Ginchi: a mission within a mission AND Zion's International Service: Story Sharing.

 

On Saturday we traveled to Ginchi, a new up and coming ministry site just a 3-4 hour drive from Debre Zeyit. We left the guest house close to 7am so as to reach the site mid-day. As we traveled through Addis, we stopped and met another Kingdom minded man named Amonyee (sp?), an Habesha who is friends with the Chinese, as they send him money for construction and selling of houses. He was an EMT when Pastor Tadesse was a chaplain at the Korean hospital there when Amonyee came into contact with some Chinese who asked him to supply their work. They found out he is a trustworthy man who walks his talk as a Christian, not stealing as others in the business might be tempted to do. That's how they met. I got to meet him and we explored his latest adventures in construction. We climbed "stairways to heaven" - four flights of concrete stairs and when at the top, I was able to get some neat photos and then we said goodbye for now to Amonyee after we prayed God's hand on his work.

Yard in front.

Side street view.

The building itself.

"Stairway to heaven" lol.

When we reached the Ginchi site, we had to walk a 5-10 minute walk from a part of the road where rocks made van travel difficult (not impossible as we went in the van on the way back - it was just curious to the driver in getting there). As soon as I walked through the gate I had the sense something was here for me. As we listened to the church staff share their project powerpoint presentation, giving us more of an eye for their vision and getting to explore their compound, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. (If you or your church want to see this presentation, please contact me via email. I'm sure these brothers and sisters will not mind my sharing if you are considering pitching in to help). I didn't say anything at the time because I hadn't prayed about it. Our own missionary go-for Eshetu is looking at being project manager (along with his girlfriend Ashley) in about 2 years.

Currently Ginchi is beginning a KG with the hopes of expanding to an elementary school with a youth center and health center. Right now they are working on funding and getting squared away with facilities: toilets with running water, a guest house so they can have a missionary program, classrooms painted and equipped with desks and chairs, etc. They are registered with the Ethiopian government to begin this work in Christ. They need a lot of work and the overall project will cost initially around $5,000 USD.

Ginchi Myung Song Church

Korean plant 5-9 years

(English:  "Voice of the Gospel")

Area kids on playground on compound.

Adana in red

BCI kid checking it out

Future Guest House

Teff and wheat field

Currently storage

Classrooms building

 

3 girls of the 30 KG students

 



3 boys of the 30 KG students

So, I'm wanting to make this a mission within a mission.

Upon approval, I'm wanting to take some of the older kids from BCI's program (the ones who have shared with me they want to help other orphans when they get older) to Ginchi on some weekend to help with some of the painting and setting up the rooms. There's no reason they have to wait until later to help when there is opportunity for them to do so now.  It gives them a chance to shine God's light. 

Saturday was a fun and safe day of travels, and I've been feeling so much better. Thanks for your prayers as I've been healing up from this nasty upper respiratory cold and cough. Now, about Sunday!

So glad for Sheila Lamb and the Bible through Felt materials her and her troupe brought with them.  The kids were very curious about the felt characters that confused some neighbor missionary's kids into thinking it was a painting at long distance.  We talked about how Jesus loves all children and how he blessed them.  The story in the teacher's book talked about kids getting healed from sitting on His lap, and by the end of the story, kids were amazing me asking for prayers for patience, help with studies, their own healing of sickness like Jesus did, and for help keeping Jesus first in every situation. 

 

 

That afternoon, I got the privilege of sharing my story at Zion Church's International service where several different nations were represented.  We also talked about God's provision as it's been an ongoing theme lately, and how we all need to learn the word "provided" because He is our provider and it's already done.  I really like what Pastor Tadesse said in conclusion of Kelkias' speech at Ginchi: "If the need is big, God is bigger.  If the need is bigger, God is biggest.  If the need is biggest, God is Almighty."  So true. 

 

I'll admit, I was a bit nervous stepping into it as this is the first time I've grabbed a mic in front of a church since before my Grandma and Dad died but at the end of it, I was encouraged that I'm a gobez (good job) speaker, that I'm brave, and that I blessed them through it.  Thanks so much to the Tiatia's for asking me to share!!