Bahirdar Project Startup

It has been some time since you've heard from us and a lot has happened. My sister Beth and her daughter Gypsi spent a couple of weeks with us and were a big help with planning some of the programs we want to launch. Beth has worked as a consultant for years with both government and non government organizations. Beth sat down and diagramed in a tree chart all the things we are involved with or plan to be involved with. There were many pieces in the jigsaw and at first we wondered if any of it would make sense.
Eventually things began to clarify and she even color coded areas that would be our direct responsibility. There are three main partners that we hope to develop programs and projects with. They are the KHC Church, University Groups and Bahir Dar Academy (where I am currently teaching).
We are in the process of developing concept papers for each project and program. I plan to post these on our website so you can download them and help us find any resources (including personnel) that may be needed for them. The List of the Partners and proposed programs/projects are as follows.
University Students- There are three groups of University Students we plan to work with targeting street kids, and prostitutes. Gypsi is providing a link as well to Trinity Western University (in Canada) that will provide input, support and linkage. Sue will take a primary lead in getting this program off the ground starting with a University Group called "The Sisters". She plans to start some income generation projects and a discipleship group with an x-prostitute, some of her contacts and "The Sisters". With another group of university students we hope to launch a big brother, big sister type of program with street kids and other needy kids in the town. This could have a real impact not only for the street kids but also as the university students get into some of the other homes of the town and have opportunity to share their faith.
KHC Church- The KHC Church has struggled for years in the north against great odds. Last Sunday we were in Addis to see Beth and Gypsi off and we met an elder at IEC who said that years ago he first went as a missionary to Bahir Dar and was in prison many, many times. The church here has persevered and the many walls of prejudice and religious persecution are slowly coming down. We plan to work with the Church to see them develop a multi-purpose youth and education centre which will also serve as a place to worship. We also want them to continue to develop their leadership training through the Bible School and find vocational training ideas that will enable them to go into new areas as tent makers. We are also looking at how the church can reach the deep rural areas where 80 to 90% of the population live. While Beth was here we visited some work that the southern churches were doing in areas like Chencha. It was quite impressive how whole communities were being changed with spiritual, economic and health development. There is a lot that can be developed in this area in the north and it would be great if the church could take the lead in it.
Bahir Dar Academy- What Fray and her husband are doing in Bahir Dar is going to have a huge impact in the coming days. Not only has Fray developed a quality elementary school that is expanding to the high school level but her husband is developing a medical school and hospital that will be unequalled in Ethiopia. Fray is also the head of a 3,000 member women entrepreneurs for Ethiopia. When she took over a few years ago there were only 60 members. She is also wanting to develop a vocational training centre. One of the ideas we are working with is an abandoned resort hotel where the owner died before completing it. It is now under power of sale from the Bank. Fray wants to turn it into an East Africa Tourism training centre. Ethiopia has so much to offer in tourism but is badly underdeveloped with poor standards of quality in almost every sector. This could also be used for church denomination conventions, leadership training etc. This weekend the University leadership group is having a retreat but there is no place for them to go. They are using the KHC facilities which is merely 3 rooms, no beds, no kitchen, no water. Anyhow lots of pipe dreams but God has blessed Fray and her husband with not only vision but the ability to get things done.
PS- On a sad note I just received word that my Dad is in the hospital with a possible heart attack and pneumonia. His condition is not good and he is not expected to recover. Please pray.