The Year of the Volunteer

It is now only about a week until we return to Ethiopia and a good time to update you as to developments for this next year. Our departure date has been set for July 29.
Our partner church in Bahir Dar recently had the graduation of 18 from the Bible School. It is the only Bible School north of Addis Ababa. These leaders will be specifically going into church planting ministries throughout the north. We have a real need to find resources and teachers to keep the Bible School open and see a new group of students for this next year.
We have many volunteers coming out to help us this next year. They are coming from 1 to six months. We thought you would like to know who they are so that as we give updates from Ethiopia you will recognize them and pray for them.
Amy Hyong is coming out for August and September to help set up a program through the church for People Living with AIDS. Nearly 1 in 4 in Bahir Dar are HIV positive. The issues are complex but the situation is not hopeless. The church has a real opportunity to play a major role in the community in stopping the spread of AIDS, sharing the love of Christ to those suffering and providing vocational training.
Jessie Town and Gypsi Fellows (Daughter of my sister Beth) will be teaching English at Bahir Dar Academy as well as helping out with the multi-purpose centre and the Big Brother/Sister program.
Oliver Veit, Dan Rossi (Photo not available), and Lizzy Delani (Photo not available) will be helping to get an agro-forestry project going with the Gumuz. Dan just finished as the team leader of a 2,500 kilometre walk charity fund raising drive from Halifax to Markham. Here is a quote from a newspaper "Mr. Rossi said the secret strategy to surviving the often difficult conditions, including heat, stinging insects and cramped rest quarters was to begin their daily 3:30 a.m. walk with a prayer and to never go to sleep angry." The article can be found at http://www.yorkregion.com/article/36191. Dan will be in excellent shape for work amongst the Gumuz where long walks through searing heat is an every day occurrence. The details of this project can be found at http://www.devxchange.org/agro-forestry.asp
Carol Van Overloop with Bachelor of Science in Commerce will be helping to set up our micro-loan credit and financing through the KHC church. Just before I left in May more than 100 prostitutes came to faith in Christ through a special outreach program of a church in Bahir Dar and are in need of finding alternate professions for livelihood. We are hoping to get many of these into vocational training and help them set up viable businesses. Details of this project can be found at http://www.devxchange.org/hair.asp
We also have one volunteer coming from Australia -Alexandra Bennett (Photo not available). She writes "I want to be able to make a difference and to make an impact on people's lives in the name of Jesus. To serve and encourage and help those who struggle to meet the basics ... "
We have greatly appreciated the encouragement and support as we have made the transition from SIM. This next year will be an exciting challenge as we try to get many of these projects off the ground with the help of these enthusiastic volunteers that want to make a difference.