House Of Friends Newsletter July 2009

Volume 9 Issue 7

101 N. Zeysing · P O Box 228 · Alma, MO 64001 · 660.674.2222 · www.houseoffriends.org

By Travis Kolder, HOF Board Member

I first met Gizaw Derseh in January at a small Ethiopian coffee shop in Kansas with House of Friends President, John Gross, and Sean Hughley. We were exploring the idea of traveling to Ethiopia to start an orphanage. The conversation covered coffee, Ethiopian history, and how Gizaw came to the U.S. After the discussion, Gizaw asked if we had any questions. My first question for Gizaw was this: “What's God doing in Ethiopia?” Without missing a beat Gizaw said, “Come and find out for yourself.”

HOF outreach team left to right—Dale Ritter, Danielle Robertson ( with mom and dad, Lou Ann and Monty) and Barbara Decker. The truck and trailer with goods is in the background. Jeanie Ritter is not pictured.

Dale and Jeanie Ritter lead a team of four to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on June 18 through 25, 2009. Barbara Decker of Alma, and Danielle Robertson of Malta Bend, Missouri joined them in taking a truck and trailer load of household furniture and goods to the reservation. Each were involved in various special projects while there. Ethiopia Team member left to right—Brenda Carr, John Gross, Dan Zacharias, Aroea Knox, Sean Hughley, Kevin Knox, and Travis Kolder.

Fast forward six months. Seven of us from Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa landed in Addis Ababa to meet up with Gizaw and his daughter, Bethlehem. We took Gizaw's offer and came to see what God was doing. We were also looking for men and women interested in taking care of widows and orphans. We had all come as part of House of Friends, and because of that we believed God had a special purpose for Ethiopia as described in Isaiah 18: “Listen, Ethiopia land of fluttering sail that lies at the headwaters of the Nile, that sends ambassadors in swift boats down the river. Go, swift messengers! Take a message to a tall, smooth-skinned people who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction, and whose land is divided by rivers...at [the end of the age] the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will receive gifts from this land divided by rivers, from this...people, who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction. They will bring the gifts to Jerusalem, where the Lord of Heaven’s Armies dwells.”

The road trip to the reservation proved to be very eventful. The car broke down and required a layover and repair work in Nebraska. The break down ended up being a blessing with a big discount on the repairs and the night lodging costs cut in half by the owners of the motel who are Christians. Most importantly, new friends were made. Our team arrived at the reservation just before two other mission groups arrived at the mission to work as well. The team prepared the living quarters for those coming. A YWAM group of youth from the Chicago area arrived just in time to help

Shortly upon arrival, we met with leaders of several churches. In order to protect these individuals not much can be said or shown, but the work they are doing is bringing multitudes to Christ. We learned much about the spiritual condition of the country and how these focused individuals have both endured much opposition and seen significant progress in spreading the Good News. We also discovered that the enemy would throw a lot of attacks our way in the form of physical set backs. Our response to these attacks would determine our level of victory later. Probably the greatest example of God displaying His power in the midst of setback was on our trip to Bahir Dar, a city on the coast of Lake Tana. Our intent was to stay several days and meet with believers. To reach the city we had to travel through the Blue Nile Gorge, a place not unlike the Grand Canyon, which is divided by the Blue Nile (Remember Isaiah 18?). We had almost crossed through the gorge when our van broke down. The van driver caught a ride to the next city, but we were stuck as a team in “the middle of nowhere” for several hours. We did happen to break down next to a tiny village of less than ten houses. Aroea and Kevin Knox, Sean Hughley, and Dan Zacharias took the opportunity to engage the children of the village through games, fun, and prayer. We even had the opportunity to give Bibles and share the gospel with some of the older children. And while the chance to minister to the children touched us deeply, it was only the beginning of the miracle behind breaking down. Continued on page 2

unload our cargo of 84 boxes of clothes, personal needs and household items as well as furniture, appliances, and other miscellaneous goods. It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ from different states working together for a common goal—showing care and support of our Native Americans in their plight of poverty. Dale worked on carpentry projects and the rest of the crew helped with getting the mission store restocked with the newly arrived merchandise. Several Lakota Sioux crafters came in with their beautifully made jewelry and beadwork. (Continued on page 3)

ETHIOPIA...(cont.) By the time our driver returned, it was clear we would no longer be able to get to Bahir Dar that night. Instead, we traveled another hour to Debre Markos and spent the night. We experienced another night of significant spiritual warfare, but we were assured by the Lord that the breakdown had set the stage for unseen victories the rest of the trip.

Since her youth, Barbara Decker, an agriculture missionary serving many years in the Central and South Americas and a short stint in Africa, has been interested in our Native Americans. While at her home base in Alma, Missouri, she decided to lend a helping hand on a mission trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota with Dale and Jeanie Ritter, House of Friends Native American Outreach Directors, the end of June. They were also joined by Danielle Robertson of Malta Bend, Missouri.

When we awoke, those traveling with us had remembered they knew of a woman in Debre Markos who owned a school and had a heart for orphans. When we arrived at the school we were met by Fasika, the owner of the school building. There were a number of children attending and they flocked around Brenda Carr, Bethlehem Derseh, and Kevin and Aroea Knox. While the kids were enjoying their company, several of us spoke with Fasika Children at the school and potential location of the and shared the vision of starting next Abba House. orphanages in Ethiopia. It quickly became apparent that this was a divine appointment from the Lord. Fasika was renting the property to a school, but had canceled the lease , sensing the Lord was about to do something new. She later explained that ten years earlier she had been told the Lord would send Americans to help her start an orphanage and that our vision of Abba House was a fulfillment of that word. Many of us sat stunned as we realized that we would not have been here had our van not broken down the day before. We had stumbled into a plan that was much bigger than our own.

When Barbara returned from the trip she said, “What I saw on the reservation would be what I would expect to see in any one of the third-world countries where I have been. But to see the Native Americans the way they live and have their being in the U.S.A. hurts me. I saw a few similarities between them and the Jews. The Jews were exiled, first to Babylon and then to the “outer parts.” The Indian nations have also been “exiled,” first to productive lands and then later to unproductive lands. They struggle to guard their existence. They are a proud people who have been put on welfare and they have become co-dependent and complacent.”

We continued north to Bahir Dar, then to Gondor to see some of Ethiopia's most historical sights. The final days of the trip were spent in Addis Ababa finishing up work with different individuals we previously met. We had some time for shopping where we encountered two boys selling gum on the street. They were about eight Left—woman of justice; Below— years old and had no shoes. RecogKevin fitting shoes on boy, & the nizing a chance to share the love of two boys with new shoes & socks. Jesus, Sean and Kevin took them to buy shoes. The first shop they stopped at tried to sell the shoes at extremely high prices. An Ethiopian woman, whom we did not know but saw what was happening, recognized the injustice and took Kevin to find a place that would sell shoes at a fair price. We were able to purchase shoes and socks for the boys and escort them part of the way home. All of us were touched at how much God worked to show us His love for these boys.

Barbara saw that many Indians hang around the mission base at White Clay, Nebraska, two miles from Pine Ridge. Most of them visit the local tavern and are drunk by the afternoon. Aside from some manual labor at the mission, Barbara was able to minister to some of the locals. “I met Willie,” Barbara shared, “who told me, „If one of my kids would say to me, „Daddy, please sober up,‟ I would. But they won‟t. I know they wish it and I know they want me to, but they won‟t ask me to.‟” So Barbara planted a seed in Willie‟s mind. She said to him, “That‟s the way it is with our Father God. He knows what we need and He knows what we want, but we have to ask Him.” It is Barbara‟s prayer that somewhere, sometime, in a stupor or out of it, that those words will sink in and that Willie will ask God for help. Barbara also met Norma, who has a degree in Psychology. Norma told her that there is a lot of “New Age” on the reservation. New Age talks of God being in everything and it fits in with their ancestral beliefs of praying to the deer before they hunt it, praying to Norma the tree before they cut it, and praying to the wolf, bear, eagle, or turtle for their virtues. Norma has returned to her people to teach them about themselves and to teach the children their language. Most importantly, she teaches them about Jesus and about Jewish roots in Jesus.

Later that night, during prayer, the Lord gave us a Scripture that we believe is a promise for the city of Addis Ababa and Ethiopia, "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city,” (Jeremiah 5:1). We believe we found a woman who deals honestly and seeks truth, the sort of person Jeremiah was describing, and because of that, God is looking to give significant mercy to Ethiopia. Kevin, a team member, said this about the trip: “My heart was changed so much by being there. It wasn't only the poverty, the street kids without adequate clothes or shoes, or the families living in mud huts that moved me; it was the tangible spirit of God that was prevalent the entire trip. It was His reassurance that He was in control and in all things; that He orchestrates our paths, and our being there and our involvement in that time was no accident. The language of the people, the beauty of the land and the sense of gratitude from everyone we met has affected me. I'm changed.”

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Through the whole trip we were challenged to become more like Jesus, and more focused on showing God's heart to the poor. We believe more than ever that God is moving in Ethiopia. I want to invite you to continue with us on this journey and help us extend mercy to the orphans and widows of Ethiopia. We will continue to give updates about our activities there and chances for you to get involved. You can check out our photo journal at http://www.flickr.com/houseoffriends by clicking on the Ethiopia 2009 icon. I learned much about how God is moving in Ethiopia, and though I can't tell the whole story, if you want to see it, I will extend to you the same invite Gizaw extended to me: “Come and find out for yourself.”

John Gross sharing at the Youth section of the Ethiopian Conference in Kansas City

The impact of the Ethiopian mission trip led by HOF board member, Travis Kolder, continued in Kansas City. At Hope City on Monday night, July 20th, John Gross shared about an encounter on the streets of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. He encouraged the crowd that comes out every Monday night for prayer and worship and a fellowship meal in the inner city, that the Lord would do the same thing here where the need is so great. As usual a great night followed as everyone lingered in prayer and the meal was put on hold. The inner city ministry HOF partners with is Hope City (www.hopecitykc.org). On the following weekend John spoke at a Youth Conference at the Nazarene University hosted by the Ethiopian Evangelical Christian Association. The Director of this fellowship of churches is Gizaw Derseh who also hosted the HOF mission trip to Ethiopia. John has been working with the local youth group for about one year and has been overwhelmed with their spiritual maturity. This event had youth from several cities. “The maturity of these youth, combined with the unity they have with one another, makes them ripe for revival,” John says. “These young people are hungry for God.” During the conference ministry time, they filled the alter as the Lord ministered to them. The website of the Ethiopian ministry House of Friends has been working with is www.eecaweb.org.

PINE RIDGE (continued)

In most cases, selling these items is all the income they have beyond the $420 per month that the government provides a family.

Help was given by our team and the YWAM youth team in planting the gardens and cleaning up the area through trash pickup.

The answer is children. Children love to eat funnel cakes; and as you read on, these particular funnel cakes provide security. Everyone gets involved when it comes to the House of Friends 4th of July fundraiser in Alma, Missouri. Do you love funnel cakes? We do and so did the crowd that gathered on the evenings of the two-day 4th of July celebration. Board members, donors, volunteers, intercessors and office staff joined efforts to make the fundraising event a big success Phyllis Wyatt and Pam Plattner seem to be in A total profit of $1,433.66 was real- perfect harmony pouring their batter while Marie Kalebaugh prepares to take out her ized and will go toward building a finished funnel cake.

This trip continued to build trust and friendships between the Lakota Sioux and House of Friends. All the team members ministered one on one to many of the street people—giving encouragement and praying for them. While there, the team met another group. This Christian mission group had conducted prayer walks on the reservation previously. On this particular trip, they asked the Indian Council what they could do to help the reservation. They were told the reservation did not have a Detox Unit and would like to have one built. The group agreed to see that one was built. Those plans were solidified with the Indian Council voting to make seven acres of property available. Soon they will return to start the building process. They will be joined by other Native Americans and Amish people from several states. There is a possibility the Ritter's will return as well to help.

security fence for the children at Abba House in Entebbe, Uganda. We still have a need of $1,250 to finish the project. Thanks to everyone involved for our great success, and most certainly including our patrons, who enjoyed the delectable treat. Left—Behind the scenes, to get the funnel cake batter ready for the first customers, were C W and Betty Browning (married over 65 years). With help from youth to seniors, the needs are met.

HOUSE OF FRIENDS MINISTRY STEWARDSHIP We would like to share with our contributors that House of Friends has the sincere belief that the scriptural principles of tithing extend to the ministry‟s income. Therefore, it is the policy of House of Friends to tithe from that which is received in unrestricted funds to charitable missions which have similar purposes. A tithe is not taken from those gifts given to specific projects or for sponsorship. 3

On their travels to South Dakota, they crossed paths with Ken Downey of Trailside Ministries, who, out of obedience to God, is riding his 14-year-old horse, Pilgrim, from North Carolina to Seattle, Washington —as old-time circuit preachers did. Across America he is proclaiming the Gospel by sharing at churches and with peoples along the road of this journey. His message is “know Christ and make Him known.” His journey began in March of 2009 and will culminate around

September 12. You can learn more about his ministry and trip by going to www.trailsideministries.com. The team gave Ken words of encouragement and prayed for him and those his life will touch as he continues on. Ken is the brother to a friend of House of Friends. This is his second mission across America in this way. Barbara Decker, along with Judy Lieser, House of Friends executive director, and Norma Ramey, Fountain of Life International Ministries of Alma, met him in April when his journey brought him through Iowa.

P O Box 228 · Alma, MO 64001

Those on the Native American Outreach mission trip found that this trip was filled with one-onone ministry with peoples along the road and with the Lakota Sioux.