Trip to Guji
Four days ago, we began our drive from Addis Ababa to the Guji zone in southeast Ethiopia at about 7:00 am. A group of 5 people, including our two guests, John Massink and Amanda from International Miners Mission in the UK, Shewatras our Development Coordinator, Abraham our well driller, and the driver. The road from Mojo to Awasa could now be claimed as the best road in the country. A few miles past Awasa on the road to Moyale, we turned off and took a road to the east which is not a good road like the road we were on. The road from Yigallem to Keber Mengist is an all weather track and from Keber Mengist to Shakiso is simply off road. Finally we reached Shakiso safely about 7:30 pm. God helped us along our entire journey. Praise be his mighty name.
In traveling from Awasa to Shakiso what impressed me most was the ever green environment. The entire land mass on both sides of the road is covered by trees and other small plants. The dominant plant among the existing trees is false banana. We finished this part of the road wondering at the works of God. It testifies to the splendor of our gracious God. His majesty and hands created this beautiful world, covering it with eye-catching wonderful plants and grass. It’s a good lesson for me on how people can live in harmony with the environment. We should teach our people that trees are friends of all of us and that we can live without harming them in the midst of them. It should be made clear for every one of us that our current problems such as drought and food shortage are a direct result of deforestation. As many of us know 40% of the land mass in Ethiopia was covered by forests 40 years ago. But now it’s only 3%: and I have realized where it is on this trip.
The next morning we visited the Shakiso church first and then we went to Reje which is located 20 miles east of Shakiso. It is very small town where the majority of the dwellers are gold miners. The Church at Reje is an outreach church with 20 baptized, 4 non-baptized and a few child members. John Massink interviewed Fikadu, the evangelist, about his life and the lives of some of the other church members. Fikadu is only 19 but is mature in his spiritual life, and is able to take the responsibility of outreach ministry in Reje. All of the believers in Reje Addis Kidan church are miners.
We left at noon after John passed the greetings of IMM and gave a donation to the church. He did the same thing for all of the ministries in the region. After lunch we went again to Shakiso church and conducted various programs until 7:30 p.m. John interviewed three miners named Dergu, Shifraw and Mogess from among the church members about their personal as well as their family life before and after they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. They told their stories as well as their hopes and desires for the future.
The second program was a graduation ceremony. Twelve evangelists and part time ministers graduated and were certified after they finished the courses which were designed at a certificate level and were given for the last two years. Nigusse was there to facilitate this program. John and I gave the certificates to the graduates in the church building. After finishing this program we invited John to say something, and he shared a wonderful story that challenged our minds and motivated us to further efforts to expand the work of the kingdom of God.
He said, “40 years ago America sent a space ship to the moon holding two space men: Neal Armstrong and his colleague. When he put down his foot and walked on the moon, Armstrong said, ‘This is a small step for man and a big jump for mankind.’ And today’s world is a real witness to this saying. A similarly motivated lady from IMM, named Vicky, came to Ethiopia 8 years ago and she traveled to Shakiso. This small step in her life brought about a big jump in Shakiso and nearby places as we have seen today a few years later. This big difference emerged from her initiation and practical response to what God put in her heart to do." After his speech I also noticed that it was true for you and Ray. Your small step 40 years ago was the right move for today’s growth of the denomination by the name of Addis Kidan.
The third program was a business meeting with the church leaders of Shakiso. We discussed current problems of the church including the evangelist’s salary which is very low in relation to current economic pressures and the need to empower leaders and ministers. We also exchanged ideas about restarting the holistic approach of the church’s ministry in an organized way.
The next day we went to Zenbaba, 20 miles southwest of Kibre Mengist and arrived at about 8:00 a.m. The evangelist of Zenbaba, Nigusse, led us and we visited the new church land that they received recently from the government kebele. Some of the land was bought from an individual. They got a very large piece of land and Nigusse told us that they are looking for someone to help them plant eucalyptus trees on the land. If they can do this they will be able to support themselves in constructing their prayer house sometime in the future. We also visited the church and Nigusse’s house.
At about 10:30 we came back to Kibre Mengist and ate breakfast there. The Kibre Mengist Church leaders and evangelists are very enthusiastic and motivated; and they are doing the work of God with close ties and respect for each other. God has used them to plant churches in Zenbaba, Arenfama and Uyokomele. As in Zenbaba, they have bought a large plot of land and are preparing to start a church building as soon as possible. John Massink interviewed them and after his program we had a meeting with the leaders and evangelists. We also talked with the evangelists of Arenfama and Uyokomele about the work there. At 2:30 we finished the whole work and began our trip to Awassa. We passed the night in Awasa and came back to Addis today, July 31, 2009.
The work is big, and God has done many things in the churches of Guji region. When we arrived at Ziway, I interviewed John Massink to get his impressions about the trip and the work in general. He is very happy with team formation and the whole activity of the churches, and I got encouragement and constructive ideas from him. Pray for the work and the churches of the Guji Zone. Their growth is promising. Pray also for the people in the region. The people are worrying about rain. In some places the corn is withering because of the absence of rain. Praise the Lord who did everything among his people.
God bless you
Kifle (Addis Kidan General Secretary)
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