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The History of Equip Ethiopia

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Several years ago, while teaching in the Eritrean Refugee Camps in Adi Harush, Northern Ethiopia, a group of Ethiopian Church Leaders asked for help in equipping their Church Leaders to better understand and communicate God's Word to their people.  After much prayer a plan was developed to help Pastors/Evangelists/Church Leaders equip their people to carry out the work God had called the Church to do in their communities/villages.   Practical methods of understand and communicating God's Word were created and worksheets in their languages were prepared for each student. In January of 2014, the first trip was prayerfully implemented followed by trips throughout Ethiopia.  Each trip consists of multiple two-day training sessions open to all denominations.   In the last five years over 5,500 Pastors/Evangelists/Church Leaders have been from over 550 Churches representing 32 Evangelical Denominations.  The Lord has allowed us to be in 73 diffe...

Dalekich Village in Western Ethiopia.

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The Dalekich Village is outside of Gambela in the far western corner of Ethiopia.   There are four Sudanese Refugee Camps in the area, but our focus is on the 8 Sudanese Churches around Gambela that are striving to serve those Refugees that are not in the UN Camps, but strive to carve out a life in Ethiopia. The are considered the poorest of the poor in Ethiopia.   Yet these 8 Sudanese Churches have taken in orphans and children at risk who have lost their parents in the exodus from Sudan or are single parent families at risk of starvation and exploitatio n. The Poorest of the Poor reaching out to help those who are in need. Of all of the places I have been in Ethiopia, this is probably the most impoverished people I have been with. They are people who have left the Sudanese Refugee camp and made a village in the midst of a dry scrub brush area. Their water supply comes from digging down in a ditch/ravine until wat...

People in Gambela

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I greatly enjoy taking photos while on these trips.  Here are a few for you to enjoy!

Water Well Projects

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While at the Dalekich Village, we discovered they had no close access to clean water.  During the dry season, they were digging in a dry stream bed and letting the water seep up, then using a bowl to collect the water.   After this they would transfer it to a bucket, let the sand/dirt settle to the bottom and then use the water for washing/drinking/cooking.  In talking with the Church, they felt they could did a 15-20 meter deep well and have a rope/bucket or hand pump mechanism for around $400.00.    We left that money with them and I'll be returning in March to see how they progressed.    If they are able to accomplish the well, there are six other church locations around Gambela that we are going to consider putting water wells into so that the church can better minister to their community!

The Children/Orphans At Risk

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The Children/Orphans at Risk in the last years, many children and their parents were lost/separated as they fl ed South Sudan. Some due to death, some abandonment. These 8 Sudanese churches in Gambela have taken 100 of these children either abandoned, orphaned or a single mother. Understand - these people have nothing and in many cases cannot get a job. They may go to into the scrub - collect a bundle of sticks and then sell them for 35 cents. Yet, they took in the children to care for. The poorest of the poor willing to take an abandoned child and help feed, clothe and raise that child. That is who we are helping. The Pastors and Elders of the church is the distribution point. They know whom is in the greatest need. Here are photos of some of the children we are going to be helping. I made a commitment to send $250 a month for the next 6 months to help feed and clothe these 100 orphans and vulnerable children t...