February 1, 2004

Dear TAG Team, Thank you dear brothers and sisters for your intercessory prayers. Reports from the first week of ESL training are very positive. There has been no opposition as of yet to the use of the scripture in the training. The two trainers are well and very encouraged. Please continue to pray for the hearts of the students to be open to the message. Pray that the stories will remain in their minds and that they will not be able to sleep because of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Pray that the trainers will continue to find favor in the city where they are working. Continue to pray against opposition to the teaching. Claim God's promise: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH: IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT." (Isaiah 55:10 & 11)

The gate keeper/security guard of Sheba College

The Sheba College cleaner. She was so sweet to us!

Sheba College main administrator I believe, Atto Germie ("Atto" is a respectable title like "sir")

Mulu (Short for "Mulunesh")

Tirhas

Tedros

Leake

Eyob ("Job" in English)

Yohannes

The other Muslim in our class, Bushura Nuru

Mekere

Mamusha

Yonas (popular name in Tigray)

WeldeGebraele (or just "Gabriel")

Seare Tekeste

Temesgen (which means "Thank God" in Tigrinian!) Leake

Abebe

Fitsum (who left class early for some army obligation..like several of our male students he was personally involved in the war with Eritrea and has some regrettable memories...)

Yirga Desta

One of the few Muslims in our class, Ahmed

Negassi

Yonas

Alem

Berhane Kidane

Tesfalem

Aster Tezazu (Queen Esther!)

Hagos Zeru (the only known believer in our class when we first started...)

Askale

Brhan Bitew

Mniya

Netsanet

Kewani Beyene

Mearc Legesse (Mark)

Sisay, not one of our 30 students but a student at Sheba we came to know and love. He's all into the "Jamaican thing" as he has Jamaican supporters who help him out.

typical houses of the area

Me and Wayonte walking the streets of Axum

This picture promotes condoms rather than death. (I think it would be more appropriate if he had a Bible in his hand rather than a condom...)

...

Wayonte

The dean of Sheba Info Business and Technological College, Neguse.

Another teacher at Sheba Business College, Berhane.

Immanuel, one of the teachers at Sheba Business College in Axum.

Co-worker and Tigrinian translator, Wayonte!

cute boy!

Interesting painting in my hotel showing the main Axumite stelae field in front of St. Mary of Zion church

Binyanim, one of the first people we met in Axum. He works as a tour-guide to provide for his mother and sister.

This kind man, Chickaboo, met me at the Addis Ababa airport and took me to my hotel...arranged by friends

Soon-Bok (seeing me off at the airport) and her airline agent friend

Lufthansa agent who helped me ship a lot of things to Ethiopia (on most trips!) over my alloted weight! Praise God!

January 26, 2004

Dear TAG Team, YOUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED to support a special pilot ESL program to take place within one of the darkest cities in the area. Opposition is to be expected as volunteers enter this stronghold of the enemy and prepare to touch the lives of approximately 30 young people in the region. CLASSES START TOMORROW and will continue for approximately 4 weeks. As always, ESL training materials include Bible stories that explain God's redeeming plan for man. This will be a rare opportunity for the proclamation of the gospel and your prayers are crucial. PRAY.
1. For the logistics to support the ESL classes: travel, classroom facilities, and preparation of lessons.
2. That the Holy Spirit will guide the student selection and theclassrooms will be filled with students whose hearts are open to the truth.
3. That God will provide local believers to follow-up on opportunities to further share the gospel.
4. That the headmaster of the local college will provide opportunities in the future for repeat ESL classes. And pray for the headmaster, that he will have ears to hear the Truth.
5. Pray for protection beyond measure for everyone involved and especially for the message, that THE LIGHT OF CHRIST WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY IN THE DARKNESS.