Fact: In Kenya it is estimated that a mere 8 in 100 people have access to the internet, and 21 in 100 have access to a personal phone.
How would such limited forms of instant communication change your daily life?
Source: UNICEF
When you were ten years old, what did you like to do? How did you spend your time? I recently talked to one ten year old named Mason Reaser. She told me she likes to draw, write stories and play piano. Mason is in fifth grade and enjoys school as well.
But what surprised me about Mason was the amazing thing she did at her school for the Merkato community in Ethiopia.
She told me the story. Her dad showed her a video about where her mom visited in Ethiopia on a recent trip with Life in Abundance. Mason learned about the conditions of life in Ethiopia and she wanted to help. Her student government group each month sponsors a charity (usually local) to raise money or supplies for that cause. Mason wrote a letter to her principal about Merkato. She had learned one of the struggles in Merkato is keeping things clean, especially children. Her request to raise money for soap for the children in Merkato was approved!
During one week in January, Mason went to all of the classes in her school of 350 students (Meadowlane Elementary School, kindergarten through 6th grade, in Olathe, Kansas). She told about the need in Merkato and encouraged her classmates to bring in money. Mason said it was challenging because some of the younger kids had never heard of Ethiopia. But by the end of the week, everyone was involved.
Mason was proud to raise $340 for soap to be purchased for the Merkato community in partnership with Life in Abundance. She is testimony to the fact that advocacy can start at any age! Thank you Mason!
To find out some ideas of what you can do to advocate for those living among the impoverished communities in northeast Africa take a look at our get involved page. To learn more about the conditions as well as the work of LIA in the Merkato community, purchase your very own copy of our first ever documentary “This Is My Home”.
What are some creative ideas YOU have to advocate for injustice and serve your brothers and sisters around the world? We would love to hear!
The relative peace experienced in Sudan these last few years has been precious. Healing and development, though still at its infancy, is of great encouragement to the people of Sudan, and especially South Sudan.
LIA ’s ministry in South Sudan has been very well received, surpassing our expectations. Doors have opened and the favor of God has enabled great strides within such a short time. We are very thankful to God.
That said, we have the soon coming elections in April. This is a great opportunity for the Sudanese people to choose political leaders and we invite you to pray with us.
Pray with us that this will be a time of peace.
Pray that the election process will be free and fair.
Pray that we will come to greater heights post the election time.
Stand with the churches in prayer, holding up the precious people of this nation and the great hope they have for a peaceful and developing nation, which they can proudly call home.
Thank you for partnering with us, that they may have Life in its abundance.
Dr. Florence Muindi
President, LIA International
**We invite you to share your prayers and questions in the comment field for this crucial time in history for the Sudanese people.
The last of our church transformation stories from Ethiopia comes from Kara Kore Presbyterian, another church that is meeting the needs of the Addis Ababa community.
Kara Kore Presbyterian Church
Community: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Having been a partner church with us since July 2006, Kara Kore Presbyterian has been able to reach their community using health education, access to organized saving and credit associations, and awareness teachings on micro finance, and sanitation.
Education:
The initial schooling provided through the church began in 2000 as an informal school seeking to teach the English and Amharic alphabets to more than 30 children. This school has since evolved to provide formal education to over 338 vulnerable children coming from families experiencing extreme poverty. This system allows children to receive an education while protecting them from having to look for low level work which could lead to exploitation because of their age and situation.
Social Services:
The church has also been able to provide for those that have been ostracized by their community due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Through the church many have been able to receive supplementary food, house rent coverage, and medication.
Micro-Enterprise:
Consistent with other churches, a volunteer with experience in entrepreneurship offers training sessions to prepare beneficiaries for effective loan usage and management. Businesses that have been generated through these loans include: injera making, poultry selling, and sewing.
As we conclude our series regarding the transformation taking place through the work of some of our partnered churches in Ethiopia, it is our hope that the stories have been both encouraging and inspiring offering a glimpse into the work you have helped empower.
Fact: It is estimated that the percentage of arable land in Somalia is a mere 2.2%.
The lack of a strong central government has fed into the continuous civil conflict plaguing the Somalian people, in many cases causing this small percentage of usable land for food growth to be destroyed.
Fact found from ruralpovertyportal.org.
Nazareth Emmanuel United Church
Community: Nazareth, Ethiopia
This church has been encouragingly aggressive in implementing wholistic ministry activities. In combination with the initiatives in micro-enterprise, house renovations and construction, the church remains connected with the community by way of home visits, supplementary feeding and other tasks for addressing community needs.
The church works in harmony with the local government bodies to establish a strong reputation and gain an advantage that will better allow it to address the felt needs of the very disadvantaged groups of the community. The church is also successful in not only disseminating the message of the gospel but also planting churches in its intervention areas.
Micro-Enterprise:
Selected beneficiaries were taught about adaptive mushroom production as a means to combat the threats of famine that often plagues the community. The training taught the community about the development of a stable food source, specifically mushrooms which offer nutritional value. Other forms of entrepreneurial empowerment include gravel sales and distribution, sheep and calf fattening, and various other petty trading businesses.
Social Services:
Like many of the other churches described, Nazareth Emmanuel United Church has constructed programs that work to renovate both community houses and facilities for the members of the community. This aides in sanitation and overall safety. Medical services have also been put in place to offer free assistance to those that cannot afford such care.
This community has experienced undeniable growth and the early stages of transformation by way of this church!
Fact: Djibouti has an estimated 59% unemployment rate and ranks the 7th highest out of all countries.
The United States ranks at 107th, with a rate of 7.2%
Global unemployment information found here.
Continuing our series regarding some of the highlights from the community work in Ethiopia we find Akaki Kalehiywot Church also in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Community: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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This church has been executing various activities including the provision of education, health and other social services. |
| For some of the most needy members of the community the church has been able to offer rented houses for the families enabling the children to live close enough to attend school.. |
| Structured in a similar fashion to Antioch Faith Baptist Church, many families are able to send their children to receive education either for free or a reduced price. School materials and uniforms are also covered under this support. |
 Akaki Kalehiywot Church offers a broad range of informational meetings addressing societal problems such as HIV/AIDS, environmental sanitation, and income generating activities. Through these meetings the church is able to raise awareness and create steps towards correcting these problems. |
| We would love for you to check back tomorrow as we highlight Nazareth Emmanuel United Church, a church that has been aggressively using and implementing the wholistic ministry strategy. |
The growth of LIA in 2009 has allowed for amazing transformation and community development to take place through our partner churches. We hope you will enjoy our blog series this week in which we will feature four of our partner churches throughout Ethiopia. We will highlight stories from three churches in Addis Ababa and one from Nazareth. Please leave comments if you have visited these churches first hand!
Antioch Faith Baptist Church
Community: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Overview:
Located in the busy urban setting of Addis Ababa, this church has been undertaking different activities including the provision of health, environmental, women’s and child’s rights education during community meetings, as well as other social services like early childhood education, micro-enterprise training and loan servicing. All of this has been enacted while also establishing and providing sustainable public health facilities for the needy members of the targeted community.
Education:
Antioch Faith Baptist Church has a kindergarten in its compound which provides free educational services to selected families that cannot afford to pay, as well as a reduced rate for those that are living on a limited income. The tuition fees, school supplies and uniforms are also provided for the 34 students in attendance. Children from many impoverished families are able to receive an education that would be unattainable without the work of the church.
Micro-Enterprise:
The church offers training sessions to selected beneficiaries regarding entrepreneurship and business management practices, enabling trainees to be self-reliant and avoid dependency. Selected beneficiaries are also able to identify the income generating activities which they could utilize to generate their own income. Businesses that have been supported through the church include: injera making, petty trade and small shops.
Construction:
Antioch Church has also been working to construct bath/showing rooms as well as toilets for public usage. Charging a minimal fee, the church is able to support the upkeep of the facilities as well as plan for future construction. The facilities aid the community through sanitation and hygiene management as a measure to protect against diseases and infection.
These community initiatives are implemented in a way that establishes a sustainable system of support to the church as well as the beneficiaries.
Tomorrow we will be highlighting the work of Akaki Kalehiywot Church also located in Addis Ababa. Check back with us to read more about the community transformation work through these local churches.
Fact: Engaged in a civil war lasting for over 17 years, Sudan is home to 5-6 million internally displaced persons.
Fact found from The World Factbook.
