Water Works, Part 2

So, let me try to explain how our water works... In the top left you see where it all begins. Near our gate is the faucet which is strictly "street" water. When water comes out, the street water is on and when there is nothing coming out than we have NO  street water .By the way, the faucet is ON in the picture but the street water was off hence, there is no water pouring out...and so our need for an extra tank. This doesn't mean that the house and the compound are out of water, but it does mean that if we don't preserve the water, than we will be completely out UNTIL the street water is turned on again. The picture of the tank is one that sits behind our house and is filled by the street water via the piping that runs underground. Usually when the street water is turned on you will start to hear this tank fill up after several minutes. The street water goes into the tank, then the small blue pump helps push the water up to the top of the house where there is another tank on top. This tank you see is 1500 liters while the one on top is 2000 liters. The tank on top is what is used in the house, and when it is empty a sensor inside will tell the tank on the ground to send up water. Our plan is to use the new water tank on top of the existing ground water tank (sort of like a bunk bed), therefore adding 1500 liters. The picture on the bottom is of me, Tafare (pronounced Tafara) on the left, and his brother Amare (Amara) on the right. Both of these men have done a great deal of work for us and several other friends as well. They are good, hardworking and honest people who can pretty much do anything you need them to do. They are awesome painter, builders, and all around handymen!  Both are very strict Orthodox, so both desperately need Jesus in their lives. Stay tuned for more exciting pictures of water works!

Water Works, Part 1

As mentioned before, the water supply in Addis is a delicate issue.  Simply put, either we have an abundance or we don't have any at all. That is why there is a giant water tank on the top of our vehicle. We bought this tank to have an extra reserve of water, and if you are interested, we will be posting some picture of how exactly the water system works in our compound. You probably don't see this kind of load on the top of other vehicles much, do you? :)

Home Sweet Home...for 2 more years at least...

Thank you for all that have been praying for our housing situation.  We were able to extend our rent by 2 more years...praise God!  We are thankful for the home the Lord has given us and are excited to be able to stay in the same house for 2 more years.  This was one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make since we have been here. Our water has been a huge issue, but moving is no guarantee that things will be better somewhere else. Much like automobiles here, houses can be a very frustrating thing to deal with and is pretty much a "roll of the dice" when moving into one. Due to a variety of items such as poor material and lack of building experience, everyone will experience frustrations and problems with their house. Also, as with almost every other thing in Ethiopia, our rent is being raised.  This was difficult to deal with but somewhat expected. Housing costs here have increased dramatically and while we have diligently set aside money for our upcoming rent we will unfortunately be short. We will have to take out a loan to help pay for this, so if you or your church would able to help with this expense we would be unbelievably grateful.

 Even with the issues we have had and are facing, we are very grateful that God has provided for us.  Because of us living here we have had the opportunity to open our home to several people that are here adopting as well as developing a friendship with our neighbor, Hanna, who ultimately accepted the Lord as her Savior. That alone has made it worth it! Thank you again for your prayers and any consideration in regards to a financial gift for our rent increase. If you are able to help out, please send any gift to the BBFI, PO Box 191 Springfield MO, 65801. Memo: Dysons Rent.

VBS Outreach 2013

Ethiopia, Two Years In...

Two years ago today we arrived in the country of Ethiopia. At times it has seems short, at other moments long. Frustrations have occurred while exuberant joy has taken place. Moments of questions, tears, laughter and exhaustion have been sprinkled in throughout the last twenty-four months with many more to go. We have learned a great deal these last two years and we still have a great more to learn. We've re-wired electrical issues and fixed leaks, stood in long lines, cooked meals from scratch, been stared at, faced water and power issues, broken down on the side of the road, learned to determine if the solution to a problem was a bigger issue than the initial problem, had our phones stolen, helped plant a church,  and have vomited more in the last two years than in the previous ten combined, among many many other things. We have no idea if this journey will last another five years or 50 with the possibility that in 48 years I will be sharing (on whatever social outlet is popular at that time) how excited we are to be celebrating our 50th year in Ethiopia. I simply do not know what tomorrow will bring. BUT, I do know this. Throughout the last two years (and many years before that) and until the day we are gone from this earth, God has always and will always provide and watch over us. Simply put: grace. Day after day God has always shown His love and mercy in our lives, something we are incredibly undeserving of. He has always provided and the lessons He has taught us the last two years are beyond comprehension. He has simply always been there.

As we look back on these two years, we are appreciative of all the prayers and support that each one of you have been to our lives and ministry. We miss our family and friends back home terribly at times, but your love has always been felt even here. As we reflect on two years, I want to leave you with a journal entry I wrote two years ago during our flight out of Raleigh. The verse shared still holds true today just as it was the day it was written so many years ago in David's time...

August 14, 2010
Nearly two weeks has past since I last spent time writing. I suppose this would be the time to write since we have been busy preparing for our big move to Addis Ababa Ethiopia. I often wanted to take time to write but our long list of things to do stood in the way. As we speak we are on a plane from Raleigh to Washington DC. It is 5:42 pm and Jackson is asleep in the seat next to his wonderful mommy. Amanda and I are tired but overall we really did not feel overly stressed. We paced ourselves well and worked hard. Today was a day of bittersweet goodbyes with family and friends. Last night we said goodbye to Amanda’s mom and David and today my parents, my sister Melissa, the Staubs and the May family all went to the airport to see us off. It was hard saying goodbye but we are excited about what is in store before us. I remember many times writing about being unsure what God was doing. Today as we sit here on this plane I am confident that this is what He wants for us right now. I don’t know what lies ahead, I don’t know how the financies will come but I do know that we will and must trust God. As one of the Psalms says: “Some trust in chariots…some trust in horses…but we will trust in the Lord our God” Well….here we go, crazy as it may seem. There is a big world out there and we are about to see some of it. Praying for grace and strength and hoping and trusting that God will take care of us. Hoping that years later as Jackson reads this he looks at his time in Ethiopia with joy. We pray everyday that he will love Jesus…we pray everyday that we can be the example to show him that... 

Medical Missions Trip 2013