RON & Linda Severns

Missionaries to Ethiopia

P.O. Box 2187Port Orchard, WA 98366

206-275-0108

' Ik

RON & UNDA SEVERNS

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Prayer Newsletter

October 1993

Dear Friends,

What a summer it has been forLinda and me! We went to Africa

with three goals: to invest ourlives in the lives of seven youngpeople who thought the Lordmight be calling them tomissionary service and wanted tosee what that was like; to visit thepeople we worked with in Kenyafrom 1980 to 1988; and to get apreview of what our work will belike in Ethiopia. All of those goalswere accomplished. Let me fill youin with stories.

Our seven interns and some oftheir host families.

We worked with four young menand three young women who spenttheir summer learning the Maasailanguage, teaching VBS andSunday School classes, sharingtheir story of what Jesus means tothem, and helping themissionaries in any way possible.

Some have decided that they willprobably be more effectiveministering in a local church athome. Others believe that God is

specifically calling them tocross-cultural ministry. Most ofthem are still seeking the Lord'sspecific guidance. Linda and I arepleased with those results andproud of our interns and theirwork.

Brian is the one who most

definitely felt God calling him tocross-cultural ministry. He said he

would be happy to stay in Kenya,except that his mom probablywouldn't be very happy with him ifhe didn't return to the States.

When CMF missionary Tim Rosstook the interns to a village Biblestudy, that desire was confirmedby a traditional Maasai laibon orprophet. The old man pointed toAaron, our only African-Americanand said, 'You can tell that he is aMaasai because he is black like us,he shaves his head, and he has hisear pierced like us."

Then he turned to R.C. and

said, "He comes fromIllinois and that sounds

like a Maasai word that

means a good place, so hemust be a good man."

"Now this one..." looking atBrian,"... this one isdifferent. We canunderstand his Maasai verywell. He will come back andbe a savior for the Maasaipeople."

Jesus said, "The harvest isplentiful but the workers are few.Ask the Lord of the harvest,therefore, to send out workers intohis harvest field." ,

There's a long way and alot of work between asummer internship and alifetime ministry in anotherculture. Please pray withus that Brian and others

will persevere to theharvest.

"New friends are like

silver^ but old friendsare golden."

When Joshua Ngomea saw mycrutches he was unable to control

his emotions and began weeping, atotally un-Maasai thing to do.

I attempted to comfort Mary, thewidow ofDavid Lemeria who hadled in evangelism in our area.

Meshach asked me if we would be

returning to Kenya. I told himthat Linda had gotten her nursingdegree and of the need for nursesin Ethiopia. He replied that theyhad heard of the problems inEthiopia and added his blessing toour decision to go there.

How do I describe Ethiopia?

It's beautiful. A two-hourhelicopter ride over majesticmountains, deep valleys, andtremendous waterfalls took us to

the area where we will minister.During the rainy season it isbeautiful country, but we learneda whole new meaning for the word"remote."

It's a challenge. Linda's nursingskills were stretched far beyondwhat she learned in school or

experienced in a hospital here inthe States. Economically it will bechallenging: $100 bought only onesackful of groceries, andmargarine sells for $8.00 a pound.

It's exciting. We met a man whowas imprisoned for his faith butreleased when too many prisonersaccepted Christ. We worshipedwith a church that has had to

Communism has fallen in Ethiopiaas well as in the Soviet Union andEastern Europe. People arelooking for a new faith in achanging world.

meet in secret for 15 years. Theyreally know how to praise God!There is a new responsiveness tothe gospel as old restrictions are

Ron will work with church leadersencouraging and equipping themfor outreach to unevangelizedareas, much as he did in Kenya,

As a nurse, Linda will work tomeet some of the physical needs ofthe people.

raised. Our colleague Ray Gileswrites ofpreaching to a crowd of2,000 people. God is at work inEthiopia, and it is exciting to be apart of what He wants to

It's opportunity. From 1977 to1992, the church grew from about4,000 people to 20,000 to 40,000people. Can you imagine yourchurch growing from 40 to 400without a trained pastor, orSunday school curriculum, alimited number of Bibles, andmany members unable to readanyway?

Imagine the need for Bibletraining and help for such achurch. Imagine also a situation inwhich there are only 40,000Christians at most in a populationofhalf a million. That is our

Christian Missionary FellowshipP.O. BOX 501020

INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46250-6020

Address Correction Requested

immediate target audience.Beyond that, there are 15to 20 million Oromo peoplewho are unreached.Imagine the need forevangelism and churchplanting. This is theopportunity that pulls us toEthiopia.

The number onequestion we are askedthese days: "When willyou go back?'

ASAP. As soon as we are able to

I secure partners who willhelp supply thefinancial needs of

ministry inEthiopia. As soon aswe are able to

collect, pack, and ^ship the things we ^will need to set up 11house and two 11clinics. As soon as ^

I we have the prayer Hpartners needed to Huphold us in this •

venture.

But when will that be? We're

saying "early next year,"recognizing that is vague but

acknowledging our dependence onGod and His people and Histiming. ASAP.

Ifyou are in a position where youcan help "as soon as possible" be alittle bit sooner, we would love tohave your partnership in prayersand/or finances. Please fill out thecoupon below to let us know ofways you can help.

Your partner in ministry,

Ron Severns

The house at Haro where we willlive looks nice on the outside, butwill need extensive repairs inside.It has been used as a granary forthe past several years.

YES, Ron and Linda,

I want to bo a partnor-64n your ghaHenging-and-eyci^ng-mHHStry-in-Ethiopia. With God's help, I

Commit $10; ^$20; ^$25; $50; other $ ea'month, beginning (date).

Am enclosing $ for your one-time expenses.

Will send $ , by (date).

Will faithfully pray each week on (day).

Name

Address

City, State, ZIP

Make payable to Christian Missionary Fellowship,P.O. Box 501020, Indianapolis, IN 46250.

mission serviceseOITORiaL 0^^"^p 0 BOX 2^27kmoxville TN 3790 1

NooproHiOrganiuiioD

U.S.

Permit No. 2975

Indianapolis,Indiana

Ron & Linda Severns

Missionaries to Ethiopia

P.O. Box 2187Port Orchard, WA 98366

206-275-2975

PC

RON & LINDA SEVERNS

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Prayer Newsletter

December 1993

Dearest Familyand Friends,

At this busy Christmas season, I pray that you might beable to take time to pause and praise the Lord for Hisrich blessings. The fact that we have sucha hecticschedule ofshopping, parties, and activities shows howtruly blessed we are.

And blessed we are. Ron and I have spent most of thetime since we came back this summer from Africaspeaking tochurches and sharing with them God's planfor the Ethiopian people. We have met so manywonderful peopleand are excited about how the Lord isworking in their lives.

A real highlight and blessing in October was how ourhome church inPort Orchard, Washington, steppedout in a mighty way and pledged to give over 40% ofour monthlysustaining support in a faith covenantcommitment! What a wonderful act of love and faith inthe Lord! We are excited to see how the Lord honorsthose commitments so that the Ethiopian people mightknow ofGod's love and forgiveness. We love the peopleat Port Orchard, and thank the Lord for giving us sucha super church to call "home."

God has given us otlier church and individual partnerswho also see the vision and have undertaken thechallenge to spread the love of God. We love andappreciate them all and their giving to us.

Wecurrendy have 85% ofour monthly sustainingsupport pledged. Praise the Lord! We are confident thatGod will raise up churches and individuals who will alsogive to our work among the Oromo people ofEthiopia.

We need over $50,000 for our one-time outgoingexpenses, which include travel, furniture, vehicle,outfitting, equipment for the clinics, solar equipment,house improvements, and field preparation.

Our departure date depends on when our monthlysupport and one-time outgoing support comes in.However, we have seta tentative departure goal ofMarch to May.

Besides ourfinancial support, we need prayer partners~ people who will feithfiilly uplift us and the Oromopeople in prayer.

At this Christmastime, would you pray about whetherthe Lord is leading you to give finances or time inprayer so that the Oromo people might beable tocelebrate Christmas: the birthday ofourKing.

Have a blessed Christmas, and maythe NewYear beonefull of peace and wonder at God's great love.

Blessings,

Linda Severns