving to individuals” (which I’m open to when clearly appropriate). Requests are very direct and explicit and are frequently not small (i.e. assist with an individual’s graduate school funding, etc.). The “organization” part of my approach allows for anonymity between me and the recipient (otherwise they tell all their friends, who then also come asking), it allows for assessment of true need and who should/should not be receiving limited funds, and it otherwise removes inappropriately personal involvement on my part.

Several Sundays ago there was an excellent sermon on charitable giving (II Cor. 8). In revisiting this matter, there seems to be a facet that is often (always?) overlooked: “To whom much is given, much will be required” (Lk. 12:48). People want money, but can they, before Heaven, responsibly and wisely manage it? (notice: “manage,” not “use”). I have not tested this with any Africans yet (other than Negash), but are recipients ready or able to carry the responsibility of entrusted stewardship? Is there a sense of needing to report to a higher authority for how resources have been used – that it is not just a matter of using them per one’s own discretion? It has nothing to do with skin color or dollar amounts (be they much or little – cf. Mk. 12:42). It looked like there was going to be a chance to discuss this with some Ethiopian men - that opportunity slipped away but may return.

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* Negash is a recently retired professor, and had been a major Meserete Kristos Church leader before, during, and after the time of the communist regime. He, with five other Mennonite leaders among many others were incarcerated during the “Red Terror,” and he was up for execution twice that he knows of (whether out of mercy, error, or otherwise, that didn’t happen). Janet (Shertzer) is a Lancaster county native – they met when she was here with Eastern Mennonite Missions. I remember both of them from my growing up years, as well as the early years of the “Red Terror,” that this relationship goes back a long way, with a lot of common ground.

You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. Ex 22:22

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

A hymn: Ose Shalom (Jewish)

Translation:

He who makes peace in his high places;
He shall make peace upon us
And upon all of Israel
And say, Amen.

Credit: www.hebrewsongs.com.