Lifesong-Ethiopia

Christmas was celebrated on Jan. 7 with a special program, which included singing carols, a message from an evangelist and a drama of the Christmas story starring some of the older students. Since many of our students come from Muslim or atheist homes this is a great opportunity to share Christ.
Recently 4 American volunteer nurses came to check all 430 of our students.
Because of this examination, 7 year-old Abdisa was taken to the local hospital and we found out she has a heart concern. Now she can get the attention she needs. Her mother, a young widow, is one of the school's cooks.
Dr. Bryan Stoller, an optometrist, also came to check vision and hand out glasses.
We also have a prayer request for a girl named Marion that is 14 years old. She was sexually assaulted and became pregnant. Her mother is widowed and HIV positive. As a student at the Lifesong, Marion receives special care and hopefully she will continue her education after her baby is delivered.

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