Dear Brothers & Sisters,

The photo highlights one joyous moment during my furlough--a visit to the Mara nook camp in Alabama, Southern U.S

A very warm Easter greeting since this week approaching the end of April is the final week of the Orthodox Fasika Fasting of 55 days! I myself am almost like one of my Orthodox friends in abstaining from meat and dairy products these days. Often this Marathon Fast has reminded me and others to intercede diligently for the salvation of millions in this land. Since my return to the field the end of September, last year, I am so grateful for HIS goodness during my 5-month furlough in Canada and also thrice visiting the U.S. His grace has never changed or HIS arm shortened during the past few months here in Ethiopia. Let me give you a vivid and concise account as follows:

The Heywot Injerra (Bread of Life) Bible Study :

Yes, this Bible study program was going on during my furlough. Yet something more personal seemed to have developed in the deepening desire to study the Word with some individuals. With the Orthodox, most of whom have never had any Bible study in their lives nor is this ever encouraged by their Church, it appears to be difficult for them to gather on a regular basis for the Heywot Injerra program, This kind of group study sometimes will and did arouse family suspicion and opposition. At least 2 former students dropped out because of that.

Since the Heywot Injerra Bible Study is still in the exploring stage, over 3 months ago a new emphasis was introduced for each student to carry on a daily Bible study on his or her own. The setting is homes. The responses have been very encouraging with about 8 new people joining in, with 1 Catholic young man (studying the English Bible), and the rest all Orthodox including a middle-age couple. The newcomers are having Genesis as their first venture into the Scriptures, covering one chapter per day. The students, who participated formerly, have reached Exodus, Luke, Romans, and Corinthians… It is always a joy when I met with them in discussion and learning about their progress.

There were 3 former students dropping out, including Rebi the Islamic mechanic and two Orthodox youth, who, in the first place, had entered Heywot Injerra with wrong motives. It is common here to enter into a program hoping to glean benefits from foreigners. Yet more men and women, mostly young, have expressed a desire to start with Heywot Injerra. Potentials are there. So pray that our Lord with keep the current 14 students faithful and consistent in their studies. And also bring in new students in the future. For we are confident of one thing – when a man or a woman is studying the Scriptures day by day, he or she will eventually find the God of the Bible!

Abyssinia Camping Ministry :

As most of you have already known about this camping endeavor, it has been progressing steadily since my return. We have been tackling with various issues, such as its structure, the vital land, the government views and prospect of leasing the land free to us, the program and its facilities, the budget…. The Abyssinia Camp will start small, with 12,000 sq.m. of contracted land (quite small indeed when compared with camping sites elsewhere) and aiming for 50 youngsters. The total budget is around 1 million Birrs (about US$117,647.00), also small compared to some other projects amounting to millions of dollars. But many of us, both foreign missionaries and Ethiopian believers, hold the same view that a small and humble beginning is befitting for us. For in the years down the road, with God’s blessings Abyssinia Camp (ABC) can grow and expand under his guidance!

This camping ministry will enter into the SIM Field Council of Ethiopia discussions during the middle of May. Do pray that our Lord will see us through and that the new project will be granted the green light to move forward. Let me quote the words a missionary colleague, whom I came to know in Kiberia during the 80’s. He and his wife took an American Christian couple out to our site for a visit. Being struck by the beauty and serenity of the environment, Fred asked this question : “Joseph, is there a Christian camp in Addis Abebe?” My answer was no! Here brought in our vision and high expectation – that our Abyssinia Camp will become the first camping ministry here in the Capital city and to spread yonder in the years ahead!

A new-born foal with a cross on her back !

Over 2 weeks ago, on the 17^th of April after midnight, a solid-color very lovable filly (a female baby horse) was born in our Abyssinia Stable. She became the 2^nd foal in our small breeding program using our stallion Shemson – the only pure Arabian horse in Ethiopia, a land of 7 million horses and the highest number of cattle throughout Africa. As I look back, I could see God’s hand at work even in a breeding program, which I never intended to do in the first place. It was only because of Shemson, whom we can truly use to upgrade and to produce the best horses in Ethiopia, that 3 young mares were acquired in 1998. And it was through these additional horses that we relocated to the present site, where we often have young people and families coming out to ride and play and fellowship… In a real sense, the camping program did come out of this horse connection!

Our first foal, a female also called Mulan, has developed into a beautiful yearling possessing a gentle temperament yet endowed with a speed and agility like an arrow. Soon she will be sold to a horse family in Addis Abebe. Her full younger sister struck many by being born with a dark cross on her back, so rare in horses yet more common in donkeys or mules. A rich Orthodox family, the owner of the Studio where I developed some of our foal’s photos, held a family conference and extended to me an offer of US$1,000.00 to buy her immediately! This offer will be a mirror telling you the place of charm that, in this case, even a few days old foal was so earnestly sought after. But we are not ready to sell the new foal, named Meskeran meaning a holy cross in Amharic. We will probably keep her as a living reminder that Abyssinia Camp must always hold up high the cross of Christ, our great God and Savior!

The Next Gospel Booklet on “Born Again” :

Outreaching through the use and distribution of tracts and booklets has been proven very workable among the Orthodox. Being often asked about ore gospel booklets, my reply was, “You pray to God that he will provide for the printing of the next one…” Recently I felt more and more, due to a foreseeable busy schedule ahead, that one booklet per year, instead of two, should be printed. This will also reduce the annual cost well under US$7,000.00, thus with no need to propose the booklets into a project.

Let me layout for you and your church the cost of the next booklet on “Born Again” – the printing cost of 30,000 in Amharic and 20,000 in English being 29,440.10 Birrs (about US$3,464.60), plus the cost of postage and air parcel (a booklet will be sent to everyone on my mailing list and quite a few will be air-parceled out of Ethiopia) of 3,500 Birrs (US$411.76), then finally add another 5% of any giving for Ministry to one SIM office which comes up to $193.81 (out of $3,876.36). The total amount will be US%4,070.17, which we trust for his timely provision. Please e-mail me for any amount contributed for the gospel booklets, so to be reserved for that purpose. When the Lord provides more than the printing of “Born Again”, we may use it to do some reprinting of the former ones on Wedding and the Mystery of the Cross. Please keep on interceding for the gospel booklets that the seeds will bring forth fruit that will last for eternal life!

Your missionary brother,

Joseph CHU