Dear brothers & sisters,

It is always appropriate to start a report with thanksgivings first.  Our faithful heavenly Father has again met my own Support requirement fully of the fiscal year by the end of Sept., 2002 --  a sign that the Lord does want Joseph continuing on in Ethiopia. Besides the most basic Support needs of every SIM missionary, He also provides, from time to time, some Ministry funds to be used especially in the area of camping works. Yet faith is never just something in the past, let us again lift up our eyes to the hills, to our Creator of heavens and earth, for all the needs in this new year of 2003!

2 refreshing news from the field of Ethiopia:

     SIM, as a Mission, has been always spearheading new outreach and endeavors in this ancient land. One example is our new Youth Center up in Mekelle -- the capital city of the strongly Orthodox Tigray province.  Just within 3 months 500 young people have been registered as members of the Center. No wonder Chris would share with us in excitement and big laughter when he came to Addis. Chris Plante and his wife Cynthy, with a few other foreign missionaries plus some local volunteers, are laboring in this new strategic venture to the Orthodox North, through counseling, English and computer classes, library, sports and others. 

    The 2nd vital  news is that, soon by next month, we will have a new Field Director by the name of Dr. Tom Lunsford. A few years back, Tom and wife and 3 children came to the then Defense Stable in Addis a few times, enjoyed much in riding our horses.  But the memory does not simply go back to the good times in riding nor Tom's advice as a vet in horse care, the thing that struck then was that Tom possessed an unusual love and sensitivity towards youth and some unique words about likening spiritual ministries to the growth of seedlings...  Let us pray for this dear brother as he is taking on the new responsibility of a director for the biggest Mission group here. 

The menace of AIDS:

     An incidence last year had brought much sorrow to my heart as an acquaintance, a young and devoted Orthodox woman passed away. I came to know her while she's not married. As one of the only 2 female children of the family, she was looking after the business of her father --  the sale of cement, sand, pebbles, bricks and blocks..  I purchased a lot of sand and cement from them while constructing, back in 1999, the only existing crude house (mainly stable) on our camp site today. Later on, after her marriage to an Orthodox man, she left her father's work and the other sister took her place. I sometimes inquired of her when purchasing items at the shop. I learned of her delivering a baby over 2 years ago.  But last year, what a shock in hearing her passing away only in her early 20's. And then the even more disturbing news of her husband following suit just a few weeks later.  Shortly after that, I met her father and had the gut to probe into both deaths: "I know your daughter and her character... Did both of them die of AIDS and did her husband pass the disease to her?..."  The white-haired father, still bearing sadness in his eyes, gave his nod.

     AIDS is no respecter of men, whether rich or poor, educated or illiterate, in this country. A few months ago, we heard that, a very high standard and expensive private hospital in Addis Ababa, had found that all but three of its residence patients were HIV positive. And those three turned out to be  foreigners. In one SIM monthly prayer meet, we heard about a HIV test on a group of women held in a southern city -- that 19 out of 23 of them were positive!  Not surprisingly, quite a few were being infected by their unfaithful husbands.  This AIDS epidemic could never be solved by the UN funds or other international agencies rich but godless.  Only Christ our Savior is the answer and hope  for the millions, particularly the young (about 46% of Ethiopia 60 million people are of children age) all across this land rich in history, culture, and religion. Ironically, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which claims more than 33 million adherents, has been hit hardest by AIDS more than any other religions groups.

Some updates about ACM -- Abyssinia Camping Ministry:

     Let me first tell you about people, of various nationalities and age, coming to our future camp site for a visit. It was always a delight for me showing them around, explaining the vision and  plan of ACM to our visitors. When we were standing on the meadow, the spot commanding the most awesome scenery of the entire area, I often asked one or two guests to pray. For I myself have been praying from time to time, while on the same meadow, pleading with our Lord that he will grant ACM that 9,000 sq. km for the future Sport Complex. And years down the  road, we have ample space for expansion to embrace a soccer field!

     Up to the present, donations for ACM project has come up to US$3,035.97, i.e. about 25,800 Birrs -- quite small in comparison to the total budget of US$172,937.67.  But we do not lose heart, trusting  fully in our heavenly Father that he will bring in the needs in his perfect timing.  Our first aim is to be able to contract that 12,000 sq. m. of land because, indeed, without land there will be no camping ministry. It will take 497,200 Birrs (US$58,494.12)  to accomplish land contracting --  a sum less than the cost of a new Toyota Land-Cruiser in Addis Ababa.  With us that could still look big but with God it is very simple and easy.

     Pray too that ACM will find grace in the eyes of government and be registered smoothly in 2 to 3 months' time. Due to various reasons, such as the departure of missionary and  the busy schedule of some, ACM is looking for the replacement of 2 candidates, one foreign and the other Ethiopian, to be as the 7 founding members of ACM Committee to be submitted into the Ministry of Justice. ACM has to be registered either as 'Religious' or 'Social Service' and can't be both.  We feel more inclined towards 'Social Service' since 'Religious' will take much longer time and  also very difficult to obtain free leasing of land from the government. We need his guidance every step of the way in this vital process of registration as a national (not foreign) Christian non-profit social service to young people, something akin to YMCA. 

Our very first One-day Camp to be held on the 22nd of March (Sat)!

    In the past, we did take in small group of youth for an afternoon or so. But this time we are planning for a full-day camp for 12 to 15 boys and girls age 8-12. Currently we have no facilities to put them up overnight but with a little renovation of our little kitchen and the purchase of a fridge and a new shelter projecting from our saloon (which can accommodate around 15 people), we can operate a small camp!  The Lord has also wonderfully prepared for us volunteers and speakers: such as Jimmy Cox (SIM Outreach co-ordinator) will have a heart- to- heart talk  (in Amharic) in the morning  session on 'Why should boys and girls study the Bible?' This is to be followed immediately by a Bible study on Genesis Chapter two.  The kids will be divided into 2 groups: one group study in English and the other in Amharic. For the games and fun and hiking, we have invited a talented P.E. teacher Heather from Bingham, together with a bright short-termer Brian from California as her partner.

     As for our Ethiopian volunteers, how thankful we are for his provision: Dawit (i.e. David in English) a young civil engineer who is on our ACM Committee and who was saved as a 13 year-old; Ermias a gifted guitarist and also a free-lance architect and Mrs. Aida whose oldest son will come to this camp and who will supervise for the food services...  In the afternoon there will be a session on  'What should boys and girls know about AIDS' to be led by Dr. Tim Teusink -- our SIM AIDS ministry co-ordinator. Pray that God will give Dr. Tim the right words to say to kids of this tender age, reinforced perhaps with other audio-visual tools. Our final activity, before dinner,  will be horse-back riding and archery.  Boys and girls will be divided into 2 groups to engage in these two areas. Katie and her husband Tom (a couple seconded by SIL to teach at Bingham) will be involved with Katie as instructor in equestrian and Tom in archery. I will serve as driver, with the help of an Ethiopian brother Matthew, in transporting 12 campers in our VW pick-up. (Note: we do pray that when God has provided for ACM a light diesel truck, our VW will be modified legally in installing 2 rows of seat to carry 12 to 14 kids)

    With your faithful prayers,  we are looking forward to witness his glory on the 22nd and also on the 16th (Sun) afternoon for our pre-camp meeting (some fun time on the field to be followed by interaction and prayer and a delicious Ethiopian dinner!)  May our loving heavenly Father send his guardian angels to be with us, and the boys and girls, throughout that day!