This month we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with an organization called Community Transformation Ethiopia. CTE does many things within their community from women’s empowerment, bible studies, church planting, all the way to child sponsorship programs. We have had many experiences with CTE.
Fikadu is the man who runs CTE, he also organized many things for us.
Ganet is a lady that works at CTE and she took us all to her house to teach us how to make Injera and fed us dinner.
Barnabus is Fikadu’s son who took us around Addis Ababa, and is our guide when we go just about anywhere. Sege is Fikadu’s wife who taught us to knit.
Beletew is Fikadu’s friend who works with Addis Kidan Baptist church, He took us to church and invited us to a bon fire!
They welcomed us into their community with open arms.
My team with Ganet and Barnabus
Through every experience we’ve had with CTE there was always a common factor. These people radiated God’s love and joy in all they do.
We saw first hand the severe poverty of some of these people in the community CTE works with.
During these home visits we came across a lady who has a child in the sponsorship program. She invited
us into her home and fed us.
Six strangers with two people she knew. She fed us all Shiro and Injera.
She didn’t seem to have much. Her house was small, she shared a kitchen and bathroom with her neighbors. But man did she have the SWEET SWEET VICTORY of Jesus.
Her smile and joy alone gave it away. Then she wanted to pray for US. She prayed blessings over our lives, and our trip. The love and victory of our Lord radiated from her.
“The death and resurrection of Jesus leaves the
believer victorious in pain, suffering, sickness, death, and everything
else brought upon them in the world.”
1 Corinthians 15:57
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Sweet Victory comes from Jesus.
All of these people we’ve met are from the community of Korah. The night before we arrived there was a fire that caused a landslide at the dump.
Many people died in this fire and the community stood firm together and helped each other. Through such a sad and trying time the people of this community still carried their Joy and Victory from Jesus with them in everything they did.
I’ve learned through my time here in Ethiopia to take joy with me everywhere I go, and in every country we visit, and through any dark times that may occur.
Me and Haptam
Haptam’s sister Betty, and I
