Welcome to the team! If it is your first time hearing about one of these trips, get ready to see God do some crazy things! Let me begin by answering a few questions you may have:

What the heck are you doing?
So glad you ask. I will be heading to Ethiopia for the 6th time in my life (so far) to work alongside a team of Americans and Ethiopians. Each year, we get to work together to share with communities all over the country about the incredible, life-altering things Jesus has done for each of us and can do for them. Until fairly recently, we were not permitted to talk about these things openly. However, God has opened many doors over the past decade or so, and we have seen Him transform thousands of lives in Ethiopia. Our primary focus will be sharing about this awesome God in places where there is still little or no opportunity to hear about Him. In addition to this, we will have the opportunity to train other followers of Jesus who want to continue this work when we leave. 

In more recent years, we have also begun to partner with the PRICELESS ministry, which educates families about the ongoing human trafficking epidemic. Through this ministry, we have seen many families commit to keeping their loved ones safe. We have also learned of the devastating impact of human trafficking on Ethiopian villages. They are often a huge target for traffickers because they are unaware of the reality of the situation. All kinds of people have fallen victim to this horrible evil, especially young women and children. They are taken by force or tricked into leaving their homes for what they believe will be a better life, but the truth is, most of them become slaves and are never seen again. Those who escape are forever changed. They have been broken and abused in unfathomable ways, and the only one who can bring true restoration and hope is Jesus.

In the past, we have spent most of our time in a region known as Arba Minch. However, since God has been incredibly faithful and multiplied the number of churches and workers there, we now get to go somewhere new! We are going to Shashamane!



Why the heck are you doing this?
Another great question. About 10 years ago, my friend told me the story of the one true God, how he came to Earth in the form of a man named Jesus, and how he lived without sin only to sacrifice himself on behalf of sinners. I suppose I never considered myself a sinner before this because I thought "sin" just meant doing bad things, and I was (generally) well-behaved. However, as I gained understanding of who God is, I learned that the real definition of sin is disobeying God. That's not quite the same. Sin is what separates us from God, and we all have it. According to God's word, the result of sin is death, and it can only be undone through a sacrifice free from blemish or imperfection. Now aware of my imperfection, I was devastated by this news. That is, until my friend told me what God did to fix that problem. 

By living a sinless life and voluntarily dying on a cross for mankind, Jesus received the punishment we all deserve so that we could have a relationship with God again. In the Bible, it says that Jesus was raised to life after having been dead for three days. This act reversed a curse that has gripped mankind since the very first sin was committed. It wiped out every sin, past, present, and future, from little white lies to murder. It gave us a new beginning, a second chance to live life as God intended. This is incredible news, and Jesus told his followers to tell the world about it so they could experience this joy as well. This is why we go. 

When the heck are you leaving?
We leave for Shashamane July 18 and will return August 4. Until then, please pray with us for the people we will encounter. Pray that people will be open about their struggles so that we can love them well. Pray for understanding as we share this amazing message of love from God. Pray for our translators, disciple makers, pastors, supporters, parents, and anyone else involved in this work. While it is such a joy to take part in these trips, it requires lots of work, preparation, money, time, and trust in the Lord. Please pray for the whole process, and above all, that God would receive the credit. Our part is so small. God is the one who changes hearts and lives. What a great God we serve.

Thank you so much for reading!

Paige Fernandez