Celebrate with us!

It is with great excitement we announce that after completing our annual financial audit and compiling data, editing, designing, and mailing, we can present LIA’s 2009 Annual Report with joy!

We’ve called this annual report: Empowering Change and the entire piece showcases the ministry that God allowed us to participate with during 2009. To him be the glory!

We have mailed out a copy of the report to partners  who generously donated to LIA in the past two years, or to those that have served on a short-term team with us in Africa.  If you don’t fall within one of these criteria, or simply want to ensure that we’ve mailed you a copy of the annual report, please send us an email and we’ll get back to you.

As our committed prayer partner we ask that you join us this morning as we take time to thank the Lord for the work that has been accomplished throughout 2009.  Below you will find a highlight from each of the countries as they are found in the report.  Thank you for taking time to praise the Lord with us, both for the guiding hand of the ministry and the impact that has been seen in the communities where we serve.

Ethiopia:
-    We commenced a community based water supply, sanitation and hygiene initiative in Addis Ababa with the aim of reducing communicable disease prevalence and improving quality of life for 4,700 household in the slum areas.

-    Please Pray that this initiative will continue to grow and that more families will see improved water and sanitation in their communities.

Horn of Africa:
-    As we established our International Headquarters in Nairobi and brought our Senior management team under one roof, LIA was able to implement more programs in the Horn and facilitate and sustain them more effectively.

-   Please pray for the underground churches in this area.  That they would be protected from any persecution and would be met with receptive hearts from those within the community.

Kenya:
-    We formalized key relationships bringing our church partnerships to a total of 30 and are nurturing even greater community engagement.

-    Please continue to pray for strengthened relationships with the churches and their leaders. Pray that the training will continue and more families will be impacted by the diligent work of the local churches.

Sudan:
-    In Rumbek, South Sudan, LIA helped establish a school, children’s ministry, theological training program and medical clinic for the benefit of more than 1,200 community members.  This clinic more recently has seen great success and is well accepted and utilized by the community.

- Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless this clinic and those that dedicated their time to serve the community in this transformative way.

It is seemingly beautiful when communities collide. When people are connected from various parts of the world to learn, encourage and inspire one another.

Below is a post from Sarah Ulrich a former member of the Cedar Ridge Christian Church youth group.  Sarah and six other students traveled to Nazaret, Ethiopia in the summer of 2009, yet their passion to serve and stay connected to this community and the people they met has only grown with time. Read below to see an inspirational group of youth banding together to serve the world around them in unique ways.

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“Our youth group at Cedar Ridge Christian Church (CRRC) in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma has been supporting a church in Nazaret, Ethiopia through Life In Abundance International (www.liaint.org). We have come up with many ways to partner and advocate for what God is doing there.  One of our most beneficial events that happened recently was our “Impact Africa Luncheon”. There was much hard work that went into organizing this event, but the teamwork and passion behind the cause made it an absolute success. The students of our youth group each had  different tasks for the luncheon; some serving food, some selling t-shirts and even some playing music. Not only was this a great fundraiser but we all had a blast working together and making every situation a fun one.

It would be one thing to say that we just raised money for a church in one community in Ethiopia, but it’s definitely another thing when I say we have incredible students in our youth group who are passionate about helping people half way across the world. When talking with a few members of our youth group, I could see this passion through every word spoken.

“I just feel so joyful and happy when I hear Kyle (our youth minister) say how much money we’ve raised and where it’s going to,” said one of the students that attends the CRCC youth group.

“I’m so eager to get out there and make a difference in another country.” Another student said, “I put so much energy into it because I love that feeling when you know you’re helping someone out. It really puts things into perspective.”

Over the past couple of years, our youth group has raised $37,000 for our church partner in Ethiopia through several different fundraisers. This money has been used to glorify God through LIA. God has given us our money and talents and I speak for the whole youth group when I say we wouldn’t want to spend them on anything other than what we’re doing in Ethiopia.”

Check out our get involved page or email us at info@liaint.org to hear about ways you and your local community can get involved with our ministry!

For those who have traveled through or spent anytime in Nairobi, Kenya, you likely walked alongside someone who lives in this vast slum community. Furthermore, if you have actually spent time with people where they live, work, and play in Kibera, the experience will not quickly fade. For many years now, LIA-Kenya has been serving to empower local church pastors in this community.

Today, we invite you to join the LIA family in praying for an important ongoing initiative in Kibera, called ‘health for income’. We believe that God is going to do a mighty work in Kibera and trust that this program is the beginning of transforming the community for His glory.

Please pray for the specific items identified below:

•    That the churches in the Kibera community will recruit more qualified CHE’s   (community health evangelists/educators) to promote the health initiatives from their church community.

•    That the CHE’s would be excited and motivated for the work and would be greeted with receptive hearts from those within the community.

•    That we would have the right tools and resources to successfully execute this initiative.

•    That we would remain focused on the plans the Lord has set regarding this program and this His vision and direction would be followed to the fullest.

•    That the CHE’s would be able to provide a needed service and find dignity as a result of their hard work.

Lastly please pray for protection, wisdom and strength for the LIA staff involved with this program on a daily basis - George, Daniel and Robert.

We thank God for this wonderful opportunity to advance the kingdom in practical ways, and treasure this opportunity to serve alongside you.

For those that have traveled and served alongside the LIA family in Kenya, it is with both joy and sadness that we share this update.
For nearly six years, Augustine “Gus” Muema has been an integral part of our ministry team in Kenya. He has served in any and all capacities, most recently as our Partnerships and Resources Manager for the Kenya office.

Following the completion of his Master’s Degree last year which focused on Water initiatives for Arid and Semi Arid areas, Gus has longed for an opportunity to directly apply that by serving his Kamba people with water initiatives. A sudden opportunity came up for Gus to do this in a way that was beyond our existing water and food security ministry in Makueni, Kenya. Subsequently, Gus has decided to accept this new position and will no longer be employed with LIA.

To wish Gus well, and thank him for his committed support to the ministry of LIA for the last 6 years, please go ahead and comment below, as we will be sure to have Gus respond as he is able.

We treasure the time we had with Gus as a member of our family and look forward to the opportunities before him and LIA in Kenya. He will make this transition in about one month.

Absolutely beautiful.

A phrase I continually remarked while traveling through the rural parts of Kenya.  It was the contrast of such rich and vibrant colors that stuck with me on our way out to Makueni, Kenya.

The deep blue sky serving as a back drop for the fullest and fluffiest white clouds proved to be almost breath-taking.  It was the rich reddish-orange clay that lined the dirt walls, set beneath green grass and bare trees that will paint this landscape in my mind for years to come.

The thing about this lush and green landscape that was before us however, was the reality that such lushness is not the norm.  And as we drove further out into the sticks we watched the greens turned to browns and our surroundings started to resemble more of a desert than rolling lush hills.

See, I was visiting at the tail end of the “rainy season”.  This short period of time during the year, lasting about two months, in which the community will see the extent of its water for the year.  If I was to return merely three months later my surroundings and perception of this community, I was told, would be very different.  I would see only shades of browns and the bright orange clay would no longer be masked by the plants on top.  Outside of the aesthetics however, I would see a community facing some very serious issues such as poor crops and failing businesses, lack of water and lack of food.

A community which actually experiences the instances of drought and understands famine to be something I may never truly know.  As we sat with various families on home visits during our time in the community, and they described what the coming months would hold, it was difficult to grasp.  Some people, like a young man by the name of Sammy, took us on a tour of their land, guiding us through the crops they were currently managing, while explaining how they were fearful of the dry period, and how it would effect the communities day to day activities, how they would cultivate food, and retrieve water.

Sammy walked us through some growing stalks of corn and led us to his prized developing pumpkin patch, which at the time had about five decent sized pumpkins.  With the utmost joy he ran over to the patch and grabbed a rather large pumpkin to show off.  As we were about to leave Sammy insisted we take this pumpkin with us as a gift, as we were his guests and he would be honored if we obliged.

It was a truly humbling moment. Sammy had just explained that the chance of having minimal crops to grow, sell and eat in the coming months is a real fear; yet he openly and gladly gave this token with no hesitation.  It was truly a gift of sacrifice, not out of excess.

This point was further reiterated the following day as we sat in a community church meeting in which seven local pastors joined together under one roof, bringing with them some of their congregation.  The pastors were delivering a message that framed this concept of caring for one another as a community.

They addressed the members by saying that though you may not have much, if you have more than your neighbor, if your neighbor in essence has nothing, then you must rise to the occasion to help another out.  The pastors appealed to the congregation by saying that they must trust in the Lord’s provision, and it is in that trust we can share our resources, despite the sacrifice it may demand.  Yet again it was this idea of sharing and giving not because it is easy or convenient or even all that feasible, but because it is a sacrifice they should be willing to make for one another.

It is a strange concept to think about it our own lives, in my own life.  It was a time of self reflection understanding this contrast of excess and sacrifice in light of  giving time, energy, money.  Is giving stemming from a place of comfort and out of my excess or am I truly making a sacrifice in these efforts.  It took visiting an impoverished community in the rural part of Kenya to really see what giving and sharing in light of a true sacrifice really means.

Continually, on our home visits, we were asked to pray for the families.  Pray for the Lord’s provision in the form of food and water. Pray that these necessities of life would be present and that no would suffer in these times of drought.  Walking away from the community, I felt as though that was a small request for all that they had given me.  I felt that if everyone could have that sort of faith and commitment to our neighbors, how better off everyone would in turn become.

I ask that you join me in praying for those in Makueni.  Pray that their communal efforts, wise words and practices are maintained.  Pray that the Lord would provide for and bless this community, and that their image of sacrificing for one another would be both encouraging and challenging to people around the world.

This morning we ask that you would join us, praising the Lord for his strong presence and mighty hand in the Rumbek community in Sudan.

We are beyond thankful and excited for the more recent developments in this great community, as God has remained faithful and has truly answered prayers.

We ask that you would take some time to truly think over and pray over the highlights of the community listed below, recognizing that these statements are a representation of transformation and empowerment for the beautiful people of this area.

-The Rumbek Medical Clinic is seeing 50+ patients a day on average.

-We were able to charter a plane to transport medicines and other supplies for the clinic.

-We have recently entered two partnerships that will funding of the school initiatives and nutrition  in the community, impacting upwards of 110 children.

-The Rumbek community has seen much rain lately allowing for crops and agriculture to flourish.

We thank God for the great favor shown to all the activities from here – the school, pastors training, clinic, farming and community work providing seeds and tools. We are so grateful for the work and are praying for continued growth in the community.

FACT: It is estimated that over 150,000 children live on the streets in Ethiopia.

It can be a humbling moment when realities clash.  When you realize that how you have come to understand the world around you may be very different than others.  When you see elements of, and comforts in your daily life that are taken for granted, until you realize your projected “norms” are far from even conceptualizing for others.

This is what struck me most while driving through the streets of Nazaret, Ethiopia at dusk.

In this peri-urban community, the prevalence of street children is more than apparent.  Pitched tents serving as makeshift dwellings lined the walls of buildings.  Clusters of youthful people claiming various areas of the ground as theirs for the evening.  As the sun was rapidly setting, the neighborhood was quickly being constructed, growing in numbers, and taking on a different make up than that of the night before.  There were some people that seemed to have been embedded in this street community for awhile, greeting those as they walked by, whereas others, after claiming their spot, shut off from the world in their tattered shelter.

It is estimated that there are about 6,000 children that make up this sub-culture, street life community in Nazaret.  We have said it, and I had heard it before, the draw to the city is the believed booming job market and the opportunity to make a better life for them or the family they have left in the rural countryside.  However, upon entering the city many find that their glorified image of urban life holds a grim reality.  In order to survive, many children join with others who have experienced the same crushed dreams and are thrown into a daily cycle of physical and sexual harassment, exploitation, drugs, and feelings of hopelessness.

Having an opportunity to meet with three local government officials that have dedicated their time to understand and combat the prevalence of children ending up on the streets in Nazaret, it was the complexity of this situation that served as the most heart wrenching element.

No two child’s story is exactly the same, though the factors that lead these children to street life may be similar.  Like stated before, some children have come to find work, others however have lost both their parents and are forced to now provide for themselves, some have left abusive households and some have just been tempted by the presumed opportunity that awaits the city life. Regardless, as they watch their dreams crumble the vicious cycle begins.  Though it is a physical poverty, the emotional and mental poverty and feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, explained the officials, serves as a harder element to combat.

Rejected by their family, by society, they are the outcasts that band together, never realizing their full potential and worth. They are children whose reality is that of day to day survival, bouncing around from one odd job to the next, never giving them a chance or a reason to establish dreams or aspirations for the future.  It is not just a physical empowerment that needs to take place in the form of a consistent job or income, it is a shift in their view of reality.  It is much more about affirming their worth; worthy to be accepted, loved, and invested in.

The government officials, deemed experts in this field of research, have begun working with a local LIA partner church in Nazaret, to commence a street children rehabilitation program in the coming months.  65 children will be selected from the streets of Nazaret to participate in a three-year rehabilitation program.  This program will seek to wholistically encourage and provide for the children in a way that instills a sustainable future after their participation.  The children will be provided with basic needs such food, clothes, peer housing and will also have the opportunity to receive an education.  Mentoring and counseling will also be provided offering psychological and spiritual guidance.

As the government officials concluded their presentation to us on that day, they left us with a challenge.  They exposed us to a reality, a grim one at that, not something any of us have experienced firsthand. They encouraged us to use our voice, raise awareness and support those living on the streets not just in Nazaret but even in our own local communities.  They challenged us to consider the complexity of anothers situation .  Understanding the elements that hinder change, and reminded us to support one another in a way that is wholistic and integrated, demanding  justice and stemming from a place of love and grace.

“Somalia has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.  Years of fighting between rival warlords and an inability to deal with famine and disease have led to the deaths of up to one million people.” (Fact from BBC.com)

We often hear about Somalia in light of the pirate activity, as a warring nation, and as one of Africa’s worst humanitarian crisis, with over one third of the people depending on food aid. It is very seldom however, that we hear God is alive and moving through the underground churches, spreading the Gospel despite the very serious risks.

We ask that you join us this morning as we take time to pray a blessing of strength and protection for the churches and the people sharing the word of God to their community, despite the threat of persecution.

The end of July marked the graduation of our Trainer of Trainers (TOT) that will soon begin implementing the wholistic model with various churches throughout Somalia.  It is with great joy we praise the Lord for the TOT’s dedication and ask that He will protect the work and the plans He has for these committed and steadfast servants of Christ.

FACT:  Ethiopia has the largest population of orphans in the world: 13% of children throughout the country are missing one or both parents. This represents an estimated 4.6 million children (UNICEF)

It was as if he appeared out of nowhere.

On this particular day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia we were visiting Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, checking out their school stationed on the grounds with grades ranging from 1st-7th.  After spending some time in each of the classrooms, we started our way back to our van to continue on our journey, proceeding to check out the other initiatives of the local church.

With 344 screaming children, frantically and joyously yelling and waving goodbye, I almost didn’t see little Beto and his brother that were walking beside us.

Timid in nature, Beto was a third grader at the school.  Dressed in that bright yellow jacket, his initial acknowledgment to us all was only the sly smirk that would emerge whenever you sought to ask him a question.

Beto quietly informed us that we were actually on our way to visit his house, the details and reasoning behind our venture however remained a mystery.

Reaching our assumed destination, we unloaded the van and followed Beto’s lead as he guided us down the dirt paved alley.  As we approached the dwelling, it was obvious Beto and his brother’s excitement was beginning to rise, being that he was taking his new found friends on a tour of that which he called home.  Uncertainty filled the air as we walked some steps behind the boys, who were now skipping along the rocky path.

We had arrived. Entering into a small gated compound, we looked up to find a quaint and simple house standing directly in front of us, with overgrown weeds to our right and an attention hungry goat to our left.  We immediately greeted those standing on the lot, unsure of their relationship to our little hosts, but with nonetheless excitement.

As we waited to enter the house, figuring this was what we had came to see, a middle age woman dressed in a long green shirt emerged from the crowd.  With a brief introduction she led us off to the left, passed the noisy goat, to a small side room.  This room, complete with one bed and one shelving unit, was in fact our final destination; this was Beto and his brother’s home.  And this woman, quiet yet resonating a great presence of strength was not their mother, but instead the guardian to the boys. It was then she began softly to give the context to the situation which we so curiously craved.

Many years ago, she was the neighbor to these boys and their parents. Though sharing not much more than proximity at the time, she explained how she grew to know the boys.  After their father’s passing from a sickness, the mother packed up their belongings and traveled with the children out to the rural countryside to be closer to her family. It wasn’t long after she too became ill and passed away.

Orphaned at such a young age, and with the extended family unable to provide for them, they were reunited with their neighbor through the church.  For her it was more important to keep the boys together, after all they had been through, and she recognized that her care was the only option.  She has now taken them under her wing, providing shelter, food, and the opportunity to attend school, taking care of them now as if they were her own.

Suddenly the perception of the situation shifted. Beto and his brothers were orphans whose life could have taken a very different turn had this woman not seen the value in actively and tangibly loving her neighbors.  Awe struck we sat, unable to formulate a response, as our understanding and emotions toward the boys had changed.  The question was then posed as to why she has taken on this guardian role with three children of her own.

With tears in her eyes, she replied that as a Christian this is a small expectation and a natural decision.  She reminded us that we, Christians, are called to love our neighbors and can’t leave it up to the institutions and the government systems to provide for those in need as God would expect; stemming from a place of love, not obligation.

She is caring for the orphans of the world. She is caring for Beto and his brother the best way she knows how, and with the utmost trust that this is what God has intended for humanity and community.

August 7th marked the 10th year anniversary of LIA-Ethiopia!

It is with great joy that we are able to announce this milestone regarding the work in Ethiopia. We are especially grateful for Dr. Yared Mekonnen, LIA-Ethiopia Country Director, and the entire Ethiopia team as they have faithfully served and sacrificed to ensure the success of the ministry in this country.  They have remained steadfast in the direction of the Lord and have allowed God to work through the ministry, impacting the “least of these” in the communities throughout Ethiopia over the years.

We ask that you would join us in a prayer of thanksgiving for the growth of LIA-Ethiopia over these last 10 years.

For we have seen economic empowerment in low to no income families.

We have seen street children rise up against the odds creating a sustainable life for themselves off of the streets.

We have seen water and sanitation initiatives improve the quality of life for many households.

We have seen the orphans and widows within the community cared for and loved.

We have seen the church rise up and refuse to stand for the injustices of poverty that plague Ethiopia.

Through God’s mighty direction, we are praying for continued growth and development in the churches and communities we serve in Ethiopia. We ask that you would join us as we continue to pray for the LIA staff, church partners, volunteers, and the people in the communities in Jimma, Addis Ababa, Merkato, Nazaret, and Debre Birhan Ethiopia.

God is moving in Ethiopia and we are so grateful to share just a glimpse of His work with you!