Audacious Faith...

I thought this was a great quote from a great book...

Operation Christmas Boxes

Our team is almost assembled for an amazing trip next May as we partner with Wudassie Diagnostic Center to provide medical care and training here in Ethiopia. We have around six nurses who are apart of the team and right now one doctor. We are praying for one or two more doctors so if you are a physician then please consider this wonderful life-changing opportunity! If you know someone who is a physician and has a heart for medical missions than pass this along to them. Please be in prayer for the team, we are very excited about this opportunity!

Water Works...Part 3

The above picture probably needs no explanation. The frame was built, the tank put up and eventually as water filled the top tank is seemed everything was going to work. Then...crash! About 8 pm on Tuesday night we heard an extremely loud sound and Belet was screaming. The top tank, probably about 3000 pounds of water had came crashing down onto the bottom tank as the frame could not hold the weight. First and foremost, no was was near by and everyone was safe. If by chance someone would have been underneath checking the bottom tank, then it would have been deadly. Eric and our neighbor helped me get the tank off and then rip the tangled mess of metal frame away. The bottom tank was fine, but the top tank had a hole in it and the frame was ruined. It seems the heavy duty metal that we paid for is not what we received. Unlike back home, here we will not get any refund or replacement parts so about $300 of parts and labor for the frame went away like a puff of smoke. Disappointed it didn't work, but most importantly grateful everyone was ok. We are back to the drawing board and someone is supposed to come fix the hole in the new tank. Thankfully the water has been on the last few days which makes us very happy. Praise the Lord for that and hopefully for it staying on for good! :)

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

July Update

Even during the rainy season there are a few moments to get outside. Jackson loves to blow bubbles especially with Belet!

No Greater Love...

If you need a great book to read this summer I would highly encourage you to pick up No Greater Love by author Levi Benkert and Candy Chand. Levi, his wife Jessie, and their four awesome kids work in Ethiopia and attend Bethel. We are very blessed to serve alongside so many wonderful families such as the Benkerts. This book is fantastically written and a very honest look at how God has worked in their family's life. Check it out at amazon.com or look at your local book store. 

Enjoying some of the new toys before church service last Sunday. Joining Jackson are Aaron, Abby and Favan.

Furlough is Finished!

It is hard to believe that our first furlough is now over! On Tuesday at 4:40 (EST) we will be leaving Chicago for the 16 hour flight to Addis Ababa where we will arrive on Wednesday night at 9 pm Ethiopia time (2 pm EST). So, let me give you a quick rundown of our furlugh adventures. And imagine with me that I am speaking as fast as the awesome guy that did the Micro Machine comercials back in the 80's. Our furlough went something like this...
We drove over 17000 miles, drove through 17 States, ate at Chick-fil-a 21 times and 21 times Jackson asked to play first and eat later. We visited 25 churches, several of which we visted for the very first time. We toured the River Walk in San Antonio, the Alamo (which was much smaller than I thought it would be), we went to Lego Land in Florida, the Creation Museum in Kentucky, a children's museum in Illinois, a petting zoo in Texas, saw the Oscar Meyer weinermobile in Illinois.  We spent countless precious hours with family and friends laughing and just enjoying the time we could be with them, and we shared what our God is doing in Ethiopia through buidling up His church and bringing glory to His name!
And now it is finshed and we are excited to get back to Ethiopia. As you can see with the picture above, we have quite a few totes to take back! In fact, we have 21 totes, 1 suitcase and 1 tent along with a car seat. Please pray everything (and everyone) gets there safe and sound!
We have 12 bags sponsored which means we are five short of our goal. If you would like to help sponsor a bag or help with the hundered of dollars spent on minsitry items, your consideration is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf, we look forward to getting back and unpacking and seeing what is in store!

They have arrived!

Thank you so much for praying! ALL of our documents arrived today from Ethiopia and we have them in our hands!  We board the plane in 5 days for our return...let the countdown begin :)

Urgent Prayer Need

Amanda and I have a BIG prayer request that we would ask you to pray for...our work permit and residency cards (which allow us to stay in Ethiopia legally) are currently on their way via snail mail from Addis Ababa to the US.  We MUST have these work permits and residency cards in hand to be allowed to enter Ethiopia.  Our flight leaves next Tuesday, June 26, from Chicago and it is imperative that we have these cards in our possession before we board that plane.  Will you please join us in praying that these necessary documents will arrive quickly and securely? Otherwise, we cannot leave the US without them.  If for some reason, the documents do not arrive in this time frame, this will be very detrimental to the renewal of our work permit and residencies.  It's in situations like this that I am so thankful that we serve a God who is caught off guard by nothing! 

Simply trusting, my friends, simply trusting!

We will keep you posted...

Furlough Update

Two weeks from now, we will, hopefully, be sound asleep in Ethiopia :) We are now in Illinois with just under two weeks before we leave. We have two more churches this weekend to visit and then next week we will be focusing on packing up our suitcases It has been a great time, of which I will talk about a bit in our next post. We are pleased to say that we have had a few more bags sponsored for our return trip. Special thanks to Stonebridge Baptist Church in San Antonio, the Rackley family in Raleigh NC, two ladies at West Fayetteville Baptist Church in Fayetteville NC, the Laminack family in Fort Worth TX, the Estes family in Forth Worth TX and the Spivey family in Raleigh NC. We now have 9 1/2 bags paid for! We are not sure how many bags we will have, we already have 9 packed with several items to go. We are hoping anywhere between 16-20 bags. If you interested in sponsoring a suitcase, please feel free to email us for more information.

Furlough Update

One month from today we will be boarding a plane to head back to Ethiopia. Crazy to think that our furlough has come and is almost gone. Right now we are in San Antonio enjoying the city. But, man, it's hot here! We've had a blast going to the petting zoo, swimming, touring the River Walk and even a minor league baseball game. We have also enjoyed time with our friends Jason and Laura Smith who pastor Stone Bridge Baptist Church. Tomorrow afternoon we will begin the 23 hour drive back to Raleigh so please pray for our trip if you think about it. We will be in Raleigh for about nine days and then back to Illinois before returning to Ethiopia. BTW, this weekend is the one year birthday of Bethel Baptist Church, the church plant in Addis Ababa. It is crazy that it has been one year! We are grateful for the many lessons learned and for the opportunity to go through this experience with our teammates Eric and Amanda. We hope and pray you all have a wonderful Memorial Day enjoying time with family and reflecting on those who have given their lives so we can enjoy ours. 

*UPDATE on Luggage Sponsors:

To date we are excited to have 3 of our suitcases sponsored!  Thank you to the Hargraves family (Raleigh, NC), the Ward family (Springfield, MO) and the Rhodes family (Winter Haven, FL) for your sponsorship!  If you would like to sponsor a suitcase to help us get ministry supplies back to Ethiopia, click here for more information.

Packed & Almost Ready to Go...

Pretty cute, huh? Pretty soon Jackson and his suitcase will be packing up for our June 26th flight back to Ethiopia. Since we have started furlough we have been able to purchase a variety of materials for the ministry in Ethiopia. All kinds of items ranging from Bibles to craft supplies, church resources to a pop up tent that someone from our home church graciously purchased. Saying all this, we need help!

Let me explain it this way: Did you know that in 2009 airlines collected $13.5 billion in baggage fees?. That, my friends, is a whole lot of money, and on June 26th my family will be contributing a great deal to the total for 2012.  Basically we are going to be that family with 16 suitcases in the airport that everyone gets aggravated with when standing in line behind us.  Pretty exciting stuff, wouldn't you say?

Here is how it goes. For our three tickets we get six free bags (big smile) and after that it is $200 a bag (insert big frown here). So on June 26th, we will be collecting a whole lot of points on our American Express as we check our "excess" bags. Well, you may be asking, "what's your point, Craig?"


Well, here is what we are asking: We would ask that you would prayerfully consider as a individual or family or church to sponsor one of our bags to help us get everything over. By an individual, family or church making a one-time sponsorship of $200, an astronomical sum for us becomes a much more attainable goal. If you would like to donate you will find a link through PayPal at the end of this post. If you aren't able to contribute, no worries. Though, we'd ask that pray for us as we return...and for the guy behind us at the airport.

So, June 26th it is. And at the end of the year when Lufthansa looks at the graph for the year-in-review baggage revenue, they are going to see a little spike on June 26th. 

Yep, Lufthansa Airlines, you're welcome.

a trip that will change your life...

There is very little doubt when one walks down the street of Addis Ababa Ethiopia that the lack of healthcare can be overwhelming. Children everywhere who are facing a life of difficulty because they don't have the medical attention they need. It is tragic, one of the sad reminders of the sinful and fallen world we live in. For Team Ethiopia, God has given us the opportunity to make a difference. We live there, we get to see the people and what they face and we get to be apart of a local clinic that is making a difference in the peoples lives. We have watched what God can do through people who just want to help not only physically, but more importantly, spiritually. Now here comes the big part...We want you to experience it. Yes, that is correct, we are challenging you to step out of your comfort zone and come to Ethiopia in May 2013 for a trip that is going to change your life...for the good. Team Ethiopia is partnering with a local clinic to host a medical missions trip May 9-18, 2013,  and we want YOU to be involved. From medical clinics to teaching, from sight seeing to experiencing everything that makes Ethiopia unique, I can promise that you won't be disappointed. If you are in the medical field and want to make a difference please contact us immediately. Even if you are not in the medical field but feel that you can help please let us know. It is going to be an absolute life changing journey into the love of Christ and showing that love to the people of Ethiopia. I hope and pray you will take this opportunity. Come prepared...leave changed. 

Are you willing to change lives in Ethiopia?

Furlough Update...

It has been just over two months since we have been back in the Sates together as a family and is seems like so long ago. We are having a nice time in the States, staying very busy visiting several church and spending time with family and friends. We are now in Florida with Amanda's family to spend a few week together and to celebrate Easter. Next week we will head toward the Carolina's before going to Missouri for the beginning of May. While it has been nice not having to worry about such things as water and power issues, we do miss the people in Ethiopia very much. We miss our family at Bethel a great deal and look forward to seeing them in June...

Speaking of those in Ethiopia, if you have the time check out the website www.bringlove.in which is a ministry in Ethiopia of a Levi and Jessie Benkert, along with their 4 children. The Benkerts attend Bethel, and I think you will be really blessed by reading about their ministry here and how you can possible be involved...

The Week that Was...

Last weekend , March 11th, we had the opportunity to update the work in Ethiopia at Grace Baptist Church in St Charles MO. The trip was extra special because we were able to spend time with Phil and Jessica Coolbaugh who are on staff there at the church. We have known Phil and Jessica since our college days. We went to school together as well as church, and Phil and Jessica were our next door neighbors, and, more importantly, our "refridgerator friends" which simply means that we were close enough friends that they could walk in and take food out of our fridge. We had a wonderful time visiting with them and their four precious young children...

Last week we went with my parents as well as Eric's parents to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. If you have never been, you really need to go! It was a great experience and one we would highly recommend. It was also special to see my friend Jon Seest who works for the Creation Museum's parent company Answers in Genesis. I have known Jon since the 5th grade and he has alway been a great freind to me. It was great catching up with him and his wife Beth and meeting for the first time their beautiful 18 month old girl, Willow...

We are back in Illinois right now before heading to North Carolina next week and then to Florida. It has been great being here and getting the chance to spend some time working in the field with my dad and letting Jackson ride with Poppa on the tractor. He could spend all day out there if we let him!

We are gradually buying things to take back to Ethiopia, items for us personally as well as a great deal of things for the church. (crafts, Bible studys, office supplies, etc). After our free baggage each suitcase will be $200. If you want to help us out by sponsoring a suitcase, please let us know, it certainly would be a great help to us and a great help to our ministry there...

March Update

2012 started out on a historic note at Bethel, as we saw our first baptism take place as well as

welcoming our first formal members to the local church body. Hanna, who has been faithfully

attending since our first church service, was saved a few months ago and baptized on New

Year’s Day. It was so exciting and humbling to see such a special event take place to start

2012.

Our first furlough is officially underway and we have been very busy thus far. It has been great

sharing everything that God has been doing in Ethiopia, and letting the churches in America

catch a glimpse of life in Addis Ababa. So far we have visited churches in Illinois, Missouri, and

Texas and toward the end of March we will be heading to North Carolina and Florida. We will be

heading back to Ethiopia June 26th, so please pray for us as we stay very busy traveling the

roads.

We are really excited about some future opportunities that are starting to present themselves.

Last year our close friends Kevin and Alicia were able to visit us and with Alicia being a nurse,

we wanted to discuss the possibility of a medical mission trip. Right now Team Ethiopia is

organizing a medical mission trip for 2013. More details will be available in the coming months.

If you are interested, please contact us and we will keep you posted as the details arise.

In 2008 the Ava Memorial Fund was set up in memory of our precious daughter, Ava, with the

goal of helping missionaries who face the difficulty of losing a child. Because of your

faithfulness in giving, the fund was recently able to help fellow missionary Matt Cretzman whose

family had a tragic accident and saw their three-year-old daughter taken home to be with

Jesus. It is because of generous gifts that this memorial fund exists and it is our prayer that it

will continue for years to come.

Keep up to date on the work of Bethel Baptist Church in Ayat as well as our furlough

travels on our blog: www.beyondthefruitstands.blogspot.com. Sign up on the blog to

receive email updates automatically. Look for us also on facebook as “Bethel Bible

Baptist Church of Ayat”.

Furlough Update #1

We are sitting in a hotel in the Fort Worth area of Texas on this Saturday evening as we are participating in a missions conference at Hallmark Baptist Church. This has been our first trip to Hallmark and it has been a really great conference. It is such a joy to see Jackson overwhelmed and excited about all the new things he has been able to see since being back in the States. Each day, Jackson has been able to spend time with new friends at Hallmark's MOMs day out group and he has had a blast. The expression on his face has been priceless when he sees all the neat toys and the other kids he can play with. There are also a couple of little boys he has been watching quite a bit since we have been here. He like to watch them play and he affectionately calls them "the guys". Every day when we go Hallmark he asks us where the guys are. The picture above is from our recent stop in Springfield MO. We had the great opportunity to have lunch with two families we have known for many years. Here is a picture of Jackson with some of his new friends...notice the super hero theme. Monday we will be heading back toward Illinois for a couple of weeks. We have churches in MO and IL we will be visiting before heading toward our home church in North Carolina and on to Florida to visit Amanda's family.

The Red Viper...

This is our late 90's (not sure on the exact year), way over priced Suzuki Vitara. Isn't she a beauty? We call her the red viper, not because she in any way resembles a viper or acts like a viper, but because it just seems ironic. If you look closely at the left back side of the viper you will notice that she is a little lower to the ground then the other side. The reason this is the case, is because the springs need to be replaced and they have been replaced several times with other used springs. You might ask me why we don't just put new springs on. Well, the problem is there are no new ones in the country, believe me I have checked. In fact, when I went about four months ago they told me they would come in in about three months. I felt like Elaine from Seinfeld when she was dealing with the Soup Natzi, when he told her "come back one year!". So...untill new parts come in we are stuck replacing old parts with newer old parts...
So, what is the point of this frustrating story? Well here is the thing...the springs are used, and they are used for a reason. No one wants used springs, in fact the day I went to a llittle shop I saw used springs pilled ten feet high everywhere I look. I am replacing used parts with other used parts. It tends to be frustrating.
Here is the thing. Many times in our spiritual walk we tend to fill our lives up with a bunch of used springs. We tend to find happiness in anything other than Christ and we ultimately find out that the "parts" we use are just old and useless. Wether it is finding satisfaction in our job or money or even our family, we tend to feel that these things can bring us the joy and satisfaction that we need but in reality, Christ is the only one that can bring true joy into our lives. I know many times I fill my life with old parts that tend to break down and wear out. Colossians 3:2 says: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." It's not that ones family or ones job is bad, but if I try to fill my life with joy from my family that can only be satisfied in Christ, than ultimately it will miss the mark. If my family trying to find happiness in me than I will ultimate fail them. Christ, on the other had will never fail, will never disapoint and will bring true joy into ones life. That's something a bunch of used springs can never do.

Lie to me?

I have to admit I really like the whole blogging world and I think it is going to stick around :) I read a few and what I have come to realize is that people love blogs that are authentic. People dig people who are honest and forthright. This caused me to ponder and ask the question. "When did it start being cool to actually be honest"? Is honesty such a lost art that it is now refreshing to be honest? I think the answers in regards to the blogging sensation has to do more with being honestly candid. Being willing to share how bad things are - at times when often times we tend to put a smile on our face - is just refreshing. It is real. It is honest. It is life.

So...that made me think of life in Africa and answering the one question everyone will ask when we see people in the States. "How is Africa"? Ok, here is my answer:

Life in Ethiopia can be frustrating at times. It drives me crazy when I drive and people run out in front of me and seem not to care that I almost took their life. It makes me batty when people yell "forenge" (foreigner), as though I had forgotten. I don't like the fact that the vehicle we bought here would have cost 1/4 of the price in the States. Nor do I like the fact that the vehicle tends to break down a lot and the parts are never guaranteed to be in stock. "Three months" they tell me, knowing full well they no one has any idea when the actual parts will arrive. I get aggravated when people ignore me in line at the grocery store and cut in front of me and I get livid at times when people drive down the wrong way on the road because they don't feel like taking the time to drive the actual route. I can't stand the smog nor do I understand how taxi's can drive with smoke pouring out of their tailpipe and no break lights, but if I turn my lights on at dusk everyone freaks out. These things drive me insane!!!

But...I would not trade it for anything. You see, all these things tend to happen the majority of the time but wrapped around these frustration are some wonderful events. I smile when I see Jackson playing with kids from different cultures knowing good and well that when Amanda and I were kids we would have never known anyone from Ethiopia. I take joy in driving into the city in the morning and seeing the sun peak over the mountains. I am thrilled to be apart of a church plant where people from a variety of cultures sit and share with each other knowing they have nothing else in common apart from Jesus Christ. I am humbled to see our neighbor Hanna baptized and watch in amazement as God just continues to grow a church full of people who just want to serve Him. I love learning about the culture over a good meal with our Ethiopian friends and I enjoy spending time with missionaries who experience the same "culture shock" that we have experienced. These things bring me great joy!

Here is the point. Life (anywhere) can have it ups and downs, good days and bad. The Christian life is that way often yet so many times we don't want to let anyone know that. We are happy to say that life in Africa is fantastic but we don't want to share our hesitation for coming when we have our head over a toilet after eating some bad food. "That is just a bit too honest", we tell ourselves. Well, I am thankful that we can be honest and share our struggles because that is really what being a Christian is about as Galatians 6 puts it. Sharing our burdens, lifting each other up. Being willing to sit with each other in the good and the bad. You see, life in Ethiopia can be fantastic at times and really stinky (literally) at other times. But through all the good and the bad I am extremely grateful that God has given us the opportunity to grow and experience life in Ethiopia. He has taught us many things since we have been here, but one of the biggest is this: Regardless of how good or bad our days are, He is always, always faithful. And for that lesson, my day just got a whole lot better.

New Church Members!

January 1st not only saw Bethel's first baptism, but we also had the opportunity to welcome the first official members to this local church. Both Hanna (who was baptized that morning) and Seble have been faithful attending since the first service and both families have been a huge blessing. We are very excited for the future and the church that God is building!

First Baptism!

We were very excited to start 2012 by witnessing the first baptism at Bethel. On January 1st Hanna, who has been faithfully coming to the church since the first service was baptized. Hanna was recently saved and we have been so excited to see her growth over the last few months. The little girl watching the baptism is Hanna's daughter, which to me makes it even more special. Because of Hanna's desire to make Jesus Lord of her life, she has given her children the incredible opportunity to hear and learn about Jesus.

A Look Back At 2011

Life in Africa sometimes can go fast or very slow (depending on the day), but for us it seems that 2011 just started. This past year was a year of many lessons learned. Our family continues to be grateful for the experiences that God brought us through here in Ethiopia, many of which could only happen in Ethiopia!

We really did not know what to expect heading into 2011 as far as our ministry in Ethiopia goes, but in February the picture started to become clearer. One afternoon we ran across an ad for a small house for rent in Ayat and quickly we and the Shadles started to think about the possibility of starting our first church plant there. After a lengthy process and much paper work we were so excited to sign a two-year lease with the homeowner. God faithfully provided the rent for the house through many individuals and churches, which we are so humbly grateful for. We decided that May 29^th would be the first service of Bethel Baptist Church, Ayat, so the rest of the spring was filled with cleaning, painting and preparation for that first service.

Since our first Sunday on May 29^th, we have been blown away with what God has being doing through the ministry of Bethel Baptist Church. We have had an amazing opportunity to share the gospel with so many people and develop some really wonderful relationships with them. Our neighbor Hanna was saved, and on January 1^st our church will be baptizing her. We have also seen several families attend our first membership class and will soon be presented before the church for membership, and there has been some real growth and great unity that can be seen. God is really building an amazing church and we are grateful and humbled to be a part of it.

The later part of the year saw Bethel host a three-part national pastors training course that takes place the first Tuesday of the last three months of the year. We plan on this being an annual event, and we were excited to see about 30 pastors and leaders attend for each session. We were honored to encourage them as well as glean from their many years of experience serving the Lord.

As far as the family goes, we are doing well. Amanda and I celebrated our 12^th anniversary this last summer and Jackson turned two. It baffles me how fast Jackson is growing and the many things he learns daily. He speaks non-stop and even says a few Amharic words in the mix for fun. I know this might sound cliquish, but we really savor each second that we are with him, and don’t want to miss one moment of this precious time of his life. Perhaps the reason lies in how God uniquely brought our family together, I don’t know, but I do know that we are so grateful each day for him being our son.

So here we are, celebrating Christmas 2011, with great anticipation for 2012. This last year has been a good year for us as we continue to learn and see what God has in store for us. Being in an environment different than your own often magnifies your flaws, but we are grateful that God is faithful and loves us despise our many struggles. As we celebrate the Christmas season just remember that Jesus Christ, the Hope of the world, came as a baby, something no one would have ever imagined. Many times God does things in our lives that are beyond our thought process yet they are exactly what we need. As you celebrate this wonderful time of year, look forward to 2012 and the opportunities that God will place in your path, even those you will least expect.

From our family to yours, we want you to know how truly grateful we are for each one of you. We love you very much and hope you have a truly blessed and wonderful Christmas season celebrating the birth of the Savior.

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Blessed New Year!

Craig, Amanda & Jackson Dyson

t h a n k f u l

We are blessed! We had a fabulous Thanksgiving Day celebrating with the Shadles and are so thankful for God's underserving goodness in our lives!

On Being a Missionary's Kid...

Growing up on a mission field can be hard on our kids at times. They miss out on grandparents, amusement parks, snowball fights and macaroni and cheese. But, they do have the amazing privileges of experiencing God's grace through every day life in a 3rd world country. We are most thankful that Jackson has the influence of some amazing kids and that together they are living out loud the love of Christ.

Language School

Eric, myself and our families language teacher Yenesaw. Today we learned to make pizza while Yenesaw spoke only in Amharic.

September - October Update

“My faith is like shifting sand, changed by every wave. My faith is like shifting sand, so I stand on grace.” These words are from a favorite song of ours and I have thought about them so many times since we have moved to Ethiopia. Often times, through our failures, fears and selfishness we find our faith changed literally every day. Some days everything seems good then something happens and we forget that God’s grace has always been there. I was thinking a lot about that the other night as Jackson woke up in the middle of the night. Sleepily he stood by our bed and woke us up to look at his “boo boos” (aka mosquito bites). As I sat there putting boo boo cream on his bites I was reminded how weak we are. In a moment’s time life could change, for the good or the bad. It made me think about the question: If our faith is dependent on something that will crumble under pressure, then is it truly faith? God has taught us so much since we have been here, and He continually provides even when we find ourselves doubting. He is faithful even when often times we lack faith, something we are so grateful for and daily humbled by.

As we have mentioned in previous updates, Amanda and I have been working on obtaining our work permit and residency in order to stay long term in the country. I am very happy to announce that as of two weeks ago, we have been able to obtain both our work permits and residencies! We’re praising God!

Things here are going very well with the church plant as God continues to build His church. This is really one of the busiest times of the year and we are in full-swing mode. The last Friday of September we had our first ever “Friday Family Fun Night”, which was a wonderful success as many came to enjoy some time together. We have been blessed to see our neighbor Hanna saved recently, and we are excited about her desire to grow. This coming month we will be hosting The Shepherds Conference, which will be a time of training for national pastors. Also in October we will be starting a ladies’ Bible Study. Amanda Dyson and Amanda Shadle will be leading the study and are enthusiastic as many ladies are planning on being a part of it. We are excited about the future and are eager to see stateside churches send teams over to take part in the excitement.

Since our last update we have been able to launch our updated blog, which you can now follow. Each week we post new updates on the ministry here as well as pictures and videos. Sign up on the blog and receive updates through your email. Visit www.beyondthefruitstands.blogspot.com to stay connected!

“…I’ve made it a commitment to consistently put myself in situations that scare me and require God to come through. When I survey my life, I realize that those times have been the most meaningful and satisfying of my life. They were the times when I truly experienced life and God.” – Francis Chan

With this in mind, Amanda and I have made the prayerful decision to step into the world of international adoption. We have started the process here in Ethiopia and are anxiously waiting to see what God will do. To put it bluntly, God will have to come through, but we are confident that he has prepared a child for our family and he will provide the needed finances for this to become a reality. Please pray for our family as we start this new adventure. Check out our blog for updates and ways you can become involved with this exciting opportunity!

A time to celebrate...

This is Eric, myself and our friend Mewaei after church last week. Mewaei just finished nursing school and defended his thesis which Eric and I had the opportunity to be there for. Mewaei has been very faithful at church and has really been a big blessing to us. We are very excited for his graduation and what the Lord has in store.

መልካም አዲስ ዓመት!

Happy New Year 2004, Ethiopia!

Today is New Year's Day here in Ethiopia and the year is 2004...sounds strange, we know.

Ethiopia has its own ancient calendar - called the Ge'ez calendar. The Ethiopian Calendar has more in common with the Coptic Egyptian Calendar. The Ethiopic and Coptic calendars have 13 months, 12 of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 or 6 days depending whether the year is a leap year or not. The Ethiopian calendar is much more similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar having a year of 13 months, 365 days and 366 days in a leap year (every fourth year) and it is heavily influenced by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which follows its ancient calendar rules and beliefs. The year starts on 11 September in the Gregorian Calendar or on the 12th in (Gregorian) Leap Years - like this year.

We had a great day celebrating the new year with friends and even dressed Jackson in Ethiopian traditional clothing for today...

This is the road going to the church building. As you can see, the first truck full of sand could not make it. the second truck was supposed to pull it out, but also got stuck. Chances are that tomorrow morning when we go to church they will still be there.

Rain, Rain on My Face...

We are hopefully heading toward the end of rainy season which will be a nice relief. Pretty much for the last month and a half it has been cold and rainy daily. We are grateful for the rain but can't wait to see consistent beautiful sunny days that will soon be here...

This week we will be starting a new language school which we are excited about. It is nice having the Shadles back as well, we have been able to get some things planned for the upcoming months at Bethel. This last Sunday was a fantastic service with 50 people. We are already to the process of staring another kids class, which is exciting...

Right now it is Monday morning and cold and rainy with no power. The whole power outage issues here are something that can be frustrating but something you just have to get used to. We are thankful though for a generator!

Back Home!!

We are ever so thankful that the Shadle family has returned! They were in the States for furlough and I, for one, am beyond excited to have them back home in Addis!! Their kids start school this Tuesday so please pray that they will recoup from jet lag and all that goes along with it.

Amanda

Beyond the fruit stands?

Addis Ababa is a city filled with many countless fruit-stands. The variety of colorful fruits and vegetables makes each stand something quite beautiful and unique, a perfect example of the country of Ethiopia. As missionaries, sometimes we feel that we only show people the "fruit-stands" of our ministry. I guess with this blog, we will try to take you beyond that to show you what life is really like in Ethiopia. Everyday is a new adventure, one we feel very unqualified to go on. Someday's you wake up with the excitement that you are actually living in this amazing country, and other days you go to bed wishing you could buy a plane ticket and go "home". Life in a new culture has its frustrations and your faults and struggles are maximized because you have nothing to hide behind anymore. Thankfully, God is faithful each day and looks beyond our failures to use us for His greater purpose. Our hope and prayer is that through this blog you see Ethiopia, and God in a whole new way...

Craig

hApPy AnNiVeRsArY!

One year ago today we landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ready for the journey that God had been preparing us for for over 10 years! We are humbled to be instruments in our Redeemer's hands and are excited to see what the next year holds...

August 2011 Update

After so many years of planning and preparation to become missionaries, we were thrilled on May 29th to be a part of the first service at Bethel Baptist Church here in Ayat. Our first service went extremely well as we had many visitors and had the opportunity to share our vision for the church and for the community. Eric and I spoke on the church’s purpose statement: “Loving God…Loving People” and afterwards we celebrated the day with a meal for those who attended. It is exciting to see God open doors here as we seek to glorify Him through this opportunity. It was also wonderful to see so many children attend the service as well. Because of so many gracious people who have given to this church plant, we are able to have both a room designated for a children’s class as well as a room for a nursery. Most churches here in Ethiopia don’t have this, so we are very excited that we can offer it.

As we have mentioned in previous updates, Amanda and I are working on obtaining our work permit and residency in order to stay long term in the country. Our paper work is here and is in the hands of the government right now. Please pray for this crucial step and that it will be completed soon. During the last week of May missionary Richard Konnerup and his daughter Jacque Burkholder were able to visit the country. Bro. Konnerup was a missionary here for many years until the government, at the time, forced him and his family to leave. It was a delight to visit with them and see the country through their eyes, especially since Jacque has not been back since she was in high school. Even now, the impact of the Konnerup’s ministry is still evident here in Ethiopia and we are grateful for the opportunity to be able to glean from their knowledge of the country and the people. Toward the end of June, Kevin and Alicia May, dear friends from North Carolina, were able to visit. We had a wonderful time showing them the area as well as celebrating Jackson’s second birthday with them. We were also able to go with them to visit two children they sponsor through Compassion International, which was an amazing opportunity to see the Gospel in action!

So many of you faithfully give to our ministry financially and we are so humbled by that. We know that we could not be here if it was not for God working through you. Some churches in the last several months have had to cut back because of financial strains and we have appreciated you being honest with us about that and still supporting us when you are able. We know that finances are tight for many churches now and many people have felt the strains of recent economic problems. We as well have felt that here in Ethiopia. In the last few months we have seen a few churches have to drop us because of finances and in the meantime prices here have dramatically went up. Just over the last six months, the price of groceries has increased 40% and gas is hovering around $5 a gallon. Our support has taken a serious hit and we would ask that you would pray for us and for wisdom and confidence that God will continue to provide. Thank you again for allowing us the opportunity to be here through your giving and your prayers. It is something we do not take for granted.

Next month we will mark one year since we have arrived. God has taught us so much more than we could ever have dreamed of. We are grateful for each day He gives us to glorify Him here in Ethiopia. Thank you for your continued prayers. God is doing so many wonderful things around the world and we are excited we can experience it firsthand.

May 2011 Update

On May 29^th, Bethel Baptist Church of Ayat will be having her first service and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Of course, this is happening because by God’s grace many of you have prayed and given toward this church plant, specifically by helping raise the rent on a small villa here in our area. Thankfully we have been able to pay two years up front for the house and were able to purchase some chairs, nursery and children’s items and also some Amharic Bibles. There is still a long list of things to do and more expenses that need to be taken care of, so we would appreciate your prayers regarding this. It can be a daunting task with any church plant, but even more so here in Ethiopia. Thank you so much for your willingness to help out and be a part of this! We can’t even begin to show our appreciation for your generosity and support of our ministry here. And for those who are considering helping us financially, we very much appreciate your willingness and consideration. We simply couldn’t be here without the support of so many churches and individuals who God has used.

In regards to long-term plans, in order for Amanda and me to stay in Ethiopia we ultimately must get a work permit and residency. This can be a time consuming experience that is filled with specific details and endless paper work. Amanda and I have sent off for the official documents needed in the United States and are praying that we can receive a work permit in the near future. Please join us in prayer for this situation, as it is the only way we can stay long term in Ethiopia.

It is hard to believe, but the tentative date of our first furlough will be in the Spring-Summer of 2012. Our desire is to visit and share our vision with churches that are supporting our ministry here as well as join with new churches that seek to see the gospel brought to Ethiopia. If you would like us to be with you during this time, please email me and we will work out a date!

As mentioned earlier, May 29^th at 10 a.m. (3 a.m. E.S.T) we will be having our first service at Bethel Baptist Church of Ayat. It will be a time of celebration as well as an opportunity to present the gospel and the desire that Team Ethiopia has for this church plant in Ayat. Please pray for those we have invited and for the Shadles and ourselves to live out the grace and love of Jesus Christ. We are very excited for what God is doing, and for what He is going to do in the future!

February 2011 Update

J. Hudson Taylor once said: “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.” This thought is something that continues to be in our minds as we look toward the future here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From the first day we arrived in Ethiopia, we, along with Eric & Amanda Shadle, have desired to establish a church in the area we live in, called Ayat. Although Ayat is a growing community just east of the heart of Addis Ababa, little work is being done here to reach people with the gospel.

Ayat I would say is a melting pot of sorts. It is made up of families with various religious, social and personal backgrounds. These families are hardworking, educated, and are proud of what they have accomplished. From various different places, people from France to Canada, America to Ethiopia call Ayat home. Giving the potential and growth here, it is a great location to establish a Gospel-focused church.

For the last few months our team has been meeting together for Bible Study and to strategize the best way to accomplish this church plant. After much prayer, God has presented an opportunity to do just that by renting a small house in our area. After meeting with the homeowner, seeking council and spending time in prayer, we collectively feel that this is an opportunity that the Lord had given us.

Our next plan of action is to raise the money needed for a two-year rental contract, which is required to be paid in full upfront. Originally the rental was a little over $600 per month, but the homeowner was willing to go down to around $480 per month.

The total amount of rent for two years that needs to be raised is roughly $11,500. When you break it down to a per monthly basis, that is $480. Our prayer is that various families, individuals or churches will have a desire to help us toward this goal by supporting a month or more of rent. As of the date of this letter, nine months has been promised, which is a constant reminder of God’s provision through the faithfulness of His people. We are so grateful for those who have given and those who are considering investing in this wonderful opportunity.

Our dreams and visions are big as we look to the future here in Ayat, and we appreciate your support of our ministry through financial giving and most importantly through your prayers. We are confident that God will show His power and grace, despite our limits and liabilities. It is our prayer that God does something amazing here in this community, for many years to come, even long after we are gone. Whatever happens here will have everything to do with God and by His grace nothing to do with us. After all, would we want it any other way?

Happy Mother's Day

We hope all you wonderful gals had a "berry" blessed Mother's Day!!

Keeping the Lights On...

Amanda and I were recently able to purchase a generator in Ethiopia for use once we arrive on the field this summer . Because of the frequent and lengthy power outages, it is very important to have a generator and recently the prices have dropped drastically. Our missionary friends in Ethiopia felt that the prices would not stay at this low rate for too long so we went ahead and purchased one. Blake Fortner, whose family recently arrived in Ethiopia, just purchased one and he went ahead and picked up ours as well. The total cost of this purchase was $2500, which is several thousand less than we thought it would be. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
We went ahead and wired the money over because we felt we could not miss this opportunity. We do have money set aside for our move although not specifically for the generator. If you or your Church would be willing to help us toward this purchase we would be most grateful! You can send any donations into the BBFI missions office, PO Box 191, Springfield MO 65801

Special thanks to Blake Fortner and Eric Shadle for their help in taking care of the generator for us as we are in still in the states.

And here it is...isn't it a beauty?!