Happy Thanksgiving...

I LOVE Thanksgiving Day.  A time to see old friends and family members you haven't seen for way too long.  A time to eat... and then eat some more.  A time to catch some (American) football (if you're Stateside, or have a good internet connection).  And while these are all reasons for my love for this holiday… I love most that it parades thankfulness.  Thankfulness for God's provision in so many ways, but of unparalleled importance--Jesus.  Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm reminded that each of you--at some (or many) point(s)--have given my family reasons to be thankful.  

Meet Abate.

I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine.  His name is Abate.  I met him shortly after our arrival to Ethiopia, as we both attend a men's fellowship at the Ayele's home.  He's since began attending our Saturday Bible study, and recently we've been meeting one-on-one studying the Bible together.  

Abate is 76.  He's been serving Christ in Ethiopia through the times of an emperor, a military regime, and--most recently--prime ministers.  A school teacher/administrator by trade, he has been involved in ministry for longer than I've been alive.  He has led many to Christ--primarily in the rural villages and towns.  He has some great stories.  What I've been encouraged by the most is his desire to continue to serve Jesus, and his appetite for the Word of God.  I recently shared some Inductive Bible Study DVDs... which he has grown to love.  I once told him that if I reach his age, I hope I am still as teachable and "hungry" as he is.  I am thankful for this man and his example of serving Jesus.

A couple of weeks ago he asked me to accompany him in teaching the Bible to pastors and congregations in rural areas.  The first opportunity to do so will be tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day.  We will travel by bus and foot to meet with seven pastors for a time of pouring the Word of God into them, prayer, and conversation(s).  I was reminded today that what I can offer them--in human terms--is very little.  I could give them my limited scope of experiences, methods, principles, and stories… hoping that it will relate to their world.  However, that is not what they need.  Instead, I would like to give them what we all need more of... JESUS.  

...SO thank-full.

Prayer Requests.

• Please pray for our travels, conversations, and times in the Word with our brothers.  
• Please pray that we would leave different men than when we arrive--because of Jesus.
• Please pray for health and strength, as I was recently diagnosed and prescribed meds for beginning stages of typhoid. 

All the best in Jesus,

Shaun