CMDA | November Ethiopia

When: November 4 - 16, 2009

Where: Mekele, Ethiopia

Who: Needs for Primary Caregivers, Dentists & Assistants, Pharmacists, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Logistics (non-medical helpers), 3 - 4 Pastors (to take an active part in the Spiritual aspect of the team and work with the National Partners/Spiritual Counseling---Pastor's Conference)

Status: Accepting Applictions

Special Travel Announcement: All participants must travel to/from Ethiopia as a group. No deviations in travel will be allowed without prior approval from GHO Director.

Project Fees: $1,750 plus international airfare (subject to change)

Team Leader: Dwain Illman, M.D., F.A.C.E.P. with Marilyn Illman as Assistant Team Leader

To read Dr. Illman's Biography Click here.

Required Documentation for Medical & Dental Professionals: Current practicing license with expiration date visible, medical, dental, nursing school transcript and diploma, letter of good standing (hospital privileges) and CV. All participants will need to have a valid passport that is current for at least 6 months after the departure date. A tourist visa is required for entry in to Ethiopia.

Damtew & Tracie Kifelew

Our National Partners

Campus Crusade for Christ - The Great Commission Ministry Ethiopia

Global Health Outreach teams have been going to Ethiopia since 1999, this year we will partner with The Great Commission Ministry, under the direction of Damtew & Tracie Kifelew.

In 1981, under a communist government and heavy Christian persecution, Campus Crusade began ministry in Ethiopia. It has now grown to 43 fulltime staff members, with offices located in 5 locations: Addis Ababa (central), Bahir Dar (north), Harar (east), Jimma (west) and Awassa (south). In 1996 the ministry came to Awassa, a region populated by 14 million people. Here there are 40 un-reached people groups – where the name of Jesus is unknown.

Damtew Kifelew is the new regional director for The Great Commission Ministry in Awassa, Ethiopia. “Staff Care” (human resourses) is managed by his wife Tracie, who also leads two women's Bible Studies ~ one for students and the other for professionals. The Southern Office has 5 fulltime staff members, who work with campus and high school students, professionals, executives and with the local church (training the churches in evangelism, discipleship, prayer, etc.) They also have 24 Jesus Film team members whose main focus is church planting. They work with local churches in sharing the gospel via the Jesus Film.

Ethiopia is the land of one of the earliest Christian Churches in Africa and certainly the largest and the strongest through the first two Millennium. Today, the church is facing new crises. People in the oil countries of the Middle East are investing billions of dollars in Ethiopia both in building mosques and in training leaders. The Orthodox Ethiopian Coptic Church is the dominant voice of Christianity in the country of nearly 80 million peoples.

Recent studies show that the Coptic Church is 40% of the population; Muslim is 45%; Protestant is 5% with animistic and others the rest. The team of believers in Ethiopia we partner with have a 100-year plan to win the country for Christ.

The team is the Great Commission Ministries of Ethiopia. This is part of Campus Crusade for Christ. Damtew and Tracie Kieflew now live in Addis Abba and lead this very dynamic and impressive ministry. They have asked us to partner with them by doing primary care clinics as well as leading a Pastors’ conference. There is huge need by the majority of the people for medical care. They are very neglected and will be extremely grateful for what we do.

The Pastors will come in from all over the area for a week of intensive training. These leaders are mostly untrained and will benefit significantly in this phase of our ministry.

The destination chosen by Great Commission Ministries is Mekele in the north near Eritrea. Mekele (also Mekelle and many other spellings) is a city of about 141,000. It is the 6th largest. Addis Abba, the capital, has 5 million people. Dire Dawa is the next largest with 237,000. Mekele is on the high plateau and is 6700 feet in elevation. Malaria is nearly non-existent at this altitude. In fact our medical problems will not include very many tropical diseases which prosper at lower altitudes. The language is mainly Tigrinya (96%). It is estimated that 51% have home toilets.

One travel writer said: “Mekelle is one of the most pleasant places to visit in Ethiopia.” It is 390 miles north of Addis. The city was founded in the 13th century by Yohannes IV. The city serves as a principle economic and educational center for the Tigrit Province in northern Ethiopia.

I want to challenge you to join us either in the clinics or teaching in the Pastor’s conference. This will be an experience you will never forget. A part of your heart will be left in this part of Africa. The outreach will be more difficult that going to places like Honduras or Ghana but you will see God at work. It could be dangerous to preach openly as both the Orthodox Church and the Muslims oppose that, but we will hold the banner of Christ high. Seeds will be sown to build and enrich the local churches in the area.

Vaccination Information: Wondering what immunizations you’ll need for the mission trip? Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control website.

To apply for this trip, Click Here.

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