I got an email this morning from our missionary friends.  It is just incredible to me how easy it is to sweep away the periphery knowledge of the (truly) suffering church in Ethiopia.  We may let it linger on the outer fringes of our minds, but it is unlikely we want to put in too much energy, time or effort in prayer or support for them.  Why?  Because it’s unpleasant.  It makes us cringe.  We’d rather close our eyes and simply thank God it’s only “those people over there” who are suffering instead of us.  I stand convicted.  I posted the email below:

This morning a request for urgent prayer arrived from N** in Alaba.  N** is our [adopted] son and an evangelist in Alaba.  Below is the email.  Besheno is a town in the northern section of the Alaba district.  The leaders have never allowed us to visit because the persecution is so strong.  We have received funds from people here to build a meeting house for the believers in Besheno, the town authorities initially granted permission for the building, but then retracted that permission.  The oppression has gotten more pronounced in the past months…now the people will not even allow the Christians to meet in a hut, so they are meeting somewhat secretly, in small groups, in private homes, at various times in the week.  We were first introduced to B*** thru T**, the founder of the church there.  The Muslims murdered his 8-yr-old daughter in July 05 when Dave was in Alaba; we were able to help with the burial expenses then.  Please be aware that in this email  N** does NOT say that the Muslims killed the 4-yr-old; he only says that they refused burial to the child. 

To be called by our Lord is to suffer for Him.  We cannot be granted salvation and given His Name without also being given the privilege of suffering for Him.  The two issues (salvation & suffering) go hand-in-hand.  So we do not pray that the persecution will stop….rather, we pray that the believers in Beshano will avail themselves of the comfort, peace, joy & strength that is in the Saviour with whom they suffer.  Our Lord is more than able to meet our needs, even those needs that arise from persecution.  Let us pray that these dear, precious brothers & sisters will be comforted by our Lord, and that no root of bitterness or hostility will settle in their hearts because of what they are suffering.  Let us pray that His glory will shine thru their lives in the midst of the persecution!

Here’s N** email….

Dear Mama, how are you   doing all of you there? We
are doing well. Last Monday night a 4 years daughter
of a woman called L**, who has been living in
Beshano, died. The Muslims in Bashano had not allowed
them to berry the dead body. Yesterday we rent a car
from Alaba and went to Beshano .  We brought the dead
body to Alaba and berried in Alaba in the evening, at
6 o’clock. The only reason that they forbidden to
berry is that she is a Christian. Because of this
reason, the dead body stays until the 3rd day. Today
we send them back to Beshano,L** and the Christians
who came with us yesterday from Bashano. Please pray
for a woman and her family and for the Christians who
are in Beshano so that God would protect them because
Muslims raising persecution up on them.

M** A** and his family greet you. Also
D**,Z** and E*** greets you.

For His Kingdom,

N***

I blocked out the names in the email because I am not sure if they would want to be made public. You can keep up with the progress and the prayer requests (and also get involved) on Dr Black’s page.  I am thankful for their family and for the tireless (and perilous) work they do on behalf of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the world.  May God continue to bless them in their endeavors. 

In other news, my daughter, Ryann, made up a brilliantly fun game.  During our family time this morning each kid picked a place to read in the New Testament and the rest of us had to guess where it was from.  She started by reading the Beatitudes.  Where’s that found, eh?  It was a fun.  Bobo read from the first chapter of Luke and royally confused one of his siblings.  I would not have connected the Mary and Elizabeth from the "Christmas story" to Mary and Elizabeth the daughters of King Henry VIII in the 1500s.  One of my kids cried out in horror, “JESUS WAS BORN TO BLOODY MARY!!!????”   “um, no, Emmiko; but I’m glad to see that you’re almost sort of partially paying a little bit of attention when I teach you stuff”  yep, I can always count on her.  She is the same one who defined “Scapegoat” as, “a goat that always gets out of his fence: Escape Goat” 

She thinks outside the box.  Way outside.

Lastly, I don’t know why — and I don’t *want* to know why – but all of a sudden my mint dental floss smells like pickles.

November 29th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

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1. skdenfeld said,
   
   

   on November 29th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

   <i>Untitled Comment</i>

   Jen, thank you for the reminder. Even though our culture is growing more hostile towards our values, and factions of the government are trying to take more control over the people, we still have so much freedom. My heart and prayers go out to this family and church.

   Edited by skdenfeld on Nov. 29, 2007 at 10:30 PM

2. Kelley said,
   
   

   on November 29th, 2007 at 12:45 pm

   Untitled Comment

   Wow! I hope everyone prays for that family and keeps them in their thoughts during the day.

   I love Emmiko stories. I think they might be some of my favorites.

3. jess4him said,
   
   

   on November 29th, 2007 at 1:01 pm

   Untitled Comment

   I'm glad you posted those emails. They are a good reminder of how important it is to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted every day overseas. thank you..

   Emmi is hysterical. i love that girl. can I come play the fun new game??

   you floss?!! WHO does that anymore? 😉

   love you so much!
   

4. Ruth said,
   
   

   on November 29th, 2007 at 5:52 pm

   Untitled Comment

   This is a great reminder to us of how blessed we are to have the freedeoms we have. There are so many all over the world suffering for the cause of Christ.
   
   I love the game you played. I can't wait to try it.
   
   Congratulations on being an auntie again. I pray all is well with momma, baby and the rest of the family.
   
   Ruth

5. CAgirlwithasoutherndrawl said,
   
   

   on November 30th, 2007 at 7:25 am

   Untitled Comment

   Thanks for posting the letter from the Blacks. It is so easy to live my cushy little life and totally forget, yes forget, that there are Christian brothers and sisters suffering immensly simply because they claim the name of Christ.

   I will be praying for them daily!

   ~Annemarie

6. Anonymous said,
   
   

   on November 30th, 2007 at 8:36 am

   From Jul

   Jen, Thanks for posting the email update. We pray for the churches in Ethiopia and the people working there daily. Becky Lynn says they are so encouraged when they know that their brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for them from over here.

   …and on another note, thanks for the dental floss update… I think.

   Austin's Parenting With Purpose:
   
   http://parentingwithpurpose.net/

7. EEEEMommy said,
   
   

   on November 30th, 2007 at 9:17 am

   Untitled Comment

   We are so sheltered, and we don't even know it!
   
   Our idea of suffering is dealing with a digital camera whose battery dies after 12 pictures, or living without cell phones, or heaven forbid the internet go out for even a portion of the day….we have no idea!
   
   Thanks for popping our bubble!

8. foxvalleyfamily said,
   
   

   on November 30th, 2007 at 1:43 pm

   Untitled Comment

   Wow… what a tragic and hilarious entry all in one.

   I have friends that are missionaries in Botswana, and their stories certainly keep us humble. It is so eye opening that tragedies like this are happening, when we feel so secure in our own corner of the world. We will definitely be praying for your friends!

   And on a different note…"Bloody Mary!" How funny is that?!

   And pickle flavored floss?…..I would be frightened!
   
   But, you know…I'll bet you could market that! My kids would love it!

   Michelle
   

9. jess4him said,
   
   

   on November 30th, 2007 at 2:21 pm

   Untitled Comment

   Hey, check your HSB messages

10. Suzanne said,
    
    

    on November 30th, 2007 at 3:52 pm

    Untitled Comment

    ROFL — pickled dental floss! What a thought?! ugh!

    Thanks for leaving a comment a few days/weeks back. I'm sorry that I don't always comment.

    We really need to get together some time. You're welcome here anytime… honestly!!!!

11. Testimony said,
    
    

    on December 1st, 2007 at 11:31 am

    Hello!

    Praise the Lord. Congrats, you are a new aunt again!

12. wardssward said,
    
    

    on December 4th, 2007 at 12:18 am

    Untitled Comment

    YES!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have mentioned to my family before that a cheaper brand of dental floss that we had bought smelled like dill pickles when I used it. They thought I was off my crock. Anyway, glad to hear that someone else also has a good sense of smell. 🙂
    
    ~Connie

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