We were scheduled to go to Ethiopia for interviews and zone conference. For the past few times we have planned to go to Ethiopia, we have tried to get to Awassa, but something always came up. It was time for us to call a new Branch President for the Awassa Branch, but we had other obligations in Debre Zeit, and Addis Ababa. We are so grateful that President Collings has capable counselors who are able to help out when he isn't able to be there. President Okello went to Awassa, and then while counseling with President Collings, called and set apart a new Branch Presidency.
President Okello and his wife Martha
Branch President: Eyobe Kassa Abate (Center)
1st Counselor: Sintayehu Demeke Doboro (Left)
2nd Counselor: Desalegne Deyaso Kare (Right)
Members attending the Awassa Branch
We are very excited for these new leaders. Awassa is a very special place, and with the help of the Branch Members and the 4 missionaries who are assigned to this branch, we will be able to see the church grow even more here.
President Collings and I attended church in the Debre Zeit Branch. We were with President Eyob, and while we were traveling to the meeting that morning, President Collings said that he didn't plan on speaking or teaching at all, he just wanted to observe. When we arrived though, he felt something completely different. There were about 75 people at church, and 14 of them were people who were interested in learning more about the church. Some of them had just walked in off the street. We have security guards at the church who are being taught by the missionaries, and when people are walking by, showing any interest at all, the security guards will invite them in and even give them a pass along card with the missionaries phone number on it.
President Collings felt very strongly that he needed to teach the people after sacrament meeting, and it was very inspiring. The feelings in the meetings were really wonderful. We did have a group of people from the United States who came for sacrament meeting. It was the final week for our senior couple and was a wonderful way to wish them a safe journey home, as we all sang, "God be with you till we meet again."
There are two sisters who just returned home from their missions. Sister Tigist, and Israel both served their missions in Ghana. They spoke to us after the meeting and talked about how their missions are not over, they have just taken off their name tags, but they are continuing to teach and lead people in the branches where they stay. We are blessed to have them!
After church, we visited Sister Yeshi and Israel's home. We have had some wonderful experiences as we have felt of the goodness of the members here in Ethiopia.
Sunday evening we went with some of the missionaries in Addis Ababa and enjoyed listening to them teach. The family we met with were really prepared. It was such a great feeling as they would ask the different questions that they have had for such a long time, I kept thinking how blessed we are to actually have the ANSWERS! The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has all the answers we need! This is a very strong family, and I'm excited to see them progress in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our missionaries taught very simply and were spot on in the things they said. I always enjoy listening to President Collings teach. He goes straight to the scriptures. There are a lot less questions when it comes from the mouths of the prophets and not just us. All in all it was a great evening. The people in Ethiopia are AMAZING!
For preparation day on Monday, we all met at a park and the elders and President Collings played Ultimate Frisbee. I actually forgot to bring anything but dresses, so I sat out and watched. The day was prefect. It was warm, but there were clouds in the sky so it never felt too hot. We really enjoyed spending time with the missionaries. They are good young men!
We were in a pretty nice park! The boundary lines were bricks, so the missionaries had to really watch where they would step as they were close to going out of bounds, so they didn't trip. I'm happy to report no injuries!
Mostly it was just the missionaries playing. A lot of people would walk by, and a few tossed the frisbee back to us when it went out of bounds, but when we invited them to come play, they would just laugh and continue walking.
A few pictures of the Ethiopia Zone.
We are happy to have these hard working, dedicated missionaries serving in Ethiopia. They are far away from the mission president, and now are without a senior couple, but they are diligent, and stalwart young men who can be trusted. We are grateful for their maturity, and their love of the Lord, which guides them to be the best missionaries they can be.
Our last day was zone conference. The focus for all zone conferences in the mission was on understanding and following the Spirit. It's especially important as missionaries because we absolutely have to have the Spirit with us or we would not be effective teachers. It's a huge comfort knowing that we are not alone in this work... D&C 84:88 "I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." President Collings focused on the quote by Joseph Smith, "Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it." Then we talked about different forms of revelation; a thought in your mind, a feeling in your heart, a dream, a voice, counsel from a teacher or leader, a scripture, general conference, etc. The missionaries then talked about what they need to do to be worthy of receiving revelation throughout the day, every day. They talked about things like prayer, study the scriptures, being obedient to the missionary rules (the white handbook), following the counsel of your leaders, offering your whole soul (Omni 1:26), etc.
My training was on having a good attitude. As missionaries we face trials every day, but how we react has a huge impact on the kind of missionary work we are able to accomplish. We talked about the story of Ammon in Alma 17:27-29 and compared the attitude of Ammon in those verses to the attitude of the other servants of the king. I compared the missionaries to Ammon. He had the bigger picture. He understood the things of God and saw this as an opportunity to show the power of God that was in him. We talked about situations when we are talking to people who are not of our faith, and how we can bless their lives as we show them the bigger picture. There are so many amazing stories in the scriptures where someone stuck up for what they knew was right, and even though they didn't know what the outcome would be, they trusted God. I tried to help the missionaries see that when difficulties come their way, even though they may not know the outcome, change their attitude, and try to look at the bigger picture, "How can this trial help me show others the love of God in their life?" "How can I react in a way that will lift others and help them see an example of the Savior?" "What is the bigger picture here?"
The Zone Leaders taught on Christ like leadership and setting prayerful goals. Our zone leaders are really great. I love attending zone conferences and listening to the missionary leadership teach. They do such a fine job, and I really learn so much from them. It's neat to see how they will take the subject that is given them and teach according to the needs of their own zones! Missionary Life is such a great time to watch the growth of these young men and women! I think it's my favorite thing about being a missionary mom, just seeing the changes that take place in the lives of our missionaries.
We are anxious to watch the progress of the people in Ethiopia. The missionaries are working hard, the people in the church are sharing with others, and inviting them to church. The people who are being taught and baptized seem to really be prepared! We have great future leaders being baptized at this time! We are so blessed to be a part of the growth of the church in Ethiopia.
