Andy in Ethiopia

Pics From My 5th Trip To Ethiopia - Jan-Feb 2007

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A farewell gift from Tatek and Ethiopia

Bethel and Tigiest sending me off with gifts

It was very sad saying goodbye to "Mother Hen". (Tsadkan)

My farewell meal with my Ethiopian family

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This young man, like many of the orphans I met, loved having his photo taken and kept asking me to take his photo. A lot of the kids I met simply long to be loved and appreciate any attention people show them.

Fikere's Orphanage in Mekelle

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Wayonte and Kibrom with Fikere's orphans

Kibrom and me with the orphans. Kibrom and I were asked to give our testimonies and then we handed out Bibles.

Fikere is currently looking after mor than 60 kids.

Some of the girls at the orphanage.
There are 4 orphanages that I have been involved with in one way or another during my 5 trips to northern Ethiopia: Gabe and Connie's orphange, Fikere's Mekelle orphanage, Fikere's village orphanage and Kelimino Orphanage just outside Mekelle where I met Kibrom and his friends.

Ethiopian Orphan Does Martial Arts

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Andy, Immanuel and Wayonte

Tigiest on one of my last late nights at Tatek's home.

Tatek...Tatek...or is that Eutychus?! (Acts 20:20:9-12)

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One of the kids took this photo by mistake but I thought it would be interesting to post in order to highlight the tattooes on this woman's neck. Quite a few people born in rural parts of northern Ethiopia have these tribal tattooes. Often, they are placed on people during illnesses to "ward off evil spirits". Some people are embarrassed of these marks once they move to the city and people then consider them to be of the "ancient village sort".

Ethiopian Dancing!

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A Visit to Mileta's Home

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Anwar: A Special Student and Good Friend!

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Anwar is one of the few Muslims who took our English/Bible lessons when it was first offered in Mekelle several years ago. He left quite an impression on everyone and he is still in touch with many of us today.

Anwar checking out the Tigrinian Bible I got him.

Looking back over these photos is overwhelming at times as I can't believe all the wonderful people God has allowed me to meet. "My cup overflows!!!" (Psalm 23:5)

Ethiopian Skies!!

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Rolls Royce! Yes, if you're going to fly, you might as well do it with style!

This was on the dash of the taxi on the drive to the airport in Addis Ababa.
No Jesus, No Peace.
Know Jesus, Know Peace.
Nice!

Call to Korean Airlines to book a flight to Ethiopia.
Me: Hello? I'd like to book a flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, please, from Incheon Airport.
Travel agent: Hee!hee! A-dd-ee-ss A-b-a-ba!?! Hee hee! That sounds so funny! hee,hee!

Tsadkan's Birthday!!!

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Now those are some SERIOUS candles!!

Tigiest making coffee. Anything for momma on her birthday!

People Around Town (Mekelle)

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Arifanu is one of the most reliable taxi-drivers in Mekelle. For that reason, he is extremely popular with tourists and missionaries in town.

The shop-keeper where we bought a vase for Tsadkan's birthday
Anwar, a student from my 2nd trip to Ethiopia, still manages to find me everytime I'm in town!

The lovely lady at the Bible Society Christian Bookstore in Mekelle

Starbucks: Ethiopian Style, Ha!Ha!

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Wayonte & His Family

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Wayonte and his hard-working mom just outside her work-place in Mekelle.

Wayonte's mom insisted on preparing the standard 3 cups of coffee for my visit!

Wayonte, his mom and his two brothers during my visit to their home.

One night as Wayonte was going home, a group of hooligans dropped a rock on his head from a building and as he lay there bleeding, they rolled him over and took his cash. There is a danger in hanging out with "forencies" (foreigners) as the bad apples assume that with a relationship with foreigners comes cash. Mekelle has a lot of wicked men roaming the streets looking to rob, beat, cheat and even kill for a pocket full of change! PRAISE GOD my good brother, Wayonte was spared by the mercy of God. He easily could have been killed. He only relunctantly told me the story after I hounded him about why he hadn't been in touch for days. He didn't want to worry me!!!
"Finally, brethren, pray for me, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

The Drive to Alamata

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a 4-hour drive, south of Mekelle.

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The Village of Alamata

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City officials say that over 95% of the people here are destitute.

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Ethiopian Christians Bringing Life to Ethiopia!!

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This is Fikere's charity (Human Beings Association of Brotherhood) in the provincial capital of Tigrai Province, Mekelle, Ethiopia. It started out simply as Fikere was moved with compassion to do something for young boys who were living on the streets of Mekelle. As crops fail, kids often come to the city to beg and they are all on their own. Over the years, the number of kids Fikere cares for has grown. He also helps them to make some of their own money by being shoe-shine boys as one quick example.

With my dear brother, Fikere, at his charity's main office in Mekelle. You can see some of the kids he has helped feed and provide shelter and education for in the pictures on the wall.

Fikere with one of his volunteer workers. Their work started out in Mekelle, but they are even helping out in villages hours away from Mekelle.
Have you ever met someone that you felt deserved the highest recognition award available to man?! Someone who sacrifices so much of themselves in helping out others that they inspire you?! Someone who does the kind of things that most of us only dream about doing but find excuses and other "more imporant things" to do that keep us away from such lofty notions of charity; actions that mostly go unnoticed by the world but have eternal consequences in individual lives. Well, I have been blessed and humbled to meet such people in my travels to northern Ethiopia. Fikere is one such individual. May the LORD continue to bless him and his work for the LORD in pulling others out of the miry clay and pointing them to Jesus!
"...the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." (Daniel 11:32)

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One of the friendly village shop-keepers. She is also a high-school student.

Some of the village boys were taking this turtle to the Catholic Church in town. One of the priests pays for turtles in order to use them for medicine, they told me...PLEASE don't make the grave mistake of equating Christianity with the Catholic Church!!!

Kibrom, my friend and Christian brother, helped me out as translator when visiting the village. It was very good of him to take time off to spend a few days there with me.

Some of the village boys!

The Village That Broke My Heart

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This young girl was selling fruit in a basket. Kibrom and I bought some and then some boys came near so we bought them some as well...then more people came and we gave them some fruit as well. Before we knew it, we had what seemed like the whole town gathered together! The people were so curious about the white visitor as this is so far off the beaten path that foreigners are not a common sight here. The people seemed so much friendlier than the common person from a big city like Mekele or the capital of Addis Ababa. Not only were they willing, but they were oftentimes excited about getting their photo taken.

Many of the clothes that you see on the poorest people across Ethiopia have been donated by different Christian charities from around the world. It's amazing to see such an assortment of worn-out t-shirts with all kinds of languages: English, French, German, Italian... any language. You name it and it's probably on a t-shirt somewhere in Ethiopia!

The people in this town were so sweet that it really did break my heart. I really wish I could have done more for them. If it is God's will, I really hope to come back and do something here.

There is a real look of pride in this young man's eyes. I asked him to smile but he said, "No. You take picture." Gladly!

What a sweetie!

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Another family which Fikere and his orphanage help out.

One of the workers from Brother Fikere's orphanage and a boy that they are financially supporting. With their help, he is now being educated rather than living on the street.

This was such a joyful woman. She was so grateful that we were giving out free food and kept smiling and smiling. There is something unusual about the poorest of the poor in Ethiopia. Why is it that some of the people with the least things on earth seem more content than those of us blessed with everything and more than the heart could ask for with our i-pods, tvs, playstations, CDs, DVDs, imported foods and such?! Why do many poor lost people seem to display more "fruits of the spirit" than the prosperous people in many pews across the world?

A smile to warm the coldest of hearts! There was something so captivating about this boy. I don't know if it was his cap because it has the Ethiopian colors on it, his cute smile or the fact that he looked like a little-old-man. Many of the kids in the village are under-nourished and seem much older than they are.

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Brother Fikere's orphanage and youth center

This young man in the center was left alone when his parents died to AIDS but the lady on the left and her family act as his guardians through the financial support of Fikere's organization. It is reported that 17% of the population have AIDS but they believe that the number is much higher. Most HIV infected people do not report their condition because of the "stigma" of AIDS.

The girl on the left, Lemlem, is being supported by Fikere's charity and therefore she is able to go to school. She had dropped out of school and was working in a nearby brothel (because many truckers come through their village, prostitution is a lucrative business) to feed her family. Lemlem was only 13 when this picture was taken.

This girl was able to learn hairdressing skills and is now able to make her own money thanks to Fikere and company.

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These kids, most being AIDS orphans, long to learn English and make something of their lives. The only problem is that resources are limited. Please pray that more people will come to their aid and possibly volunteer to help out here.

The dire conditions of many children in this village broke my heart. The region of this village, I was told, is the same region hit back in the 80s when the "We are the World" benefit tried to help out with the drought at that time. Little has changed.

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An old friend of Gabe and Connie's who was visiting from N.Y.

I bumped into an old student from Axum while in Mekelle. The beautiful thing about going numerous times to a place on mission is meeting up with old friends and students from previous trips and being blessed a thousand times over!

Laura Lee's hair from the back. She had her hair done "Ethiopian style" just before a short trip back home. She was kind enough to drive us to a village a few of us were scheduled to visit in order to see the need there. It happened to be on her way to Addis Ababa!

Sister Worknesh!

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Worknesh always insists on a visit to her home for lunch and coffee when I'm in Mekele. We first met years ago when she was also a volunteer worker at the Mekele Youth Center. She decided to join one of my classes to learn English and she has become a good friend over the years.

May the Lord continue to bless Worknesh and her son. I trust and pray that God will continue to provide for her every need; both physical and spiritual.

One of Worknesh's friendly neighbors who helped with the coffee making. Coffee making is an integral part of Ethiopian's culture and hospitality.

Brother Kibrom!!

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Kibrom accepted the Lord shortly after a trip to his orphanage, Kalimino, just outside of Mekele. He has really come a long way and has been a true encouragement. He was SO proud (as was I!) to show me his temporary graduation diploma (until the official one arrived) as I was able (by God's grace) to support him during his studies.

Seeing someone like Kibrom's life being changed is well worth the thousands and thousands of dollars that have been spent in my 5 trips to Ethiopia. My treasure is not here on earth but my "investment" will be realized in the souls of others I hope to meet someday once again in the presence of our Lord in heaven!
Congratulations, once again, on your graduation, Kibrom and may you be a SHINING LIGHT as you enter the agricultural field in Tigrai!! May your work in experimental crops with the government feed and nourish the needy people of your land and may you continue to feed lost souls with God's truth! I love you, brother!

Sowing Forth God's Word To One Soul At A Time

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Even precious little Bethel worked hard at preparing Bible verses!

These 2 verses from John 3:16-17 may look the same at first glance but one is in Amharic (the official and most spoken language of Ethiopia) and the other side of the laminated cards is in Tigrinian (the language of Ethiopia's northern most province, Tigrai, of course).

Tigist helping out

John 14:6 in Tigrinian and Amharic!

Typing out the Bible verses into the computer-Ethiopia and friend

Changing Lives, One Child At A Time

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Gebre and Connie are one of the most selfless couples I've ever met. They gave up their comfortable lives in NewYork to come back to their native land of Tigrai province, northern Ethiopia. I am blessed everytime I meet with them and they are a GREAT encouragment to the brethren across the globe.

Cows 4 Kids

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Gebre and Connie Medhin worked in New York City for 20 years, then gave it all up to found an orphanage in their homeland of Ethiopia. Their organization is called Hope Community Services. A dormitory was built first, and now they are building a cafeteria. The goal is for the orphanage to become self-sufficient. They are planting crops, and need money to buy cows to provide milk and cheese for the kids. They have four adorable orphans so far.

God Appointed Work

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Gebre Medhin overlooking the land at the orphanage of which God has temporarily given him stewardship.

There was so much construction going on at the orphanage when I last visited in the summer of 2006.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

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Protestant churches are starting to spring up in the northern province of Tigrai in Ethiopia!! Most that I know about are in the provincial capital, Mekelle.

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Anyone hungry for some chicken?

One of my precious old students, Worknesh, who is working hard, alone, to provide for her family as a nurse. No trip to Mekelle would be complete without visiting her.

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Laura Lee is making many "ripples" in the north of Ethiopia!

Laura Lee and her Ethiopian family

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Thanks, Abadi!

Azeeb at her hair salon

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One of my favorite drinks in Ethiopia, blended mango and advocado!

Jesus IS respected in The Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The problem is that He is often given less respect than Mary and they have a set of man-made rules rather than following the Bible.

The Bible Society bookstore in Mekelle

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Immanuel with Mekelle "City Center" in the background

I was able to visit with several of my old students on this trip which was very nice.

An anjara (traditional Ethiopian bread) basket. (One translation of their Bible reads, "I am the anjara of life"!)

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Immanuel and friends at his shoe shining center

Hilikiros looks pretty hungry there! ha!ha!

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An Ethiopian Shepherd

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Seeing Jemaneh Off at the Bus Station

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Blessing Others-Our DUTY

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While we were at the bus station in Mekelle seeing Jemaneh off to Jimma, we heard a woman suddenly wailing in a very loud voice and she could not be comforted by those around her. We found out that she was a refugee from Eritrea and was heading to Addis Ababa (the capital of Ethiopia) and someone stole her luggage and all her money. I was so impressed to see how my Ethiopian family took care of her and brought her to their home to feed her and comfort her. While she waited for the next bus to Addis the next day, we were able to give her a Bible, share God's love with her and provide her with enough money to keep her on her feet till UN officials she was scheduled to meet could provide for her and her child. Praise God for His perfect timing that allowed us to be there at the moment this woman and her baby needed a little encouragment. How I pray that my Ethiopian family will continue to shine their light in the north of Ethiopia! "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17)

My Ethiopian Family!

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I love that hat on Ethiopia! Isn't that great that I was able to buy THAT hat in IRAN and then bring it to Ethiopia in Ethiopia! Wow!

Jemaneh and his lovely daughers, Tigest (far left) and Bethel!

What a beautiful group of souls!

This trip was especially sweet for me as I was able to spend time with Jemaneh, Tatek's father and Tsadkan's husband. On previous trips, he was always in another town (Jimma) whenever I visited in order to provide for his family.

Tatek does look a little Korean, doesn't he?! ha!ha!

Bethel - "The House of God"

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A protestant church in Mekelle, Tigrai Province, northern Ethiopia! God is doing GREAT things in Ethiopia!

Precious little Bethel. Nice name! Bethel means "house of God"!

The Bible Society of Ethiopia in Mekelle!

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It is so awesome that there is a Bible Society store in Mekelle now where people can easily get the Bible in the Tigrinian and Amharic languages!

Praise God the audio version of the New Testament is available in both Amharic and Tigrinian!!! Now let's pray that the complete Bible, including the Old Testament, will be available SOON!

Ethiopians at Work

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For about a penny, this boy lets people climb on his scale to see how much they weigh.

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Congratulations, Ethiopia!!!

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It was so great to learn that Ethiopia had graduated from college!

The first conversation I had with Ethiopia when I met her years ago in my class:
Me: "Hello. What's your name?"
Ethiopia: "Ethiopia"
Me: "I know you're from Ethiopia, but what's your NAME?"
Ethiopia: "No, that's my name: Ethiopia!"

Ethiopia at her first job at The Axum Hotel! This is an incredible blessing as years ago I had met with the manager of The Axum Hotel and tried to convince him to hire Ethiopia as a receptionist. I felt that she would make a good worker there. Well, years later, after graduating...where does she get her first job - at the Axum Hotel! :-)

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My friend, Miss Kim, who works at Incheon Airport, just before I left for Ethiopia. She has often helped me to bring greatly needed gifts, bibles and other materials to Ethiopia which were over the acceptable weight allowance for baggage. May the Lord bless her for her assistance!

My first meal in Mekelle on this trip was with Tatek, Mileta and Laura Lee at a popular local restaurant.

Ethiopian Mission Trip #4: Axum, Summer of 2004

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Here is our "team": Andy, Cameron, Wayonte and Jennifer. (This picture was taken with a timer-not bad!) Can't believe it has taken me TWO YEARS to get these pictures up!

Old students and new - Such Blessings in "return trips"

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Mulunesh and Fitsum - 2 of our prize students from our last trip to Axum!

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Wayonte-Loved by All!

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At the closing ceremony, the students showed great appreciation for our brother!
Wayonte shares his mutual love in a speech of Thanksgiving.
As we were ministering in Axum and our translator, Wayonte, is from Mekelle, there was concern about his "being accepted/getting close" to our students. That was NOT an issue as everyone became so interested in learning more about Wayonte and what would bring him to them to volunteer in improving their English and understanding of the Bible.

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Here Henok is with some of "the boys" hanging in out in my room after dinner listening to CCM music and asking/answering questions. Henok was one of our higher level English speaking students and he seemed to be quite impacted by the Bible lessons.

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My brother, Wayonte!!

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I love this shot of Wayonte. I have many memories of Wayonte and I sitting down over breakfast going over the Bible lesson for the day. Wayonte has studied Drama/Acting and he was our official Tigrinian translator (just for the Bible story of the day) for classes.

Men/Students of Axum

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Using the "traditional Ethiopian toothbrush". (Not joking!)

Let the Tour of Axum Begin!

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A king's burial tomb found just a few years ago under the main Stele site of Axum

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Ancient Ruins just outside of Axum

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"Cameron and Jennifer Phillips on Tour!"

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The top 2 pictures are of our local tour-guide and the supposed tomb of one of the 3 wise men (who Ethiopians claim 1 to be from Ethiopia through tradition...Funny, the Bible mentions "wise men (magi) from the EAST (Matthew 2:1), NOT "Wise men from the SOUTH-WEST"...) The bottom 2 photos are local kids who were curious about the foreigners and hopeful that we might give them candy or a pencil (which we did :-)).

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Debbie Reynolds!

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Debbie Reynolds is one of the most wonderful people that I have been blessed to work with. She had a powerful ministry among the deaf while in Axum (& Mekelle). Here she is with one of her good deaf friends who works at a woodwork shop on main street, Axum.

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Farewell/Thank you feast for the director of Sheba College & his family at the Remhai Hotel, Axum.

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The director of Sheba Business College (Axum Branch), Neguse, and his beautiful family.

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Ethiopian Mission Trip #3 - Axum, Jan-Feb of 2004

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Traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

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Food to live by...meat, bread, THE WORD OF GOD!

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Fun - in and out of the class

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