Why Ethiopia?

As most of you have probably heard, we are planning to move to Ethiopia this October to work there for about two years. Since it’s been almost two years since we’ve put anything on our blog, we decided it was time to start it up again. We’ve heard lots of questions like: Why would you want to move to Ethiopia? What will you be doing there? What are the conditions like? So we’ll take a little time here to explain the “what” and “why” of our future plans.

We both had a desire to serve the nations in some way. After we were learned more about each other and how God works in a couple united in Him, we began seeking God’s direction for our next life steps and how we could use the gifts He’s given us to serve the needs that burden our hearts. For Erica, that’s her counseling experience and for Kevin, his business and education background. Kevin has had a heart for poverty and disadvantaged youth, while Erica has a passion to serve those who are rescued from trafficking and prostitution. Over the past year, we were reading some in the prophets and Old Testament and God’s heart for justice jumps off the pages of Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Nehemiah, etc. And it continues throughout Jesus’ life.

So how does God combine all this? Well, after much prayer and several steps, God brought Loving Shepherd Ministries and us together. They serve orphans and vulnerable children around the world, especially in Haiti, and were desiring to build a home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for girls coming out of prostitution. Last December, Ed Schwartz, the president of LSM, visited Ethiopia. He spoke with a ministry who was working with girls rescued from prostitution and they voiced their greatest need was for the emotional needs of the girls, and for vocational training and sustainability of the homes. It was pretty evident God was connecting all the pieces better than we ever could have planned!

We’ll share more specifics soon because this post has been long enough…