Day 7

Well, here it is Sunday, October 23rd in Addis Ababa. We slept in a bit because our first appointment was church at 10 a.m. The team has three churches to choose from and each had its unique blend of lively worship (full body experience), prayer, teaching and fellowship. One of the churches had a lengthy (45 minutes or more) time of prayer on their knees. Most services run around 2 hours with great music and rejoicing.

Arriving late, we waited outside talking with a fourth year seminary student whose emphasis was on languages and would be teaching in a Bible school. He loved teaching and singing and the radiance on his face showed his love for our Lord. We heard the service inside reach a crescendo of worship with song and ululation. As the children were released to their classrooms we squeezed into the tiny pews. The tall, commanding but warm pastor preached from Matt 6:1-12 warning us against false teaching. Our host graciously passed us two Post-its with brief translations. The service ended with the choir singing beautifully. Finally we went to prayer. The power of the Holy Spirit was clearly present as the people of the church prayed in Amharic and each of us prayed silently in English. God was there. His presence is not bound by country, wealth, language or culture. He loves his children. All praise and glory to our Lord and Savior.

Macone Yesus is a large church of over 700 worshipers. Five of our team were privileged to worship together with this wonderful congregation of brothers and sisters. The service was full fervent prayer, spirit-filled music and, of course, teaching.

The theme this Sunday morning was spiritual growth using II Peter 1:5-15. The Pastor stressed the importance of being aware of how the Lord works in all stages of our lives to develop our spiritual life until we are expressions of his love.

Can you imagine close to 2000 people in prayer—many on their knees or prostate on the ground—for at least on hour? The pastor of this Mennonite Church used Psalm 86…”In the day trouble, I [we] will cal upon You for You will answer me [us]”. After a relatively short sermon, the pastor called upon the congregation to pray for God’s Spirit to fall upon their church their community and their individual needs. He reminded us that all the programs and resources the church provides are empty unless God himself invades ad uses them. And he led us in prayer from his knees!

What we could not understand through words we certainly knew by the presence of God among us. Worship sounded and looked different from what we are used to but we experienced worship in new and profound ways!!

LUNCH
We ate a simple lunch and were prepared for one of the more challenging and moving times of or adventure in Ethiopia—visiting the Destitute and Dying Home of The Sister of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Order). After some prayer time in their chapel we were guided to the women’s men’s and children’s areas where we hugged, played, touched and prayed with those who had been left in the streets to die because of TB, Malaria, Menigitas, mental illness, starvation, developmentally disabled and many unknown diseases. They even receive patients from the local hospitals when death is eminent, because this is a place where they can die with dignity.

We can not put into words how God has moved us to tears and also lifted our spirits as we saw God at work.

The 11 sisters and their helpers care for 900 people. On one of the walls there was a picture of Mother Teresa with a short sentence which said, “Do small things with great love.” Amen.