A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words...

Wrapping it up...

Dear family, friends, and support partners,

What a summer it has been! I am safely back in the United States and have been for a little over 2 weeks. God is at work in amazing ways in Ethiopia and I can truly say that God used this summer to shape my life. Honestly, I'm a little overwhelmed at the thought of trying to describe this summer and the work that God is doing using words, but I am going to try!

As I'm sure you know, this summer I was a part of a team of 20 students who lived in a city named Bahir Dar, Ethiopia for about a month. I wasn't quite sure what to expect until I stepped off of the plane, and when I did there were some things that surprised me. For example, in Ethiopia having a person feed you a meal is culturally known as a sign of affection - so having another person's fingers in my mouth took some getting used to... Another example of a cultural surprise was seeing grown men holding hands walking down the street as a sign of friendship. This was surprising at first, but after the first week I was proudly walking down the street holding my Ethiopian friends' hands. I quickly learned to love the people and the culture of Ethiopia and enjoyed the openness, fellowship, and commitment to relationship that is a part of everyday life.

While we were in Bahir Dar, we partnered with the local Campus Crusade ministry to share the gospel in the city. We spent about several hours each day sharing our faith on the streets and in cafes. This was definitely a growing experience as our team took the step of faith to go and share, leaving the results to God. We worked with Ethiopian high school students who served as our translators while sharing. These kids were filled with incredible boldness and enthusiasm for Christ. I have been so blessed by their friendship and love and can't wait for the day that I see them again. At times, we encountered minor persecution during sharing - being kicked out of cafes, being labeled "Protestant" by angry members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and being told we need to leave the city soon by random people on the street. However, through it all our team experienced joy. This joy came simply from our relationship with Christ and the act of sharing His message of hope. I learned that I cannot fail at sharing my faith - I simply need to share the message with a loving spirit, and the Lord will work in the heart.

I have been changed as a result of the people that God placed in my life this summer. The Ethiopian staff are incredible men and women of God. Our team was blessed by their love and inspired by their passion to live for the gospel – no matter what the cost. These people live with no reservations, they desire to serve the Lord and are not distracted from that goal in any way, they want to give their life for the Lord and spreading His love. What an amazing example of faith. I also learned so much from my team. I am filled with joy at the thought of our friendship and truly love each one of them. Their passion inspires me and challenges me to show Christ's love in all that I do.

During our last week in Ethiopia, we were able to help organize and attend the Life4All conference, which is a National Campus Crusade Conference for Ethiopian college students. Being surrounded by these students’ joy and heart for the Lord was truly humbling. It is so good to see God's provision...our team was asked to perform 2 fifteen minute sets for the 3,000 Ethiopian students attending the conference. So, I was blessed to lead our team in learning several songs and a dance routine to "Joyful, Joyful" from Sister Act. The team did a WONDERFUL job and were so gracious to learn a crazy song and dance routine for the conference. They showed such eagerness to perform for the Lord in front of the Ethiopian students and displayed true humility during rehearsals and performance.

This summer I was able to catch a small glimpse of how big God is. I saw this firsthand as I talked to a man named Habtamu. I met Habtamu randomly in a café when I asked to sit down next to Him. We started talking about Ethiopia and our lives, and then the conversation turned spiritual. I learned that Habtamu grew up believing that God was a distant, unloving, and unknowable figure. As I began to share the message of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for us – Habtamu’s eyes began to light up until he interrupted me with the question – “How do I have a personal relationship with Jesus?” The only way I can describe Habtamu’s openness is God.

Over the summer I learned (and am continuing to learn) that God has a heart for all people and that He has a good and perfect plan to bring people into a relationship with Him. But, that plan doesn’t end in Ethiopia…what really excites me, is knowing that the God who is doing such wonderful things in Ethiopia is the same God I am serving in America, the same God I am serving at the University of Arkansas. This summer I was able to experience God’s heart for Ethiopia and for the world, and I'm so grateful to you for your continued prayer, interest in my life, and love that made this trip possible.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

In Him and with love,

Nathan

A quick Ethiopian update!

Posted for Nathan - sent 7/23/2010

Hello everyone!

I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to let you all know what's been going on in Ethiopia over the past few days so that you can join our team in celebration! Beginning on Wednesday, we have been going to local cafes and engaging in conversations with random people we meet. This has been both a challenge and a joy - a challenge to take the step of faith to talk to a stranger in a foriegn country and a joy in seeing the Lord work through these conversations and in our own hearts.

We met up with Ethiopian students involved in ministry in Bahir Dar, who act as translators as we go out into the city. These students have been such a blessing to meet and minister with. Most students are in high school and despite their young age, they are filled with passion and wisdom well beyond their years!

One exciting story...yesterday I was able to go to a cafe and met a man who was of the Ethiopian orthodox faith. We began chatting and during the course of the conversation he said "I want to know God and have a personal relationship with Him, but I don't know how." What an amazing opportunity and divine appointment! I shared the gospel with him and he recieved Christ! To God be all the glory!

Our group is off to eat dinner now, so I have to leave...but I so appreciate each one of you and your prayers and encouragement! I'm excited at and humbled by the work the Lord is doing in Ethiopia and am so glad that you are sharing in it.

In Him and with Love,

Nathan

In Ethiopia and loving it!

(Posted for Nathan - sent 7/19/2010)

Hello friends, family, and support partners!

I am so excited to let you know that I am in Ethiopia and enjoying every minute of it! I have brief access to a computer, so I'll write what I can. The last time I updated I was on my way to meet the team in Tulsa. I am thrilled to tell you that the team is an amazing group of students who are full of fun, energy, and a passion to serve the Lord. I have been blessed to make such good friends so quickly. We left Tulsa and had about 24 hours of travel time until we arrived in Ethiopia, where we've spent the past few days meeting the national staff and adjusting to the African lifestyle!

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update everyone during my time here, but here's what I'm thinking - I am going to keep a journal of what is going on here day by day and I'll post detailed descriptions when I'm back in the US. Until then I will post brief updates as I can!

I am so thankful for all of your love and prayers during the next few weeks. The Lord is at work and I'm so glad that I can share in it with you!

In Him and with love,

Nathan

And so it begins!

I just wanted to give you all a quick update as I'm getting incredibly close to leaving and SO excited about taking part in God's work in Ethiopia.

Here's the plan: On Tuesday, July 13, I will travel to Tulsa to meet up with the rest of our team. We will spend the 13th and 14th getting to know one another, learning about the culture of Ethiopia, and praying for the country and our work within it. The morning of the 15th we will hop on a plane and leave for Ethiopia!!!

The Lord is so good and I am thrilled to tell you that I am fully funded! I am so thankful for your support and humbled by your overwhelming generosity and eagerness to participate in what the Lord is doing overseas.

We'll find out more of the day to day schedule when we meet tomorrow and when we arrive in Ethiopia on Thursday. I do know that I've been blessed with a few creative opportunities for the upcoming trip. I'll be serving as a co-worship leader for our time in Ethiopia - something I'm really looking forward to! Our team has also been asked to give a performance at the Life4All conference in Ethiopia, just a fun way for our team to be introduced to everyone attending the conference. So...I'll be helping our team prepare a few musical numbers and some choreography to go with them. All those years of music education and musical theater training are coming into play on our mission trip!!! AWESOME!

Your prayers mean so much to me and are an integral part of the mission that lies before our team. Thank you so much for you willingness to be in prayer over Ethiopia and our time of ministry. In addition to the previously posted prayer items, here are some more ways that you can be praying for Ethiopia in the coming week!

- Prayer for the Ethiopian Campus Crusade Staff - that they would be strengthened and energized to lead our time of ministry.

- Prayer for the safety of our team as we travel overseas.

- Prayer for the Life4All conference and our performance opportunity - may we never lose sight that we are performing for an audience of ONE!

- Continued prayer for the hearts of the Ethiopian people - that God might be preparing them for the message of the gospel.

I've heard that the internet connection is limited in Ethiopia, but I will update as much as I can! I so look forward to the adventure that lies ahead and am excited to share it with YOU!

In Him and with love,

Nathan

It's Getting Closer...

It's now June, which means that we're just a little over a month from being overseas! How exciting! I am filled with joy when I think of the way that the Lord is going to move this summer, and is already moving in the lives of friends who are participating in summer projects and mission work across the globe. I just got my immunization shots - so the thought of traveling to Africa is becoming more of a reality with each passing day (and each additional shot!)

The process of preparing for Ethiopia is going well. I've recently been reading through the book of Acts and came upon the story of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in Chapter 8. Though I've read this passage before, two ideas impacted me during this reading. The first is the eunuch's desire to know God. When Philip comes upon him, the eunuch is reading scripture, looking for truth. He doesn't stop there - he INVITES Philip to come and guide him through Scripture. WOW! I believe that the Lord is working in the hearts of Ethiopian students in the same way - He has placed the desire to discover truth in them, and I am confident that He will reveal Himself to them as Savior and Lord.

The second observation is the incredible guiding role the Holy Spirit place in this passage. We are told in verse 29 that "the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and join this chariot.' " The Holy Spirit led the eunuch to read a passage that was a clear witness to Christ, directed Philip to approach the eunuch and relay the good news of Christ, and directed Philip and the eunuch by a watering place in the desert as the eunuch requested baptism. Nothing good is accomplished by my own will or action - all that is good and true in me is given by the Lord and is a result of His power working through me. May I remember this as I prepare for the summer and be obedient and open to the Lord's work.

In the coming weeks, I invite you to pray for Ethiopia. Join me in praying:

- That God will provide for the Ethiopian team as we continue to raise support.
- For unity of mind and spirit as our team meets for the first time on July 13 and as we begin to minister during our four weeks in the city of Bahir Dur. That we would experience open, honest, and Christ centered community.
- That the Lord would be working in the hearts of the Ethiopian students that he intends for us to meet in Ethiopia. You can pray that the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians will realize their need for Jesus Christ.

- That I would not rely on my own strength, but I would have the courage to take a step of faith during evangelism and leave the results to God.
- That the conference that our team will be planning (the Life4All conference) would help equip a generation of Christ following students who desire to proclaim the gospel throughout the African continent, particularly the surrounding nations of Somalia and Sudan.
- That through this trip, the Lord would reveal aspects of my character that He wants to change so that I may be more like Christ.

I am continually amazed at the Lord's provision through the generosity of family and friends. What a humbling experience support raising has been. Thank you all for eagerness to participate in the Lord's work overseas. I am currently at 80% of my support goal, which is an incredible blessing. However, I need to raise an additional $1,000 to be fully financed. I am confident that the Lord will provide. I want to give a GIANT thanks to all of you who have contributed to this project! And for all of you who are joining me in prayer - a HUGE thank you to you! God delights in hearing our prayers and is faithful to complete His work - how great a gift it is to play a part in HIS plan. You are all such blessings in so many ways, both in my life and in the lives of those who we will meet overseas.

I look forward to keeping you posted!

In Him,

Nathan

The beginning...

Hello! Thanks so much for checking out my blog!

Last summer I was able to go on a summer mission trip within the states, and this summer I have an amazing opportunity to travel to Ethiopia to share the gospel! I AM SO EXCITED! God is doing great things through the faith of Christian students of this country, and I'm grateful to be able to come alongside them and work together for the Lord. While overseas in the city of Bahir Dar, I will spend my days caring for the poor and needy, engaging in spiritual conversations with Ethiopian college students, and helping to organize a conference called Life4All (a conference designed to equip Ethiopian believers).

Right now I would appreciate prayer for our team that will be traveling together. Join me in praying for clear communication and solid relationships, so that we can more effectively share the truth with students overseas. You can also be praying for our team as we raise support and trust the Lord to provide. Finally, please pray for the people of Ethiopia, that the Lord would soften their hearts and allow them to be receptive to the incredible power of the gospel.

I plan on updating this blog as regularly as I can in order to keep all of my friends, family, and ministry partners up to date on the amazing work that God is doing in Ethiopia!