hello moto

Burning the midnight oil. Cool to connect with a longtime friend, Frank Lawlor here in DC. He offered some corporate filming work so we're splicing up some interviews in a hotel room all week.

Not the most exciting work, but blessed to get some freelance assignments and spend some time with a cool cat like Frank.

NFL in April

Not really, but was pumped to find out that former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander is speaking at NCC the week after Easter.

He lives in the DC area and thinks Jesus is really cool.

It'll be part of our "Influence" series that will bring in some people of great influence in society and how they both built their influence and now leverage it to as John 13 says, "lift him up in order to draw men unto Him."

photographs

You can go to my website to see some of the photographs that were taken.

Click HERE

Many of the photographs were either families infected with HIV and now in the job-training programs, or workers for the Beza Entoto Center we were involved with.

Giving with Cheer

This morning during services at NCC, I announced offering and heard deafening silence. Even our announcing of giving is done with lethargy and a slight degree of sadness. Maybe that's just me because it is me that announces it every week.

When we were at Beza, one of the many things that stuck out to me during their sunday service was when they announced offering, there were shouts of joy. I have to admit, it was infectious.

So....this morning I stopped everyone after announcing and shared that I was officially importing giving cheerfully...physically.

Every service got louder. It was awesome.

We imported cheer.

Ethiodc

It's always a blur when you arrive home only to have been hugging street kids on Bole road, Addis Ababa 17 hours earlier. It never gets old no matter how many destinations we'll travel to; a level of displacement always sets in.

Kate and I arrived in DC yesterday morning and after spending a few hours with my aunt and then visiting my cousin's newborn son, we sat on our couch to make every effort to stay awake.

Yeah right.

Last I saw it was around noon. I looked at the clock a few minutes ago and it said 9pm.

Despite our bodies short-circuiting, it's always good to relax in our own home and begin the process of trying to write, reflect and discuss what's just happened.

Feel like I experienced more in the last 2 weeks than I have in the last 4 months.

more questions than answers

We've had some intriguing interviews the past two weeks.

Our team has spoken with Orthodox priests who give out holy water that historically has healed people of disease. We had a great conversation with the head of PEPFAR under USAID for Ethiopia. We've talked with numerous families that have successfully relocated from Entoto Mountain. We've witnessed the holy water ceremony that involves stripping naked, huddling together and being sprayed with water blessed by a priest.

The aim has always been to tell the story of the people living on Entoto Mountain, a place with historical significance and modern travails, becoming a sanctuary or more appropriately a "leper" colony for HIV infected outcasts. It's a microcosm of the human struggle to meet and assess the needs of those completely marginalized by society, including significant health and economic risks. All the major players are present: the church, the NGOs, USAID, the government and of course the people themselves.

We've not discovered answers as much as we've encountered more questions. That's appropriate, we believe, as the aim has never been to persuade but rather inform and allow the audience to discuss and ruminate for themselves.

I'm not sure what will be produced, but the process has been life-changing.

so much happening, so little internet

I've resided the fact that I can't consistently share what's been happening here through the web. Despite other less developed countries in Africa having better access to hi-speed web, the government controlled single server has tremendous limitations.

Enough about that.

We've contemplated not coming back to the states a few times. I think I'm joking. I've been abroad enough and seen my fair share of poverty that witnessing it no longer paralyzes me. It's tragic, to be sure, but whereas some look at the troubling conditions and many injustices and cannot see beyond that, my thoughts continually push towards the incredible potential and possibility this country has to offer the world.

Ethiopians are unique in so many respects and the reasons are too complex and wordy for a brief synopsis of the trip. Suffice it to say, one begins to see how this country, particularly the capital Addis Ababa, is going to be strategically used to lead and impact Africa, reach Islam in the Middle East and perhaps transform this world.

Sounds audacious? Not when you witness the vision and passion of people at Beza International. Their statement is the "empower people with the word of God to transform society." And they are doing it in ways I've not seen before.

Last month, Beza had an African prayer breakfast where several African heads of state, foreign ministers and other leading politicians came together to genuinely pray for their continent. It wasn't a dog-and-pony show, it was taking serious the words of Christ and honestly praying into each other's lives. At the same time, Beza is making a serious impact on Entoto Mountain where over 3000 HIV infected individuals are fighting for their lives and are what many consider a forgotten people.

Forgotten people. Heads of State.

You don't have to stretch your imagination too far when you begin to see what is happening in just 3 years.

So inspired.

We're here for two more days. Trying to enjoy every second of it.

355-9454

We interviewed some staff at Beza in the morning. Zeb, pastor of Beza Church, brought out the bible that used to be owned by Pastor Bob Schmidgall which remains on his father's (Betta) desk to this day.

Included was hand-written notes inside and on the back was written the phone number: "355-9454". I remembered that immediately and Zeb told me those digits are permanently ingrained in his mind. Of course that's the home number of the Schmidgall family back in Naperville back in the day.

All this to say, "For the Lord is good, his unfailing love continues forever and his faithfulness continues to each generation." The passion and relationship that was shared by Pastor Betta and Pastor Schmidgall continues on in the new generations and that couldn't be more vivid than the partnership between Beza and NCC.

alive in addis

I'm borrowing this phrase from my friend and photographer David Johnson. It's true. Addis is more full of life than I could recall the last time I was in this city several years ago. I can't explain it, there is just another level of human expression taking place in this city.The flight was l o n g, but good. 17 hours later we arrived in Addis jet-lagged and half-asleep. The team has been dilirious all day but that hasn't stopped us from being amazed at the sights, sounds, smell and intangible energy of this city.
Awesome news right off the bat: the ministry of information cleared us for filming in Addis. In the past, many people have had cameras confiscated at the airport or weren't allowed access to parts of the city. Beza had someone on the inside and it was smooth sailing. Praise God.
We spent the afternoon up at Entoto Mountain. Half the team played soccer with loads of children. The other half split up and met with families infected with HIV but had successfully gone through the Community Center program and were now economically empowered and getting treated for their infection.
I'd seen this before from the last time, but all but 2 people had been to Addis some of whom hadn't even travelled overseas, so I spent some time observing their amazed reactions to what they were witnessing. So great to listen to these families stories. We're going to be interviewing them all week, so it was a great chance to build some raport and listen and appreciate their lives.

Eating Ethiopian food tonight then going to bed.

What a DAY!

"hi uncle dave!"

Love it when I hear those words. My nephew Jacob made a surprise visit today.

He is a special boy and I see a lot of potential in his life.

Doesn't get much better than a hug from a nephew.

Final Preparations

At 5:30 in the morning, Kate and I along with 20 people from every walk of life commonly bonded by faith and a passion to serve abroad will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Feel like I haven't had any time to process the upcoming journey, but it's always that way, isn't it?

My documentary team has spent many hours researching and preparing for this journey. We've got a GREAT story we're pursuing and am hoping to share our experience along the way.

We're going to work with what could be considered a modern-day leper colony just outside the capital of Ethiopia, called Entoto Mountain. An organization called Beza International, started and led by Ethiopians, have established a facility that aims to help this very marginalized group of society with a majority infected with HIV/AIDS.

The anticipation is building.

Gotta get packed.......

- + + = x

Simple formula:

- + + = x

Subtraction plus addition equals multiplication in God's economy.

Though fasting something necessary is better than not, many people that participate in lent witness very little spiritual growth because although they may subtract something from the equation in their life, they are not adding anything of value to it.

I felt pretty convicted a few weeks ago about the negativity that has crept into my life. I'm a glass half-empty guy by nature. I'm usually quite critical of things and I need not look any further than being my own worst critic or to that of my wife. It's wearing and it's worn Kate and I down a bit lately.

So, for 40 days, Kate and I are no longer being negative and we're adding not just positivity, but more importantly, gratitude in our lives. We're going to keep a gratitude journal. I've loved doing it everyday!

What things need to be subtracted in your life? What needs to be added instead?

Excited to witness the multiplication of our efforts this lent season.