The Riegert's

Newsletter Excerpt:

Dear Friends,                                                                                                                 Jan. 5, 2007

New Year's Greetings to you all!

What is good?  What does the Lord require of us?  The prophet Micah declares, "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) 

One of the easiest traps to fall into, ministering as we do here in Ethiopia, is to believe that our choice to live here is God's required sacrifice for us (6:6,7).  If living here primarily served that purpose, I'm sure self-piety and self-pity would have consumed me long ago.  Ethiopia is simply where God has called us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.  Yes, that means that we live our lives separated from family and friends, and yes, this is in itself a measurable sacrifice, but that can never qualify us as anything amazing.

Here's what is amazing, that we live here, seeking to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly as Christ's ambassadors and as your agents.  While it is true that we are far away, we feel very connected to so many more of you than when we lived at home.  This is the result of dedicating ourselves to God's purposes through your prayers and your resources.  We are your hands & feet entrusted to do eternal things with some of what God has entrusted to you.  We take this seriously, and are humbled by the honour.

The other side of living our lives in connection with so many is the fact that we live in a bit of a glass box.  If you follow our missives, you know more about our lives than most self-respecting Canadians would ever want to share.  The reason for this is that we are here as part of Christ's body...as part of you.  Thus, we feel it imperative to be accountable to you as before God.  It is because of this accountability that I write you today.

As Christ's servants in Ethiopia, we have been required by the government to build one prison latrine per year.  While this has been an added blessing in our work, we have never felt it central to our primary reason for being here - A's.  This work has instead served as our door to Ethiopia and A's, and God has blessed these latrine projects.  In Welkite Prison we saw many from the other religion brought to truth.  At Ziway Prison the door to ministry was opened where it had once been firmly closed.  Of course you can add to this that 1,400 prisoners now have access to water, proper showers, toilets and laundry facilities.  God has answered one of our prayers, that these latrine projects would be received by prisoners as humble acts of justice and mercy.

Now God is changing things.  Starting in Aug'07 I have an opportunity to work here under a new permit, studying Afar systems of justice with a view to bringing government systems in line with traditional justice in Afar.  At present almost all Afar prisoners are serving time without conviction or sentencing.  We believe that God wants to implement aspects of Restorative Justice (based on Biblical principles) that can bridge gaps and resolve these unjust situations.  This work will require God's hand.  Already, Afar Justice leaders have informally endorsed this plan.  He seems to be preparing the way.

BUT, before I can begin that work I am obligated to finish one more prison latrine.  I believe God has led us to Ziway Zonal Prison.  The need is tremendous.  Raw sewage sits in pools beside the existing latrine.  I can hardly walk into the building because of the stench.  Something else caught my attention the first time I visited this prison: 15-20 women and children living in a 2-room mud house with one tiny window.  I believe God is leading us to build a new dorm for these "the least".  Prisoners are already praying with us for funding (most are from the other religion), in spite of the fact that two other organizations had promised help, but not delivered.

We have decided to begin construction now with the funds God has provided to the end of 2006.  We have 5 months before the heavy rains come and all construction in Ethiopia comes to a halt.

Periodically we publish requests for funding.  We first published this need in November, and then followed it with an article in our December "Keeping In Step" (pg.4).  It is the greatest financial need we have faced on the field to date.  The situation has been exacerbated by the fact that we have learned that we will not be receiving funding from another organization as we had hoped.  As we seek to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly as Christ's ambassadors and your agents, we invite you to help us finish our responsibility constructing latrines, and finish well, all to the glory of God.  Our first priority is to build the latrine ($16,484 US), and then to construct a biogas digester to clean up the mess ($7,454 US).  Finally, we pray that we will be able to build a new women's dormitory ($15,310 US).

Our prayer is that you, our praying team, will join us in a big way, giving spectacularly to this very urgent need. We trust God that the team He has built will prove more than able for the task at hand.  Please join us in prayer.

In Christ,

Ken, Nancy, Adam and Luke