Impact Ethiopia

Wow! Is the only way to describe the experience of seeing 150,000 thousand people press in with an intense hunger for God to touch their lives.

It was an honor to take a team of eight to serve with the Joshua Campaign in Ethiopia. We had representatives from Missouri, Arizona, Michigan, and Montana unite for this trip. Everyone left from their perspectives airports to meet in D.C. Monday night November 1st. A long layover in Frankfurt gave us an opportunity to celebrate Quinika’s birthday (one of our team members), and enjoy a little bonding time.



Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia we met up with the Joshua team, a group of seven from Kentucky, a couple from Sweden, and three men from California. These amazing men and women of God would become our family and co laborers for the next several days. From Addis we took an 8½ hour bus ride to Shambu. It is interesting how this ride seemed so rough at the beginning of trip, but was not quite as bad on the way back after several days immersed in the reality of the people.



Our first morning in Shambu we broke into teams and traveled to smaller villages in the surrounding area, to preach the gospel, pray for the sick, and invite people to the crusade. We saw close to 100,000 come out the first night of the crusade and God was ready to move on behalf of these hungry people. Many came to Jesus and the healings began. Our second day was very similar, but the numbers increased. The third day was powerful. Many people had traveled so far they were camping on the field, and we were asked to do a second crusade that day. We did one in the morning and the evening one. A highlight from that morning was a tumor the size of an orange was completely gone from an elderly gentleman’s stomach. We dubbed the service that night as kids night, because the platform was full of children that had been healed. A lame boy walked, blind eyes were opened, deaf ears heard, the mute spoke, and many more amazing miracles took place. They estimated around 150,000 people were at the crusade that night. On Sunday we again had 2 crusades, with many more salvations and miracles. Karl Hargestam spoke a word for the nation of Ethiopia and challenged the people to press in with hunger for the Holy Spirit. When you have the opportunity to stand on a platform in the midst of a multitude of people that are hungry for God it does something in your Spirit that is life changing.


The next morning we began our journey back to Addis. Dave and Etheleen Reed, an amazing couple set apart by God for His good works, have moved to Ethiopia and started a flower farm with the vision of supporting the ministry of Joshua campaign. We had the privilege of visiting this amazing operation and these sacrificial servants. What a huge blessing they are to the Kingdom.
That night back in Addis we had a family dinner, celebrating all that we had seen God do that week. The next day we had a chance to visit a deaf school, tour the city and Joshua’s offices. Joshua has an awesome outreach for women in Addis called the Mercy Project where we had a devotional and some very tasty coffee(yum!). They offer women the opportunity to learn trades and find the healing love of Jesus while taking care of their children. From this ministry they run a coffee shop that provides employment for some of the women. The stories of hope that emerge from this ministry are incredible.

So as you can see we are back to WOW! This trip is a life changing, perspective rattling, heart humbling experience.