Monday, September 12, 2011

The Calling to Missions

Greetings My Friends, Brothers, and Sisters in Christ,

Most of you know about my very first trip to Ethiopia and the following trips after that. This first trip would lead into a calling of full time ministry, ministering to single mothers, widows, and orphans. This is something that I have done nothing but prepare myself for while continuing school for my degree in Social Services. This has been the longing on my heart for the past four years. I cannot express to you the great joy I have to follow this calling as I long to fulfill it.
There was one day started out the same as any other day. It had been raining as it does each day in Ethiopia during the winter time there, but this day would turn out different then all of the others. We had left one of many orphanages that we had visited when our team was approached by a mother that was crying. She got on her knees with her hands clasping in front of her and we could tell she was pleading with us as her two toddlers hung onto her staring up at us. No shoes for either of them and one had only a shirt on. We did not know what it was she was wanting until one of our guides stepped off the bus and told us that she was pleading for us to take her children. She was telling us that she could no longer feed, care, or clothe them. My heart sank as we stood on the street lined with eight foot walls around each house isolating us from the homes. That day and my life and  the direction in what I thought I wanted to do in life would change as stood there feeling shocked and helpless.

I wondered that day what was done for mothers in this position as I started noticing other mothers living on the streets as we drove thru the city of Addis Ababa. As one child after another would come up to our bus offering gum, Kleenex, and whatever else they had to sell us to help their mother who was living on the streets. They would line the bus on both sides each time we had to stop looking up at us, faces covered in dirt and some had no shoes for their feet. As I looked on I asked our guides what causes these mothers to get in this position. They told me that some of them their husbands had gotten a visa or left them so that left the mother with no skills for a job and no one to watch her children while she went to find work, others were left as widows as they had to watch their husbands die from HIV/AIDS, all the while they suffered with the same disease, and others had become prostitutes desperate for money but was never able to change their situation. I had asked who helps them in their situations and I was told that no one does. My heart was sadden as I watched each mother either standing or sitting as we passed them by. All I wanted to do was get off the bus and run up to each one of them, wrap them up in my arms, hold them, and somehow change their lives. It was then I felt the call to Ethiopia. It was then that a dream to change just a small part of the world began to form in my heart. Here I could leave everything I know back home in America and never go back, knowing that this is my hearts dream, but the responsibility of work and school would be waiting on me.

So now school is over and there are no other responsibilities that would give me a reason to stay here. My fiance and everything that I long for is in Ethiopia. My heart breaks when I think of these mothers that have to beg each day just to survive. This has been my dream for the last four years since my very first visit to Ethiopia. Now I am going to volunteer with Mission Ethiopia http://missionethiopia.com who shares the same heart as I do for these mothers, widows, and orphans.
http://missionethiopia.com/empowerment/

My plans and goals for this mission that is already in place is a day care for the children so the mothers do not have to leave them home alone or keep them every where they go. To find housing that they can afford with the money that they earn from working at Mission Ethiopia. To help them develop a relationship with Christ as I develop a relation with them. To help the orphans in their relationship and also going to school as most of them dream of doing, but have no money to do so.

This dream that I am so happy to share and it was one that I shared with my fiance before I asked her to marry me. She was very excited about it and was happy to know that I wanted to leave my country to come and help those in her country. So it is exciting that not only will I have a wife, but also someone who will walk with me and share in this vision and dream.

My dream cannot become a reality without your help. Prayerfully, financially, or spiritually. I need your prayers as I step out in faith. I also need financial support. I am praying for 70 people that would be willing to support me at $20.00 a month for my first 12 months. Starting this September as i plan to be there by Meskel (Ethiopian holy day) September 27. I am asking you to set aside some time to pray about being one of those supporters. For those who are willing  you will be a part of my full time ministry to the single mothers, widows, and the orphans to bring hope, empowerment, and change in their lives.

If you chose to support you can do it two ways. You can send a check to Belmont Church ATTN: Rob Fraizer 68 Music Sq. East Nashville, TN. 37211 made out to Belmont Church and put Christopher Fisher/Ethiopia in the memo, or if you prefer online you can click here Send Chris to Ethiopia then please email me at fisher.cmichael@gmail.com so that I can keep a record of you and send you a monthly letter so you can see how the Lord is using your donations to advance His kingdom.


Thank you very much for your love, support, and prayers. By your support through prayer and financially it is as you yourself are sending me out.

Christopher Fisher

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