Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 3:55 AM

This is our last day and last night.
I had a little trouble with my stomach - not bad, but I am thankful for Ginnie's portapottie.  I am not sure what we would have done without it. Pray that we will not have worse stomach problems.  The flies are terrible!!  We are now packed to go but do have afternoon classes.  I had a great class this
morning.  I felt that God used it.  Continue to pray for health and safety.
Love you with all my heart!
Gene

Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 1:00 PM

Well we made that long trip from Gambella to Jimma today.  We left at 5:45 got here at 4:15.  The roads were terrible.  My stomach was cramping when we let this morning, but gradually got better though I didn’t eat much all day.  We are in a nice hotel in Jimma, and had our first international food.  I have shaved after 1 wk.  It feels so good.  We have about 8 hours tomorrow to get to Addis.  We will be glad to get back.  I’m looking forward to talking to you.  Also, looking forward to reading your email and catching up on family and church news.
Love you lots
Gene

Update Sunday Feb. 9th, 2014 (two updates today)

Well, today is Sunday.  We had a 1 hour prayer service followed by a 2 hour service honoring Rex Switzer.  It was very special.  Several of the pastors gave testimony as to what he meant to them.  Both Frank and I spoke and told what he meant to us.  

Tonight will be our last night in the tent and tomorrow, Monday will be our last day of classes.  After class, we will leave for Gambella to spend the night. We will get up early Tuesday morning for 2 hard days of very slow driving.  Pray for safety and no mechanical break downs.

Love you,

Gene

It has been so hot and dry; I stay thirsty all the time.  I am drinking a lot.  The temperatures are in the 100's but at night it gets quite cool.  In fact, Frank brought 1 sheet.  I have worn my track suit when it gets cooler.

Adam has been a life saver.  He set up the tent, has cooked and done many more things.  The people are pitiful.  I don't know how they survive.  Refugees are coming across the border.  

We have really enjoyed teaching the pastors. They seem to absorb everything we teach.  It was a blessing to hear how many got saved at Deema, the refugee camp.

Love you lots
Gene

From Gene
I never thought that I would consider camping to be a luxury.  Well, I do now!  It is luxury compared to last night.  I felt like I needed a disinfectant after staying in that place!!  Had beef stroganoff for dinner!  The Lord prepared a table in the wilderness for us.  We start the classes tomorrow.  Pray for the classes.  We have 10-12 pastors and evangelist.
Love you
Gene

I tried to send a message but it wouldn’t go out.  I’m trying again.  Our classes went well today.
Gene

I want you to know that I am doing great!  No problems with my knees, hips or my back!  The sleeping arrangements are working fine.  The first night the air mattress went flat—had to keep pumping it up.  The next day we bought a thin mattress which was much better.  I have not shaved since I left Addis.  First of all, no hot water, no mirror.  Second, out here you don’t care!  The food is gourmet!  Beef stroganoff one day, lasagna the next!  The Lord has prepared a table in the wilderness!  Hope I can send this out!  I have been trying for 2 days, but the cell phone service is not good.
Love you lots
Gene

After 2 full  days of driving at 25 miles per hour, the Sudan/Ethiopia Border has been  reached! As you can see on the map below, the trip from Addis Ababa to the Sudan border is quite a trek, especially when the roads are like dirt paths, and you can't reach speeds of more than about 25 miles per hour. Please pray for God's work to be done during the stay here. The Blog will be updated again as soon as there is access to the internet once again. 

please note that the photos above are stock photos to give you an idea of the area. Of course there will be many authentic photos uploaded once there is access to good internet! 

Arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after being away 6 years has been quite a
culture shock.  You wouldn't think that after 46 years ( we first came to
Ethiopia in 1968) being involved in Ethiopian ministry that I would
experience culture shock...but I did.  Culture shock is when you go to a new
culture and have trouble accepting it.

When I arrived Wednesday morning there was so much that was familiar, but
the fumes of the traffic and everything was really dry, since they had not
had rain for a few months.  The streets are all torn up because they are
building train tracks so that they can provide transportation in this city
of at least 5 million.  The places that used to be so familiar are turned
around.  It was also the day that Africa Union was meeting in Addis Ababa,
and many streets were closed.  Frankly, my head was in a twirl by the time
we arrived at Ginnie Switzer's house.

Ginnie's husband, Rex, died from malaria after being in South Sudan.  The
day I arrived was the 22nd month of his death.  She feels that God want her
to continue in the ministry.  She is a very brave woman that is willing to
go to South Sudan if God opens the door.

One of  the important things that I had to do coming to Addis was to get the
title to the truck that the Switzers bought from me 6 years ago transferred
from my name to her name.  As many of you have prayed, God answered your
prayers, we managed to get everything done on Thursday.  You will never
fully understand red tape until you come to a country like this.  You will
go into one office with your documents, then they will send you to another
room, and at some point, you will be asked to go someplace and buy a stamp.
A stamp that has to go to on that particular document.  Finally, you will
have to pay the cashier.  Even though you  have  the cash to  pay, they
will send you to bank to pay them, & they in turn, will send you back with a
note saying that you had paid them.  As my son-in-law, Brian Wilson, says,
the "red-tape dispenser" never gives out!

We are scheduled to leave tomorrow (Saturday) for Fitche & we (me, Frank &
Karon Auterson, Adam Wright and Ginnie Switzer) had enjoyed a nice Ethiopian
dinner.  We had a time of prayer for our upcoming trip to the border.  Then
Frank's son called from the States saying Karon's mom was at the  point of
death.  She is now making arrangement to return to the States for her
funeral.  Frank has decided to go ahead with our plans to go to the South
Sudan border for the conference that we have planned.  We need your prayers
for both Karon & Frank. This puts a lot of pressure on them especially with
all that we had planned.  Pray for Karon that she can get a flight out as
soon as possible.

I didn't expect this letter to end up this way, but life has a strange way
of throwing curves your way & we have to remain confident that God is in
control. Romans 8: 28. Continue to pray for our trip to the border Tuesday
or Wednesday!

Love to all,

Gene

Date: Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 2:45 AM

Subject: Gene

It is good to get your letter.  I am ccing this to Kathi.  I didn’t get to bed until after 11 last night then woke up about 1230 when Frank & Karon were going to the airport, and was a wake when they came back.  I didn’t speak to Adam until this morning.  He seems to be a nice person.  He is only about 30.

Fortunately, we have power & water.  Ginnie had a big breakfast but I tried to be careful how much I ate because we are having Doro (chicken) wat at lunch.

 

We (Frank, Karon, Adam and I) are going to do some running around this morning and then will come back and eat lunch, and then head to Fitche.

Well, I didn’t get as cold last night.  I think laying on a blanket made a difference with the cot. 

I had better get going.  I will try to do a blog before I leave for Fitche.

Love to you all!

Gene/Dad

Date: Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 2:15 PM

Subject: Mission Accomplished!!

Dearest Glenda,

Well, this has been a long day, but we got the title transferred.  We got
started about 10:00 am and finished before 4:00 pm.  

 I am really amazed at my stamina. I do give out of breath because of altitude, but in spite of that, I did
really well.  The electric was  off this morning, but Ginnie  had made the coffee before it went off.  It came back in the afternoon.

It was a very good day with Ginnie.  It has been very good to talk with her.  We leave for Fitche tomorrow. Adam Wright comes in tonight, and Frank and Karon will be going to pick him up. I am going to stay here and sleep.  I  am sleeping on a cot in the office. When Adam arrives,  he will sleep on the other cot here in the office.

I love you and will write again soon!
Gene