Ethiopia Monday update

Worshiping in Ethiopia!

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnacrews1/EthiopiaStreetScenesAndChurch

What a wonderful first day in Ethiopia! There is no better way to begin than worshiping together with the body of believers at BEZA church (BEZA and their ministries are our Global Action ministry partners in Ethiopia). We went to the first service (English) and joined in amazing praise and worship. Amazing worship team! Truly a joyous celebration! We truly felt His presence as we sang "I live to worship you," which set the scene for the worship time and message. Another visiting team from the US sat behind us, young American Ethiopians who are here to experience their roots and minister to and with the young people here. Many of them are from an Ethiopian church in Dallas, and we enjoyed getting to visit with them and hear about their experience here. We stayed for the worship portion of the Amharic service. It was interesting to see the contrast, the difference in the music and style, though they are all one congregation.

Pastor Z, as he is affectionately called, is the son of Betta and Sophie Mengistu, founders of BEZA. Raised in Kenya and the US, he, along with many Ethiopians, have come here to minister and build into their country of origin. His message centered on Matthew 22 and the parable of the wedding feast. We were reminded that the man who was refused from the feast was not "clothed" for the occasion. Both "good" and "bad" came to the feast, but the properly clothed were invited to join in the feast. A vivid picture of grace, how we are clothed in the righteousness of God through Jesus, not through our "good" or "bad" works. So the question is not a matter of performance, but how are we dressed? In the robes of righteousness of Jesus, or our attempts to look good? The pastor challenged us as believers in the area of judging one another; God is The Judge, and He has put a call on each of us, our own "race" or assignment that may look different from anyone else's. Though there are non-negotiables for believers, there is great freedom in Christ. We were challenged to keep our eyes on our own assignments, rather than judging how well other believers were doing theirs. The receiving and giving of grace!

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnacrews1/EthiopiaChurchServiceAndCulturalShow

We enjoyed a wonderful Ethiopian meal at the BEZA guesthouse after church, getting to spend time with Sophie and Pastor Z. They shared their vision for ministry, the miracles that God has done here and is doing, how He is reconstructing His church and calling all of us to a deeper relationship with Him.

Jet lag began to creep on in the afternoon, and after a brief rest, we went to an Ethiopian dinner/cultural show, where the traditional foods are served in their historic fashion, the coffee ceremony is performed, and extremely talented dancers demonstrated some of the traditional dances of the country. We were glad they didn't call us up on stage to attempt these rigorous moves! It is always a treat to get to enjoy the music, dancing and cultural heritage of the countries we visit. This rich, ancient civilization has much to be appreciated.

Tomorrow we will go to the Entoto Mountain where one of BEZA's outreach ministries is located. Many have migrated to this mountain in hopes of being healed by the supposed magical, healing waters on the top of the mountain. It has drawn many with HIV/AIDS seeking healing. Here there is a center to care for the people, offering micro-enterprise training in jewelry making and weaving of cloth. We will spend time with those in the center, sharing, praying and encouraging them. This mountain is where the women carry enormously heavy loads of wood down the mountain to the market below to make $.50 for a day of overbearing work! Some of these women are now in the ministry program, a tremendous blessing to them.

We are so very happy to be here, to be meeting our brothers and sisters and seeing what God is doing in this nation. We're thankful, too, that Anna safely met up with us from Sudan (what an adventure she has had!), and that the suitcases, minus one, arrived with us. I (Diane) am without mine, so the travel clothes are getting a little wearisome, but perhaps it will arrive tomorrow….praying so J.

Please pray for us as we meet with the people in Entoto, that we will be a blessing and encouragement to them, though I'm sure we will feel the most blessed.