Greetings Dear Friend,

I'm going to Ethiopia this summer!  Why?  The following paragraph from the team's PureCharity website provides a good description.

The beautiful Gamo Gofa region of southern Ethiopia has dozens of people groups, many of whom worship in the Orthodox, Animistic, and Muslim faiths. They live a simple life with their families, crops, and livestock, but they lack the hope that comes from the grace of Jesus. They also lack the education necessary to protect their families from the ever present and growing danger of human trafficking right in their own villages. We will travel to this region and, in God's strength, bring them both of these.

I'd like to claim my altruistic nature brought me this point but it was in truth my daughter, Amber, who started the process of considering this trip for me.  My reaction to her request to go in 2016 was one of fear.  Too far, too full of possible danger, too unfamiliar, too expensive.  As I learned, thought and prayed about 2017 (she wouldn't let it go and neither would God) I became convinced not only to let her go but excited to share in this ministry myself.  God completely changed my heart and mind and I am eager to go.

The team will be drinking coffee in home after home, sharing God's love and protecting families from the devastation that human trafficking can bring. We are excited for you to join our team!

Would you please consider providing spiritual support through prayer and financial resources to fund the effort?  Both are necessary and I would love to have you as a partner in this ministry.  Let's talk about it over a cup of coffee.  Name the time and place.

In God's love,

Russ