My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia: Final Installment

FULFILLING THE WORD OF GOD

“I see you dancing in Africa,” a prophet told me twenty years ago!

Not only did I not receive this prophecy, but I shunned it everytime someone mentioned it.  I did not want to hear a prophecy about going someplace where I had no desire to go! What about the prophecies about favor, and money, or vacations and being a great evangelist!!!!? Any one of those would have been more appealing than the one I received.

Little did I know how an AMAZING GOD can fashion a heart to live out prophetic words! He really does HOVER over his word to perform it! When I went to Ethiopia in April 2012, I had an opportunity to dance in two Ethiopian churches — Faith Bible International Church with over 7,000 present and Marakie Full Gospel Believers Church with close to 1,000!

Let me say this: God sent the Ethiopian worship music that I would use and then he sent me a choreographer who also went and danced with me! AMAZING! Has He not spoken it, and will it not come to pass!? Where He guides, He provides! IT’S ALL TRUE!!!!

When Rabbi Gedamu gave me a chance to speak to the congregations, I told them the prophecy.

“Whatever God has spoken over you is good,” I told them, “He will bring it to pass. You have a destiny and a purpose and that purpose always has the potential to bless so may others! I feel so blessed that God would bring me to Ethiopia to fulfill this word and that He would select you to be a part of my destiny! God said that one day Ethiopia will bring Him an offering upon Mt. Zion, and He will delight in accepting it! So let’s get busy about presenting that offering today!”

As I was talking, I was elated! I was living destiny! Everyone in that place was living destiny with me! All I can say is AMAZING!!!!!!!!

I could not help but weep! I loved it! No one could have peeled that smile off my face! God was thinking about me! God was thinking about the 7,000 present! He was saying, “I AM God! My Word is true!” He was birthing something in me!

My former pastor had said once, “The word that God has spoken over your life is out there reverberating in time and eternity waiting for you to get to the place where you can receive it!” 

I stand as a testament to the TRUTH of that Word!

Unfortunately, I did not get an opportunity to record the dance at Faith Bible, but below, see the two prophetic dances choreographed by my friend Aminta. We were able to bless the Ethiopian people who in turn blessed us!

THIS IS AMAZING WORSHIP AT MARAKIE FULL GOSPEL BELIEVERS CHURCH, GONDAR, ETHIOPIA

My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia (Part XI)

“No Holes-Barred Praise”

We took an hour plane ride into Gondar from Addis. We woke up early and prepared ourselves for another revival conference! I had great expectations about the power of God released in a Third World Country where poverty abounds and hearts and spirits are thirsty!

The driver took us as far as he could up a hill until he reached an impassable ravine. We walked the rest of the way, maybe about 40 yards all uphill! I was already having church by the time I reached a flatland because I was praising the Lord all the way, believing I  could make it up that hill in thin, dusty air. Rabbi Gedamu and a friend stopped and looked back at me. I motioned them to go on ahead. Though I was bringing up the rear, I did not want to be responsible for anyone else lagging behind and missing out on the worship experience that I knew was already going forth.

I could see the top of the church just around the bend. Pilgrims were descending a hill from the far right and some from the far left. And there I was, ascending — ever so slowly — to meet them at Marakie Full Gospel Believers Church that sat completely surrounded by the Gondar Mountains! Its cinder-block, corrugated-tin-roof-and-windowless frame stood majestically in all of its incompleteness. It was even more majestic to me because it would afford me a chair on which to sit. 🙂

As I approached I could hear music through speakers that sounded out their death knell. That did not impede, however, the atmosphere that was created by such pure worship. We were ushered to the front row and I immediately joined in the worship by college students from the University of Gondar just beyond the nearest hill. Their passionate, spiritual sounds coupled with their lost-in-Him expressions drew me in and I worshipped Yesus Kristos with them.

Then they called forth Caleb Ab, a worship leader that Rabbi Gedamu had brought from Addis. As I wathched them move back the chairs in which we sat, I knew I was about to climb the ladder of worship.  When Caleb Ab started singing with a lively Calypso kind of beat, the whole assembly, well over 700 of them on the floor and balcony, erupted into a joyous, no-holes-barred praise. It was INFECTIOUS!

CHILDREN WORSHIPPED

YOUNG PEOPLE GAVE THEIR LIVES TO THE LORD

EVERYONE WORSHIPPED

And I was among them, praising a God who could move such impoverished people to such radiant joy.

Someday, I want to bless Marakie Church in such a tangible way. It and all of its people changed my life!

My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia (Part XII)


What I Leave in Ethiopia

My last day in Gondar came as a “sweet sorrow.” I awoke wondering what I would leave here in this Land of Cush. I had asked the Lord to show me who to bless today.  When we arrived at Ruth’s Souvenir Shop (owned by Rekebena’s daughter Hewott), we met two young men who follow Jonathan Bernis’ ministry. One of them, Emmanuel (the one on the right), became our unofficial guide for most of the day.

As we, TesFaye (Rebekenaha’s husband), Aminta, Emmanuel and I walked through the marketplace, I saw several boys walking together. I noticed their feet, all of them dirty; one of them wore no shoes; he would be the one I would bless. Tesfaye took me to a place where we could get a good price on a pair of tennis shoes for him. May the Lord bless this little boy as he walks the streets of Gondar with blessed tennis shoes. May he know I was sent by You, Father, to bless Him!

Another little boy came, his face as soiled as the boy’s feet, and he was carrying a heavy burden; maybe it wasn’t so heavy but it was bigger than he. I wanted to take his picture, then give him a Dollar Store toy I had purchased in America; it wasn’t much, but it would momentarily make his load a little lighter. I had taken the toys with me on this journey so I could bless the children of Ethiopia with them. Father, bless this little boy. Show him how to make his burdens even lighter as he learns to cast every care upon you. May that toy serve to bring him a little joy, and may He be reminded of the lady from America who blessed him in Your Name!

I would see several more boys whom I felt led to bless–the one at Gondar Selassie Church who waited outside with the priest; the two on the street. Each walked away happy! Father, bless these little ones with your joy. As Rebenekha would sing to us, “Everything’s alright in my Father’s house! There is joy, joy, joy!”


Leaving the church, I saw two old beggars. I guess they knew about Acts 7 also, because that’s what I thought of when I saw them. It is true, I did not have silver and I did not have gold, but what I had I used to bless them– a few birr (Ethiopian currency) and a prayer for a blessing by God. They gave me the same, a prayer.

On the streets of Gondar, I left a blessing, that every place I walked be holy ground! That every life I touched would in turn touch others!

I leave a love for the land and the people, both rich in tradition and Biblical history!

Goodbye, Goha Hotel, where I met Asnakew and the beautiful staff. Where your balcony overlooked the entire city!

Goodbye, Rekebeeha’s house, where we ate a standard Ethiopian dinner almost every night dinner; where we received beautiful kisses by everyone, children and adults! Where we felt the greatest hospitality and amazingly loving fellowship.

Goodbye Hewott and your Ruth Souvenir Shoppe that became the hub for our forays into the countryside; where we could leave our bags for pickup later; where we bought some of the cutest trinkets and souvenirs.

Goodbye Marketplace, where animals, children, beggars, men & women — young and old — congregate to sell their wares:

Goodby Marakie Full Gospel Church that sits in a hollow surrounded by mountains over 6,000 miles above sea level. You touched my heart with your vibrant worship and hunger for God!

You will forever be in my Spirit.

May Adonai bless the land of Ethiopia and its people!

Sent from my iPhone

My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia (Part IX)

This was, by far, the most arduous, but rewarding, part of our journey!

We had to meet in the hotel lobby by 6:30 a.m. The van would be leaving at that time. I grabbed a bag containing bubbles, facial wipes and a toy. We made several stops, picking up the appropriate people; then we were on our way—-to a remote Beta Yisrael (Black Jews) village. We drove for over two hours, through the small towns we had traveled before . . . and beyond. At one point, Rabbi Gedamu said, “Look!” And there were four men walking along the roadside carrying a friend or relative on a gurney lifted over their heads. Rabbi Gedamu said they were headed to the clinic. Upon inquiry I discovered that they had quite a distance to go. It was like a scene out of the Bible.

We traveled a winding road that took us around mountains, majestic and untouched. Rabbi Gedamu pointed out a huge hand-shaped rock atop a mountain. It seemed to follow us as we drove. I wish I had taken a picture of it from a distance because the picture below is more of a close up; it does  give some indication of how far we walked. Soon we were able to veer off the well-paved road onto a rocky path that gradually led upward. This is the point where we got out of the vehicle and walked the rocky path uphill (Rekebena, Sherri, and Askanew, left, Rabbi Gedamu and Aminta, right) until some twenty or thirty minutes later we reached a remote village.

The village consisted of mud and hay huts with thatched roofs. The one below contains two rooms with a dirt floor. There are raised parts of the floor, called medevs, where the inhabitants sleep on animal skins (right).

Inside, an older woman was washing coffee beans and wanted us to stay for a bunna (coffee) ceremony. Rabbi Gedamu thanked her but told her we could not stay.

Children were outside grinding shells to make clay while the older women, some carrying children on their backs, made pottery out of the clay that they will sell at the Marketplace miles away for 2 birr; that is equivalent to 12 cents in American currency.

Some of the residents followed us to the next village. All I wanted to do was wash the children’s faces. When villagers have to choose between water for drinking and water for bathing, there is no real choice. Using the facial wipes I brought, I asked the mothers if I could wash their children’s faces. Although they said yes, the children, as usual, were not in agreement. I had to play hide-and-seek with their faces to even wash them. After I showed the mothers what to do, I left a pack with them.

Unfortunately I did not get a BEFORE pictureof this little boy, but his face looks beautiful in this AFTER shot. The once dirty and mucous-stained face is now clean.

I had also brought bubbles, so they had fun at first running from them and then popping them once we showed them what to do. Below, that’s Aminta showing them a picture that she took of them playing with bubbles. After showing her how to blow bubbles, I left one of the older girls below with the bottle. The fun will be short-lived, but it will be a diversion for lives filled with hard work and monotony.

We checked on their broken wells, blessed them with gifts, and graced their day with the Lord’s presence. I pray that this day lives long in their hearts and memories of a small group from America sent by the love of God to bless them, for it is indelibly etched in my memory of a beautiful, yet impoverished people, subjecting themselves to dire poverty so that one day the dream of returning to Israel will be realized. Father, hover over that dream and perform it for these your beautiful people. Amen!

My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia (Part VII)

ELECTRIC WORSHIP

I have longed to bring you the service of the Faith Bible Church. Rich in the black tradition is adorning oneself in one’s finest when going to the House of the Lord. As it is so with Black America,  so it is with the Land of Cush.

As we approached, we saw worshippers making their pilgrimage, coming form every direction, over hills, down hills, up hills to coverge upon the church that rested in a hollow.

Inside the leaders all sat on the front row, arrayed in knee length white tunics under a white vest with white pants and white shoes. The head pastor wore the same but with a green vest and a white gabi draped over his shoulder. Over 7,000 worshippers had come on a Tuesday to worship the King.

Although he spoke primarily in Amharic, could tell that he was personable and generally liked and respected by his members. He joined them in singing and dancing

He called several individuals forth and I realized he was complimenting them on their unusual regal attire. Everyone smiled and clapped in good humor.

There is a characteristic Ethiopian dance where you bend your knees rhythmically and move your arms from side to side. Them you can move forward three steps and back three steps.

One worship leader sang of the majesty of our God (with translation, of course) and he couldn’t keep still. It was as if he, like Jeremiah, had fire shut up in his bones. Then the next worship leader was just as frenetic with his call and response style of worship.There is a part of one of the worship songs that says, “If you love him, jump!” Then the whole, not just the front row, but the whole assembly jumped continually. See for yourself!

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It was so humbling to see those who had so little praising a God they know is good!

Rabbi Gedamu preached about the woman who was bent over and God healed her. Then he had several altar calls:

  • for salvation — they came
  • for Holy Spirit Baptism — many spoke in tongues
  • for healing — they came
  • for a desperation for God — they really came!

I will keep Faith Bible International Church in my prayers because God is using them mightily in the community! I hope you will too.

My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia (Part VIII)

THE LEAST OF THESE

“whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:45).

We were all excited! We would take clothes, shoes, bread & water to the Beta Yisrael children, most of them orphans, in EnFranz, Gondar. We woke up early and took the 90-minute drive to some very excited children.

The countryside had not changed:

  • rolling hills, sparse greenery, cows, goats, and lambs grazing in the meadows or the hillsides;
  • Some animals being led by gabi-clad farmers or young boys to market hours away in Gondar;
  • Children walking for several hours to school.

When we stopped by some of the smaller towns, children clambered to the van selling cold drinks, tissues, and sweets. I bought tissues and sweets from this little boy for 10 birr (by the way, 1 American dollar is equal to 17.5 Ethiopian birrand told him to keep the change; he quickly went to the sidewalk, counted his catch and posed for me as I took a picture of him.


This time, the driver was able to get us a little closer to the village and we saw the children and seemingly the whole community sitting under that huge oak tree.

The guys spread out the mat and dumped the shoes and outfits on the mat. Bailie and I arranged the clothing according to sizes; Sherri and two other male locals arranged the shoes; Aminta handled the bread and water. As we gave them their gifts, we blessed them!

Bailie and I had a difference of opinion on the sizes; he measured length of pants by holding the waist just under the crotch. 🙂 Needless to say that some of the children started exchanging sizes.

When I saw this regal face, again, I had to take another picture of him, this time with his package of clothes. (Remember him from an earlier blog?) Ethiopian princes must have resembled him! Look at how he received his gift — so nonchalantly and unmoved! Same intense look!

I also could not resist taking a picture with him. (Okay, he wasn’t looking at the camera.) Then he was off to receive his bottle of water and bread. I wish I could remember his name.

Here are the children arrayed in their new clothes: pinks, greens, and reds, blues, browns, etc…

Below, Rabbi Gedamu poses with the children.

We wanted them to know that all of these clothes, the food and the water were sent by God who loved them and who had sent us because He loved them!

To those who sowed into my trip to Ethiopia, thank you! You dressed these children, fed them, served them, and showed them the love of God! You did this to the least of these so you did it unto Him!

My Prophetic Trip to Africa

VISITING THE ORPHANS IN THEIR TROUBLE

“to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27)

After Sherri, Aminta, and I compiled all the names and sizes of the Beta Yisrael orphans from Enfranz, we went to the marketplace in Gondar to shop for their clothing. Kiosks, aligned on busy, rocky roads, sell all kinds of clothing and housewares. Some merchants, no doubt, too poor to afford a kiosk, arranged themselves under umbrellas selling mangos, peppers, onions garlic, etc. Little children helped to peddle these wares or play in the dusty streets, definitely no place for asthmatics–for the dust combined with exhaust from scooters, trucks and taxis all blend for a sneezing frenzy! That’s exactly what I had!

Aft the first kiosk, Rabbi Gedamu bargained with the owner for 175 pair of shoes for the children. We watched as these youthful workers ran to storage centers trying to find the proper sizes. Soon 3 sacks of shoes were prepared for distribution to these Beta Yisrael orphans.

I wanted to hold up a pair of shoes that would bless little feet.

Rebekeneha, Rabbi Gedamu’s sister, found a kiosk that offered a good price for a pair of warm up pants, a sleeveless vest and a jacket, one set for each of the children. This kiosk provided some protection from the dust and sun and the proprietor even asked his workers to provide benches for us. We left with over 175 outfits for the children.

Sherri’s & Rabbi Gedamu’s vision of clothing the children had come true. I must admit, Rabbi Gedamu did most of the work, haggling with owners and overseeing quality and quantity control. He looks worn out, doesn’t he?

The next day we bought water and bread for each child and loaded it on the truck and then boarded it ourselves to make that 90 minute drive to Enfranz Village in Gondar.

My Prophetic Trip to Ethiopia (Part VI)

TRUE RELIGION IS THIS!

Early one morning we boarded a van that took us through the smaller towns of Tada and MacSingyet, the larger town of Azezo to Enfranz and finally to a village there called Kayafay (red soil). A smoothly paved road meandered through the most beautiful rural countryside where children tended cows and sheep in sparsely grassy meadows. Tufts of greenery dotted the landscape and some cows found shade under the sporadic trees.

Leather-faced farmers, uniformly dressed school children, men and women under heavy burdens walked these long roads under a merciless sun. I wondered where they were going. The only signs of habitation that dotted the countryside were mud and hay huts.

To get to the Jewish village, we had to turn off the main road and travel over dry, bumpy, red terrain that was cracking in the heat, like an earthquake halted. Cow dung patties were stacked neatly in triangular mounds in anticipation of the winter months when they would be burned to provide heat for the families. When children saw us, they stared in wonderment and then took off running after the van. In the first village, we got out to greet the children and to take pictures. An older man, not wanting our intrusion, tapped Aminta with a switch. She said it really did hurt! So we boarded the van and headed off to another village.

The van could only take us a certain distance, so we had to walk the rest of the way.

The children came, flocked around us and led us to a huge oak tree that cast a giant shadow and afforded refreshing shade. Under it, the children had gathered, along with some adults of the village. Bailie, the village representative, had told them that we were coming.

Take a look at these beautiful Ethiopian Jewish children waiting to make their home in the Promised Land.

All of them had worn clothing, some without shoes, most with runny noses, a few with pink eye, several with really bad eczema on their legs and in their hair — but ALL of them beautiful!!!!! Flies made their homes on runny noses and parched lips. All I wanted to do was wipe their noses and swat the flies.

Sherri, whom God had given a vision to build an orphanage for the Ethiopian Jewish orphans, began to organize them, take pictures and videos of them so that we would be able to buy them clothes. Bailie had already begun the process of gathering names, shoe sizes, and ages. Almost 200 children were interviewed.

Rabbi Gedamu gave each of us an opportunity to address them. As part of my sharing I said, “You are children of God and you’re beautiful! Look at your friend sitting next to you and say, ‘You’re beautiful.’” I could tell that Rabbi Gedamu got to that part in his translation, because they all started laughing! It was precious to see.

Below is a family, a young woman with four children (see the baby on her back, feet sticking out!) whose husband died of AIDS! She is too poor to take care of them alone. (The man standing behind her is a patrol who guards the well.)

 

As we interviewed them, this is the little boy that captured my affections. He stood before us, eyes intense, clothes tattered and skin soiled, proudly resting on his staff. Small in stature with regal features — he would have been the one to whom Samuel would have held the horn of oil over his head and it would have run down.

I got a few of them to dance with me as the driver videotaped! They had such fun seeing themselves dancing on the little screen of my Flip Camera.


As we stayed with them for over two hours, I just knew that God had sent us to them. He had heard their cries. His heart was full of them! And He sent us to clothe them, feed them and bless them . . . and you came along. We would be back in two days with clothes, shoes and food . . . and you will come with us.

My Prophetic Journey to Ethiopia (Part V)

THE ETHIOPIAN CUISINE: “God Will Give You Grace”

I remember one time in particular when Marissa Horn returned from a missions trip and shared with us her experiences. She showed us a picture of a whole roasted lamb standing upright on a spit and pictures of the cuisine of tribal villages in Ethiopia.

When asked about how difficult it was to eat the food, she said, “If He sends you to a place, God will give you the grace to eat with them.” That statement has stuck with me, especially now that I am in Ethiopia.

IN ADDIS, ABABA

  • The first night in Addis, Rabbi Gedamu and his friend Miskana took us to Top View Restaurant overlooking the city of Addis. We Americans were all cautious because we all had been warned about not eating uncooked foods, avoiding vegetables and not drinking the water. In addition to that, my stomach was still a bit jittery from the malaria medicine. Miskana helped us to order and was very kind to us despite our caution; he told us that the restaurant was safe because it catered to foreigners. I was being very cautious by simply ordering penne pasta with red sauce. I survived and it was good!.
  • Continental breakfast at the GT Guest House was more than I expected: cinnamon tea (delicious); roasted beets and potatoes; spinach and potatoes, bread and jam, eggs with onions, red and green peppers and a lentil mixture. Very good! Every night a sweet little girl would make me cinnamon tea!
  • The next night we went to Yad Abysinnia, a restaurant with strictly Ethiopian cuisine. In each seating area, there was a kebaro (better to show you the picture than describe it; it’s the circular piece) 
  • First we were brought hand soap, warm water, and a warm, moist cloth to wash our hands. We all sat around the kebaro and the waitress brought out a plate of injera, soft Ethiopian flatbread, opened the lid of the kebaro and placed the big round plate of injera inside. On the injera, she placed scoops of a lentil pate’, spinach, roasted beets and potatoes, a cabbage & carrots mixture, and various spices from mild to hot. Then she put generous portions of roasted lamb and beef on the injera on all sides. Then she brought out generous portions of rolled injera. One tears off a piece of injera, and uses it to scoop up whatever you would like. I ate everything except the lamb; it was good and God was gracious. After dinner, she brought more hand cleaner, which was indeed necessary.

  • Then we had a bunna (coffee) ceremony. They burn the incense, pop the popcorn, roast the coffee beans, grind them, and then brew the coffee. The whole restaurant smells of coffee. The first cup, pure Ethiopian coffee, is always reserved for guests and adults of the family because it is very strong. Being in Ethiopia, I had to try it. I could only take one sip and reached for the water! I thought, “My rabbi would love this coffee!”  (I asked the lovely Ethiopian ladies who prepared the buna to stay in the picture. See the popcorn, the coffee cups, the various types of coffee bean and the incense)
  • On another night, Miskana took us to another Italian restaurant and I ordered what he did the first night: penne pasta with a red pepper tomato sauce, and delicious yeast rolls. SAFE & DELICIOUS.
IN GONDAR
  • In Gondar, Rebekenaha, Rabbi Gedamu’s sister, invited us to her house almost every day for lunch or dinner. She, too, had the standard Ethiopian fare: injera, stewed lamb, roasted chicken in a red paste with boiled eggs, a spinach & potatoes mixture and cabbage & carrots mixture. As a treat we had lentil soup and a delicious bread that her daughter made. (Rabbi Gedamu is slicing the bread.)
  • Sherri and I enjoy this delicious bread.
  • As is customary after dinner, we had a bunna ceremony. It is customary to wave the roasted coffee beans so that everyone can smell it.

  • By midweek, I tried the whole cup of coffee. Needless to say, I was up all night.
  • After the wonderful church service in Gondar (which I will tell you about soon when I learn how to upload my videos to my blog), the leaders of the church took us to dinner at an upscale restaurant in Florida Hotel. Okay, I ordered the penne pasta with red pepper sauce. I admit, I haven’t been that adventurous . . . but it is really good!
  • I wanted to save this one for last. At the back of the Goha Hotel where we are staying is a peninsula-like terrace that affords a panoramic view of the city with a backdrop of the Gondar mountains. The city itself is some 6500 miles above sea level.  The ancient Castle of Fassilades sits proudly in the distance. A heavenly breeze blows constantly so that at times I have to put on a sweater! Even the hotel takes advantage of this natural feature because it has no central air. Nice! In the morning, I usually dine on eggs scrambled with onions, tomatoes, and peppers, mango juice, toast, jam & yes, you guessed it–cinnamon and ginger tea.
The view from the peninsula terrace of Goha Hotel:
  • HERE’S A SIDEBAR: At a private party at the Goho Hotel, there was a whole roasted lamb standing upright on a spit! I still couldn’t get used to the sight OR the fact that there was a station for chunks of raw lamb or beef. (no pictures, sorry!)

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. (Psalm 116:5)

My Prophetic Trip to Gondar, Ethiopia (Part IV)


ANOTHER VISION FULFILLED

Saturday we boarded a plane to fly from Addis Ababa to Gondar. It took us over the dry landscape of Africa. Little towns like Debre Markos and Bahar Dar (that were mentioned in Rabbi Gedamu’s book Journey Beyond Imagination) dotted the barren countryside.

We were picked up by Rabbi Gedamu’s eldest sister, Rebekeneha who owns her own school in Gondar that we’ll get to tour one day. She greeted each of us with the customary Ethiopian greeting (three kisses alternating on each cheek) and a bouquet of flowers and greenery that she says means life.

When we stepped into her school bus, she had spread greenery on the floor so that we could walk on life. How sweet!

Then she took us to the land where the orphanage, primarily for the Beta Yisrael, the Black Jewish children, will be built. There, they will be taken care of as they wait to make aliyah to Israel.

Sherri, the one to whom God had given the vision for this orphanage along with Rabbi Gedamu, wept at the sight as did most of us (yes, including me:-D) at the sight of the land. We could spiritually see the orphanage erected and children running to and fro. Rebekeneha had already hired a guard to protect the land (a young man who greeted us by kissing our knees) and she had already commissioned the planting of little seedlings all around the perimeter of the property. Pray for the rain they need to make them grow tall enough to provide shade and protection for these children.

In 90-degree weather, we marched around the land and prayed for everything 1) from the equipment and manpower needed 2) to favor with the government 3) to all the finances 4) to the children who will be fed, clothed, schooled, trained and especially rescued from the devastation of poverty.

(I stood at the fence and took a picture of the others walking the land.)

Then we went into a little shed, the only building on the property, so that we could pray collectively. (The blue building in the picture above.) Rabbi Gedamu asked Aminta, Sherri, and me to pray, and he closed us in a final prayer.

(We all posed to take a picture on the land: Rebekeneha’s husband, the groundskeeper, me, Rabbi Gedamu, Sherri, Aminta, Rebekeneha, and her two granddaughters in orange.

Later on in the week, we will go to the remote village where we will screen the children who will be the first residents of the orphanage.

It was indeed a day of great joy! Has God not spoken it? Will it not come to pass? Hold on to the vision! Don’t let go!

Thank you for traveling with me.