Copy

Ethiopia is in my blood

Next year Senai will celebrate it’s 10th Anniversary! We want to thank all of you who have joined us as we have worked to “connect people to purpose”. You might not realize how much your prayers, encouragement and support mean to us, but they are vital! As Senai moves towards that 10 year anniversary milestone in 2018, I have identified two key projects that will provide a ripple effect for the Kingdom going forward. Both projects meet great needs and are based in the area where I grew up in Ethiopia - Yirgacheffe.

Exciting Projects

My grandfather and father invested their lives in the people of Yirgacheffe, working with church leaders to expand the reach of the local church. Christ has been at work, and now over 250 churches have been planted.
Some of the leaders and pastors who began working 40 years ago are now retiring, with very little financial support after giving their lives fully for the Kingdom for so many years.
This is where Senai would like to step in! With your help, we would like to fund a project that would provide and generate retirement income through micro-dairy farm projects. (detail below)
The second project, Yirgacheffe Coffee Lodge, is a larger scale project that will have tremendous economic benefit for the entire community. It will serve as a funding platform to support the local bible school, church missions, water projects, micro-loans, and coffee businesses. I am really excited to tackle these projects with you, and begin to share stories of transformation as a result of our investment!
Read More
Dairy Cow Project Ethiopia
Interview with Asfaw on the new Dairy Cow Project

Dairy Cow Retirement Project

We are introducing Senai’s Dairy Cow Retirement Project for Ethiopian pastors. Asfaw, a long time family friend and main leader in the church is launching our pilot project. He has researched and built a cow stable that is suitable for dairy cow milk processing. After months of searching around Ethiopia, I got an email from Asfaw saying he has found our first cow, a Holstein-Friesian. Soon we will be able to offer the best Café Lattés in the country!! (Fresh milk combined with Yirgacheffe coffee - the best coffee in the world!) It will be fun to see this project grow. As they are able to buy more cows with their profits, the project will slowly multiply to provide resources to other pastors. A small investment on your part will help provide for these pastors, who have dedicated their lives to the Kingdom by serving churches in rural Ethiopia.

Yirgacheffe Coffee Lodge

We have worked with a South African Architect and Cost-Surveyor to put together the final details of the business plan for Yirgacheffe Coffee Lodge. We will be seeking funding for the project in September 2017. The first steps are to register the company in Ethiopia, get permission for our proposed plans, and work with the church and local community as they prepare for the changes this project will bring. We hope to break ground in 2018 and be operational shortly thereafter. The value of a lodge here in “the birthplace of coffee” fills a need that will be quickly recognized by those in the coffee industry.
USAID states, “​With the growth of the specialty (coffee) industry, Yirgacheffe has also become something of a pilgrimage spot for international buyers who seek out top quality coffees.” page 12Ethiopian Coffee Buying Manual

The Lodge will provide:
  • A 5 star Coffee Experience: Lodging, Coffee, Food, Tours, Education, Hands-On Experience
  • Creation of jobs within the community
  • High quality training in hospitality, food/beverage service
  • Intimate environment for corporate/church retreats, meetings, tour groups
  • A focus of the cultural history of coffee in Yirgacheffe and the impact on the community
  • A revenue source for the local church, Bible School, local community
  • A hub for future coffee export opportunities

South Africa
“Re-Think Conference”

May 24-26, 2017 I was honored to attend the 2017 Re-Think Conference near Johannesburg, South Africa at the end of May. Sixty ministry leaders from Europe, Australia, Africa and the USA gathered for this event. The purpose was to re-think models of ministry in the context of today's globally interconnected cultures. We heard from those who have experienced significant local impact and/or growing regional influence, as they shared what works for them.  It was a fantastic opportunity to network with other leaders across South Africa, especially as I was able to share how Samaritans Feet might help serve their communities. We are continually reminded how living in South Africa puts us much closer to the pulse of what is going on across this continent.
Celebrating Songkran (Thai New Year) with the DeHaven family. A three day water fight throughout the whole country. Epic!

Family Thailand Adventure

It is always awesome to connect with supporters, especially when they live in Thailand! It was a blessing for our family to spend time at the home of our good friends and supporters, the DeHavens. We so appreciate the DeHaven clan making it possible for us to spend time with them in Bangkok, Thailand over the Easter break. What a joy to have the whole family travel for the first time to Asia, experiencing a culture unlike anything they have ever known. They were able to explore jungles by elephant, tour remote islands by boat, cruise down rivers and canals on teak long boats, learn about Buddhism in ancient temples, and eat exotic Thai food. But when we asked all our girls what the highlight of the trip was, it was spending time with our friends. The kids wanted Janna and me to fly back to Cape Town by ourselves, so they could stay longer with the DeHavens. love how God connects people and uses those relationships for a greater purpose than we could ever ask or imagine.
Love from our family to yours.  Thank you for your support and prayers. Our family appreciates it!  If you are interested in joining our support team click here.
Copyright © 2017 Senai International, Inc., All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp