Dear brothers & sisters,

 

How faithful has been our great God in answering prayers! With joy and praise let me inform you concisely of how ACM has accomplished signing the new Land Contracting Agreement with Ato. Tefera Mulat on the 17th of August (Tuesday).

 

First a little background of why we were asking your prayers. A few years ago, when we made known to Ato. Tefera of our intention to have a Christian camping ministry, they had a family conference and half of them (being strong Orthodox) were opposing giving land to ACM. Then later on, when some of us on the Committee were meeting with Mr. Tefera & his family, we regularly heard complaining words and the atmosphere were often tense and irritating.

 

But what a big difference in the last 2 meetings

with brother Samuel Tesfaye, the 1st chairman of our ACM Committee, meeting with Ato. Tefera for the 1st time. Plus Pastor Ndembe, who came from Congo and has been ministering in a French-speaking congregation at IEC (international Evangelical Church). I have never seen a happier Ato. Tefera throghout the entire past 5 years. He smiled broadly and spoke to us in English: "... I am 76 years old now and have 10 children... I hope to live another 10 more years..." 

　

Our proposed new Contract just went through some slight modification. One item was to delete that Ato. Tefera would grant ACM to contract the rest of our goal, i.e. another 3,000 to 6,000 sq. m. at the same rate of 35 Birrs per sq.m. for the duration of 99 years. The reason was that, since the area of our camp is very scenic where the rich in Addis Ababa have been always desiring to have a piece of land to build their vacation villas. Therefore Ato. Tefera wasn't sure how, in the future, the contracting rate would be soaring high. Nevertheless, we are quite confident that, if ACM were to be able to contract that 6,000 sq. m. within six months, we will have it at 35 Birrs per sq. meter. 99 years of duration, in the Ethiopian mindset, clearly implies permanence.

 

Some of you were on the meadow before, where ACM would have our future Sport Complex. That additional 3000 sq. m. is meant to be a medium-size soccer field. Since football has been such a popular national sport in Ethiopia, we really think that no Sport Complex could ever be complete in the absence of a soccer field. And let me tell you: the meadow, which ACM intends to contract, is commanding the most awesome view of the entire area! How often I myself have been standing on the site, sometimes even on horseback, pleading with our heavenly Father that he will reserve the site for our camping endeavor!

 

Finally, join us in this prayer: that our faithful Lord will further provide in a very timely way to enable ACM to contract, not only 9000 sq.m., but 15,000 sq. m in full. At 35 Birrs per sq. m., but actually at 40 Birrs (i.e. US$4.67 per sq.m) after adding about 12%.  6000 sq. m. will amount to 240,000 Birrs - much less than say a new Ford  Ranger 4-wheel-drive diesel pick-up here in Addis Ababa. To us it  may still loom big but with God it is very easy indeed. 'Ask and it shall be given you' is his unfailing promise!

 

Your brother in Him,

Joseph Chu 

　

vUpdated news : Augest 27, 2004