I thought you would like a picture of the work in Ethiopia. Here is the sign over the entrance to the church in Awassa, Ethiopia. We are now building a computer center and a place for students to come and study their lessons with our man Wobishet Adera. God willing, next November you will be able to meet him and see the work first hand.

Church in Awassa, Ethiopia

God bless,

Joe Boe

January 30, 03

Property in Awassia
                             

Building Ready for use - Computer Room, School for Deaf, & Church Assembly
 

Computer Room for WEI & WBS

Joe Boe

Brother Bob,
Greetings.  The computers were donated by two brother, (literally and spiritually) who own a computer business in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  They rebuilt ten computers and donated them to our work.  However, when I took a four of them in myself, they looked like they were brand new computers.  John Ed will take a young brother, who is attending Freed-Hardeman, with him this spring to hook up all the computers and set up the programs, (Dick is trying to work his schedule so he can be there for the "Grand opening".)  Unfortunately there will not be any internet access in Awassa, (as of this moment we don't even have electricity, though it is promised any day now.) 

I am sure we will have plenty Bible programs and such for our students.  Remember, this is only the first of many Bible computer centers we plan to bringing online.  The process is long and hard to get the computers in the country.  We must first have a work project approved by the government, this can take many months before approval, and the proposal must include the computers then we have to carry them in as luggage and leave them in customs until all the paper work is complete...sometimes this takes a week or two.  Sometimes it takes a little longer! 

Our goal just for Ethiopia is to have Bible Computer Centers in every Provincial Capital of Ethiopia.  Many other mission locations are looking to this project and plan on implementing it into their own work.  So, I believe, it's success is very important and needs constant nurturing and care.  The backbone of this work, as far as attracting students, is that our Bible computer center offers FREE English lessons, using WEI of course, and FREE computer classes.  Both of which are very much in demand in Ethiopia and are very expensive.  We will offer them free to anyone.  With this as a promotion all involved believe we will have more students than we can handle...God is to be glorified and praised for this wonderful tool for evangelism.
 
I am in the process of raising the funds to work in this on a full time basis.  This project is much to large for part time work.  If there is some way you could, assuming it doesn't violate one of your web policies, let others know about my need for support.  This would no doubt facilitate the process and get me onboard sooner.  If there are any congregations who you know of who are looking to support me in this please let me know.  Sunset International Bible Institute, World English Institute and World Bible School are all involved in this project.  Sunset has given a few leads for support and if the other entities could help I know God will give the increase and we will be completing work which will bring glory to Him.  God bless and keep the Faith.
 
In Him
Joe Boe

jebjr8850@earthlink.net

This is a report of a journey to Ethiopia to visit students.
by Art Hitt

The majority of my WEI correspondent students are Ethiopian, and due to the wonderfully rewarding experiences I have had through my several trips to Albania, I have desired for several years to go to Ethiopia to personally meet and study with my students there.  Last November that desire was fulfilled in my being able to journey with Dick Ady to that country, for a brief stay of two weeks.  Neither we nor the brethren there knew just what kind of response there would be to such a first-time effort, but letters announcing my arrival were sent out to my Addis Ababa students as well as to some to the students of others in the Peninsula congregation (in Portland, OR) who are involved with WEI students.  Briefly summarized, during my time in Addis Ababa I met with 21 students and experienced some of the most in-depth and rewarding Bible studies and discussions I have ever had.  As a result, four were baptized into Christ and I am confident that the others were strongly influenced by the power of God’s Word.  I know that several are close to obeying the gospel, including a brother and sister whose father is an Orthodox priest.  One of those baptized was a student of Dean Partlow, who passed away last month.

I cannot adequately express how impressed I was with the brethren there and also my great appreciation for their tremendously capable support and assistance in teaching these individuals, and the follow-up efforts they continue to make.  In addition, I was able to see first hand the results of the church’s efforts over many years, including several of the schools for deaf as well as hearing children, the new WEI & computer training center that has opened in Awasa, and water wells that have been drilled to meet the great needs the people have there.  Dick was able to travel more extensively with John Ed Clark to visit other such sights as well as a number of the preacher training schools that are functioning there.  These are all the fruits of years of work and planning on the part of John Ed Clark and Behailu Abebe that God has blessed greatly, and today they are very much aided by many others as well.

Most of the students were of various religious backgrounds such as Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim, but were open to study and giving consideration to the Scriptures.  Surprisingly at first, few had any real awareness of the Ethiopian that Philip taught in Acts 8, and it was a joy to introduce these students to him as their example to follow in obeying the simple and beautiful plan of salvation.  I hope very much to be able to return to this wonderful country, and would encourage others to do the same.   
   ---Art Hitt
   8626 NW Lakeshore Ave.
   Vancouver, WA  98665
   (360) 576-1284 
    artp@secondnature.com