This post is long overdue. I began writing it when we first came home from Ethiopia ....
We received a VERY encouraging message today from Naiegzi (Nie-eeg-zee) Hiruy Tsige today. We met with him and his wife, Susanne last Thursday in Addis Ababa. They have recently been married. She is from Austria and they both speak fluent English. He is the son of Hiruy Tsige, the International Overseer of Harvest Church of God, which is the missionary church planted out of Church of God from Cleveland, Tennessee, of which our church in Butte, MT., Abundant Life Fellowship is a part of. Does that make sense? You may have to read that one twice. :)
Anyway we met with them last week while we were in Addis, because we believe through a series of events and "God-incidences" that the Lord has invited us to come to Ethiopia and help plant a new church, starting as a house church then growing from there. This was not our idea at all, but really, we have discovered it is on God’s heart for our family through prophetic words and invitations of believers, friends, partners, and leaders in Ethiopia. I am starting to feel a little like Moses, wanting to tell God ... Who us? You must have made a mistake ... We can’t do this ... We are not "trained" ... etc, etc. But I seem to recall, at least in the movie "The Prince of Egypt" that God got pretty angry at Moses and said basically, "Who are you to question me? Wasn’t it I who made man’s mouth? ... NOW GO!!!"
The meeting went incredibly well. We went humbly, not knowing what the response would be ... sharing what God had done in our lives leading us to Ethiopia, first thru our adoptions, then our ministry and now, hearing him call us, invite us, to join Him there in Ethiopia. They sat smiling and intently listening to every word. Then they shared with us their vision. We sat there with our mouths open, I am sure at least I did, marveling at how God works out every detail, ahead of time. Their vision was the same as ours, to the detail. He showed us that these things are not our ideas but His, implanted into our hearts and minds, so that we can fulfill His purposes.
Naiegzi and his friend Ketsela, the young 30 something man that was recently hired by our in-country partner Alayu as his assistant, have had a vision and been praying to start an International English speaking Church for over 7 years. They want it to be excellent. He said "We must use a different strategy with this one. It must be the best of the best. The best speakers, the best leaders, the best musicians..." (HALLELUJAH). He said he has been telling the people on the worship teams for the last year, to start learning English worship songs. He promised his new wife ... said he did not know how or when, but that God WOULD start an English speaking church in Addis. They want to use the church as a place to plant other churches from. To raise up missionary pastors to send out. (Our vision as well). They want to serve the poor, the orphan and widow. (Our vision also) They are trying to secure a water well digging rig to provide clean water for those without access. (Also our vision) The similarities were astounding ... and exciting .. and overwhelming.
"Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name, Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star,
Would choose to light the way, For my ever wandering heart.
Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are ..."
You know, it is one thing to get an idea or to have a heart for something and then go and try to make it a reality. It is quite another thing, to have the Lord himself have an idea and a heart for something, then deposit that vision into your own heart and mind, then invite you to join Him, while He himself works behind the scenes, opening doors, preparing hearts, and making it a reality. This whole thing is just amazing to me. We have entered into a realm that we have never quite walked in before. It involves listening and seeing in the Spirit, believing what He says, trusting Him, patience, faith. LOTS of faith ... faith for that which is unseen. I am just amazed that he chose US!!
During the meeting we came to a point in the conversation where we said, "If you chose us ...."
And to that Naiegzi said, " If YOU chose US!!" Amazing ... so much for the fear of rejection.
His father, the Overseer, was out of town, out of the country actually, in the US at Church of God Headquarters trying to secure this drilling rig. So when he returned, they had another meeting after we went home.
I had sent a message asking if this was a secret, because up until now, we were advised that we should keep this private, secret from the government until it was actually a reality. I wondered ... how can I keep something like this a secret? How will we survive without prayer and support from friends and family while we are preparing to go? Trust me ... this will have to be a God thing, because this means in about one year, my husband will be quitting his job and we will be renting our house out for now and packing up all our belongings that can fit in our 2 suitcases each and moving ourselves and 8 kids to Ethiopia to be missionaries to plant a church. We have no money for this, no savings, no means for this to happen. Just like we didn’t for adopting 5 Ethiopian kids, two separate times. But He provided everything we needed. We will need set up funds ... a vehicle to fit 10 people, preferably a 4 wheel drive van costing about $26,000 - $30,000 with their 225 % tax, money for 6 months rent up front as is customary, money for furniture, beds, bedding, kitchen supplies, a stove, refrigerator, washing machine, etc. We will need monthly support to keep us going, for food and gas and all the essentials. We will need Gods provision. But we have faith and belief that if He wants this to happen HE WILL PROVIDE. Just like he did with both of our adoptions from Ethiopia, where money miraculously fell from heaven. And what about giving God glory for what He is doing?
Then I got this response back ...."First of all, we agree in making the idea of an International English Church public, this is a very good way of getting support of believers, in prayer and also financially. As long as we are sure about it we won't consider it as secret."
Woo-hoo!!! Here we go! So ... we've gone public ... well, except for my husband's workplace. They aren't especially supportive of anything we have done so far, so we will wait until things are firmed up next year and we have real dates and such.
So friends ... as always, we love you and are so thankful for you. Keep us in your prayers!
We received a VERY encouraging message today from Naiegzi (Nie-eeg-zee) Hiruy Tsige today. We met with him and his wife, Susanne last Thursday in Addis Ababa. They have recently been married. She is from Austria and they both speak fluent English. He is the son of Hiruy Tsige, the International Overseer of Harvest Church of God, which is the missionary church planted out of Church of God from Cleveland, Tennessee, of which our church in Butte, MT., Abundant Life Fellowship is a part of. Does that make sense? You may have to read that one twice. :)
Anyway we met with them last week while we were in Addis, because we believe through a series of events and "God-incidences" that the Lord has invited us to come to Ethiopia and help plant a new church, starting as a house church then growing from there. This was not our idea at all, but really, we have discovered it is on God’s heart for our family through prophetic words and invitations of believers, friends, partners, and leaders in Ethiopia. I am starting to feel a little like Moses, wanting to tell God ... Who us? You must have made a mistake ... We can’t do this ... We are not "trained" ... etc, etc. But I seem to recall, at least in the movie "The Prince of Egypt" that God got pretty angry at Moses and said basically, "Who are you to question me? Wasn’t it I who made man’s mouth? ... NOW GO!!!"
The meeting went incredibly well. We went humbly, not knowing what the response would be ... sharing what God had done in our lives leading us to Ethiopia, first thru our adoptions, then our ministry and now, hearing him call us, invite us, to join Him there in Ethiopia. They sat smiling and intently listening to every word. Then they shared with us their vision. We sat there with our mouths open, I am sure at least I did, marveling at how God works out every detail, ahead of time. Their vision was the same as ours, to the detail. He showed us that these things are not our ideas but His, implanted into our hearts and minds, so that we can fulfill His purposes.
Naiegzi and his friend Ketsela, the young 30 something man that was recently hired by our in-country partner Alayu as his assistant, have had a vision and been praying to start an International English speaking Church for over 7 years. They want it to be excellent. He said "We must use a different strategy with this one. It must be the best of the best. The best speakers, the best leaders, the best musicians..." (HALLELUJAH). He said he has been telling the people on the worship teams for the last year, to start learning English worship songs. He promised his new wife ... said he did not know how or when, but that God WOULD start an English speaking church in Addis. They want to use the church as a place to plant other churches from. To raise up missionary pastors to send out. (Our vision as well). They want to serve the poor, the orphan and widow. (Our vision also) They are trying to secure a water well digging rig to provide clean water for those without access. (Also our vision) The similarities were astounding ... and exciting .. and overwhelming.
"Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name, Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star,
Would choose to light the way, For my ever wandering heart.
Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are ..."
You know, it is one thing to get an idea or to have a heart for something and then go and try to make it a reality. It is quite another thing, to have the Lord himself have an idea and a heart for something, then deposit that vision into your own heart and mind, then invite you to join Him, while He himself works behind the scenes, opening doors, preparing hearts, and making it a reality. This whole thing is just amazing to me. We have entered into a realm that we have never quite walked in before. It involves listening and seeing in the Spirit, believing what He says, trusting Him, patience, faith. LOTS of faith ... faith for that which is unseen. I am just amazed that he chose US!!
During the meeting we came to a point in the conversation where we said, "If you chose us ...."
And to that Naiegzi said, " If YOU chose US!!" Amazing ... so much for the fear of rejection.
His father, the Overseer, was out of town, out of the country actually, in the US at Church of God Headquarters trying to secure this drilling rig. So when he returned, they had another meeting after we went home.
I had sent a message asking if this was a secret, because up until now, we were advised that we should keep this private, secret from the government until it was actually a reality. I wondered ... how can I keep something like this a secret? How will we survive without prayer and support from friends and family while we are preparing to go? Trust me ... this will have to be a God thing, because this means in about one year, my husband will be quitting his job and we will be renting our house out for now and packing up all our belongings that can fit in our 2 suitcases each and moving ourselves and 8 kids to Ethiopia to be missionaries to plant a church. We have no money for this, no savings, no means for this to happen. Just like we didn’t for adopting 5 Ethiopian kids, two separate times. But He provided everything we needed. We will need set up funds ... a vehicle to fit 10 people, preferably a 4 wheel drive van costing about $26,000 - $30,000 with their 225 % tax, money for 6 months rent up front as is customary, money for furniture, beds, bedding, kitchen supplies, a stove, refrigerator, washing machine, etc. We will need monthly support to keep us going, for food and gas and all the essentials. We will need Gods provision. But we have faith and belief that if He wants this to happen HE WILL PROVIDE. Just like he did with both of our adoptions from Ethiopia, where money miraculously fell from heaven. And what about giving God glory for what He is doing?
Then I got this response back ...."First of all, we agree in making the idea of an International English Church public, this is a very good way of getting support of believers, in prayer and also financially. As long as we are sure about it we won't consider it as secret."
Woo-hoo!!! Here we go! So ... we've gone public ... well, except for my husband's workplace. They aren't especially supportive of anything we have done so far, so we will wait until things are firmed up next year and we have real dates and such.
So friends ... as always, we love you and are so thankful for you. Keep us in your prayers!
