The members of this medical team have experienced a combined total of 28 past medical trips to Addis. And everyone agrees that each trip is unique and different from any of the ones we have been a part of before. The project changes, the beneficiaries change, the city changesToday was unique among “first day” experiences for medical teams that I have been part of. Our day began with staff devotions at the project office in Lideta. One thing that was different for me was the fact that my brother, Andy, the project director, was not there. Andy and his family are home in the states this year for home mission assignment. It is the first time I have been in Ethiopia without him. The second thing that was so unusual was the staff itself – well, not the individual staff members, but the number of them. I think that there were about four staff members working for the project when I came on the very first medical team and now there are approximately 30 full time staff members working with the project. It was amazing to go around the room and hear each one introduced and find out what they are doing in the project.After devotions, we were able to quickly get out of the office and into the community doing home visits. This was made possible because of the great work that the team had already done under the direction of Derek Armstrong to organize and inventory all of the supplies that we brought with us. And we brought a ton of wonderful stuff. People were incredibly generous and donated so many things that are needed here – medicines, office supplies, shoes, clothing, vitamins, pillboxes, and much, much more. Quite often on past teams we have spent most of that first morning just trying to get ourselves organized. But today we were on our way early.Home visits are a central aspect of the work of the project. One of the main things, I believe, that sets apart the work of this project from so many other “relief organizations” is the relational investment in the lives of the beneficiaries. It is a powerful experience to go out into one of the poorest communities in one of the poorest countries on earth and to be welcomed into the homes of these beautiful people. Today was especially moving because we visited the homes of some of the first beneficiaries in the project and to see how their lives have been impacted in every way by being a part of this project – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The gospel is transforming individual lives, families and entire communities.One special treat for me was the last home visit of the day. I was out with my son, Carpenter, Dr. Bobby Bain and Teddy, theWe went to the home of Ainelum and Mikias. Ainelum and Mikias have been in the project from the very beginning and I fell in love with them on my very first trip. However, I never could have imagined that they would still be alive today, much less thriving as they are. They were the last visit of the day because Mikias doesn’t get home from school until almost 4:00 PM and also because Ainelum is now working for the project as an “expert patient”, visiting other beneficiaries and checking up on their health and needs. She also trains new beneficiaries in adherence and compliance with their antiretroviral treatment. Some of you may remember that Ainelum hosted the very first project Bible study in her home, a ministry that has grown and multiplied. We have plans this trip to start several new home bible study groups along the same lines. As we talked, Ainelum asked me again, as she does each time I am here, to please tell our churches, our friends, and our families, how grateful she and others in the project are for sending us to Addis to share in their lives.We finished the day with a time of debriefing where we were able to process together all that we had experienced on this first day as a team. Everyone was able to connect relationally with some of the beneficiaries and to see firsthand the transforming power of the gospel at work here in Ethiopia.Everyone is tired and a little jet lagged. Keep us in your prayers that God would give us energy, strength and good health to continue on in the work we have come to do.

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