Back to "School"!

When you last heard from me, I was lamenting the postponement of our planned training in Haiti.  Three months later, I'm thrilled to announce that I am finally headed out on my next Lifewater adventure!  Slight change of venue, however - I'm headed back to my second homeland, Ethiopia.

On June 12, I will fly to Addis Ababa where I will meet up with my teammates - Christine, Lifewater's Engagement Manager (don't you just love her new title?); Zerihun, Lifewater's East Africa Director and recent visitor to our new home in Charlotte; and Judy, lead trainer extraordinaire and dear friend who has appeared in these posts very frequently.  I will serve as team leader, which will primarily consist of staying out of the way of this gifted and energetic team.  The training will take place in Hosanna, the site of my first Lifewater field training in 2008.  We will stay and work in the Mekane Yesus Church synod compound.  No, this church is NOT of typical Ethiopian architecture!  It was likely designed by Scandinavian missionaries who lived in this compound for many years.  It will be great to return there and to work with Amanuel, one of my true heroes.

The topic of the training will be WASH in Schools, which is probably our most challenging but definitely most FUN curriculum!  We will be training teachers with a series of basic lessons that they, in turn, will use to teach children in their schools about clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.  The goal is to empower these kids to be "Changemakers" in their schools, homes, and communities.  You may recognize the photo on the left from 2011 in Awassa.  David is leading our young "fourth graders"  in the lesson "Clean Hands, Clean Heart", which combines the practical instruction on washing hands with the Spiritual need for a washing of the heart with the blood of Jesus.

As the trip draws nearer, I will provide more details and specific prayer requests.  For now, please be praying for our team, our participants, and especially the children and the communities who will be blessed by the work that God does through us and our partners.  Thanks as always!

Tesfalem