The 'Hebrew Hostel'- shalom and sabbaba

Tsofia- the first of many Israelis to visit us.

About three years ago, we picked up an Israeli girl who was hitchhiking her way around Ethiopia. Her name was Tsofia, and we had such a nice drive together that we invited her to stay with us in Turmi for a few days.
She was visiting the southern tribes before she went back to northern Ethiopia to teach Hebrew at a settlement of Jewish Ethiopians. They are called the ‘fallujah’- a remnant of Jews who migrated from Israel long ago in ancient times.
We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Then a week later she came to our town of Arba Minch. Wanting to contact us and come to our house to say hello, she went into an internet cafe. As she was typing an email (the only contact info she had)

This is peanut butter tea. It tastes as bad as it looks. Supposedly it gives you energy when hiking but seems like a waste of good peanut butter, to me!

Shakshuka did'nt last long!

Hadas and Shachar

and looking out the window, outside on the sidewalk Tom walked by! So we had another few days together at our house. Tsofia told all her friends if they are ever in Ethiopia they should call Tom and Teresa. And they did! Then thanks to Facebook, it seems we become the unofficial ‘Hebrew Hostel‘.

Miriam was quite the artist and left me a chalk drawing of a Mursi woman complete with lip plate and ear gages!

Now we have had at least 6 different groups of Israelis visit us since then.
It has been a wonderful experience-learning some of their cultural ways and we have had many interesting talks about God AND Jesus. We have had some guests that kept a kosher diet. The hebrew word ‘kosher’ means ‘fit’ or ‘appropriate’. That means they only eat certain foods, and when preparing those foods they must bring their own pans and utensils to use. My pots and pans are ‘unclean’ by their religious views because I have cooked meat, pork, eggs and milk products in the same pans.
Many of our jewish guests simply follow a vegetarian diet in this modern world today.
In supermarkets, foods that are deemed kosher have a symbol on the package Ou (Orthodox Union). Examples of kosher foods are meat from animals with cloven hooves that chew their cud. (No pork) Fish must have scales and gills (no crab or lobster)
In the Bible New Testament (Acts 10:9-33) the ban on pork and shellfish was released as was the separation of Jews and Gentiles- all were now deemed to be acceptable and good and there was to be no more distinction between people groups.
However, since our Jewish friends don’t believe the New Testament-this restriction still stands.
Some are orthodox and follow their traditions even when they travel. We have been privileged to watch a few of them celebrate shabbat--their holy day of the week
with candles and singing. Shabbat is from sundown on friday until sundown on saturday. It is a reminder of the culmination of Gods creative work done in Genesis-the day He rested from His labors. Also, its a reminder to the Jews how God long ago rescued them from their harsh lives of slavery in Egypt, by setting aside a day of personal freedom from the harsh demands of their labor. So the same for todays Jews- they work during the week, but then on sat. they rest and reflect on Gods goodness. Since there is a ban on travel-they can only walk. They often share the shabbat meal with family and friends. Lighting candles, eating a wonderful meal, laughing and singing--this is a precious part of their lives according to some of our guests. Then since there is also a ban on electronic devices, they pass the day reading, playing board games, taking walks, visiting shut-ins, etc...
And then, some of our guests have been atheists-agnostic-not sure what they believe about this whole God thing. It must be very confusing living in a country like Israel.

Crowded with so many religions-all laying claim to the same small piece of land. (only 8,000 sq miles-about same size as New Jersey-takes less than an hour to drive across the whole country!) We have learned that there are Jewish citizens by nationality, and Jews by religious convictions.

One group I met for the first time at night at the bus station. They had been hitchhiking near Addis and our friend Ben picked them up. When he found out they were headed south to see the tribes, he said “Call Tom and Teresa”--and they did! So I go to the bus station where some pretty sketchy looking guys hang out--and picked up 4 pretty scruffy looking kids with huge backpacks. They were a laughing, good-natured bunch and even cooked a couple of traditional Israeli meals like shakshuba (eggs pouched in tomato sauce) They were only going to stay overnight with us, but we kind of begged them to stay with us a few more days! (we like english speaking company any way we can get it!) They went with us to see the zebras and crocs by the lake near our house.
One of the guys was an excellent guitar player and one night when we had no electricity, we lit a bunch of candles and sang around the ‘campfire’. Hearing those rich, haunting melodies of their traditional music was such a treat-it was a night we will never forget.
So--our lives are the better for opening our house to scruffy strangers who then become friends. And we have a standing invitation to come to Israel and visit them. Maybe someday we will !! Yala bye ! Shalom. 

Sharing in Joy of the Prodigal...

Last week in church I was privileged to witness a special joy that needed no translation. Normally I sit in church up front in a wooden chair by the pastors and guests bench.
Not that I like to sit in the front row-but as a ferenji, that is their custom. Also, they know about my back problems so they provide a chair with a back on it. Everyone else sits on crude wooden benches. One advantage though to sitting up front- I am just barely out of the direct path of their new mega watt jumbotron speakers turned up full blast. (A few rows back and I would have had to put in my earplugs!)

Since I don’t know any of the words they are singing, I just make up my own and clap and try to sway in rhythm with them (it ain’t easy being a white girl with no rhythm!) But while we were all singing, suddenly a woman came up to the front, smiling ear to ear. She was singing and pointing up to heaven and then over at someone. She was dancing (not unusual over here) and the joy on her face was unmistakable. She was then joined by her husband and two sons. Now EVERYONE was up on their feet singing and dancing, like I said, JOY. My friend leaned over and whispered to me “This son was lost for a year-now he comes back”
Now he comes back. My mind immediately went back over the years to when I had my own prodigal son. Nothing wounds a mothers heart more than rejection by her child. During my own sons’ ‘wandering in a far away land’ I experienced such depths of anguish over him. We all did. It affects the whole family. Christmas with the empty place around the table. His birthday when we didn’t know where he was-or even if he was alive. Then the darkest day of all- the phone call saying he was in jail.

But like so many times in our lives- what we think are terrible things happening, oftentimes God will make something good come out of it. I am reminded of the story of Joseph from the Bible. He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers for 20 pieces of silver. Years later, after he has risen to power in Egypt because of his God-given ability to explain dreams- he was able to feed his brothers and save them from starvation. The brothers were expecting death from Joseph for their misdeeds to him years earlier-but Joseph forgave them. And in one of the most astounding verses from the Bible-Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

Now, here my son was in jail. No doubt about it- that was bad. But guess what? Here is the good that God made it into. While in jail he started attending a prisoner-led Bible study, and the Father’s kindness and grace brought him back to repentance.
In his prison cell, he gave control of his life back to Jesus!! And he was a changed man after that. He went on to graduate from Seminary, became a youth pastor, got married to a beautiful redhead, gave me one beautiful red haired grandson and a baby grandaughter on the way-and they are moving to Colorado next year to start up a church in Lakewood Colorado. Hows THAT for a ‘prodigal story’? God’s amazing grace.....
And now, I was witnessing another mothers broken heart being healed. The father spoke about his son’s ‘wandering’ while the little brother cried next to him..........
I have no idea of the details, but my heart was cheering- another prodigal was found! “Bring him a new robe (or in this case, a brand new Ethiopia tshirt) put a ring on his finger and kill the fatted calf for a feast. For my son who was lost has now been found”. (Luke 15:22......)
Hallelujah! 

Mixed emotions and surprises!

We are back now in Arba Minch, after a 2 month visit home to America for the Christmas holiday. As we prepared to pack and begin the ardurous 2 day journey, our emotions were mixed. On one hand we had enjoyed the comforts of home-and even started getting used to them again. The smooth asphalt roads, electricity that never went out-water that came from the tap every single time we turned it on. Amazing! We kind of did not want to leave this easy life.

When we arrived ‘home’ to Arba Minch-we had a wonderful welcome waiting for us. Many of our friends had gathered to greet us. They had made a welcome home poster, flowers were strewn about the front veranda, and a coffee ceremony was prepared. Our housekeeper, Rebekah, had also prepared an evening meal for us-so I didnt have to worry about cooking when we were so tired from traveling. We were so happy to see all of them too.

Many wonderful things were waiting for us!

Yakob, Tom’s right hand man had done something that very few Ethiopians can accomplish. He got his drivers license. We had started him in driving school before we left for USA in Dec. While we were gone, he continued with his classroom training and his practical training and proudly presented us with his Ethiopian Drivers License!

We are so very proud of Yakob. This is the same19 yr.old young man who also has started up his own solar powered mobile charging shop in the Highlands-a mountainous area near Arba Minch. You can read about him in earlier posts in our blog.

Galeto, the boy who was severely burned over 50% of his body, has now healed almost completely. Only a small area on his shoulder remains. He was giddy with joy to see us- I think he really believed we were never coming back. To our amazement and joy he is walking and running with no lasting ill effects. He is a very good soccer player!

He is so much better than we ever could have hoped or imagined!  We were just amazed to see the completeness of his physical healing. God is good!

He is eager to help us- we already have him washing the dishes and doing some other household chores. Galeto surprised us both with his strength that has returned-as he lifted heavy cement blocks and helped Yakob and Tom build an outbuilding for our water tank and generator. To think that when we first brought him into our home he was so broken we had to carry him into the house on a sheet. Now he is laughing and dancing to “Sweet Home Alabama”--a song he plays over and over and over......(we are kinda sick of it by now! haha)

We have a new addition to our Ethiopian family. While Tom and I were in America, the mother of Eskadar, our little 3 yr old unofficial granddaughter- had a baby boy.

So now Eskadar has a baby brother- named Euel. His name means “God is Lord” 

He is a beautiful little boy with a mass of curly black hair. What fun to have another baby around to cuddle with.

Our friend, Asfaw Anko-who used to be the guard for the compound where we live-is preparing to be married this weekend. He is a gentle, somewhat naive man-and even just talk of marriage makes him blush and giggle. Such an innocent.  We are very happy for Asfaw and his soon to be wife, Abaresh. They waited until we returned from the USA to have their wedding. They will live in a one room apt--it actually is just a single room. It has a small full sized bed, a couple of rickety chairs, and a single lightbulb. They really are going to ‘live on love’........because they don’t have much of anything else.

A big surprise to us was the completion of the widow Amarech’s rent rooms. We had contracted with Melkias to build two rooms for Amarech. She could then rent them out and thus have a sustainable source of income for herself and her 5 children. Melkias is the young man that Tom has mentored to over the past 3 years and guided him into a career as a carpenter/contractor. His first job was to build a small guard house at our compound. From there he started getting other jobs in the community and now is a respected contractor in great demand. What a wonderful sucess story he is.

Anyway- the rooms are finished, painted a beautiful green and pink, and each room has electrical wiring with a lightbulb in it. These are first class rental rooms.

To our surprise, not only was the construction completed-but also both are rented out and have 2 new tenants already.  And the surprise just keeps going-the two new tenants?  Asfaw the newlywed and Yakob the entrepeneur!!  

So now it is already three weeks since we returned from USA. Already it seems like a another life and another world to us. Although we miss our family and friends very much-we are happy here. 

It’s good to be ‘home’ !

Overseas Christian Ministries

Dear Friends,
Your financial contributions to Project Ethiopia Benevolence are now, Tax Deductable!
Effective January 9, 2014, Project Ethiopia Benevolence, the missions banner of Teresa & Tom Rieder, was enrolled as an approved ministry of the evangelical organization OVERSEAS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC (OCM) of Carrollton, Texas. OCM was established in June 2009 in obedience to the Great Commission and partners with 14 separate mission agencies, Project Ethiopia included, who support God’s work overseas and particularly in South Asia and East Africa. OCM’s core value is to demonstrate diligence, integrity, and accountability in cultivating and using the resources God provides. 

A significant service benefit provided by OCM on behalf of Project Ethiopia is it’s accountability for directing financial contributions from you our donors. The benefit is achieved in the following way:
a) Make a donation to Overseas Christian Missions, and designate it to Project Ethiopia Benevolence
ministry.
1) Simply make out your check (or via your bank’s online Bill Pay) to:
OVERSEAS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC
2) Designate our ministry: (make sure you indicate on the check’s Memo)
PROJECT ETHIOPIA BENEVOLENCE
3) Mail to:
Overseas Christian Ministries, Inc.
1504 Flowers Drive
Carrollton, TX 75007-1201
Attn: Project Ethiopia Benevolence
b) Subject to a nominal administrative deduction, OCM receives your check then transmits it’s balance directly into the bank account of Project Ethiopia Benevolence.
c) Your contributions are tax deductible under section 170 of 501 (c) 3 U.S. Internal Revenue Service code. OCM provides each donor with an individualized end-of-year statement of his/her giving.
 

Thank you so much for your continued support. Praise God.

Teresa and Tom Rieder
Project Ethiopia Benevolence
“Give, Pray, Go”

video of "The Great Adventure"

Living in Ethiopia has many challenges and struggles. It's not all happy success stories. Sometimes, we just want to close our doors and pull the curtains over the windows and hide from the constant stream of people coming to our house with their problems. But we love this life. We wouldn't change anything

(well....maybe the roads and lack of BlueBell ice cream!!)

We love this song by Steven Curtis Chapman, "The Great Adventure" and thought that it really sums up what this life is all about. Not just the life of a missionary living in Africa, but the life of any believer who truly wants to to be obedient to God. 

You know, whatever it is that God has called you to do-He has already gone before you and prepared the way--you don't have to be scared. He has already set the people in place, the actions that need to be taken, the purpose for your very life!!

So come on- follow our Leader into the glorious unknown- it's a life like no other- it really is a great adventure!

Is something missing???

We have just finished three years of living full-time in Ethiopia. This is something I never in my wildest dreams thought I might be doing-yet here we are.
I never had even the slightest secret thought about being a missionary in Africa-ever!
And yet-when God called us- we KNEW this was what He wanted us to do. There was absolutely no doubt in our minds. And so---we said yes. We sold our cars- sold our furniture-we put our house on the market.....and we went.
Saying 'yes' to God was the best thing we've ever done. This really has been the greatest adventure of our lives!  Of course it's not all fun and games-there are many frustrations, and cultural misunderstandings-and a few betrayals......and yet there has been even more joy and contentment that we have found serving amongst the people here.
We live an uncluttered life here in Ethiopia-there is nothing to distract us from dependence on God.
There is no Walmart or fast food drive thrus when we are hungry. There is no Home Depot when we need nails or lumber to build things. There is no cable TV or recliners to nightly while away the last remaining hours of the day. No hospitals- no 911 service......no Starbucks! (gasp)
We really have to rely on God to come through for us. And He has-many, many times.
I think it is more difficult to live a life that reflects the love and compassion of Jesus in the western world than  it is in Third world countries. You have so many more distractions. Choices.
Over-commitments. Before you know it, you have rushed through the day without a thought as to how you can show love to the hurting of this world. In Third World countries as soon as you set foot outside your door you see the poor, the widows and orphans. It's almost a no-brainer with all the ways you can help them.
You don't have to move to a foreign land in order to demonstrate the compassion and love of Christ
You DO have to be more deliberate, however-and seek out those opportunities where you are.

Some of you reading this blog may be thinking that something is missing in your spiritual life.
You may be wondering if this is all there is-just warming a pew on sunday mornings, being on a few committees, going through the motions.....I assure you there is DEFINATELY more that God has in mind for you. Listen for His voice!  Don't be afraid!
Answer His call- and say "Yes-I'm willing to do whatever it is You ask of me, Lord".
   You will be so glad you did !


Suggested Reading List
(Books that have highly impacted our lives)

"The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns
"Follow Me" by Francis Chan

Drip irrigation project-Turmi compound

One of the constant hardships in southern Ethiopia is a lack of rain. It is dry and dusty there. Because of this lack of rain, food is scarce. Project Ethiopia wants to set up a drip irrigation project to grow fruit trees and vegetables in the Turmi compound where Matteos lives.
Approximately 15 children live there now so that they can attend the local school. These are the children of the few evangelists who are still living in the bush. Growing fruits and vegetables would be a self-sustainable venture that would not only provide food for the children but also raise money for other needs.
We need your help to fund this project. Please contact us for more information or make your donation through PayPal.

Matteos

Tom and some of the Turmi kids

pilot drip irrigation project in Arba Minch

staking up the tomatoes

holes are poked in plastic tubing at set intervals. Tomato seedlings are planted by each drip hole.

Yakob staking the plants in test garden

Water pumped through plastic PVC  into individual drip lines

Solar panels will be used in Turmi to pump the water

Several hundred yards of tubing have already been trenched  in Turmi compound

Workers trenching main water line into compound

erosion diversion wall and well head

First time for running water in Turmi compound!!