2006年1月—4月份事工報告

     Matt 6:33 can aptly serve as an opening for this report: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." During the past few months we have been involved in government relationships and various physical things at our camp. However, I still prefer sharing the spiritual things first in this report.

Sowing the seeds faithfully: Camping ministry may involve lots of activities and fun outwardly; yet deep down in its core, without a doubt, we are constantly in a spiritual battle. From our past observation of kids coming whether from an Orthodox or Catholic or Islamic background plus even those from the believers' families, all need to come to the Savior! One helper made this comment: "...these are not good kids. Look at that girl who is real bad... Why not get well behaved kids from the church?"  But aren't our Lord after those who are lost? Jesus did not come to seek the righteous but sinners.  So are we at 'Abyssinia Camping Ministry' --- always reaching out to those boys and girls, restless and insecure because they knew not Christ.

     Let me highlight a few things at our Genesis Club. With the home Bible study, which cover one chapter from the O.T. and another from the N.T. per day, there will be a Bible quiz during the Club time, quizzing each kid on those 14 chapters they have read during the week. We know full well that the Bible is a closed book, i.e. spiritually veiled, to every boy and girl without Christ. Yet we must keep on praying and sowing the seeds. One other avenue is the 'Sword of the Spirit Exercise', a joyous moment as we heard, week after week, of their memorization of scriptures. Ministering to kids has to be backed up firmly by a consecrated godly life. For boys and girls possess an uncanny ability in perceiving hypocrisy and pride in adults. Yes, we want them to be added into the kingdom of God. But before that can happen we must ask this question: are we men and women seeking first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness? Are we filled with the Holy Spirit and do our Lord shine brightly through us before the little ones?

Many open doors: The potentials of a camping ministry has been confirmed to us from time to time. One young boy, now approaching his 9th year, kept reminding his parents that he was old enough to come to ACM. Recently a mother said to me: "...my daughter is eight now and tall, ... she likes horses...." An Oromo man, working with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corp., and after connecting the power line to our camp site, said: "... I have two children within the age range of your program and I want them to come.... " How refreshing when hearing these words from a newly acquainted Orthodox man! A father of five and a Falasha (i.e. Ethiopian Jew), in spite of his strong ties to the O.T. Mosaic laws, likes our program and would consent his daughters and an only son, called Beta-Israel, to join our Genesis Clubs. Sensitively and consistently we are building a network with the parents so to enable their children joining ACM in the days ahead.

     Our visitors have been bringing much encouragement too. During the Christmas of 2005, an Elder from Australia brought along his family to our camp, riding our horses. He related how he was saved in his formative years in a camp setting. And after returning home to South Australia, I heard from a SIM colleague of how this Elder made our camping ministry a priority in his report to his church! Another newly-married couple paid a single visit to ACM over a month ago. Currently they are in the U.S. for a break. How refreshing in learning that the couple would make our camp known to the churches among the farming communities in Kansas State.  God's message to us has been loud and clear that we must seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. He will then provide ACM new friends and supporters far beyond our fondest expectation!

His good hand has been leading on: Let me present to you a financial picture of ACM: our expenditure in Jan., 2005 was 4,331.80 Biirs; Feb., 05 being 3,227.05; Mar.,-- 6,969.30; Apr.,--2,675.30; May -- 2,892.05; June -- 2,490.65; July -- 3,265.26; Aug., -- 3,198.35; Sept., -- 17,847.20; Oct., -- 1,454.00; Nov., -- 12,066.01; Dec., -- 9,613.83; Jan., 2006 -- 4,018.00; Feb., -- 10,862.13; March -- 5,963.03. So during the past 15 months, our average expenses per month comes to 6,058.64 Birrs, i.e. US$700 per month. Again we have to offer up our praises to Him who has been sustaining ACM so faithfully!

     3 months ago a dedicated couple was introduced to our ministry, with the prospect of the man to be the first ACM manager. After careful consideration, our Board thought that we might not be in a stage of supporting a family with 3 kids yet. Currently, we have been praying for our Lord's clear confirmation about another candidate -- a single young brother who appears to be quite compatible to our ministry. Our full-time paid staff will not be many, 3 to 4 in residence all-round workers, plus a Manager and a driver. With a distinct goal of becoming a self-supporting ministry, ACM will not be like some of the Christian ministries in Ethiopia, richly funded and always operating on a pay-roll system. But our strategy lies more in a Volunteer system, which will be under the next heading.

Seeking members for Abyssinia Camping Ministry: This basic membership holds an important role in our Ministry, whether in the spiritual realm or in ACM overall program or in physical developments or in her legal obligation before the government. Therefore, these days, we have been persistently praying for His leading us to the right candidates. A member can be foreigner or Ethiopian, a man or a woman, and of diverse age. We need members of sound Christian faith sharing the vision of ACM, and who will contribute faithfully whether in their time, skills, gifts, resources, in a diverse manner as led by our Lord. For instance, a brother can give a few hours per week as our voluntary driver. A sister can function as ACM Treasurer with no salary. An energetic young man can help the kids in sports activities. A mother can contribute half a day cooking in our camp. An older saint can offer us insight and advice. A Christian professional or a businessman can contribute generously in the area of finance...  

What are the food and clothing at ACM? In context of Matt 6:33, our Lord is telling us not to worry about what we eat or drink, or what we wear... At ACM, you may like to know what are those very necessary things?  The number one necessity, let me venture to say, is clean water from a well. After 4 months, the hand-dug well has only reached 10 meters deep because of a hard-to-penetrate rock layer, plus dishonest well-diggers who have been taking advantage of us. It has been quite frustrating to see the digging stalled month after month. Yet, difficulties and trial always drive us closer to our Father in heaven. So we continue pressing on for the day when God will supply us clean and unfailing water from our first indigenous hand-dug well!

      The other food and clothing are being the furnishing of our container office, with desks, cabinet, computers, fax machine, phone lines etc. Then come a set of Toilets and Shower for boys and girls, plus bunker beds for our cabins, gradual modifications of our Site ... Again we are reminded of his precious words of not to worry, but rather seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. When we have truly obeyed and followed through these words, there will be no need for ACM to beg or to adopt some modern time fund-raising technique. For all these things shall be added unto you, which so clearly conveys that God is the provider with us being the joyful receivers!