Day 3 - Church at Beza

By Tyson Payne

Church day, today started off just like the past couple days have. Up at seven, do some reading, drink some coffee, and enjoy a great breakfast with the rest of the team. We talk about what the day holds, (or at least what we think it holds) and load up in the van.  Baruk, our faithful driver patiently waiting to transport us through a maze stricken with pot holes, random farm animals, broken down vehicles, and pedestrians who don't seem to care much for cross walks. We are always in amazement when we arrive not only safely, but also without any dents in the van. The streets and traffic here can only be described as organized chaos.  Everything seems to flow, but looks like at any moment everything is going to come to a screeching halt. I feel confident speaking for the team when I say Baruk has some skill behind the wheel!
  We arrived at Beza international church, and I won't lie I was a bit more than skeptical to see what we were about to experience. Not because I knew anything about this church, but having been in many other church services in different countries here in Africa that have been less than enjoyable, or edifying. I had already prepared myself for whatever may come. That's not something I'm proud saying, it's actually quite embarrassing. I mean, we are about to walk into the house of God to worship with local believers. I'm not a very skeptical person, I've always been a "glass half full" kinda guy; I guess I  just let my past experience dictate what I thought we were walking into. I'm extremely joyed to say I couldn't have been more incorrect!
   We walked into the church, smiling and shaking some hands. Not looked at like we were there to put on some big show and save everybody that showed up (past experience). But rather we were there for the same reason everyone else was...to worship. And that we did. There is something so breathtaking about being in a different country half way around the world, in a room full of people you don't know, who we will most likely never see again in this lifetime and stand shoulder to shoulder with them and sing songs of praise to the same God. It's something so simple, yet mind blowing all at the same time. We listened to a man of God bring a message that was rooted in scripture, whose sole purpose was to bring the good news to the people of his country, not to put another dollar in his pocket, and a message that was  just as relevant here as it would have been if we were at our home churches. I feel truly blessed to have gotten to worship with the brothers and sisters at Beza church today!
   Church wasn't the only thing we did today, though noting else quite compared. I had probably the best bacon cheese burger I've had in Africa, so that was cool, and bought more diapers all at one time than I ever thought I would... But you'll hear more about that tomorrow. 

Day 2 - AWAA Transition Home

By Samantha Payne


Day two in Ethiopia has been wonderful. We were able to visit the transition home for America World. I spent most of my time with the children that have special needs. There were several that could not walk or really move any of their limbs on their own. Most would thrive from physical therapy or other services that just aren't easy to access or they don't even have here. I loved the time spent with them! We also played games with the other children. The younger ones loved the balloons that we brought to play with! It has been a great experience so far and I feel blessed.

America World not only helps with orphan care and adoption, they also have a ministry of orphan prevention.

They have a sponsorship program to help families that are in need of a little help to support in caring for a child because of poverty.  There are 107 families in the sponsorship program, and today at the transition home, we were able to meet four of those families.  The  situations that caused the child to be at risk of becoming an orphan were all unique, but there was a commonality of love, pride, and true affection from the caregiver accompanying the child to the meeting.

We met a grandmother who works hard selling bread and goods to provide a home for her 8 year old granddaughter, an aunt who is caring for her hospitalized brother's 11 year old son, a grandfather with an exceptionally bright 9 year old grandson, and a soft spoken mother who became a single because of her son's medical hardships.The families were so gracious to share their stories with us and answer all of our questions that were translated to them.

We were excited to provide each of the families with a gift bag of goodies, macaroni, and large bag of teff, which is a grain used in making injera bread.

 unloading bags of teff

Day 1 - We Made It

By Mariah Cowell

Upon our arrival today in Addis Ababa, a few things have already changed my perspective in the few hours we have been here. As we drove through the city I was struck by how similar we are to these people across the world from us. It can be so easy to fall into line with stereotypes that society projects. As we rode through the streets I witnessed people going to work, hanging out with friends and kids running around. I feel as Christians it can be so easy for us to view mission work as "us helping them." I have so quickly realized that although poverty is prevalent in this country and there are people who need their stories told, we are similar. Mission work is affective when it is based relationships. The idea that you can travel some 70,000 miles across the world and still relate to people is such an amazing example of how big our God is. Please pray that we would be intentional with our interactions, that each individual we encounter will be heard and understood and that we would pursue boldly what God has for us here. 

Meet Mariah Cowell

My name is Mariah Cowell. I am a 20 year old from Charlotte, North Carolina. I am currently studying Social Work and Gender studies in school. I plan on going on to graduate school to study policy within social work, especially regarding children’s rights in international adoption. I feel so blessed with this amazing opportunity to be able to go to Addis Ababa to see and interact with these people. I am so excited to see what God has for us on this trip and those that we will encounter!

Meet Jennifer & James Lane

We are the parents of three, reside in Amarillo, Texas.  We have ministered at Citychurch in downtown Amarillo for 19 years.  James performs the role of media director and minister at Citychurch.  One of his responsibilities is producing a television program called For the Heart of the City.

Jennifer traveled on an AWAA mission trip to Ethiopia last year, and James has gone on five mission trips to several countries in Africa.  James has visited Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and South Sudan.

God used his trip in January of 2013 to South Sudan to call our family to adoption.  We are now on the waiting list with America World Adoption Agency in their Ethiopia program.  We have requested a little boy between the ages of three and seven.  We anxiously wait for the day that we can add him to our family. 

We are very excited about this mission trip to Ethiopia with America World Storyteller missions.  This will be the first time we both will visit Africa at the same time.  We feel honored to be able to share the love of Christ with the children we will encounter. 

Meet Samantha & Tyson Payne

We are Tyson and Samantha Payne. We are parents to an amazing one year old boy. Tyson is part owner of a mechanic shop and I, Samantha, am a social worker and write home studies for several agencies including America World Adoption Agency. We are grateful for the opportunity to go to Ethiopia and cannot wait to see what God has in store for our team! 

Meet Beth Adams

Beth Adams

Born and raised in Virginia. Married, with three adult children, a son in law, daughter in law, and three grandchildren. Member of the Anglican Church. Happy to return to Ethiopia where my granddaughter was adopted in 2010. I work as a licensed professional counselor.