I need your help!

A small group of us from Fellowship Bible Church are going to Ethiopia in November (10-21), for what we hope will be the first of many trips to the country.  The primary goal is to establish relationships with churches in the area so that future trips can be efficient and impactful.

We will be spending the majority of our time in and around Hosanna, a city 5 hours south of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.  Ministry opportunities will include visiting orphanages, gathering basic medication, passing out school supplies, and doing various maintenance tasks at a local church.

While you can’t join us on this trip in person, you can join us in prayer.  Please pray that our time there will be fruitful and that a firm foundation can be made for future trips.  Pray for the people of Ethiopia, many of whom still struggle with access to clean water, medication, and the basic necessities of life that we take for granted.

You can also join us by donating financially, which will help offset the cost of the trip, currently about $14,000 for the entire team (includes airfare, lodging, food, and medical supplies).  The trip is also being supported by the FBC mission fund, as well as money from my own pocket.  Pray about it, and if you feel led to contribute, please make a check out to “Fellowship Bible Church” and either hand it to myself, or mail it directly to the church at: 16900 Waverly Road, Gardner, KS 66030.

Lastly, so you can pray more purposefully, I’ll be posting regular updates at kateandjoel.com/ethiopia, so check in often.

Thanks!

-Joel

Here’s the legal copy about monetary donations:

Your contributions to this Short-Term Mission Trip are tax deductible.  As required by Internal Revenue Service rules, when you give to our mission efforts, you should only give if you can agree that your donation is unconditionally given to FBC.  IRS rules state your contribution’s deductibility is dependent on it being “unconditional and without personal benefit to the donor,” and that it “is made to or for the use of” a qualified charity.  Further, FBC must have “full control of the donated funds, and discretion as to their use, so as to insure that they will be used to carry out its functions and purposes”.

We will be unable to refund any portion of your donation if the Short-Term Mission Trip you donate to is over-funded, if the individuals you received a request from is unable to go on the Short-Term Mission Trip, or if unforeseen conditions cause us to cancel this Short-Term Mission Trip.  If any of these should occur, your donation will be used for other FBC Global Outreach missions.

Weighing in a eight and half pounds, 20 inches, Henry Cooper Sawyer came out kicking and screaming. Thankfully his arrival was much easier on his mother than his big brother, Blake.

Henry, one day before his due date, surprised his mother with a water balloon to the pants. We got to the hospital at 11 in the morning and twiddled our thumbs for 9 hours waiting for the inevitable fight. Kate, reluctant, and fearing another two hour wrestling match was encouraged by the Dr. to enter the ring with the first push. Three pushes later, a purple, wailing Henry was placed upon mother’s chest. With that, we’re now a happy family of four.