Ethiopia Journey

Published by Paul on

I leave today for Ethiopia with an intense trip schedule.  Seattle, Dubai, Addis then on to the S in Dilla where our prison and pre school projects will be reviewed with a goal of  sustainability in 2015.  Our prison chaplain is ill so will visit him and find out how the work with Dilla prison will continue.  We have been privileged to start sewing training for women inmates, with some graduating and starting their own business, our original goal.

We will negotiate with the church and school leaders to take over funding of the school which has 50 pk and k children.  In this very poor area, parents have been gradually funding more with a goal to be sustainable in 2015.  We shall see.

Traveling with a missionary businessman Mike Stemm out of Spokane. His current coffee business, Dominion Trading Company grew out of a project involving a coffee bean production facility in S. Ethiopia, creating jobs and being a source of quality coffee beans. His work with preventive health Medical Ambassadors and supporting evangelists has been an encouragement to the Ethiopian people in some of the poorest areas.

Being able to bring hope to the poor, those in prison and to men and women and children is a challenge but possible.  With God, all things are possible the good book says.

Who helps in making this work happen:  People like good friend and colleague, Tegene Tesfaye (L) has just achieved his Doctorate in Chemistry in S. Africa and is from Dilla and been instrumental in our work.  He is talking to our “son” Tamerat, also from Dilla who now working in Addis.  We have been involved with Tamerat since 2007 whose story we have told in other blogs.

Paul


Paul

Paul founded his consulting practice, Career Life Institute, in 1992, and the Living Perspectives ministry in 1982. He has mentored hundreds of life coaching clients and assisted numerous organizations with strategic planning. Paul holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology and has written a book, How a Man Handles Conflict at Work. Paul has ministered in E. Europe, and in Ethiopia since 2004 (microfinance, education, and prisons). Currently his active mentoring ministry is in Seattle to individuals and Christian non-profit organizations. He spent 16 years as a leader/volunteer with Congregations for the Homeless in Bellevue and is currently involved in working with those praying for revival in the Greater Seattle area and bringing opportunity to different populations in S. Seattle.