EECA Conference

It was our uncommon pleasure to praise, worship, fellowship and break bread (injera) with the wonderful people attending the Ethiopian Evangelical Christians Association in Olathe Kansas last Saturday night. We were warmly greeted by pastor Gizaw who organized this fundraiser. Tiffany and myself attended with Morgan, Timothy, and Christy. It was 4 hours of blessings through music, preaching, and fellowship. We were all blessed to hear pastor Bark tell of his visions and many stories of his many many years as a missionary to the Ethiopian people. It was very insightful to hear how he viewed the Ethiopian immigrant's mission was to minister and lead the American people back to Christ. He also encouraged the young folks and their parents to have a heart and mission to the unreached people of the rugged southwest part of Ethiopia.
We were honored to have a wonderful couple who both were physicians to share our table with, as well as a young business analyst from Iowa. The conversations were wonderful and insightful. The warmth of these folks was beautiful to witness. Many hugs and kisses were shared despite the dredded swine flu just lurking around the corner - at least according to the news and our gov't.. I am not much of a touchy feeley guy and this is hard for me to get use to - but I'm working on it. What a better world it would be if we could greet each other more affectionately and with more love and care.
The best part - well you know me - was the food! It was great! Very Very interesting selection of various stews and cassarole type food eaten with a spongy brown flat bread called injera... as mentioned before in this blog - with no utinsils and eaten with the right hand only. There was a very spicy chicken that had just the right amount of heat with a bounty of flavor - MMMmmmmm.
The dissapointing part of the evening for Tiffany and myself was the absence of my friend and co-worker John Gross. John was "enjoying" or enduring an outpatient procedure of which he has some really cool, yet gross pictures of his insides. He will be fine but was missed Saturday night. John and I have worked at the same large manufacturing facility for many years yet we never have known of each other until recently. John is an amazing man, although he may deny it. I could go on and on about his ministry but instead I will encourage you to mentally and visually taste his ministry at his website: HouseOfFriends.org John is an excellent example of the average person doing great great things through the strength of Christ in his life and works. The organization John heads up ministers to the poor, orphaned and widowed in the US as well as in Africa. John has also written a book "The River Runs Down", which addresses world missions and Christ's work - I have not yet read it because my wife and daughter have stole it and have both read it before me! Now that ain't right.

G9