Last night I spent some time researching some different things about Ethiopia such as the language, culture, and church history. I've determined that this is something that I need to do a whole lot more of before I leave. I would like to get a head start on learning the language, if only to know the common greetings and questions. This seems as though it's going to be a lot harder that I had originally though... but doable. 

As far as the culture and church history goes, there is a lot I have to learn. I knew that the country of Ethiopia is about 50% Christian, so I though that I would be entering a pretty safe environment. But it turns out that this per cent is predominantly composed of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church which is actuality hostile to the evangelical church in Ethiopia. Here's a link to an article documenting such hostility published by the CIC (Christians in Crisis). From what I've read the relationship between the churches seems a lot like the relationship between the Pharisaical Jews and the early church in the New Testament times. This is both exciting and scary considering there might be persecution which means that God is working and the Christians are doing something right. Besides, persecution is one of God’s many promises to us. It’s to be expected if where doing things right.

I will definitely keep up my research. It’s good to have a better understanding to the environment that I will be entering. Plus I've been finding some cool things like this Church. It is a monolithic building, which means that it is carved out of a single rock.

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The Church of St. George in Lalibela, Ethiopia
 

Hey guys! Here’s a quick update to let you all know about something incredible that happened to me this past week. Most of you might already know this because it's all I've been talking about, but I thought it necessary to actually get the word officially out and documented.

In one of my interactions with the Project Mercy administrator I was giving her an update on the status of my preparations for the upcoming year. Besides telling her that I had my visa, and that support was coming in and the like, I asked her when my room and board was due. Room and board is about $20/day for my year in Ethiopia which is about $7,000 total and all due in advance. So it’s kind of a big deal.  Her response was this, "Since you will be volunteering for a year with us, your Room and Board charges are waived." Wow! So this means that rather than having to raise $12,000 for personal expenses I only have to raise $5,000. I still plan on raising $10,000 total; 5K for me and 5K for seed money to fund the ministry in Ethiopia in various capacities. 

Isn’t God so cool how he provides so abundantly?

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Ethiopian Landscape
 

This week I received my Ethiopian Visa in the mail, bought a bike and started my new job at Newicks.  God's timing is perfect! Thank you all for your prayers. The Visa is all set and I'm ready to go to Ethiopia for a year! The bike needs some work, but I'm hoping to take care of that tomorrow. And the job... well the job is exhausting, but so good.

Newicks is a seafood restaurant in Dover, about six miles from where I live (about a half hour bike-ride). I worked there this past Friday and Saturday as a prep-cook, which was crazy. We served 1,500 people on Friday night alone! Next week I'll be starting on the front line which basically consists of 30 frialators and a few ovens. This is the largest scale kitchen I've ever worked in and I've worked in a six different industrial kitchens in my life. So I'm looking forward to having some fun this summer. The 11 hr days will be challenging though. But fortunately that gives me 3 days off every week to enjoy some outdoor recreation this summer.

At this job I've been able to do something that I have wanted to do for the past 5 years ever since my first job in a kitchen. And that is to change my name to "Vinny" (Vincent is my middle name).  Because there are two other Steve's in the kitchen at Newicks, I took the plunge and have been introducing myself as Vinny when I meet new co-workers. I love the name! I think it makes me sound tough and brings out the 50% Italian that's in me. Plus, how often do you get the opportunity to change your name? Not often... so I went for it.

Until next week, thanks for the prayers and support.
Grace and Peace,
Vinny~

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My roommate and I were talking about the concept of unexpected Grace. It's when God shows up in your life through a circumstance or interaction that totally takes you by surprise. In those moments you know He is a personal god who actually cares about the big and small things that matter and make us human. My roommate and I were talking about this because it seems like it has been a common occurrence for both of us this past week.

So after the whole getting my bag stolen incident (see previous blog), I've been talking with God a lot about my attached to stuff.  I'm finding that with that attachment comes the lack of trust in God to provide for me. The less self sufficient I am, the more I must trust in God.  He's done some cool thing this week to assure me that he is more than able to provide for my needs. The big thing on my mind of late that I'm having a hard time trusting god with is my financial support for my year in Africa. Well, on Monday I get a call from a church wanting me to come speak to share my trip with there congregation. Then I get six support checks in the mail along with some great notes of encouragement.  Both events gave me a wake up call that God will provide. In this week alone, I received $575 of support (I am now 20% funded!). 


Another incident of unexpected grace came last night as I was sorting though my box of electronics finding items for my friends yard sale today. In the box I came across my old MP3 player that has been broken since my summer in Yellowstone, two years ago.  My roommate was in the room and I turned to him and said, "How crazy would it be if this thing started working again?” I think God loves a challenge. I plugged it in and low and behold the light turns on and then starts playing music. I just sat there for like two minuets in complete shock. WOW God! This is especially cool in light of my previous blog entry. What a blessing to now have a “resurrected” MP3 player that is so blatantly a gift from God.


Unexpected grace is a way that God says to me, “Yup Steve, I know you. And I love you. And yes, crap happens and life is not often easy, but I’m here. And I will provide for you. Trust me =^).”  Yes, God did just use an emoticon in what he said to me.

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Hey all,
So this past weekend I was hanging out with some friends in Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH celebrating my buddy's birthday. I set my bag down to run around a bit and when I got back to it the bag was gone. My Bible, journal, a few other books, MP3 player, and folder with all my paperwork for Ethiopia was in the bag.  Even though it really stinks that I lost my bag, I'm seeing how God it totally using this circumstance to teach me about my identity. Here's what I mean.

I think I identify myself with my positions too much. I'm proud of the fact that I don't have an ipod like everyone else, I have a much cooler, smaller MP3 player that has a built in radio, (that I hardly ever use), video capacity (that I also hardly ever use) and expandable memory slot (that I don't think I've used even once).  Likewise, I love my Bible that has tons of underlined passages, is warn so thin that I had to reinforce it with duck tape, and contains a map of all the prayer walks I've been on because, frankly it makes me look and feel spiritual. But God wants to be more that an accessory to my life that makes me look cool. God wants to be my life. All this to say I'm way too caught up in these trinkets, and if God has to take them away to reorient my priorities, then so be it.

The cool part of the situation is that I just so happen to take some critical paper-work out of my bag and set it on my desk on Thursday, the day before I lost the bag. I also mailed my VISA application on Thursday which if I hadn't done so, then my passport and many other important documents would have been lost. It's still going to be a pain to replace some of the stuff lost with my bag, but I really think God was protecting me from a much worse situating. And more importantly, teaching me to find my identity in Christ and not my stuff.

Thank you so much for your prayers... I think God is totally in the process of preparing me for this trip on so many levels.
Grace and Peace,
Steve~

 

Hey all, 

So, I guess I'm not really good at this whole blogging thing, because it's been like a month since I last posted. But the only way to get better at something is to just do it like with sports, music or anything really. Most of the work in learning an instrument is the time invested in practicing it although some skill is also necessary. And with running, well let’s just say I’m so not a runner, but believe it or not, back in the day when I was on the H.S. Cross Country team I was actually in shape.  

So, in light of all of this, I hens forth make the commitment to write a new blog entry at the beginning of every week (probably on Mondays). This way I will get the practice and you guys will get the updates. 

Speaking of which… things with Ethiopia are coming along quite well. Support is coming in and I am now over 15% funded as of today. I will be sending off my Ethiopian Visa application right after I finish this post. Then I will be calling a few churches to see if I can set up a date to present my trip to them. I did this a few weeks ago at Fusion Community Church (the on-campus Church at UNH that I go to) and it was a blast! It was exciting to be a part of their worship and world focus. After I finished my presentation, the pastor exclaimed, “Well guys, we’re going to Ethiopia!” As of now, I have 16 individuals or families and one church body “coming with me” in their support and I suspect that number will be increasing a lot in the weeks and months to come. 

I invite you all to "come with me" to Ethiopia though your financial support and prayers.  The latter being the most important. Please be praying for:



 - Smooth processing of my visa application
 - Successful church partnerships 
 - Potential summer job at Newicks (more to come next post)
 - Consistency in blogging =^)

Thanks y’all for your interest in this next big exciting season of my life!
Grace and Peace,

Steve~

 

Hey All,

Today was the day that I got my immunizations for Ethiopia. To be honest I have been dreading this day for quite some time, especial after I forced myself to make an appointment with UNH, Health Services earlier this week. Now, the truth is I am pretty good with shots, so that's not the real issue it's just the shear quantity of shots that I was under the impression that I needed. That and I was told that a few of the ones I needed were "Butt Shots"... NOT okay!!!   So here is the list:

- Hepatitis B
- Diphtheria
- Tenanus
- M.M.R. (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
- Polio
- Hepatitis A
- Malaria
- Meningococcal Meningitis
- Rabies
- Typhoid
- Yellow Fever
- Tuberculosis

Now you might understand why I have been dreading this day for quite some time. But actually it was not that bad. In fact, I only needed two shots (Polio and Yellow Fever), both in the arm and neither hurt. I also have to take four Typhoid pills every other day for a week... but that was it. Apparently, according to my records I have already had the three necessary Hepatitis B shots, two MMR shots and a recent Tetanus/ Diphtheria shot. So I'm good to go.

I'm still going to look into the Malaria pills and the Meningitis and Hepatitis A immunizations. But because they are all so expensive I'm holding off until I know that I absolutely need them. I would say today was a huge success, and it turned out way better than I had expected.  Thank God for no need of any "Butt Shots"!

Thank you all for your generous support that has enabled me to pay for these immunizations. I need about $1000 more within the next two weeks to pay for my airfare. Please consider sending me a check for this, and please keep up the prayers!

Until next time, Grace and Peace be with you all!

 

Hey all, 
A lot of stuff is happening of late. These past few weeks I have been in contact with Menno Travel Service concerning my ticket to Ethiopia.  It's great because they have a developed partnership with Project Mercy and so I've been able to get about $600 knocked off my round-trip flight cost. It's only going to be about $1800 there and back again, which is great considering I originally though it would be that much one way! 

So the date is set... I will be leaving on August 24th from Boston at six in the morning on a connection flight to Washington D.C. and arriving in Ethiopia at 8 am the next day. I still have not purchased the ticket because I am waiting on the support to come in, but I do have the flight reserved. 

Also more incredible news... I found out form Project Mercy what I'll actually be doing when I am there (before, all I knew was that I would be working at their Addis Ababa Office). I am going to be doing small business development for men and women entrepreneurs who need help initiating their business ideas. I’m not really sure what that entails, but I do know that the project directors want to sit down with me when I arrive and discuss their ideas for small business development and want to hear my input. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited about what I’ll be doing over there.  

That’s all for now! Please be praying about my support to come in so I can buy my flight within the next two weeks.  
God bless you all!


 

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the Third  World over the past few years as I study their economies and especially now as I  am going to be living in Ethiopia. It has always struck me at how little I understand the level of poverty that people in these countries must face as there daily reality. So many people in this world must live without those things we as Westerners consider necessities: basic health care, shelter, education, adequate clothing and food.

So, for the next 6 weeks I've decided to "eat with the poor" to gain a better understanding and appreciation of what they go though. For starters, I'm cutting meat entirely out of my diet, it is a luxury that many must go without. Then for every week I'll be picking a different place in the world that experiences poverty and I will model my food consumption around their eating habits. I got this idea form a blog entry I discovered though Urbana's weekly email update (Urbana is a by-annual missions conference). Here's the plan.

Week 1: Kolkata, India - A lot of rice and lentils
Week 2: San Francisco, USA - Leftovers and dollar menu
Week 3: Guatemala City, Guatemala - Oatmeal, rice, and potatoes 
Week 4: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Red beans, corn, and rice
Week 5: Cairo, Egypt - Bread (pita), fava beans, and some vegetables
Week 6: Moscow, Russia - Cream of wheat, bread, potatoes, and soup

This is going to be a challenge to say the least. But as I'm hungry these next few weeks I'll be reminded of the countless millions who don't have it as good at me. I'll be intentional about researching and praying for these people. My intent is to do this "fast" with some of my friends... two of them have already decided to take on a week with me each. Please pray for me and for the world. I'll keep you all updated on how it goes.



Note: I just found out in church today (03/01/09) that in the history of lent, Sundays have never been included in the fast. This is because Sunday has always symbolized the Resurrection and is meant to be a day of celebration. And because you cannot celebrate and fast at the same time, Sunday is not included in Lent. Also there are 46 days in Lent and it is a 40 day fast - Sundays are not include. 

 

Hey All,
This is my first blog entry for my trip to Ethiopia. The purpose of this blog, for the time being, is to keep you guys informed on what's happening and how things are going in the months and weeks leading up to my flight across the big blue.

Later, when I'm actually in Ethiopia, I will use this to keep you all informed and up to date about the goings on over there. Pretty straightforward, eh?