June 1st, 2010 Members in the News
Where do Messiah’s “Well Fund” contributions go?… Places like this!
In rural Ethiopia there is no infrastructure for water systems. To this day women need to haul water on their backs from streams and puddles to their homes and adjacent crop fields.
Our Southeastern Synod in collaboration with Mekane Yesus Synod in southwestern Ethiopia is confronting this challenge head-on by siting and installation of hand dug wells and heavy duty mechanical pumps in the remote Mizan Teferi village area 500 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa.
Messiah’s Dave Cooper joined a small group of seven veteran missionaries from several congregations in the Atlanta area, and they have recently returned from the Synod’s 2010 water supply mission siting and installing several new well pumps. One is actually located on the grounds of an Ethiopian Lutheran church! This approach vastly improves the efficiency of water availability and quality for use by native villagers, and adds to their overall quality of life, which is poor materially but rich in village harmony and spirituality. These are happy, hard working people.
The long range water supply mission vision and dream is to install a total of 50 wells in strategic locations in this small region, but will depend on continued commitment from the Synod’s congregations to make this dream eventually come true.
At the end of the day, its not just about the wells, pumps, and water supply though, its about sharing of our bounty and receiving in return their wisdom of the ages on how to live happily in simple ways. These primitive Ethiopian natives have much to teach us, and opportunities abound for those in Messiah with an interest in participating in this dream in a variety of ways, including prayer, contributions, and yes, sweat equity too.
Dave also compiled a good deal of audiovideocam footage, still shots and interviews with youngsters and elders from this amazing place while he was there on this assignment, and is currently putting together a multimedia presentation for Messiah a month or so down the road.
The March 5, 2010 issue of “The Skinnie” featured profiles of 5 island Pastors, including our own Rev. Ed Myers.
Pastor Myers Profile
Messiah members Jack and Diane Munroe continue to be recognized throughout the Savannah community for their dedicated efforts in support of our military families. In particular, Jack has been a driving force for The Landings Military Relief Fund which has raised almost $500,000 to assist deserving military families in need. His profile appeared in the March issue of The Skinnie.
Dick Williams – “Champion of Change” for Messiah’s efforts at Second Harvest Food Bank. Dick was recently featured on the local evening news, along with his Messiah volunteers working at the Food Bank. Click on his name above to see the video!
