Bertrand Update
Bertrand Update April 11, 2016 If you want to reach a community you need to start with the children. When you reach the children you can win an entire generation who will grow up knowing God. Children through their sincerity and innocence also have a way of reaching their own parents in a way that no one else can. There is a real danger that a whole generation can be lost unless God’s people stand up and make a difference. The quote above was taken from a book titled “I don’t believe, I know”. This truth was affirmed during recent church and school visit/training in Jinka Ethiopia. Church Leaders and parents stated repeatedly the way Bible lessons were not only impacting the individual child but entire families. Some have estimated that for every child enrolled in a Mailbox Club class, six others within that child’s community are indirectly influenced. Church leaders regularly expressed their appreciation for the lessons as a means for grounding children in the word however the numbers of lessons received in the area were far too few. Currently two hundred Kale Heywet churches within Jinka & Gama Goffa region alone are still waiting to receive the material. Our prayer for God to expand our territory has been answered powerfully and so now our prayer over the next months is for:
God’s provision to reach more children with printed lessons An increase of “boots on the ground” including adults youth and child teachers Improved co-ordination between TMC , and their partners avoiding overlap and miscommunication Accelerated lessons translation work for the different age groups in Tanzania Ethiopia Burundi and Rwanda Additional volunteers- missionaries to join the Mailbox Club team in the United States office and overseas positions
While in the Gama Goffa region we visited the site where our journey began thirty-one years earlier. Prior to arriving in Erbore village both of us pondered the memories wondering too if any within the community would still remember us.
Following a one hour ride off the beaten path we arrived at the village entrance parking next to the police station. Community members were exceptionally warm & quick to welcome us. Following brief introductions we began querying about certain individuals including two young boys named Ello and Dinah. The two regularly assisted with food distributions as well as hung out at our team camp site. Bora who remembered us immediately sent out a posse to find others. Thirty minutes later Dinah arrived on the seen still resembling the boy we once knew. The reunion was far better than we could have ever imagined. It was fascinating to hear from the now community leaders vantage point recall detail after detail we’d long forgotten. They remembered me being “big and strong” which I liked. As our brief reunion grew to a close our hosts graciously understood our need to press on. Bora & Dina expressed sincere gratitude for our returning to visit the community but also the love shown and hope given so many years earlier in the distribution of famine relief goods. Ethiopia was undeniably devastated by the 1985 famine. However because the church and missions responded compassionately, today communities are more open towards the gospel resulting in an expanding church. Our prayer is for children workers to be raised up and trained in order to disciple the current generation. In January two long-time supporting churches informed us of the difficult decision to discontinue our financial support. At the same time the Mailbox Club has presented opportunities in two regions for consideration, the Middle East /North Africa and South East Asia. Pray that God would clearly reveal His purposes and future plans for us. Thank you again for continuing to uphold us in your prayers and financial giving Blessings Paul and Annie
God’s provision to reach more children with printed lessons An increase of “boots on the ground” including adults youth and child teachers Improved co-ordination between TMC , and their partners avoiding overlap and miscommunication Accelerated lessons translation work for the different age groups in Tanzania Ethiopia Burundi and Rwanda Additional volunteers- missionaries to join the Mailbox Club team in the United States office and overseas positions
While in the Gama Goffa region we visited the site where our journey began thirty-one years earlier. Prior to arriving in Erbore village both of us pondered the memories wondering too if any within the community would still remember us.
Following a one hour ride off the beaten path we arrived at the village entrance parking next to the police station. Community members were exceptionally warm & quick to welcome us. Following brief introductions we began querying about certain individuals including two young boys named Ello and Dinah. The two regularly assisted with food distributions as well as hung out at our team camp site. Bora who remembered us immediately sent out a posse to find others. Thirty minutes later Dinah arrived on the seen still resembling the boy we once knew. The reunion was far better than we could have ever imagined. It was fascinating to hear from the now community leaders vantage point recall detail after detail we’d long forgotten. They remembered me being “big and strong” which I liked. As our brief reunion grew to a close our hosts graciously understood our need to press on. Bora & Dina expressed sincere gratitude for our returning to visit the community but also the love shown and hope given so many years earlier in the distribution of famine relief goods. Ethiopia was undeniably devastated by the 1985 famine. However because the church and missions responded compassionately, today communities are more open towards the gospel resulting in an expanding church. Our prayer is for children workers to be raised up and trained in order to disciple the current generation. In January two long-time supporting churches informed us of the difficult decision to discontinue our financial support. At the same time the Mailbox Club has presented opportunities in two regions for consideration, the Middle East /North Africa and South East Asia. Pray that God would clearly reveal His purposes and future plans for us. Thank you again for continuing to uphold us in your prayers and financial giving Blessings Paul and Annie
