Theresa is now on home leave until January 2011.  She spent much of July having medicals, meeting the SIM management staff at their UK Headquarters, having her mission debrief  and settling into her Scottish accommodation. 

From August onwards, she will be mainly in Scotland and various meeting will be organised for her soon.

In her most recent prayer letter, dated 17th July, she says:-

Dear Friends,

I am writing this letter in Scotland; I’ve been home a few weeks and I’m excited to catch up with all of you again and share with you personally about my last 2½ years in Ethiopia; and find out what has been happening with you too. I cannot believe how quickly time has passed and how much God has done over the last few years in Ethiopia; in my own life, at Bingham Academy amongst the students and with the boys in the Horizon Project.  There have been some very tough times; especially in the last year, but also some amazing blessings, growing relationships and transformed lives. 

Bingham is Brilliant...

Despite some of the frustrations of teaching teenagers, this year at Bingham has been a real joy. Being a teacher at Bingham for 5 years, I am one of the more permanent figures at the school.  I know the students well and this mission term has been one where those relationships have deepened and I can see God use these relationships to ministry to both my students and myself.  This year’s graduating class is very close to my heart; I’ve taught them since 8th grade and it’s been amazing to watch them grow and develop over the years. It’s a mixed class of personalities and they are all at different places in their relationships with God; from those that haven’t accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to those who are growing in their faith and striving to share it with others. For those that have a faith, and seek to deepen it, graduating and going to university is an exciting time as they step out on their own. Join me in praying that they will meet Christian friends who will challenge and mentor them, and find a church which will accept them into the family and care for them as they will be alone in a new school, country and culture. For those who have not yet given their lives to Jesus, we need to keep praying. Over the last 5 years I have grown to love them and I pray that God will open their eyes and hearts to His love for them. Join me, in not only praying the above prayers for them but that they will recall all that God has taught them at Bingham and give their lives to Him.

Expanding Horizons…

The last few months with the Horizon Project have been interesting; at the end of each year the leadership of Horizon meet with the leadership of Bingham to plan for the next academic year. It is a great time to evaluate the work of the project and brainstorm ways to move forward with the boys. A big pray request for August is that Brian and Dawit can recruit some of the new teachers to help with the programmes we run and that we will have the funds we need to continue in all the ways we support them at the moment.

In my last communication I mentioned that we were hoping to join with the girls project to start a feeding programme for the most vulnerable of our children. After a lot of planning and budgeting we started a 2-month trial, providing 2 meals a day for 12 kids at the house of a member of our local church. If it is a success we hope to continue this programme when school starts back so that all of these kids can remain in school and not go hungry.  Rainy season (when school is out) is a great time to provide the boys with vocational training and an opportunity to serve our local community. This year our boys will all be doing community service in our local neighbourhood, helping painting and clean nurseries and primary schools. Some boys will be continuing some vocational work at Bingham, learning plumbing, electrical and gardening skills. The other boys are taking part in a micro business and money-management training programme.  Unfortunately we have not managed to find another school to move the Horizon library to. Thankfully, the local church continues to allow us to use one of their rooms for our library and education programme. Praise God that they are willing to share their scarce resources with us. Pray that we will continue to be able to provide this valuable aspect of our programme and get the volunteers we need to do so.  This year one of our boys, Sammy, is sitting his final school exams. If he does well, he will be able to apply to university. He will be our first boy to graduate school and move on to higher education. It will be a great achievement and couldn’t have been done without everyone’s support of the Horizon project and our boys.

Bingham Academy:

• The new academic year – once again this is a year of great turn over at Bingham Academy. 80% of the teachers will be new to the school. Pray for them as they raise support, transition to Ethiopia, and settle into life in Addis Ababa.   Additionally, pray for the students as they adapt to another change at the school and that they will have open hearts to the gospel.

•  Teacher recruitment –We still have a number of key positions for the new school year, which have not been filled. Bingham is a key ministry in itself and such a support for many other ministries in the country. Please be praying God will bring the right people to the right positions. If any of you (or maybe someone you know) is interested in serving at Bingham please look on our website to see the openings we have. (www.binghamacedemy.net)

• For the Graduating class this year

The Horizon Project:

• Please pray for the new feeding project, that it will serve the kids involved well;  that it will not just provide for them physically but spiritually also. Additionally, that we will continue to have the financial support we need to keep this much needed aspect of the project running.

• For Dawit as he runs the project himself over the summer and for him and Brian as they try and recruit new teachers to the project. This is a real prayer need; due to key teachers leaving there is only the 3 of us working on the project.  There is too much work for just us so it is vital that we can recruit more teachers to commit themselve to serving our community in this way.

Personally:

• Pray for me during my 6 months at home that I will use the time wisely and get  the rest and refreshment I need.

 • I have a few medical issues to sort out, pray that it goes smoothly; especially the I have a few medical issues to sort out, pray that it goes smoothly; especially the NHS processes so that I can get everything sorted before having to return to Ethiopia.

For decisions I have to make; sorting out financial needs, seeking God’s direction in my future work and personal life.

Praise God for all he has done for me, especially since I came home; a place to stay, a car, a good doctor, welcoming friends and family and so many blessing that I continue to be astounded by his abounding grace and mercy in my life.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and faithfully working with me, for God, in Ethiopia. It has been a tough term but one where I have grown much and seen God clearly at work in my life and the lives of those I live alongside. Additionally, it is hard being back in the UK and away from my life and work in Addis Ababa, but I have felt very much at home here also, thanks to many of you as you have gone out of your way to encourage and support me. It is such a blessing to be part of God’s family and feeling welcomed, loved and accepted everywhere his people are.

Love Theresa xx