The Burden Continues

In December 2011 I met Dr. John Balikowski, an American Dentist and Missionary, in Mekelle, Ethiopia.  Dr. John is an incredible man.  He has dedicated his life to spreading the news of Jesus Christ around the world.  He has been in Ethiopia since 2005 and moved to Mekelle, in Northern Ethiopia, in 2011.  Dr. John's work with his Dental School has opened doors and gained favor with local officials to do something that has never been done before - open an evangelical Bible Training Center in Northern Ethiopia.  

When I was in Mekelle, Dr. John planted the seed with me to help him make the Bible Training Center a reality.  Upon returning to the US, my interest in Ethiopia was focused on getting our son, Sofani, to join our family, but the burden of the bible school never subsided.  I tried to push the burden away - avoiding it, talking myself out of it and hoping someone else would help so I didn't have to.  It seemed like it was working.  I had gone 2 years without hearing from Dr. John.  

Then it happened.  In January 2014 I heard from God while journaling.  

1/19/14 - “Research the bible college in Mekelle.  Develop a strategy to raise $500K.  Change the world.” 

At the time this sounded completely crazy.  $500K? Me?  I don't even like helping my kids with school fundraisers.

1/24/14 – “Listen for my call and obey.  Have ears to hear and eyes to see.  Order the book I showed you earlier this week.”

So I ordered the book I had heard about on Christian Radio earlier in the week.  It was  “The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent."  This book helped me gain more of an understanding on some of the key differences between Islam and Christianity.  

First, I must admit, "hearing from God" seemed a bit strange to me.  It still feels odd to type it.  I didn't feel I was "religious enough" to hear from God. I thought that was reserved for Pastors and people a whole lot more holy than me.  In any event, I realized that God had a plan to use me - an imperfect sinner - to do His work halfway around the world. 

Why was I not surprised?  I've read the Bible.  I know that this is one of the most strong themes throughout the book - God using unlikely people to carry out His mission of spreading the news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.  

Then after a two year absence of any communication, on February 1, 2014 I received an email from Dr. John Balikowski.

“Dear Jason,
It has been a long time since you were here with us in Mekelle.  Hope all is well with you.
We are in the process of finally starting the Bible training center here in Mekelle.  We never heard back anything positive about putting up the building, so we are renting one for now so we can get started.  We are short a few thousand dollars for startup expenses and I would ask the Lord if you or your friends could help us.  Funds can be sent a couple of different ways, one would be through the church in Michigan that was willing to help channel funds for us, and also through World Dental Relief.
Please pray for us as we try to get started.  I already have a curriculum and will work with ISOM (International School of Ministry).
Your partner for the Harvest in Ethiopia,
Dr. John”

I knew at that time I didn't have a choice.  I remember reading this email as I woke up.  All I could do was laugh and shake my head.  I remember telling Staci, "you're not going to believe this."

Dr. John and Dr. Grill joining me earlier this year for a fundraising event in Selma, IN (home of the most generous church I know - Selma United Methodist)

The work began.  I reached out to Dr. John to develop a plan and not even a year later we have made some incredible progress:  

• Funds were quickly raised to open the Bible Training Center in the temporary location in May, 2014.  35 students showed up on the first day for class.
• Over $100,000 has been raised in small circles to get the temporary location up and running ($25,000) while setting aside the remaining $75,000 for a down payment on the permanent location.
• The Nationals have raised $20,000 to add to our total.
• In November 2014, we identified an ideal permanent site - plenty of room for classrooms, offices, future expansion, an ideal location and tenants on the ground floor paying rent to make the Center entirely self-sufficient.
• In December 2014, enrollment in the school grew to 80.  80 future church leaders in a part of Ethiopia where less than 1% of the population are evangelical Christians.  Wow.
• Throughout the process we've had incredible cooperation and harmony amongst the Tigrinya Evangelical Churches Fellowship (this group is made up of all the local evangelical church leaders in Tigray - 13 of which are in Mekelle)

Students at the temporary site for the Bible Training Center

This brings me to today.  

We are close to signing the purchase offer for the permanent location. The price for the permanent site is $215,000; however, it will end up being closer to $250,000 after including brokerage fees, interest on the remaining balance over 2015 and government fees.  We still have to raise $150,000 by the end of 2015 ($30,000 of which has to be raised by the end of February).

The burden continues.  I'll be honest there have been times over the last couple of weeks that I update the website and I can't fathom how we're going to find another $150,000 in 12 months.  If you would have told me in February that we would have already raised over $120,000 and have 80 students in the program I wouldn't have believed that either.  I quickly remind myself that this has nothing to do with me and my abilities.  It only has to do with my obedience.  This is God's plan and I'm just someone carrying out a small part in His plan.  

If God is calling you to make a financial contribution to our efforts, please feel free to jump on board and make a contribution.  You can make a donation online at www.harvestinethiopia.com or by mailing a check to:

New Life Christian Fellowship

2237 E Reid Rd

Grand Blanc, MI

49439

Memo: Ethiopia Bible School

While financial contributions are great, we're in need of new contacts and networks to socialize our efforts. Dr. John and I need to get in front of new churches, religious organizations and influencers to share what we're doing and to get more people involved.  We need some additional people to step up and help share this burden with those of us that have been working on this project and those that have made financial contributions to date.  

I would really appreciate it if you would share a link to my blog or to the Harvest in Ethiopia website to someone(s) that could arrange for speaking engagements, etc.  We need a larger audience.

We are confident that if we can expand our network, increase our efforts and build on our 2014 fundraising n 2015 we will be able to finish off this project and fulfill our mission to build the first Evangelical Bible Training Center in Northern Ethiopia.  

The Permanent Location for the Bible Training Center in Mekelle

Two Years

Two years ago Staci, Avery, Jackson and I were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to take Sofani home to our family.  So much has happened over the last couple of years and it’s a great time to reflect.

At the hotel in Addis in the Summer of '12

First, I still marvel at Sofani for taking such a leap of faith.  Here’s a boy that left his friends and relatives in Mekelle to check himself into an orphanage in Addis so that he would be legally eligible for adoption.  He knew me for 3 days.  He didn’t know Staci or anyone else in our family.  We didn’t even speak the same language.  He put all of the trust in the world in me - that I would circle halfway around the world to come and get him out of the orphanage while paperwork was processed and the hope that the court to rule in our favor.  He had to spend 5 months in a tiny orphanage filled with infants and toddlers.  Two years later – it’s still mind blowing.  Sofi’s courage is something that is hard to imagine.  It is all the evidence you need that children are desperate to be loved, have parents and be part of a family. 

Things weren't always easy.  As a matter of fact, the adjustment resulting from Sofani’s adoption was the hardest thing our family has ever endured.  There’s absolutely no question about it.  Roles were shifted.  Everything was shared.  Patience was tested.  Tears were shed.  Fairness became an issue.  Insecurities and past life experiences had to be addressed.  Language and communication were more an issue than we anticipated.  The peace of our home was thrown out the window.  At times I wondered what had happened.  Why did God give us such clear signs that Sofani was meant to be in our family only to make things so difficult on all of us?  Why was my nice and tidy family suddenly at the altar?

It’s not something that I blogged about – the experiences were way too personal.  We put on our best front in public – holding onto the fact that one day we would reach the end of all the hard times and establish a “new normal” for our family.  But there were days where each of us were gutted, discouraged and questioning how we arrived at this point in our lives and questioning God’s plan for our family.  There were days that Sofani said he wanted to go back to Ethiopia.  There were days I would have bought the ticket.  The people closest to us know what this was like for our family and we will be forever grateful to you for your love and support.  We made it!

That’s why it’s so awesome to be at the two year mark.  The difficulties in year one seem so far behind us now.  For all of the struggles, God has blessed us tenfold with laughter, joy and peace.  I’m not just saying that.  I really mean it.  It feels completely natural to give him a hug, hear him call me “dad,” encourage him, challenge him, support him and love him.  There is not a doubt in my mind that the feeling is mutual.

The awesome thing about the last two years has been the lives that have been touched by Sofani.  Hearts have been softened.  Eyes have been opened.  Our family extends well beyond the four walls of our house.

I can’t say enough about the support we've had from our church.  The spiritual warfare we encountered was real and the folks in our church were right there with us – offering us support and sound, biblical advice on how to handle our challenges. 

Our community and school system has been incredible.  They've taken a very unfamiliar challenge and embraced it.  Sofani’s teachers, counselors, coaches, helpers have all been so patient and loving towards him.  We may have our quirks in Selma, but I can tell you it’s a great place to raise a family.

Our parents, grandparents and extended family have been so incredible with the love they've given Sofi.  I can’t do it justice trying to describe it.

My grandparents, J and Joan, drive over from Marion to go to his baseball games.  My grandma has had him spend the night alone just so she could read him the same books that she read to her other grandchildren at a much younger age.   Staci’s dad, Tom, lets him help in his workshop and imparts wisdom on how to build and fix things that he’s not going to get from me.  Staci’s mom, Anita, takes him looking for coins and other hidden treasures at the school across the street from their house.  My mom, Cathy, loves to take him shopping and keeps him looking stylish.  My dad, Jay, attends all of his events and imparts a very familiar brand of wisdom and encouragement in everything Sofi tackles.

Anna hasn't batted an eye through all of our experiences over the first two years.  Sofani is her big brother and her cartoon watching buddy.  She’ll never remember life before his arrival.

Anna, Sofani and Sponge Bob (most days)

Avery and Sofi have developed a great friendship and enjoy a very typical brother and sister relationship.  She helps him with homework and has blazed a trail of acceptance and justice among her friends and in our community.

Avery and Sofani - Soccer - Fall '13

Staci has loved him from the minute I mentioned his name.  She loves Sofani with the same capacity that she does the three that she birthed.  She challenges him, disciplines him and has forged a relationship that is so incredible and unique – it’s amazing.  She has sacrificed so much of herself to push through the tough times and persevere. She has grown in her faith and has opened so many eyes to the wonderful privilege associated with adoption.  She and Sofi now joke around about the first few months after he arrived - all of the times he tested her and challenged her.  She has chipped away day by day to shape and mold him with her constant love and instruction.

Besides Staci and Sofani, there’s no one I have more admiration and respect for than my son Jackson.  While he was very excited to finally have a brother, we all underestimated how many sacrifices would come along with it.  Jackson has shared his room, clothes, friends and time.  Sofani’s adventurous spirit has stretched Jackson in the same way that Jackson’s loving heart has extended to Sofani.  It’s been a joy to watch these two bond and grow both as individuals and as brothers.

My Boys - Fall '13

This has been a life changing experience for me.  I am a better father, better husband and better Christian man because of Sofani.  I changed careers and shifted my priorities so that I can invest more time and attention to my family.  I don’t take all of the things that I've been entrusted to for granted.  I am soaking up all of the joys of life more now than I ever have in the past.  He has enriched my life and our family beyond measure.  I’m grateful that God crossed our paths and that we both said “yes” to His plan to connect us.  We needed each other and God knew it.

Two years.  It’s a landmark day for us.  We thank all of you for your love and prayers!

The Crew - Summer '13