BLOGS
GOD is on the MOVE in Gambela!! Misson's Trip Recap
Pastors Training, VBS with Children and Widows Training
Dear Friend,
God is on the move in Gambella, Ethiopia among the Nuer refugees! On this year’s mission’s trip during July 21st to August 3rd, we had 4 pastors, Rev. Ted Taylor, Rev. Jennifer Wright, Rev. David Craig and part-time missionary George Matty, along with our African Relief Ministries founder and director, Rev. Michael Gatkek, who ministered to more than 1,500 orphans attending our school. These children are all Nuer Tribe children who lost their parents during the civil war fighting in South Sudan. They are refugees who have fled to Ethiopia for safety. Among the people we found a strong Nazarene church and unity among many like-minded denominations. (There also seems to be great cooperation and support together).
On the trip we were able to use many gospel resources to bless our friends. We had Proclaimers–a solar power electronic device that reads the Word of God to them, which was very cool technology! These Proclaimers will be also used repeatedly among these churches sharing the hope of God’s Word in their language. Designed for up to 25 people who can listen to them simultaneously. There was also both Old and New Testaments in both English and their native language, Nuer.
We had the blessing of giving the children “Evangeballs” which are soccer balls with colors that tells the Gospel’s Story. In addition, our team made laminated bookmarks matching each color with a Bible verse to remind the children of God's message. Another very creative addition was the Bible Cloths gifts that had 100 Bible stories to teach lessons from God’s Word. It is so amazing to see so many orphans - all taken in like foster children by their people who have so little in this world. All of the homes in the Gambela community are within walking distance because of the extreme poverty and limited transportation. At the school children were currently in testing and being given accreditation to the school, and our teachers will proudly graduate its first set of 12th graders next year.
Games were a plenty!! We played numerous games with the children and it was fun! Our team brought together equipment, soccer balls, potato sacks, and 2 large parachutes. In the garden, our team planted many seeds with new varieties of vegetables as a food source.
During the Pastors' Trainings, we had the privilege of teaching approximately 500 pastors and church leaders and spoke from the Book of Acts. (Many of these pastors haven’t attended formal Bible classes, so this was precious to them). Nuer Christians are soft-spoken except when it comes to singing and praying, earnestly, for long periods of time and so God showed up in His power and presence! During the first part of our trip we were incredibly privileged to have baptized more than 35 children, teens and adults too. Rev. Jennifer has a unique testimony from our trip, click here to read the article on the A.R.M. website.
As a blessing from the Lord, it was very special to receive from our donors Josh and Candace Robinson the Life of Jesus books–a combined version of the books of the Bible Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in the easy-to-read Nuer language. In total there were 20,000 books donated. Our team witnessed great blessings during this trip!
Gratefully,
Rev. Ted Taylor
Pastor, Nazarene Family Church, Hereford, Texas for African Relief Ministries
