Click here to view videos and photos from the two trips to Ethiopia.

Some thoughts from Diane...

In June 2011 and April 2009, trips to Ethiopia were life changing experiences. Pastor Asfaw Bekele from El Bethel Church and Pastor Nathan Byrd (Historic First Presbyterian Church, Phoenix) were our leaders. El Bethel is an Ethiopian church that meets in downtown Phoenix. We visited just a few of the 42 churches that El Bethel has planted in the rural areas of Ethiopia primarily working with the Borana people. We are amazed at the incredible impact that a small congregation in America is having on thousands of people in the southern region of Ethiopia. We are inspired by the simplicity of their lifestyle and the sincerity of their open worship of God.

Amidst our visit to Ethiopia, we grew to understand and embrace the untiring efforts of Pastor Tezara and his many pastors on the ground in Ethiopia. We found ourselves deeply changed by the experience and what we witnessed.

There are several ways to help El Bethel serve the Ethiopian people. This includes prayer and financial support for the building of both rural and city churches, and for children education. It is a sobering thought to know that the $100 that I pay to take my family out for a nice dinner in America would pay for an entire year of education for a child in Ethiopia. Kind of puts things into perspective. It goes without saying that they need funds to educate their children.

The trip to Ethiopia was a way for God to remind me to be grateful for the blessings I have in America and also to find ways to participate and support the mission of El Bethel. It is easy to look out over a sea of faces and see just one mass group of people but when you begin to interact with individuals one on one by touching their hands and exchanging smiles, you suddenly realize that it’s not simply a mass group of people, but several individual people.  Individuals that God has knit together with unique likes and dislikes, a personality and a passion.  When you take the time to look them in the eye, you no longer look across the masses, but suddenly long for a way to make a difference for that human being.

If you are interested in finding out more about the El Bethel mission and the Borana people, please visit www.allnationsethiopia.org which will offer additional information and give you the opportunity to give up funds from one of your family dinners to participate in missionary work across this world that we share.

Diane