Lifesong-Ethiopia

“We are very blessed to have Jarod Rinkenberger and Matt Kaufmann from our home church in Bloomington, Illinois, here to remodel our nursery school in Ziway. They are helping us put in a new dividing wall to create two small classrooms, new windows and doors, a new ceiling, and are preparing the floor for terrazzo tile. Not only are these two young men giving us a tremendous boost, but they are training their Ethiopian co-workers in good construction skills and building valuable relationships.”

“Work on the new school and feeding program is progressing well as we continue the countdown toward the first day of school. Lots of things need to come together, but Lord willing, they will.”

“For over a year now we have been trying to get a little boy named Teku treatment for his legs. He has rickets, which has caused his legs to bow badly inward, making it nearly impossible for him to walk. He is about eight years old, but appears to be much younger because of his malnutrition. Now, through the gracious help of Cure Hospital in Addis Ababa he is having surgery on both legs to allow him to walk normally again. When he left the hospital after the surgery on the first leg, his father didn’t have the $7 needed to rent the crutches. So Peggy and I rented them and took them to Teku in his home here near Ziway. You can see the joy on his face upon receiving them.”

Thank you for your continued prayer and support as we strive to bring joy and purpose to orphans!

About Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Location
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Capital City
Addis Ababa

Area
1,104,300 sq km (slightly less than twice the size of Texas)

Population
85,237,338

Languages
Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, English (major foreign language taught in schools) (1994 census)

Religion
Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)

**data from www.cia.gov