An Ethiopian Travelog

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My wife, Gail, and I are in Ethiopia this week with World Vision, the largest non-government humanitarian organization in the world. They specialize in “sponsoring children” in developing countries.

Ethiopian students in a school that was a prison

Their work is truly amazing. We are traveling with Max Lucado and his wife, Denalyn; Rich Stearns, CEO of World Vision and his wife, Renee; Mary Graham, head of Women of Faith; and a few others.

I was hoping to be able to blog while on the trip. However, we are in such remote areas that I don’t have access to the internet. However, I am able to text message and Twitter from my iPhone, thanks to AT&T’s wonderful network of international partners.

My friend, Anne Jackson, volunteered to upload this brief blog post (which I banged out as a text message with my thumbs!) Several in our group, including Gail (@gailhyatt), Max (@maxlucado), and Mary (@marygraham), are Twittering their experiences live under the #wve hashtag. Just click on this link to follow us all.

As soon as I can regain internet access, I will upload a few posts and pictures. In the meantime, we would all be very grateful for your prayers, not only for us, but for the children of Ethiopia.

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Category: Miscellany
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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/evaulian EvaUlian

    There's a certain thrill in reading this blog knowing what it cost you to post it. But it was worth it! Thanks so much…. Prayers on the way… all txt with thumbs too…

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

    It has been so fun to follow your adventures. We will be praying for you all as you travel and for the Ethiopians.

  • Luci Swindoll

    So great to read your blog Mike, and to follow along on this amazing journey by means of Twitter. May God give each of you daily strength, good health, continued safety and unforgettable memories. All of Women of Faith is with you in spirit…and our team is praying for your team. I'm looking forward to pictures!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Thanks, Luci. Gail and I loved traveling with Mary. We had an amazing time. I am still processing the whole experience. It was one of the most significant I have ever had. Thanks for your prayers!

  • http://brandiandboys.wordpress.com brandiandboys

    yay!!! can't wait to follow your trip!

  • http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Peter_P Peter_P

    Thanks for the update and all the tweets Michael – and thanks Anne for uploading this!

    I hope that, when you get internet access again, you can let us all know how we can join with World Vision to help in Ethiopia.

    Praying for your safety.

  • http://mikalatos.blogspot.com Matt Mikalatos

    That is really impressive for a post that is "all thumbs." Sounds like a really significant journey… looking forward to hearing the more detailed report.

  • http://eisleyjacobs.blogspot.com Eisley

    What part of Ethiopia are you in? My WV Sponsored Child, Aliya is inthe Addis Abba project.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      I'm sorry I didn't get your message while in Africa. I just arrived in London and this is the first Internet access I have had since I left. We split our time between WorldVision's Adama ADP (Area Development Project) and the Boset ADP.

  • http://lynnrush.wordpress.com/ LynnRush

    Prayin' you stay safe.

  • http://www.gracefox.com Grace Fox

    I'm thrilled that you have this opportunity. I'm a World Vision representative in Canada and promote child sponsorship when I speak at women's events. I had the opportunity to visit one of my sponsored children in India two years ago. My life will never be the same.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      I'll bet that was amazing. We are planning to sponsor a child from one of the ADPs we visited. It will be great to have the connection of having actually been there.

  • Susan Ligon

    Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences through blog and twitter. There are many of us stateside praying over each one of you and for the amazing people you are meeting. God is up to something big in Ethiopia, and all over this world. Thanks for diving in to the big middle of it!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/michaelhyatt Michael Hyatt

      Thanks, Susan. We certainly felt covered by all the prayers. We saw things that are almost unspeakable. I think all of us experienced a significant world-view shift.

  • http://christianmananddogma.com Jay Colle

    I enjoyed following your updates on Twitter during your trip. In fact, I used it as an example last night while explaining to a Twitter newbie how the technology could be "used for good." I will join you in your prayer that you (me and everyone) not "be sucked back into the status quo." Change is good and necessary.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JimMartin JimMartin

    Welcome home! I enjoyed reading both yours and your wife's tweets while you were away. Sounds like an incredible trip.

  • http://chapfam.blogspot.com Bill Chapman

    A good phone-voice to e-mail program may be of use to you in your travels and keep you from wearing out your thumbs. http://www.reqall.com
    It allows you to enter reminders, calendar events, shopping items and any other thing you may want to remember. Also sends short messages to e-mail addresses. As with any speech-to-text system, you sometimes get some hilarious results. I am only a satisfied user with no financial interests.

  • Pingback: Pictures from Our Trip to Ethiopia | Michael Hyatt

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  • http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org Jeff Goins

    Love it. Short and amazing. What a life you get to lead! Inspiring.