The Feeding of The 400!

Written a couple weeks ago...

 It almost feels like this memory is still too fresh to put to words.  I am going to journal my thoughts here for now since I don't have any Internet connection to post anything.  

I arrived early to the church, about 3 in the afternoon.  There were already about ten people working diligently, preparing a meal.  They had been working for hours cutting onions, cutting meat, and cooking.  A couple of women from Project Hopeful came a few minutes later and were there to help as well.  

Some small children started to trickle in.  As they came through the gate, they handed an usher a ticket.  This is a ticket that was handed out at children's church earlier in the week and at the main church on Sunday.  
More kids started to come, most by themselves in groups of children with no adult present.  Soon, there were fifty.  

Adults started to hobble in.  Some of them on crutches.  Some of them with a cane.  Some of them had to be led by another person that can see.  Some of them had significant debilitating injuries.  Some had leprosy.  Some of them had a baby strapped to her back.  
None of them came in as a couple.  I did not see a single "family unit" arrive together.  
Soon there were 200.  And so we prayed God's blessing over the meal and those that were present. 

 Then the crazy distribution of food started.  Everyone got their own plate of food.  The smallest kids first, then the older, then the adults.  Some waited patiently, some were too hungry to wait any longer.  Food was flying at a rapid pace through the aisle, that was when I heard the banging.  I had heard it before, but each time I had heard it in the past the gate was opened.  This time, the gate stayed shut.  I glanced around at the courtyard and did not see a single place for anyone else to sit.  (Even by Ethiopian standards). The place was completely packed full of widows, orphans, lepers, prostitutes, the blind and the lame.

Then the gate was opened as someone left.  It had to be guarded.  Desperation.  Anxiety.  Hunger.  Emptiness.  The faces of the hundreds that stood on the outside of the gate told their own story.  They were left out.  There was no room for them.  

Slowly, as others left, a few more were let in.  This took place until the entire first group of 200 left and a new group of 200 took their place.  I couldn't believe that there would be enough food.  I know that this was not the feeding of the 5000 but I can't believe that there continued to be enough.  By the time the big containers were almost empty, there was no longer anyone standing at the gate longing to get in.  God had provided more than enough for each and everyone of them!  Somewhere between 400-500 people!  There was enough for about ten more servings as we cleaned up.  The "clean" drinking water that filled a 40 gallon drum was almost empty, but it too had been enough.  

We only had around fifty or so cups to start with.  Those little red plastic cups just don't exist here.  There was not time to wash cups after each use, it was too crazy.  So as the dinner went on, the red stains from everyone's injera stained hands continued to pile up on the white cups.  I was barely willing to touch the cup on the outside, to pour some new water in it for someone else.  I couldn't imagine drinking from it.  I guess it doesn't matter when you are that hungry and when you are that thirsty.  

I was completely blessed to be apart of today's feeding.  It was made possible by a church that donated $300 for it.  Well done church, well done.  It was money that was well spent.  You see, people are not only being fed here with food, they are being filled with the Holy Spirit as well.  The church has tripled since I was here a year ago.  They have planted two new churches in the area.  I them saw them have a special teaching time for new believers before the main service this last week.  There were about 20 people that have put their trust in Jesus Christ and have turned away from Ethiopian Orthodox and from Islam. 

I was also blessed to witness my 12 year old daughter serving those in need as well.  It was only a year ago that she was one of the crowd.  

Meeting Mita

We drove into the eight foot tall steel gate and she was standing there, opening it for us.  She looked very shy, and slightly puzzled.  She had just been been told about Eyerusalem and I the night before.  We parked, got out of the car and I greeted her.
Eyerusalem and her met, for the first time in about 8 years.  There was that awkward handshake, a slight glance at each other and then they both turned shyly away.  It took some coaxing from the adults to get them both to turn back towards each other and in the matter of minutes the awkward, childhood shyness was gone and they were laughing and having fun together.
In a sort of anticlimactic way, the meeting with Mita went well.  I am not sure what either of us expected.  Her whole family that lives in town was there.  Her mom, her brother, cousin, aunt and uncle.  Her house was big, and well kept.  It was so good to see that she is well taken care of and that she is loved.  We had a great lunch.  I have never been served so many Ethiopian dishes in one meal.  The conversation was good and the hours passed by fairly quickly.  Politics was a good topic as Mita's uncle is a retired ambassador.  He had some interesting things to say.
We will meet with her again one more time, tomorrow after church for coffee.  I am glad that we will have the chance to see her at least once more.
Eyerusalem seemed to have enjoyed herself and was glad that we have been able to come.  She seemed so relieved to see her.  The whole way to the house she was reliving her time in Ethiopia.  She told us about how she would look for Mita in the area.  As we pulled into the driveway, she was shocked to find out that she was so close.  She had been looking up and down the right street.  In fact, she had looked directly kiddie corner to Mita's house, but due to the large gates and fences did not realize she was within fifty feet of her.
I am glad that God has allowed us to be able to find her, for them to reconnect with each other and for this questions of Eyerus's to finally be answered.

I will post pictures at some point.  However, I can't do it right now from ET.  Pole Sanna.

The rest of the visa story!

I could hardly sleep as my friend Tesfaye and I were going to the embassy the next morning and we had to leave by 6:30.  Not having a reliable alarm clock, I slept light and kept checking the time.
Before we could go to the embassy we had to go to a bank near there and obtain a bank statement.  He also had to pay for his appointment and obtain a receipt.  The money is for the appointment and not the visa, so it is not refundable.  Our appointment was at 8:30, but the bank did not open until 8:00.  While we waited, another pastor who had been invited to the same conference showed up to meet us at the bank.  Somehow, he got an apponintment for the same time, (I am really not sure how).  As the bank took a long time and we rolled up to the embassy at 9:00, I was starting to get stressed.  They too, seemed a little stressed, dressed in their fine suits and ties, they started running around trying to hurry up.
At the embassy, before you can even get to the gate, security checks your passports, and your proof of an appointment, if you are not a US citizen.  When I showed them my passport, they asked why I was there.  When I told them I was there to help my friend, they laughed at both of us.  They told me that he was 18 and did not need any help.  Seeing that they didn't outright tell me I couldn't enter, I ignored the statement and proceeded to walk inside.
Then, at the security check point, they tried to verify Tesfaye's appointment and they couldn't.  They told us that they only showed an appointment for May.  As the line started to move past us, we were told to wait by the wall until today's appointment could be verified.
So we prayed.  We stood there for about 15 minutes, as they too questioned me some more about why I was there with Tesfaye.  Finally, the phone rang.  "You may enter." Alright, at least we have a chance now to have the appointment!
We waited about two hours.  I think that it was because we were at the end of the 8:30 appointments.
Finally, the other pastor was called to window 12.  He stood tense at the window for about 2 minutes and then he turned back towards us.  With tears welling up in his eyes, he shook his head no as he walked right past us back outside.  We did not see him again until the evening.
A couple minutes later, "Tesfaye, report to window 12". The same guy that just denied the other pastor.
We both got up, and reported to the window.  I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do or say but we had to do all that we could.  The gruff man behind window 12 looked at me puzzled and asked what my relation was to Tesfaye?  "I am a friend of his, staying in his house.  I am here as a witness to the work that he does." He kind of nodded, then told me to go and sit down.  Four minutes later, after showing lots of documents, the man called me back.
"Your friend is going to be granted the visa!" Tears of happiness started to well up in both of our eyes, as we hugged and congratulated each other.
Our God.  He is a God of miracles!  All glory belongs to him!
There is no reason that Tesfaye should have been granted the visa.  In fact, when he told me a couple of months ago that he was going to try, I thought that he shouldn't.
We went out to lunch to celebrate the good news, and the fact that today was Tesfaye's birthday as well.

Getting a US visa

We are staying at a friends house for the first part of week that we are here in Addis.  His name is Tesfaye.  He is one of the pastors of the church that we go to here in Korah.  When he heard that I was returning to ET he kindly offered up a place for us to stay.  What an amazing blessing.  Not only do we have a place to stay but he has given us his whole house.  He moved his wife, his one month old child and himself across the alleyway to his mothers house so that we can stay here in his house.  I can't believe it!  Not only did he give us a house to stay in, he and his wife have been caring for our needs without us asking.  They have made tons of meals for us and bought bottled water for us to drink.  
Tesfaye told me about a problem when I first arrived.  He has been invited to a disciple making and church planting training in South Dakota.  The church that is sponsoring it is even paying for the flight and the room and board.  The problem is that the training starts on may 8th.  The next available appointment at the US embassy for him to apply for a visa is on May 8th.  This poses a huge problem as they will not grant him a visa knowing that he will miss the training.  
So we prayed about it.  
I told him that he should call or go there to see if there is a way to get another appointment, incase someone has cancelled.  Well, there is not.  You have to schedule the appointment online without exception.  (Our embassy is not the easiest to work with or the friendliest!). So he went to an Internet cafe, and tried to have someone help him get another appointment.  The only one available was now for May 14th.  He went to another Internet cafe to try again with someone else's help.  Once again he was told and shown that the next appointment was for May 14th. Deeply saddened, he walked out the door towards the bus stop.  
Then the miracle happened,  the girl came running out of the cafe toward him. She brought him back to the cafe and showed him the computer.  "Next available appointment, April 11th at 8:30am.". Tomorrow!!!  My God, He is amazing!  The time and date changed on her computer right before her eyes and he has been granted an earlier appointment.  
It costs $150 just to make the appointment, whether you get the visa or not! So tomorrow morningI am going to go with him, to petition the embassy on his behalf as he applies for a visa!  I know that God is using him in big ways here in Korah and I trust that he wants him in South Dakota to get more training.  
We prayed tonight together that he will be granted this visa and we shall go and see in the morning.

Sent from my iPad

Mita has been found!

It has been a super crazy week here as we are getting ready to fly out tomorrow to Kenya and then on the Ethiopia.
However, before we fly out we wanted to share some awesome news!
Mita has been found!  Searching for her was like looking for a needle in a hay stack.  However, God knew exactly where she is.  In His almighty and sovereign way, he has allowed the investigators to find her just before we arrive.
We are told that she is in a good home, with a mother who loves, provides, and cares for her.  This makes our hearts so happy to know that she is in a good place.  Praise God.
So, we are still traveling.  We still have lots of questions.  Now that we know where she is, we won't be wasting a bunch of time aimlessly looking.  We already have an appointment set up on Monday with the investigators so that they can introduce us.  Hopefully this will be a wonderful time of reconnecting with a lost loved one for Eyerusalem, and Mita.
Eyerusalem and the rest of us are a little sad, as we don't foresee any sort of adoption.  However, we are amazed at how God has allowed us to even find her.
Here is what I gave to the investigators.  I gave them the court documents, and a bunch of pictures.  The court documents had a ton of holes in the history, including no address.  Then I gave the investigators an 8x10 picture of a dirt road in the village with this description.  "If you find this road, then follow it to the store that sells water.  Then, you are in the area of finding this man (another 8x10 picture of a man).  We think that if you can find this man, whose name we don't know, and phone number we don't have, then he might have some information that will tell you about Mita.  (HA!  Our God is good!)

Pray with us as we travel tomorrow.  It will be an emotionally hard trip for the both of us, though especially for Eyerus.    

Don't leave me

It really shouldn't be shocking.

Actually, we were expecting it.

But it breaks our hearts nonetheless.....

Imagine growing up as a child without the security of a family.  Without the security of a good next meal.  Without the security that comes from having your needs met.  This is the childhood that she remembers.

Really, it is hard for us to imagine.  It is hard to put myself in her shoes, even though I have seen it with my own eyes.  

She doesn't have to worry about her next meal now.  She has a family who loves her, cares for her, protects her, and meets her needs.  The present can't erase the past.  Those memories are still true.  They linger around, always questioning if it will happen again.

We knew something was wrong.  It felt like we had just regressed to where we were almost a year ago.  The fits, the anger, the yelling.
So, we sat her down.
We talked.
And her ugly fears came out.

Honey, you are part of our family now.  Forever.  Forever and always.  We love you.  You can't do anything to us to cause us not to love you.  We choose to love you.  When you look at that picture of our family up on the wall, you are in it.  You will always be in it.  When we get to Ethiopia in two weeks, you will be with me the whole time.  I will not drop you off at the orphanage.  I will not leave you in Ethiopia.  You have a return plane ticket home.  Let me show it to you.  See, here is your seat, and your ticket.  You will sit by the window and we will fly into Rome, and then London.  Both of us are coming home.  I promise.  I know that going to Ethiopia is scary and hard.  You live with us now though in California.  This is a short trip.  One with a purpose.  Our purpose is to find your sister.

We are going there together and we are coming home together, because you have a family waiting for you when you return.

Going back to Ethiopia!

In 22 days Eyerusalem and I (Adam) will be boarding a plane and heading back to Ethiopia!  I am so excited!  I need to go back there.  I have longed to go back every single day since getting to the US.  This is going to be an amazing trip for the both of us.  We came home exactly one year ago from when we will be leaving.  Today, we went and applied for Eyerusalem's passport and we are booking airfare in the morning.

Why?
If you are thinking that this trip is coming up quick, then you are right.  Though Heather and I decided quickly to leave, (like in a discussion on a 2 mile walk) we are confident that this is where the Holy Spirit has been leading us.  Ever since I heard about Mita, I knew that I would be traveling back to ET.  My thoughts have been; If she is found in a good situation, then I need to go to ET and verify it for myself.  If she is found in a bad situation, then I need to go there and try to get her out of that situation.  If she is not found then I must go there and search for her myself.  So, I have just been waiting for the right time to go.  It has always been my plan to go myself because it wouldn't work to bring the whole family, and would cost us a TON!  I was sitting in church the other day and the Holy Spirit pushed me and opened up my eyes and heart to take Eyerusalem with me.  I had not even thought about it before.

Why Eyerusalem?
She will be a huge asset while we are there.  She knows the story, she knows the people, and she knows the language.  She also will be way easier to travel with than any of the other kids.  She is super excited to go.  I think that even if we can't find Mita, it will help bring closure for the both of us knowing that we have done everything that we possibly could to try and find her.  She asked me the other day if she can tell the people in her village about Jesus.  I told her absolutely.  She also asked me if she can bring some of her stuff to the poor people in the village and give it away.  I told her absolutely.  I love her heart.  She has such a missionary heart and a heart for those that have less than her.  God has been doing amazing things in her heart over the last few months and I am excited to be able to bring her to a place where she can go back into her village that is full of muslims and witness to them about the love of Jesus.

The details:
We are keeping this trip cheap and we are hoping to be able to stay at some friends houses while we are there.  I am excited about the possibility of staying in peoples houses.  It will be an awesome experience.  We will be in ET for a little more than a week and plan on spending the time meeting with the investigators that are there and assisting them in the village.  With Eyerusalem, we will be much more mobile and able to go out for the day.  The investigators have been able to meet with the extended family but have been unable to locate Mita yet.  We are not sure if we can change that but we must try.  We are leaving April 3rd and coming home April 16th.

KENYA?
My uncle, aunt and cousin are missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya.  So, since we are already going to be on that side of the world, we thought that it would be even more of an awesome trip to stop in and stay with the Maples for a few days. :)  I thought that the flights would cost us a lot more making our way to Kenya, but they are exactly the same price.  It makes no difference for us to fly there as well.  How awesome is that?  So we will be able to visit with family and see the ministry that they are doing.  I am stoked about being able to go back to Kenya as well.  Some may ask; isn't Kenya kind of dangerous right now?  Maybe it is, but that is not really a concern of mine.  I trust that God is sovereign and in control at all times.  I rest in that.

How can you pray?
Pray that God will direct us to find Mita.
Pray that this will be an amazing time for Eyerusalem and I to really connect.  She is almost a teenager and I cherish this time that I will have with her.
Pray that we will be able to find a place to stay.
Pray that we will be able to bring encouragement and a piece of home to the Maples.