Mission Training Internationl

The whole family is in Palmer Lake Colorado, near Colorado Springs for a three week training preparing us for the emotional, spiritual, cultural and familial aspects of living overseas. There are 20 countries and 16 sending agencies represented here. We have met some amazing people. The children have their own program and as I write are on a fieldtrip to the Garden of the Gods (rock formations, not pagan indoctrination). The were not told where they were going in order to help them deal with the unexpected.

The weather here is amazing, sunny and hot, then thunderstorms, wind, sun and lightning...

reminds me of Ethiopia. (Above, catching lightning in the lens!)

The majestic promise of God.

Juliette and Timmy have adapted well,

love going to their classes, playing games, sewing, making smores.

In a lesson about expectations, Tim plays the role of Mr. Feelings. The other students are holding giant rubberbands, which they were
occasionally instructed to let "twang" or snap on Mr. Feelings.

Commissioned to Go!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Commissioned 1: to furnish with a commission: as a: to confer a formal commission on b: to appoint or assign to a task or function

On May 15th, the day after we returned home from Ethiopia, Tim and I were formally commissioned as missionaries to Ethiopia at the Free Methodist Conference of Southern California's Annual Conference. This commissioning service was presided over by Bishop Matt Thomas, Dr. Art Brown (Executive Director of Free Methodist World Missions) and Conference Superintendent Steven Fitch. Pastors and laypersons from all over the Southern California conference were there to pray and bless us as we prepare to go. All I can say is...it was really cool. I loved speaking the words that so many missionaries have spoken, and have such incredible men of God speak such beautiful words over us. To top if off our pastor (Gary) came up laid hands on us (which has so many layers of sentiment) along with Guillermo Flores and Denny Wayman.

Dr Art Brown reading the charge.

With Bishop Thomas, Steve Fitch and Dr. Brown

Prayer and the laying on of hands.

Afterward we had a moment to share our experience and God's vision for Ethiopia!

Tim speaks as Bishop Thomas looks on.

Congratulations to all of the candidates who were officially ordained at the conference. It was humbling to see the fruit of all your work and be witness to the conferring of authority upon you to be ministers of the Gospel.

Back in Addis

Okay, so I will have to post the hippos chase photos later. After visiting Eden, checking out the city of Awassa, and taking a luxurious lake cruise, we returned to Addis Ababa to spend a few relaxing days in the city. We looked at a place in Addis to live (too big), and visited Bambi's and Friendly's, both pretty decent grocery stores. It was great to just chill in one place for a couple of days before heading home. While in Addis, we also visited the ICCM sponsored study center for AIDS affected children which has a preschool program as well as a lunch/tutoring program for elementary aged kids.

Feeling at home and acting goofy!
Kaldi's Coffee is Ethiopia's answer to Starbucks. Here you can get the usual...in addition to milkshakes, ice cream, and humburgers. (not a typo)

Down to the logo and green aprons...the similarities are striking

(no High Speed WI FI, however).

One of the challenges in Ethiopia, children working when they should be learning.

Children begging, when they should be sleeping.

The view from the hotel in Addis...This was a nice neighborhood, government offical homes...embassies, etc.

The bookstore across the way from the hotel. Indian owned, this store had many text and reference books, and if you are a good customer, you can take coffee or tea.

The traffic of Bole Road.

Why would people take a picture of a huge chunk of Grana Padano cheese...or a Coke Light or Coffee Mate? Because they offer the familiarity of home and because we are just goofy like that!

FM Emmanuel Light and Life church in Addis Ababa.

Subject to flooding.

The soundbooth inside the church, for bad sound guys, who need to be locked up. (Not good sound guys, like the ones at Lamb's). Oh and chair cusions , too.

Tim with Getu and Pastor Megbib.
Starting to say our good-byes for now. This is Tsega; she is the bookeeper/accountant for the Ethiopia FM Churches and also helps with Childcare.

With Lois Meredith. Lois has faithfully served as a missionary for 39 years and continues on (even though she is 'retired') volunteering in Ethiopia with ICCM.
Timmy says "good-bye" for now to Hibret.

The joys and sorrows of a long flight home. It was bittersweet and we look forward to our return in a little over 75 days or so. Thank you for taking this blog journey through Ethiopia with us. Until we return, we will keep you posted of our travel and packing plans in the interim!

On Lake Awassa, Hippo Adventure Part 1

While all of the pictures of the hippos (chasing us) are on the digital camcorder (just another learning curve for me), I wanted to at least post some photos of our beautiful boat trip on lake Awassa to go and SEE the hippos! Out boat was made out of matchsticks for lack of a better word. Don't be deceived by the life preservers either, they had no air in them. But hey...at least the boat had a really reliable motor. I mean it!

Doing the "reverse Titanic move" was a must do for the kids (and some of the grown ups, too!)
Carrie Adams

Getu

Juliette and her Papa.

My ridiculously good looking hubby and I, oh and the Rasta boat driver.
The boy knows how to work a camera, comes by it naturally.

Doesn't he look like an ad for L.L. Bean?

Just one Lake Awassa sunset, can't wait to see more!
The whole crew ( except for Getu....he was taking the picture!)

The day was a great and fun (and sort of scary) memory for all! Even those who have lived in Ethiopia their whole lives. Coming soon, hippos in action!

Eden Reforestation Projects: Udo Escarpment and Gallo Argessa Nursery

Eden Reforestation Projects recreates healthy forest systems that restore hope, alleviate suffering, empower people, and build local economies in impoverished communities. The Trier Family had the opportunity to visit the Udo Escarpment and the Gallo Argessa nursery near Awassa, Ethiopia. Here we witnessed first hand, the devastation that deforestation/erosion brings, the reforestation that this project promises, and the restoration that Eden brings to the land, individuals and communities!This is the deep erosion that takes place when it rains heavily and there are no

trees or plants to hold the top soil in place. In the foreground the hope of new trees on the Udo Escarpment,

and behind the obvious need to PLANT more trees.

In broad daylight, we saw this hyena runing through the Eden trees...everything lives where trees live. One must assume that if there are hyena's ...there is prey. This is a community that lies just below the planting area, an example of a community that has been restored physically and spiritually, through Eden Reforestation Projects. On top of the Udo Escarpment with Dawit and Tesfaye, leaders with ERP. Always looking for that Christmas Card photo....but this isn't it!
Tesfaye walks Juliette down the tricky slope. Tesfaye has daughters of his own,

and it showed. He is a very sweet and gentle man!

At the nursery in Gallo Argessa we stood among 1 million tree seedings...I counted!And more wildlife...Timmy thought it was a bald eagle, but my really smart friend and ornithologist, Adele, told me it is an African Fish Eagle.

Looking forward to hearing its call when we go back!

Dawit and Tesfaye.

This was the crowd of kids that gathered just outside the nursery.

Precious and beautiful in His sightThis little guy actually climbed throught the fence and very carefully made his way over to us. But he was still very shy and cautious.

For more information on Eden Projects Reforestation visit:

http://www.edenprojects.org/

Arbegona: The Falls, Millenium Park, Upper Elementary

Because Ethiopia still follows its own ancient calendar, it started the new millennium on September 11, 2007. As such, many cities in Ethiopia have what they call a "Millenium Park" commemorating this date. We visited one of these parks in the Southern Highlands of Arbegona.
From the park there is a beautiful view of these falls. I do not know the name of them, but next time we are there we will surely try to hike much closer. They were stunning even from a distance. This is Linda Adams (ICCM Director) standing near one of the (Sidamic?) huts that was built as a historic monument for this park.

The inside of these huts is surprisingly large. Divided into three separate rooms, two for sleeping and one for hangin' out. This is the bed platform...I don't think a Sleepnumber goes on top of that! Jervaun and the kids in front of the hut. You can see how big it is. This hut was specifically designed as a meeting hut. It had a built up bench that encircled the entire ut and the center was for fire!

This is the Upper Elementary campus of Arbegona's School. They have a full size soccer field, a small computer lab, a library and even a rudimentary science lab. The teachers and students alike are very proud of their school and were so eager to show us the entire campus.

The students line up for the flag raising ceremony and "program" where the students sang for us and we spoke briefly to them.

Then we had a short time of prayer, both for our journey and for their school!

Patiently waiting to raise the flag...

One of the highlights of our trip was getting to meet and present a care package to a child that my dear friends, the Jackson family, are sponsoring. Kaleb was so sweet and handsome. It was so fun to give him a hug on my friends' behalf. Kaleb is in sixth grade and the Jackson's have been sponsoring him since he started school in Arbegona. I look forward to attending his graduation, God willing, in the near future!