Our schedule is very full and time for writing updates is limited. I am planning on having other team members share some thoughts as soon as possible. Perhaps tonight I can convince a couple of them to write an update and we will post it tomorrow.

Let me give you a brief overview of what has been happening with the team . . .

Last week finished up extremely well. We were able to minister in a number of different contexts. The main part of our work consisted of doing clinics at the project office for project beneficiaries. It is always so encouraging to see how each team member finds their niche.
For example, my son, Carpenter, became the chief pill cutter and counter for the pharmacy. Cathy Wingate was able to use her skills as a mental health counselor to counsel some beneficiaries who are struggling with depression and other mental health issues. Pastor Vito lead a home pastoral counseling group as well as the project Bible study and really ministered effectively in both contexts. Mark is the gatherer, comforter, entertainer of all. He is the pied piper of Lideta and Lalibela. Of course, everyone has been effective in their work and God has been at work in and through us.

I was able to go out with Mesfin, one of the project staff members to do renovations in the home of Habtam, one of the older beneficiaries. Habtam lives in the direst of circumstances. Her home literally sits astride the community sewer. During raining season her home often
floods with sewage. We were able to go and build a concrete retaining wall between her back door and the main flow of the sewer and also to pour concrete floors in her home. While I was in her home mixing cement on the floor where a few minutes before she had been laying on a mat, a tiny little boy from the neighborhood came running in the house and when he saw me, a huge ferenge (white person), he exclaimed (in Amheric, of course), “How did you come to Habtam’s house?” I don’t know if he understood, but certainly others in the neighborhood
could see first hand God’s goodness to Habtam through the work of the project and through the team being there.

Time to go. I have more to share but must leave for now.

Blessings to all, thanks for your prayers.

For the team . . .

-Paul

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