Missions Ethiopia

We went to a banquet at Hope Community Church and heard President Girma Wolde-Giorgis of Ethiopia speak. I enjoyed being there. He thanked everyone for helping his country and told a little bit about the poverty and problems and his hopes for the future. It was so impressive to me that he would go to a church gathering in the middle of the country because they were helping his people. As they said, that is a sign of a humble man.

President Girma joked about being invited to ring the bell in New York for the start of the day at the stock exchange. He said the day before he rang it, it had the worst drop in many years (and it did). The day he rang it things got much better. He told other jokes too.

One of the things President Girma said that 64% of the country had been covered with trees and now only 3% was covered with trees. They needed to replant. I don't think people heard him rightbecause, when he said 3% a lot of them clapped and it was bad news, not good news.

I was very glad to get to go. We talked to several very nice people, including a young couple at AGTS and Evangel. We hope to see them again.

We also got to hear the Ethiopian Ambassador to the US and Pastor Tom Deuschle of Zimbabwe. It was an interesting evening. The food was good also. I had brisket and John had pecan encrusted chicken.