30 April

30 April 2010

We moved from the Hilton to the MekaneYesus Seminary Compound.  We are staying with a PC(USA) missionary, Carolyn Weber.  Carolyn arrived in Addis in February of this year for a three year assignment  teaching at the seminary.  Carolyn and I first met when we were both living in Omaha in the early 1980’s.  She has graciously opened her home to us for a few days.

Yesterday afternoon we attended a prayer meeting of local missionaries from various denominations and agencies.  The stories we heard were all very similar- not enough money, too much need, too much bureaucracy, and immense joy and gratitude for the opportunity to serve this way.

Religiously, Ethiopia is unique among the African nations in this area. Everyone has different statistics to make their point but it seems that the population is divided about 50-50 between Christians and Muslims.  That is a marked increase in Islam.  The majority of Christians are Orthodox or Coptic Christians.  The historic sites, churches, and monasteries we will be visiting are all part of this tradition.

The mainline American churches, including the Presbyterians, have been involved in mission work in Ethiopia for ages.  Eventually the Mekane Yesus Church was formed.  They are the church we partner with in mission along with the Lutherans and other Reformed denominations.  Another denomination of Protestants also formed from the Baptist and evangelical traditions.  They are commonly referred to as Pentes- short for Pentecostal.

After the prayer meeting we all went out for Chinese food.  Returning to Carolyn’s we prepared for the night by candlelight.  Electrical service in Addis is on again off again with lots of off again.

Tomorrow- May 1^st we will be heading up North to tour some sites and visit Shimelba refugee camp.  Hopefully, I will find a way to get this posted before I go.  I will not take my computer with me for the next 10 days.  We have to lighten our load so we can carry the gifts for the camp and there is also not much internet service in the areas we will visit.  So we hope to be back in touch after May 10^th.