2008 Love Letters
During those unusual and amazing years, from 2001 through 2011, Neal was supporting LeaMcD Deaf programs in America by driving a truck for Covenant Transport and Becki was in Ethiopia most of the time managing the Deaf programs. Love Letters between Neal and Rebekah Payne from years 2001 through 2011 can attest to the beauty of sweet love between a married couple, while simultaneously obedient to God’s will in order that their hearts, minds, and personal finances could be used to bless the Deaf of Ethiopia. It is their hope and prayers that 11 years of love letters while blessing the Deaf in Ethiopia will inspire others to dedicate themselves to God’s assignments for their lives. It is worth it!
……..More Years of Love Letters Coming Soon………
January 4, 2008
Neal,
How are you? I am desperately missing you. There is a lot of spiritual warfare going on now. It has really been heating up but God has been with me through the whole thing and not let the devil overcome our work here. You and I are really doing the exploits in big ways and making a big dent in doing the work of God for the Deaf in Ethiopia. You would not believe it. In the meantime, just to mention one evil but not to concern ourselves, I just got another email from Kidane Habte threatening me about the car again. At the same time, those responsible for turning him against me are trying to bring me disaster on this side. I have a powerful lawyer who is attacking anyone and everyone who is causing trouble. God provided this lawyer to protect me from all these enemies here and protect yours and my spiritual and financial investment in the lives of the Ethiopian Deaf. It has been amazing.
I know you are strong enough to continue the good fight about what has been happening without us having each other at this time and all your money coming here. I know God has called you as he has called me and our strength is only in Him. I have no other place to turn but the Lord and I know you feel the same. It has been exciting and hard here at the same time because as God is doing a truly huge blessing outpour on the Deaf through job opportunities etc…Satan has been doing some really dirty tricks, but God has been greater than all the tricks and not allowed Satan to defeat. We are more than conquerors through Christ who gives us strength. I am so worried about you and wondering how you are doing. I have not heard from you in so long. I have tried to call you before but cannot get you to answer. You are my greatest love and support. Please let me hear from you. Please be safe. Love,
Becki
January 5, 2008
Becki,
Please email Kidane Habte, and have him give you the address of his sister, and give him Keder’s phone is 703 472 7272, and let them get together and have him at least put the documents in the car. You have probably heard the saying; get your junk out of the way, so I have room for my stuff. Maybe God is saying get your junk out of my way so I can show you my glory and power. The greater the loss we see, and feel, the greater will be our realization of God’s blessing for what He wants in you and me. This morning while I was driving, I made up my mind what I was going to write to you. I love you with all my heart, and with all the love, God gives me to know. The more the devil works to destroy what we do, the more determination I have to see this thing through with no reservations.
We must be near a great breakthrough. You and I cannot see it, but the evil one can calculate very well. It is beyond reasoning, that I am able to keep up with very little breaks. Just yesterday, I was able to hear my knee pop for the first time in about 3 weeks. That means it is not swollen anymore. Yesterday I ran for the first time in 3 weeks. However, have had no downtime from it. I am getting better sleep now too. We do not need what the devil is trying to take away anyway. If we save it or some, that is ok though. Many times before a great blessing, comes a great trial. I hope God is getting us ready to cross on dry ground. I want God’s blessing more than I want life. I want others to see what happens, and be able to say, this has to be the hand of God, there is no other explanation. Keep up the Good fight: do not back up one-step. Love from your trucker for just a little longer,
Neal
March 8, 2008
Becki,
I do not know what to do about finances. We now have a past due on the phone bill of $405.32. I do not know what to do but take control here. I will start another account with only my name. Then have all the automatic payments made through the new account. The rest of the money except $500.00 would be put in the old account. You are going to have to move fast if you do not want this to happen. I told you several months ago to always leave $300.00 in the account, so this problem would not happen. I cannot make money, and have the phone turned off at the same time. You are going to have to lay someone off work or pay them less. I am not going to keep doing this. Everything I do is for you and the ones you are helping and you are not communicating with me.
Neal
March 9, 2008
Hi Neal,
Try to start emailing me at this email address: paynenrs@yahoo.com. I think we will have better communication if you do. AOL is not very good here in Ethiopia. I love you I love you I love you I love you! God bless you and me through all this stuff and May we both come out on the other side in a beautiful place. Yours forever,
Becki
March 9, 2008
Neal,
Very quickly, here before I get cut off from this stupid internet again, I have had so many troubles with the internet that is why I haven’t been able to communicate with you. Verizon is so irritating because they are charging us so much and we do not use it enough to get charged that much. I was trying to tell you repeatedly to tell them our situation and stop their high charges. I deliberately tried to stop it by not allowing them to take money out of our account and then I was telling you to buy another phone and get prepaid cards so we stop their insisting to take out so much money. The communication problem between us is due to this internet. As soon as I finish writing you I can’t send it because especially AOL messes up. I am so frustrated, and I love you so much and the devil is working so hard to destroy everything. I won’t beg you not to do what you feel is necessary on your side because I know your frustration and disappointment and that you can’t see what is going on this side which is absolutely amazing and wonderful and beyond what you could imagine.
Our lack of finances here continues to be the biggest source of concern and you are still the only one doing the whole thing and it is the most amazing and astounding thing that people here can’t believe it is happening. I know I keep telling you it is right around the corner and I keep thinking the same. However, warfare is huge; we are affecting hundreds of lives, both Deaf and hearing. I want you to be here so badly. If you really need to open another account, I do not want to try to talk you out of it. I know you are doing everything possible on your side and I know you can’t see your fruit on this side and it can be very discouraging to you with the whole issue. When you do see what I am doing here I know your heart is going to melt and you are going to be so blessed and so amazed but because I keep telling you to hold on longer, again and again, I think you are suspicious that I am not being real with you.
I know if I were in your shoes, I might feel the same. It can be discouraging for you to keep on and on and on this way. In the meantime, I know I should not ask any more from you than you have the strength to do. My trust is completely in the Lord. He will see this whole program to its full conclusion, and He will supply how He chooses, but I am so in love with you and I want you here so much. Neal, never ever think anything different. The communication problem between us has been the internet lately. You would not believe it is as if our latest attack is to try to hurt our communication. Sometimes I write to you and then I cannot get the email to send to you. I have spent long periods of time trying to send and it won’t go through. Anyway, I am going to try to send this now. Hope it goes through. God be between us during this very hard time. My whole heart is with you. I love you so much!
Becki
March 11, 2008
Hello Neal,
I love you. How are you? I hope you are over your sickness. What kind of sickness do you have? What about your partner? How is he? I am really experiencing so many unusual things and it is exceedingly difficult, but God is with me. I know the Lord is taking care of you too. I hope you continue to trust me and all that is being required of us. No one could do what you are doing without God doing it and giving strength. Meaza told me very clearly that yesterday. Everyone here is worried about you. I separated two close friends last week through our work program with the flower industry. They are now both crying and very unhappy. I feel terrible. At the same time, I feel terrible because you and I are close, but we are separated. Their tears are my tears that we are not together at this time. God be with us during our difficult season and bring us together soon. One lady from Nigeria prays with me from time to time. She is a strong Christian. She encouraged me that God has assured her we are going to be fine and you will be here in a few months. Hold on Neal, because it requires all our strength, but God is doing His work and how can we comfortably resist it? I love you so much,
Becki
March 13, 2008
Becki,
I have been very discouraged since about a month ago when I did not receive e-mail from you. The phone was about to be turned off, both my co-driver and I were sick, we were sitting half the time with no work, and I had not much cash to use. I still wear t-shirts with holes on the left arm, because I do not have money and near a good store at the same time. The truck had problems, so we found ourselves at Chattanooga. I had a problem with rules being different at Chattanooga than at other terminals, so I asked whom I could talk to fix the problem. I was told that I would have to talk to someone on the 3d floor to change the ruling. Therefore, I went to the secretary on the 3d floor and talked to Joey Hogan, president of Covenant Transport. He remembered seeing a paper we published about Ethiopia. We talked for a few min, and I walked with him to his car. He called R.H. Lovin. When Joey found out that R. H. was going to Ethiopia in just about two weeks, he set up an appointment with the 2 of us to meet.
R.H. Lovin is interested in what we are doing. Both the president and R. H. say that as soon as you are in the states, that you set up a time to meet, David Parker, and Joey Hogan to show them what we have been up to, and our needs. This is the best opportunity so far to present our needs and the opportunity for Covenant Transport to receive blessings from joining with us in blessing others. Only God could turn a misunderstanding into a blessing as this has been. Only God could turn a bad discouragement into a blessing. I am on home time from Mar 31- April-7. I am staying in Chattanooga with Wendy. R.H. Lovin will be arriving in Addis Ababa, March 30 April 13 He will go to the town of Debre Zeit to an orphanage. Please respond to him ASAP with your tele# address directions at Loviierttth@transport.com. I can hardly believe that I talked to the President and the Senior Vice President of Administration and that the President said that next time Rebekah is in the states that she needs to call the President, and ask for a meeting with him and David Parker and a few others, and to present your direct needs. In addition, to be ready to show some financial statements to show the running cost monthly.
I messed up and needed to go to Log class, and while waiting for the class, someone from safety came out to make sure that Mr. Lovin would see me in a little while. Then He came out to tell me again that he would see me at 3:30. Then in log class, a woman came into log class to make sure that I was there, and would see me just after class, then I was the 1st one to see a log instructor after class. While I was going over the logs with the log instructor, the senior instructor in logs came over and said that the President would meet with me in the waiting room at the log department in just a few minutes. I have been so low in spirit, and to been treated so nice, and for everything touched, and everyone I talked to, turned into precious memories and precious friends, that I do not want to lose. I love you!
Neal
March 13, 2008
Neal,
I have been reading repeatedly your email about your encounter with Hogan and Lovin. I am so happy that you are getting some recognition at Covenant Transport. I am so happy that it was such an encouragement for you after you are being so discouraged for such a long time. It blesses me as much or more to think that you are doing well with such a great experience for yourself with people there at Covenant being so kind to you and recognizing your sacrifice. I really am so happy about it and then so excited too at the prospects of what Lovin’s coming here to Ethiopia might mean for our future here in Ethiopia. I really love you Neal and am really looking forward to seeing you again, the sooner the better. Love!
Becki
March 14, 2008
Neal,
Why don’t you plan to come here in two weeks with RH? The money deposited this time was $1,300. I do not care if we do not get our rent paid. Please try to come. I will get you the ticket from here. Wendy has your passport. Have her check to see if it is still up to date. Please plan to come. We all need you to come. Especially me, but everyone here really wants you to be here. Let me know. Love,
Becki
May 30, 2008
Hi Neal,
Yes, please email me at this yahoo address. Were you trying to email me? Were you sending this email to another person? How are you doing? I love you so much. God has been good to us. I wish you could hurry and be here. What is happening there? I am waiting to see what Covenant is going to do to help us. I may need to make a trip to the states as soon as we get some funds. I have to go through the legal thing again to put someone in as Managing Director. According to the Ministry of Justice, I do not qualify for this position, one because I am not Ethiopian and two because I do not have a college education. So, I am going to try to appoint Wondwossen as the new managing director and need to get him in place soon so that we can function legally here. I do not understand many things except that God is in control and He knows what He is doing. The Deaf students are taking their national exams next week. We hope to get good results again this year. Let me know what is going on with your side. Love you so much!
Becki
May 30, 2008
Becki,
Yesterday we came to Chattanooga to leave Ricky for 7 days home time. They kept the truck here for repairs. Today about 5:00 pm, they told me that the parts to repair the exhaust leak would take 5 more days to ship in. So, I am off work in Chattanooga until the 4th or 5th of June. I called Wendy but they are out of town until the 2nd of June. Today I took a log class, cleaned the rugs out, swept the floor, washed the floor did some small repairs to the truck. I met R. H. at the Driver’s Recognition meal also. R. H. gave me a copy of the DVD he got from you. He also lined me up with Ms. Godfree, with the Covenant Newspaper. She took a picture of me. She also wants you to send a digital picture of yourself with a background of some of the students: and send it to her. The last e-mail I got from Godfree, I sent it to you at yahoo, so you can have her e-mail address. I am writing this for the 2d time because I hit the wrong button and deleted the whole thing. Yesterday I had (chi e foo) (mixed vegetables with chicken, 1 pint. It was just the right amount. 5 or 6 days ago, Ricky and I ate at the Ponderosa.
I eat more than usual. We were about 1/ 1/2 days ahead of del. Time and my gut hurt so much that I got a room for $40.00. The only thing that would relieve the hurt was an extremely hot bath. I had about 5 or 6 bathes. I finally went to sleep and woke up 3 hours later: then drove. The pain lasted only 7 hours. I have been discouraged more than I want to explain. I am telling you this because I want to be honest, not to worry you, not to get anything, not to change anything. Whatever the problems, God can and will solve them. I am with you in my heart. I am proud of you. I always am proud of you when I talk to others about you. I have nothing else to do but think about what you are doing and what the results may be. I love you all the time. When I have done particularly well, I love you. When I am wrong and feel bad, I love you. When There is nothing left, I love you. When my hands are full of good things, and everything good is said about me, I love you: because it is not me, not you, it is about us (you, God, and me)
Every day my love,
Neal
May 31, 2008
Neal,
Since you are in Chattanooga, it is especially important that you get with Tom and tell him that now is the time to have a board meeting ASAP. Please let him know you are in Chattanooga and please set up a board meeting with you and Tom and Eugene. I will need to know exactly when the meeting is and tell Dvorah by way of an email. I will also email Tom right now and tell him to please put something together for a meeting immediately while you are there. Let me know when you have talked with Tom. We are going to need to appoint Wondwossen as the next Managing Director, so that needs to be done in a board meeting while you are in Chattanooga at the board meeting before you get back on the truck. It is urgent. Thanks, and I love you!
Becki
June 5th, 2008
Becki,
I know you may think it easy for 3 men to have a meeting, but I am getting discouraged with it. Tom and I sat for some time waiting for Eugene to arrive at the Church of Christ. I have heard from him one time: he said he would call back as soon as he arrived home because he was busy. Since then it has been 2 days, and 15 to 20 calls, but with no response. Tom is also quite discouraged with him. In two more days, I should be back on the road again. Rick and I are not planning to take home time again for about 14 weeks. Love,
Neal
June 5th, 2008 (From Denise)
Hi Neal
Hope you are traveling well and safe. Attached is a first draft of the article. I will have to reduce the size of it more than likely, but I wanted you and Rebekah to have a chance to review it first. I may pursue having the long version put on the Covenant Intranet site also, and reference that in the newsletter so that people can read the complete article. I would also like to get a picture of Rebekah with a few of the children. I hope that will be possible! I am embedding the article content below in case you cannot pull up a Word document, but also sending it as an attachment as well. Let me know what you think! Thanks! Denise (423) 822-4380 giving the Shirt off his Back.
As children, we were taught to share with those who were less fortunate and to strive to be good Samaritans. As we got older, we sacrificed our time for a charitable cause, donated a few pints of blood, and maybe even laced up for a 5k race for a cure of some dreadful disease. We proudly wore the logo t-shirt, outwardly displaying our generosities. Although these random acts of kindness are indeed a form of sacrifice, after reading this next true story, you may decide to dig a little deeper into your soul. Ask yourself honestly, “Would I sacrifice 90% of my annual income to a worthy cause, relinquishing personal assets, hobbies, and financial freedom, only to live on the remaining 10%.” One humble Covenant OTR team driver, Neal Payne, has done just that over the past 7 years. Neal began financing his wife Rebekah’s mission trips to Ethiopia in 2001. Rebekah attended Covenant’s driving school in 2003 and became a team driver with Neal, ultimately saving up enough money to operate tutoring classes for the Deaf. Their sacrifice and dedication resulted in the LeaMcD Educational Services for the Deaf of Ethiopia, which became an international non-profit organization in 2005 and to this day, is still being funded according to the number of miles Neal drives for Covenant.
Rebekah had previously taught Deaf students in Ethiopia since 1971 until she lost her parents to a drunk driving accident and then lost her first husband to cancer. Spiritually wounded at that point, Rebekah was focused on raising her children when she met Neal. “With Neal’s help and strength from God, I went on to watch my 7 children grow to adulthood and when the last child left home, I was ‘called’ to return back to Ethiopia to continue working with the Deaf through mission trips,” relays Rebekah. Now Rebekah operates the Deaf mission in Ethiopia 11 months out of the year, managing 13 full-time staff tutors, providing over 90 Deaf students an opportunity to live more productive and interactive lives. LeaMcD’s weekly budget is literally based on the number of miles Neal is expecting to drive for Covenant that week. Neal lives on the remaining 10% of his income (barely covering his tolls, food, and his cell phone) by staying on the road and basing out of his daughter’s house in Chattanooga. Now that is Sacrifice.
Neal does not wear the t-shirt either, humbly stating, “God has put me In a place where I can make a huge difference. I am who my wife is, and she’s in Ethiopia.” Neal says he almost forgets what she looks like since it has been almost a year since he saw her last, communicating weekly through emails on his Blackberry. Neal has only flown twice to Ethiopia because he says he would rather send her that money which he would have to spend on airfare and continue logging in the miles needed in order to fund Rebekah’s work with the Deaf in Ethiopia. Neal’s return on investment is in making a real difference in these children’s lives, knowing that his personal sacrifice is resulting in the Deaf students achieving a 90% success ratio in national exams, ultimately providing them with better job opportunities and life experiences, which they may never have received otherwise. Rebekah says of her husband, “Neal’s perseverance and dedication in doing all that He can without even being able to see the fruits of his labor is what is most amazing. I do not think Neal really knows what a huge impact he has made. He just keeps on trucking and trusting God.”
Recently, RH Lovin, Covenant’s Executive VP of Administration, was preparing to travel to Ethiopia on a children’s ministries trip (Bless the Children International) with his daughter. About 2 weeks prior to his trip, RH had received a call from Joey Hogan who had just met Neal and suggested to RH that he stop by the LeaMcD facility and visit with Rebekah during his upcoming trip. “It’s such a blessing that there’s someone from Covenant who’ll see what my wife is doing,” relayed Neal after receiving the news from Joey.
Some may call it ironic that RH was already scheduled to be in the same city where Neal’s wife’s mission was located. RH simply calls it “providence.” As RH entered into the 2-classroom building made of wood and metal, his first observations were the joy in the children’s faces and how gracious everyone was, watching how well the students interacted with the tutors, 3 of whom were also Deaf. Experiencing the Covenant connection firsthand, RH says plainly, “This is the real deal,” amazed at how Much Rebekah and Neal have accomplished and how many people they have affected. Several of the Deaf children have lost their parents to AIDS. Although many children were born Deaf, some had become Deaf due to the lack of treatment available to children with ear infections. “The type of tutoring Rebekah’s staff is providing would be difficult to find in an emerging country such as Ethiopia,” says RH.
As for Neal’s weekly contributions from his paycheck, he says, “If You want to do something for mankind and reach out, it is really great to give to something when you can see where it’s going.” Neal invites others to check out what his wife is doing and consider making a real difference in someone’s life. Even if you are not quite ready to invest 90% of your paycheck to a charitable cause, you do not have to give the shirt off your back to really COMMIT TO CARE and join in on this Covenant connection that has emerged in Ethiopia. For more information, visit LeaMcD’s website at EthioDeaf.com (new, 2020). Denise (425) 823-4221
June 8th, 2008
Hi Neal,
Denise has done a great job on the story. I am so proud of you and know that God will use this article to inspire others. I emailed you before but lost it all due to the disconnect of the internet, but just to say here, I wrote to Eugene and asked to please try to get to the next appointed board meeting. This is really not good because now we have not even got our annual board meeting done in the states and I think the deadline is this month. Also, so many legal things need to be done here but cannot because no one is acting as managing director. I asked Kubi if he would do it again, but he declined. Not to say he will not but we are still suffering a lot because of stuff resulting from the big messes we encountered over the past few months and I think God is still talking to Kubi about his part in it. Hopefully, he will get turned around. Otherwise, I need to take responsibility or Wondwossen to be managing director. Please try again to get a board meeting together. It is so important. Elfenish died yesterday. She really lived an exceptionally long time with aids. I am hurting about her death today. I hope I can go to her house with others who are mourning and cry. I love you!
Becki
June 11, 2008
Neal,
I have tried to email you a couple of times in the last couple of days and it is so hard because I keep getting bumped off the internet just as I try to send. Anyway, I will try again but very quickly. Are you going to be able to go to the fundraiser? Charlie said he thought that you were going to be able to do that. Eugene should have been available to go to the board meeting. Unless the Lord keeps me safe, I am really going to start having some big problems here in Ethiopia because the board meeting did not take place. In addition, we are now not legal in the states because June is the last month to have a board meeting. I am trusting God has something in mind that I cannot understand, anyway, pray for me. I love you so much!
Becki
June 11, 2008
My only love,
I was able to view the video you sent with R.H. It is very convincing, that you doing hard, and noble work. I watched it several times at Kent and Wendy’s house but was not able to take in each word. My co-driver has seen it 2, or 3 times, and wants to see it again. He wants to put it on his hard drive and show his mom. Sister and grandmother. It looked like they were grafting a rose to start to a good rootstock on the video. I love you in a way that is hard to explain. I am very blessed to be near to you when you are so far away. I am not worthy of all the blessings I receive from many that hear of you or that know of the things you do for others. If you have been praying for me lately, do not stop. Early this morning I was listening to a preacher, and he said some things that are so right and are so much for me that when I should have been sleeping, I was crying, out of breath. I cannot explain very well my experience, except to say; I can never be the same as I was. God is taking parts of me and exchanging them for better and most wonderful parts. I do not deserve what He gives me, and the price is more than I can understand. I love you!
Neal
June 11, 2008
Hi Neal,
I am so blessed to read your email. Yes, my friend Grace and I have been praying a lot for you. We will keep on praying. God is good and caring for you and me in a special way. It is so exciting when you say how much God is changing you! So glad to know you had been watching the video and seeing the different things we are doing here. You will be happy to know we put 5 Deaf at Genesis Farm in Debre Zeit, remember you visited that place. It is the best place for the Deaf because they are looking after their spiritual welfare as well as physical. Anyway, when you get here for good you will become not only the farmer you long to be again, but also teaching and helping so many Deaf to grow in this area too.
I got an email from our lawyer, Steve. Now I understand with more clarity what we need to do. You need to go back to Chattanooga or have a board meeting, by phone with me, you, and Tom with or without Eugene. As long as we notify everyone of the meeting and as long as we have at least 3 board members present in person or by phone we can do it. I think it is incredibly positive for me to become a country representative, but we need to act very quickly. Ok, keep writing and telling me what God has been doing in your life lately. I love you so much!
Becki
June 15, 2008
Hi Neal,
You should try to go back to Chattanooga as soon as possible for a board meeting. The lawyer there has made it clear that we can have a board meeting without Eugene or Dvorah as long as they have some notice that we will have a board meeting. I can be on the phone during the board meeting, but we should be doing it very soon, so try to get back to Chattanooga very soon and let me know when it happens. I love you!
Becki
June 15, 2008,
Becki,
You need to call Tom now. We can have a meeting tonight. I have your cell# but cannot call without a calling card. The truck stop we are stuck at does not sell the kind of calling cards that I need to call you. We are at wildwood GA, about 3mi from the Chattanooga Terminal.
Neal
June 15, 2008
Hi Neal,
Tom called me. All is well. You will have the board meeting tonight and you and Tom can call me at 8:30 pm your time. I also will have the internet set up if we have electricity. Therefore, we can do both if possible. Otherwise, the phone is the best way. Anyway, looking forward to hearing your voice. I heard of some great things from Covenant. SOOO exciting. Ok, I love you!
Becki
June 16, 2008
You need to call Tom now. We can have a meeting tonight. I have your cell phone number but can not call without a calling card. The truck stop we are at does not sell the kind of calling cards that I need in order to call you. We are at Wildwood Georgia, about 3 miles from Covenant.
Neal
June 16, 2008
The board meeting starts in 45 minutes.
Neal
June 16, 2008
Hi Neal,
Just wanted to let you know that in case we need to email back and forth, we can do so on the blackberry during the board meeting. I will be calling the Church of Christ where you will be meeting in about 45 minutes Let us pray that this board meeting will solve a crucial problem about me becoming the managing director or country representative. Love you, love you, love you!!
Becki
July 2, 2008
Neal,
I love you!! It has been awhile. How are you? What are you doing? Tell me what is going on with you. I wish you would hurry up and get here. You know it is much cheaper for you to be here than for me to go there so I hope you are making plans to come here. Abraham waited many years for God’s promises to come true. I hope and pray our waiting is just a few weeks before you come. All is well here. Unbelievable things continue to unfold. This is our year to see everything happen!! I wish you were here so much. Let me know how you are doing. Love,
Becki
July 17, 2008
Becki,
I am waiting to deliver now, and then they are sending me to Salt Lake City UT. I have not seen or heard anything about the help we may get from Covenant Transport. There is almost no rest for me because I am doing loads that can hardly be done. Then I broke down and had to get the truck fixed on this Last load, in 4 days’ travel I had 2 hours to spare when I arrived. Love,
Neal
July 17, 2008
Becki,
I have been told that I need a new battery, but they did not have one today where I stopped. It would be about 2 days to order a battery. Sometimes I turn off this phone and charge it all night: 15-20 seconds after I turn it on it shuts off. Another time It stays on for a day or 2 on the same charge. I am sending this to test if it is working. Love,
Neal
July 17, 2008
Neal,
Yes, it works, I am so glad to hear from you. I have been loving you so much and wishing you were here. We have a prayer group praying all the time now that God will make the way smooth for you to come soon. In addition, I have been trying to call you but cannot get through. Now I know why. Love you!
Becki
July 17, 2008
Becki,
I have been to IA and back to Nashville. Then to Olympia WA and now, I am in TN again since I am driving alone. My co-driver has been in touch with me. He has emphysema, fluid on his lungs, and 2 or 3 other things wrong with him. He may never be able to drive again. We had a lot of fun and hard-driving while it lasted. I have been driving hard. Like 11 hour driving with only 15min for fueling, then 10-hour sleep, and the same. It has been like that for 4 days in a row. I am afraid when we meet again, I will just fall apart, or I will be upset at you for being away for so long did I tell you about the kidney stone I passed last time I was at Wendy’s house. It was about one 8th inch through. Love,
Neal
July 17, 2008
Neal,
Oh, wow, sorry to hear about your co-driver. Maybe you should try to find another. However, I think you will be here soon, so do not bother. I did not know you passed a kidney stone. I hope you are doing better. Remember Job. Afterward, he had big blessings and by far more than he had in the beginning, so do not say you are afraid that you will be a big mess when we finally see each other. Love you so much!
Becki
July 17, 2008
Becki,
The last few emails I sent was with the charger on and charged up. Hope you are receiving them ok. I have not received anything from you for at least a week.
Neal
July 18, 2008
Neal,
The reason you have not received any email from me is that I have been trying to call you for several days, and your phone has been off. I am tired of being away from you and am praying for the day for us to be together again. God knows why it has been this way, but I think we will both be different people when we see each other. Anyway, I am still going to try to call again today. Hope I get you. Love,
Becki
July 19, 2008
Neal,
Covenant sent $2,0085.00 a few days ago. I am trying now to account for every penny and trying to figure out how to pay off all our debts both here and there. What happened to our tax return? Did you pay the US bank with it? Please be careful on the road. I want you with me all in one piece. Amazing you are getting so much work. I have so many exciting things to tell you about the school. For example, out of 47 8th grade students, 46 passed the national exams because of our tutoring program. We have not received the results from the other grades yet. Pretty amazing huh? Love you!
Becki
July 20, 2008
Neal,
Covenant will help with $2,085.00 every month. So now, we are about where we were while I was driving in regard to our budget here. Praise the Lord, Covenant is helping us. Neal, you have to hurry and come here. I am doing my best to find funds. Last year was such a tough year because of all the attacks. We almost lost the school right at the time we were on the verge of getting funds and also at the time when many deadlines to get funds. This is our year of blessing no doubt, so hold on a little more. I know you are so tired of hearing this, but please be patient because when you get your blessing it will bigger than you can ever imagine. Many are saying our project will have such a huge impact not only on the Deaf but on many others. I wish you would have someone driving with you so that you do not get so lonely. What do you think to get someone again? Is it possible? What has happened about the article written about our work here? I love you so much, Neal!
Becki
September 6, 2008
Becki,
Today I just deposited $4,123.00 from our tax return and the economic check of about $600.00 into our checking account.
Neal
September 6, 2008
Hey Neal,
How are you doing? Where are you? I love you! We are all wanting you to be here in October. Are you going to come? I am trying not to touch the tax return so you can come unless someone else sends some money for this purpose. I see in the account the tax return but not the economic check of $600.00. You should check on it. Are you sure you deposited it? Love you!
Becki
September 7, 2008
Neal,
What should we do with the money? I think we should use it for you to come here in October unless some other money comes in for that purpose, I hope so much you agree with me! So, if you agree, you need to be sure your passport is up to date. Make sure Wendy gets it to you. Do not worry about shots. I am not up to date on shots either. I can book you a flight online if you want, tell me how we should do this. I am extremely excited. It may be best to fly out of Atlanta. Let me know as soon as possible what you want me to do. IIIIIIII LLLLL OOOOO VVVVVV EEEEEE YYYYY OOOO UUU!
Becki
September 15, 2008
Becki,
Been terribly busy the last week. I reset 2 times, then went to Chattanooga. I picked up my new co-driver, Christian, a non-smoker, has Hazmat, lives near Chattanooga (Atlanta Ga). Then went from Chattanooga to Atlanta, then delivered in Sacramento, CA, picked up in French-Camp Ca, and now heading to Walmart, Pageland, NC to deliver. My co-driver is from Bhutan near India. He came from a family that used to be all Hindu. He is Christian and half of his family is Christian. We usually pray to God before we start to drive. I am enjoying driving with him. He likes things exceptionally clean. He threw my 2-hand towels away! Start leaving some extra money in the checking account, so when it it is time for me to fly to you, we will be ready. It has been so hot the last 3 months that I have been uncomfortable but It has been the perfect temperature for the last 3 days. Last night I was driving till 10:45 pm. It got down to 45 degrees. That is another reason I do not want to leave until about the middle Of December. I look forward to seeing you soon. Love,
Neal
September 9, 2008
Becki,
I love you so much. I want to come so much. I am so tired of being away from you. It is a moral issue and a selfish issue with me: to be out of debt. You and I will be putting all we stand for to remain in debt. However, there is a time and place for everything. Sometimes God asks us to do the very thing we abhor, for his purposes and if we refuse, we are forfeiting our blessing and the blessing of others. Am I, as your brother said, just an enabler for you? Am I in another world, and just think I am in the same world as you? Am I chasing windmills, like Don Quixote? Is Covenant. Chasing windmills running after me? Are you and I that convincing, that Covenant would join with us, chasing windmills? If heaven would be granted for those that tried, and worked hard, even though they went the wrong way, I should be content knowing, I have gained my entrance. I know all the above is not true. All we stand for in jeopardy. I know it will not be long now till we can look into each other’s eyes, but I think we should wait until November or December. Above. It is by His blood, and the only thing I have to do with it is by faith in His life. Things may follow but faith must be the link that connects our actions. I love you!
Neal
September 10, 2008
Neal,
Please do not think about this venture as chasing windmills or that you are enabling me. God has called us to this purpose, and it is bigger than you and I can imagine. We are now in the process of getting a huge plot of land, 3 hectares in a place about 2 hours from Addis. I will tell you more of this as it unfolds. We are moving very quickly now to start our Deaf high school this year. I have someone working with me who is amazingly fast and efficient and think it may be all completed by next week. I am feeling pretty let down about you saying to wait until November or December. However, someone may come through and get you the money to come in October. I paid off the Bank of America card. When you get here, you will know without a doubt you have not been chasing windmills. R.H. saw it and you will too. In the meantime, I love you so much!
Becki
September 16, 2008
Hi Neal,
You keep making the time for you to come longer and longer! But I do understand what you are saying. Anyway, I am glad you have a co-driver again. Today is an especially important day. We are having the Education Bureau come out in about 1 hour and tell us if we can start the Deaf high school or not. We have been doing a lot to prepare for this day, so please pray for us if you get this email on time. I will let you know how it goes and send you more about it. Also, Verizon says we are going pay again the same as before. Please call them and tell them to keep their promise. Love you much!
Becki
October 10, 2008
Hi Neal,
Finally got our internet back after some time that is why you have not heard from me. I have had only a few minutes of internet time each morning by walking quite a way to the internet cafe and then back as soon as I can because I have so many obligations here at the school. You would be so proud to see all the accomplishments we have made in such a short time. We were able to acquire the compound across the street for more classrooms and larger land, so now we have two compounds. I am paying 2 times the amount of rent because rent in the area, but we had to do it to meet all the obligations of the government to start the Deaf high school. Anyway, it is working out really well, however, I had to take money out of our credit card to do it and will try to get that paid back very soon. Charlie is here and he is observing the whole situation and must say he is very amazed. I do not know why he gets to come here at this time and not you but must be a reason. He will go back with some glowing reports and pics. I hope you will be blessed when he tells you all that your money is doing here. This is the first day that I have been able to print your picture with Joey and Tommy. REALLY NEAL! I am so proud of you; you are my love and always will be. Take care and let me hear from you very soon.
Becki
October 22, 2008
Becki,
Today I got a call from Charlie. I am also writing to see if the email works. I was expecting to get an email from you but have not received it from you lately. The 6038-phone number has been stopped now. I am thinking that in the transaction Verzion may have stopped the email part of the 6034 phone, so I am testing it now. If I still receive mail from you, I will know it is still working. We have been working extremely hard for the past 2 weeks. We should be getting a check larger than $1,000.00 US. I am so tired of driving that I asked for 6 days off for thanksgiving. I need the rest. I love you!
Neal
October 23, 2008
Neal,
I am pleased to say I got your email! So glad you got a call from Charlie. I have not been able to email until now because our internet and phone has not been working. Also, had some major problems with my right arm, which thank God is not fractured but injured severely and kept me from going to an internet cafe to do my email. I am now doing much better, almost back to normal. I hope Charlie has filled you in on all the stuff going on here. It is so amazing too much for words how God has been working. Charlie and I had prayer sessions on several occasions because he is baffled about how to share the news of what is happening here. Totally a God thing, complete with our enemies biting at our heels, but the Lord has been mighty in all directions and we will know today or tomorrow if we can start our high school. Anyway, be blessed by all Charlie shares with you. Even though you did not get to come here with Charlie, at least you can now get some first-hand info from him which should be a great encouragement to you. You are highly respected and honored by me and everyone. God keep you and bless you beyond measure! I love you dearly!
Becki
October 28, 2008
Neal,
We are now officially legal to begin the Deaf high school. It is so hard to believe. God has been moving mountains, one right after the other, and nothing, not enemies or any other has been able to stop it this time. No kidding there have been absolute miracles taking place here. I hope you are getting a chance to talk with Charlie. He has so much info to share with you, so much better than me trying to email. So sick of not getting to be with you. I think the days are nearly over now. Keep looking up, God knows the right time for us to be together again. Denise from Covenant is being so helpful in that she wants to keep our website updated and also give a report based on Charlie’s trip here to the people at Covenant. We have had two different sets of TV camera crews coming out here lately. The people that came out today are really doing a thorough job of interviewing and focusing on Deaf education in Ethiopia and all kinds of things like that. This is the time for the Deaf in Ethiopia. I wish you were here to see the fruit of your labors! Please let me hear from you soon. Please stay safe. I love you,
Becki
October 30, 2008
Becki,
It is slow this week. I sat for two days in FL. Then my co-driver had to go to Chattanooga. He hurt his right arm a few months before he got on-board with me, at French Camp, CA. So, he had to claim it because it was not healing. Then they found that the computer that runs the engine needs to be replaced, so we have been sitting at Chattanooga for two days. I know we are doing the right thing, as dr. Lora says. But it is not that simple. Israel did not just make up their mind to walk out of Egypt. Ruth did not just make up her mind one day to marry Boaz: and you did not just make up your mind to go to Addis and start a school. It was through many seemingly simple decisions that I found you loving and helping those you had not seen for many years, and adding to their lives a dimension that they most likely would never realize. I am most honored to be your husband. I am the recipient of God’s love, and That is what keeps me looking far into the future for my reward: and I know it will be so big that if I were to see it (as Moses saw the Promised land) it would be too overwhelming, too big, too simple, too complex to put in words, even if it were in Hebrew.
We are so blessed to have as our supporters Covenant Transport. You know that God blesses those that bless others, and I am so proud of them as I go about my daily activities. This morning I was reading in Exodus that the Children of Israel encamped many times on their way to the Promised Land. In fact, I counted them. I think it was 42 times. Rev. 11:2 and 13:5 both say that the devil has power for 42 months. Could that be a direct representation that the devil had some great control over God’s children of Israel before they reached the promised land, and that in the end, it will be the same….. time, times, and a dividing of times? Just a thought. I am closing now, and then reading in Numbers 33 again to try and count the number of times Israel stopped and made camp before they reached the Promised land. I love you!
Neal
October 31, 2008
Hi Neal,
Did you know that I hurt my right arm pretty badly? I fell down and could not get up until someone came and helped me up and then took me to the hospital. They did an x-ray and the doctor said it was broken but did not need surgery. I was not supposed to move it for a month. Well, I was pretty devastated and had just completed one week in this condition until one of our guards said I should check out the sports injury therapist around the corner and see what he had to say. When I went there, he asked me to bring the x-ray and then told me it was not broken, and he began therapy on my arm. After another week I was able to move my arm about and now three weeks later I am nearly healed. I went to Filwuha (natural hot spring water) and they massaged it and I am going again today. I think I will be alright but still hurts a lot especially if I use sign language too much.
Well, we got the accreditation to start the Deaf high school, but the next thing that has happened the 9th and 10th graders whom we have expected for our school have banned together to refuse to come to our regular school. The same enemies preventing us from trying to get our accreditation have influenced them to not come to our school. But we are all trusting God and now we will be stopping the tutoring program for them and going out on the highways and byways to find potential Deaf students elsewhere. It is really quite amazing how everything is going on and I can foresee a number of future lessons for the Deaf to mature them and get them to a good place despite our enemies’ tactics to try to destroy. I am reminded of the 1970s when I was here at the Makennisa Deaf School, our students at that time also had been influenced to bite the hand that fed them and as a result, they lost all the good things they could have otherwise had.
And again I am reminded of the rebellious people of God in the wilderness having to wander about for 40 years because they refused to believe the promised land was for them. That is what is going on with the Deaf students now and is it sad because they could have had everything. I have spiritually grown so much since being here this time. I know you also have done a lot of growing. Yes, God has had His hand on our lives in an incredibly unique way, each of us doing our part in the kingdom and not seeking the reward in this world. I am like you; I am always looking beyond this life for my reward because surely this place has nothing to offer but the good fight for the souls of people to bring them to a good understanding of who God is. I love you, Neal. God be with you and may He bring you to me soon! Love,
Becki
November 7, 2008
Becki,
I talked to Charlie yesterday; he said we need to have a form 990 tax statement. and we are to have it ready at all times. He said that if anyone were to complain to the IRS that we would be in trouble if we did not have it available upon request. Anyway, I think we will miss good opportunities if we do not keep things in good order with Covenant. Charlie is presenting what he knows about our school in a few days in Chattanooga, to anyone with the staff, and I think it will be open to any of the drivers. Denise, the lady that is helping you with the website told me about it. My opinion is to keep it small. I will never be at rest until we are out of debt. The students do not even appreciate what we are doing. They are political just like the ones running for office in the U S. They apparently would not know a blessing if it was sitting on a plate in front of them. My patience is so thin you should be able to see through it.
I am staying at Wendy’s house from the 25th to the 30th. I wish you could be with me there. Be extremely careful and try to do everything possible to satisfy Covenant and Charlie. What they are doing is out of the ordinary. It is a blessing from God. I am running solo now for a few days till the 17th of November, then I get my co-driver back. We will drive for 1 week and then be off for thanksgiving. Yesterday I got a call from my old co-driver. He is thinking of driving again. He is getting $30.00 per hour working for the D O T in AL. I told him to think very carefully before he quits a job like that, where he is home every night, gets vacation pay, and paid when a storm hits to stay home. He calls me about every other week to talk. I am sitting in Youngstown, OH. I am trying to get a 34-hour restart. Now, I have only 8.75 hours left. I know your busy, but try not to take advantage of me. It has been forever now. 18 more days, and I get 5 days off. I love you!
Neal.
November 8, 2008
Neal,
Good to hear from you. I told Tom about the 990 forms and to check with our attorney to get it. I also think Charlie would be good to have on our board since he is highly active to help us. So, when he gets to Chattanooga you all should have a board meeting. How is Eugene doing? Do you ever talk with him? Our former two hearing lady teachers who took me to court tried to put me in jail for 6 days. They somehow convinced the judge I deserved it and so the police came out to take me to the police station. Fortunately I was able to have our legal advisor with me and we went together to the police station and he explained the true story and so it didn’t happen but it was a bit weird for me that those ladies could hate me so much they would do anything extreme to try to hurt me. They lost the case where they thought they were going to get thousands of birr and kick me out of the country and so that is why they are playing tricks to try to get me in legal trouble. The challenges are really severe here at times, but God has been always by my side and somehow, I get through them.
Remember Neal, our fight is not against flesh and blood but the powers of darkness, and when your patience wears thin and you can’t see an end in sight don’t forget how God has been working in your life to do this work that He equipped you for this mission just as He has done for me. Our reward is not in this life, which is just a breath, but we wait for eternity. What we are doing is not just about Deaf people, it is starting to touch the government with their corruption, and they were even forced to change their direction on us due to some severe pressure. Key places in government and key people are starting to be affected by what we are doing because it is God’s work being done God’s way. It is a judgment on those who oppress poor people or Deaf people here or those who do not pay attention to God and a good and exciting thing for those who will find God because of this work. Did I tell you we will be on TV in about a week, two 40-minute segments? The TV journalists who came out to interview our school has promised to do everything in his power to expose the Deaf situation to Ethiopia. However, I believe it will be more than about the Deaf.
God has brought key people to us and is doing exploits through us; you just cannot imagine. I remember before we got married you mentioned you were in a puzzle about how God would put us together and you believed we would be doing exploits for him in the future because it was the end of days, as we know it. Do you remember this? It is difficult to explain to you how important our work is regardless of Deaf students’ inability to understand what has been given to them. It is about something by far more significant, touching other people groups and nations in a way beyond our own capacity but that God’s hand is on you and me in a most unique way and a humble way that shows His majesty in these last days. Please don’t think in terms of anything other than you and I are on a journey, a very important spiritual journey that must be accomplished in the realm we can’t do in and of ourselves but that it is such an important task for God’s own purposes that we dare not do it in our flesh. We are affecting people in the states in an amazing way because God is with us. We are also affecting people here in Ethiopia in an amazing way because God has ordained it.
Please Neal, from now on; do not think anything else except in a spiritual dimension because the times are too short. This world is fast-changing and never be the same, as we know it, our money will be worth nothing anyway except what counts for God’s work. We only have so much time left to put all our attention on His work that He has assigned us and then we have eternity and then we can finally hear Him say to us, well done! Oh, Neal, I want us so much to be together, please keep your eyes on God and his unique plan for us and what He is doing through us in the terms of eternity. Please don’t let your patience wear thin, it is God who is doing what He will do and He can only bless us if we see His plan rather than our own plan and goals. Our ways are not His ways. I have an overwhelming sense of some extra amazing works of God in both of our lives, please stay with it and do not feel discouraged. I need you so much these days. I love you deeply with all my heart!
Becki
December 11, 2008
Becki,
I do not know what to say. I always said keep it small. I do not care about accreditation. Now you have 2 compounds to pay for. It all makes my head hurt. It makes my back hurt also. All the happiness that you and I could do for others. Is wrapped up in only one place, and some are there for the job only. We do not need them. The ones we need working for us are working for the good of others, not for the good of themselves. Maybe God has a plan for you to meet someone else, and this is the way to meet. If this is what Ethiopia thinks of all that we have done for them it is time to withdraw from them. It is wrong to throw pearls before swine. There are many things we could do for others Instead of Ethiopian Deaf. I am tired of us being so far away. Do the ones getting all this hard-earned money from me know that I eat mush for breakfast mixed with baby food?
Do they know that I have one pair of shoes that I wear only when it is dry outside, so I do not get wet feet? Do they know that the meat on their table is our retirement money? Day by day, I am either investing in a good many others or throwing wonderful things to others that are laughing at me. If this is what I get for a broken back, then I will send you a one-way ticket to the world I live in. We can send what the evil ones want until the contract is over. Then anything, we may get leftover will be better than what we have now. We cannot forget the ones that love us (too) much. I am tired of what we have now. Do you remember driving with me? None of the co-drivers I have been with can back as well as you. They have all depended on me to wake up on time to deliver a Load, find the delivery place and pickup address. My life is all wrapped up in yours. It is gone and I do not have anything. This cannot keep going on.
Neal
December 12, 2008
Neal,
We have already decided to withdrawal from one compound. This should be a good solution. At the time I decided to get the second compound, it was because it became available at the very same time we needed to impress the government that we had enough space to have a high school because they were demanding it from us. It did help us, but now I see we must let it go. We have excellent staff now. No one is there for just the money but to help the Deaf. We are all enjoying great peace. We had to hire new staff to meet the government regulations and put everyone on a 9-month contract so if we let some go it might be difficult, but during the Christmas vacation, we can try. All the Deaf staff depend on me to see them through. And the students have gotten tremendous help from our programs. We still have not received the high school students because of junk going on from behind the scenes but will get them eventually. I have been experiencing spiritual warfare on a daily basis coming from various sources. Most of the warfare is due to the fact you are sending sacrificially and I am here to see that your money is not being sent in vain, so when I do anything to enhance our programs and help the Deaf, I experience opposition.
I am becoming very educated regarding the values and mentality in this country and in the government and see very plainly the source of poverty is themselves. I do believe I have a message for the country and if I have to go to prison maybe this is the reason. Wondwossen is a great source of encouragement to me. He has tremendous spiritual wisdom and is always talking with me, building me up, and sending me text messages on my mobile phone each night to make sure I stay encouraged. God is really using him. I do not blame you for wanting to withdraw all financial help. However, let us give it a few more weeks and pray to God to show us the answers. He has His reasons and I don’t want to throw money away either but this battle is not ours it belongs to God, He owns cattle on a thousand hills, so let us wait on Him and see what He wants us to do. In the meantime, you can be assured that you are very much loved and respected here by all our staff and we are always praying for you. God will find a way where there seems to be no way, let us be patient a little while and let Him act. I love you so much!
Becki
December 12, 2008
Becki,
The day before yesterday a car almost slid into Dhan Thapa, my co-driver. About one hour ago another car spun around in front of him. He says he is scared and may ask for a run where there is no ice and snow. 2, or 3 days ago there was an accident on the freeway. They diverted all east traffic about 5 to 6 miles around the accident. We had a light load of 19,000lbs (net). The wind was blowing from the North. Time after time the trailer would be 3 to 5 ft off to the right sliding sideways. When I heard you might go to prison my back started to tense up. I did not know it for a while but then I could not sleep for the hurt, then I put it all together. When I know you are having trouble my body starts to revolt. We delivered near Middletown Pa yesterday. We had extra time so I stopped at the store where you and I used to go to across the railroad from the place we delivered Emery. Everything is still cheap there. Love!
Neal
December 12, 2008
Neal,
I spent a couple of days in real turmoil over my possible plight of going to prison. Amazingly, Teshome, Alemnish, and Wolansa (our janitors, cooks, and cleaners) came up with 11,000.00 birr to put in the bank but my legal advisor said no, don’t do it, and that they most likely will not put me in jail, because we did an appeal at the high court but someone closed the appeal (probably bribe) and now we have a problem because of this. Anyway, stop worrying, everything is going to work out according to God’s plan, and remember, sometimes the darkest hour is just before dawn. This may be the beginning of the last of our issues regarding this problem but may get worse before better. Anyway, I am not distressed as I was when I wrote and told you. God has really given me peace. So please you also stop worrying. God is with us all the way! I do not want your back hurting and I want you to stay safe on the road. I know this is the icy time of year, my prayers are with you. Much love,
Becki
December 21, 2008
To my love,
It was the worst of times: it was the best of times. I am in Pageland SC. I unloaded early this morning and then went to sleep, asleep I really needed. Then when I woke up I watched the movie “While you were Sleeping” When it finished, I watched it again! Then I realized that the movie was about this same time of year. I watched it because it is about a lonely person meeting another lonely person. What can I say? When we get together, it will be better than that! Our story is bigger, better, longer, deeper, stronger, and it is not just a story, it really happened to us just that way. It is a story, and yes, a big story, big and good enough to be on Paul Harvey or on Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Have you ever stopped doing whatever you are doing, thinking I want something, but you are not sure what it is you want? Then you start the process of eliminating food, bath, walk, etc…OK, I have all the food in the truck I could want but it is YOU that I miss. And I have this feeling quite often. It is so funny and sad too. I was talking to my co-driver, and told him about the movie I watched several times, that Shawnee brought to our house in Tonasket then my co-driver said that he believes that also and that he has been laughing many times when he has brought others to Christ and also slain in the spirit, and tongues, etc.
All this he says is evidence he is doing the right thing, and that he has the Holy Spirit. It is amazing what he believes as truth, it is amazing what I believe is true. I am convinced as I get older, that others have truth also, but it is not based on ALL truth. It is based on some truth: and can be proved true by it is self. Most of us are believers, following truth, but are not any better than chickens following other chickens. When I bring up a Bible text that does not agree with his church doctrine he says, “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. That is the usual ending others have too. I love you. I hope you do not take this in a bad way. I am always amazed, for example, 10 People believe in 10 different doctrines, do not get along, go to 10 different churches. Each church believes they are right, or at least more right than all the other 10 churches. Each church brings others into “THEIR” Fold.” Each church thanks God for directing them with good doctrine. Each church thanks God that He has led them to their specific doctrine, that other churches have disregarded or cannot see because the devil has blinded them.
Each church thanks God that they are not blinded by Satan as all the other 9 churches are and it would be short-sided on our part to think that the same God we have heard about and worship, and pray to, and trust in is in charge of all these diverse doctrines. I believe that God’s Spirit is NOT in most churches. I believe that the spirit in most churches is of the deceiver. I do believe that honest people are in ALL churches. I do believe that God’s Holy Spirit will call His people out of unholy churches. I do believe that God will call His people out of ALL churches as we see them now: (that includes the church I grew up in). I hope you agree with me, but you do not have to. All I need you to agree with me on is this; we are in such bad shape we need God’s forgiveness and guidance otherwise, we laugh at God and forego His kingdom and guidance, for an imitation kingdom. Now my body does not know what time to sleep. It is 1:30 am on the 1st day of the week December 21.
I am trying to decide what to eat, or maybe I am not hungry at all. There is not much I can do because it is dark out. At least it is not as cold out as it has been. It is 61 degrees now. It has been between 25 to 40 degrees. the last month where we have been. My co-driver is at home now. He went home for a revival meeting, and he is a speaker and a preacher. When he gets back on the truck with me, I am afraid to ask him about what went on. I told him about the people in the Bible who fell on their faces before God like Daniel, and about those like Cora, Dathan, and Abiram, who fell on their backs before God. He had no idea about this at all. It is new to me also, but it fits in every way with everything I know. What is sad to me is it cannot be accepted by most churches that I know today because it is the most important part of their doctrine. With it, they sink as a boat filled with water: without it, they have less than nothing. “You’ve Got Mail”– another movie I watch repeatedly (that is me!) Love,
Neal
December 21, 2008
My Dear Sweet Neal,
It was so good to hear from you and to hear you seem to be upbeat. I am amazed you have someone in the truck with you that has all those beliefs you do not like. I am getting ready to make a trip to Djibouti for four days to get my business visa so I can be legal in Ethiopia. No one knows about it except Wondwossen and the lawyer. I am a bit nervous about it because it is a strange place to me even though this needs to be done. A miracle happened regarding Mola trying to get so much money from us and about trying to put me in prison. We made a mistake on the checks that the judge forced me to write out (well, Demeke and Wondwossen signed them). On the back of the check, we put our seal, so the bank refused to accept and it kept me from committing a crime of writing out bad checks and cause for the judge to put me in prison.
God did this for me. However, I am not out of the woods yet and still am sometimes hiding out in case Mola wants to come around with the police to put me in prison. I was quite frustrated today with all that is going on to continue to keep our high school students from coming to our school. I am really starting to get worn out from all the junk that happens here and the battles and roadblocks Ethiopians are always trying to put in the way. I was especially disappointed when it became apparent that you were not going to get to come in December. I want to see you so badly. Anyway, it is a big story we have and one day we can look back and see how God was with us each step of the way. I love you with all my heart!
Becki
December 24, 2008
Hello my Dear Neal,
How are you? I really need your prayers. I am in Djibouti. It has become evident that I have made myself fall into a trap and I am not sure how God is going to get me out of it. I came here trying to get my business visa and as it has turned out the Ethiopian Embassy refuses to give me because they heard from Addis not to give me. It is obvious; someone is behind this trying to keep me from working in Ethiopia and trying to take over our work. Therefore, I am really in a problem and wondering if when I get back to Addis if they might pull something on me at the airport. I still have an issue about the money the judge has ordered me to pay the x principal and I am not sure but what they might try to deport me or put me in prison, but as you know. I am always getting into hot water with people because I am so honest. I hate others lying and I think that is why I am always in trouble. It is because of my relationship to God and what He is doing in my life. I am sure that He is in control of everything, but I do not know what direction it will go.
It seems that all strikes are against me and have only the Lord with me at this time to give me his strength. When I think about all the miracles He has done in the face of other dangers, I know He will work out something again this time too; I just need to wait on Him and see how He delivers. It is an exciting life I live. I am very lonely for you and wishing for you every day. Wondwossen was worried about me coming here to Djibouti. I wish I had not come. If I for some reason do not get back to Addis, I think the Deaf are going to be in a big problem. They really depend on me right now. Please pray for me. I love you dearly!
Becki
December 29, 2008
Mom,
When you get this, you need to email Wendy or me back. We are hearing rumors about some of the things that are going on over there and I wanted to see if you were okay! Please send me your telephone number and I will try to give you a call! (Copy of email to Peter sent to Neal).
Peter
December 30, 2008
Hi Peter,
Good to hear from you. How are you and Carolyn? I have been in the heat of a battle, but some of it is over and now on the other side. Some disgruntled employees that we fired last year sued me and tried to put me in prison. There were two cases. We won the first case but not without threats to put me in prison. Because the government is so corrupt with judges getting bribed, greedy, and evil people everywhere it has been a challenge to keep my head above water, but God has been my rock and protected me. For example, in the second court case, the judge forced me to write bad checks to the plaintiff, Molla, (the x principal) otherwise be put in prison. My legal advisor told me to do it because we had made an appeal to the high court that would stop the whole matter. Even though, when we arrived at the high court the file had been closed without our knowledge (another bribe). Which meant that by Monday when Molla tried to cash the first check. I would be sent to prison on a criminal charge of writing a bad check.
Well, what happened is, early Monday morning, I went to the American Embassy to make an incident report, not knowing that at the same time Molla and his lawyer came to our compound in a fit of rage demanding us to write new (bad)checks. The bank refused to accept the checks based on the fact that we ignorantly had put our seal on the back of it! So, this saved me from a very nasty prison sentence. But I was not sure what they would try to do next and had been hiding out some and also made a trip to Djibouti which was in itself scary and thought I might be arrested or deported upon re-entry to Addis Airport, but did not happen.
The next day after I returned to Addis, Molla’s lawyer came and threatened me again with prison if I did not write another bad check. This was very crazy of him to consider this tactic. I had an opportunity to show him the article that Covenant Transport wrote about Neal’s sacrifice to help the Deaf in Ethiopia and that we absolutely had no money for them and how can God bless this kind of cruelty they are trying to enforce? Etc. We told him, it was best for Mola to wait for the court-ordered money (which is an outrageous amount) otherwise, he will never get it. Mola’s lawyer went away, ashamed, and frustrated. This is because God has been in the middle of everything and protecting me from this evil. In the meantime, my lawyer appealed to the Supreme Court because the file at the high court was secretly and illegally closed.
Neal does not know all this information yet, you might want to explain it to him and to Wendy and Kent. God is using Neal so much here even though people are so willing to do such evil and greedy things. I, on the other hand, have an opportunity to witness to them about Neal’s sacrifice and it shows very clearly black and white their greed and how evil they are and how much they are so willing to oppress and destroy the poor and needy, (in this case the Deaf.) This gives them an opportunity to change their life! Neal needs to know how much God is using his testimony. Evil people here think that they can try to take advantage of our NGO and get a lot of money because most NGO’s actually do waste money here in Ethiopia as they claim they are helping the poor but they get so much money to do it and they themselves live in fancy houses and drive fancy cars. In our case, we are giving everything we can through Neal’s sacrifice so it is a unique situation and has an opportunity for a different kind of ministry to really make a difference in people’s lives. Not only how it helps the Deaf, but also the story behind it. God may want to open people’s eyes to a certain kind of reality.
On top of that, the Lord is protecting me and even if I end up in prison, He will use it for His own purposes because I have known for a long time. I am being used here for some kind of message in this country. This explains why I have had such a strange and heartbreaking life nearly all my life. It was to prepare me for these kinds of challenges. I am piercing the darkness. I could tell you so many amazing stories that I have encountered since I have been here, but just to say, for now, I am basically alone in this country. The Deaf depend on me and do not easily trust others because most people here only want to use the Deaf for their own advantage. Since I am a white American woman, Ethiopians think I am loaded with lots of money. On top of it since I am alone, I am a target for every fraud and deception people can conjure up, but I have unseen protection and barrier between them and me and I am 100% convinced that God is controlling the whole story. My phone number is 0913-53-93-63. Hope to get a phone call from you sometime. Love!
Mom
December 31, 2008
Hi Neal,
I hope you are doing ok on the road in all the bad nasty weather. You are always in our prayers. In fact, you are our biggest hero here and everyone is so concerned about you. It is utterly amazing how much God is using your testimony here. Hope by now you received the latest update of the court cases, etc. through Peter’s email I sent him. We are making some major changes, which will affect you and our finances very soon. Even though we had, some major victories in that we got our accreditation to start the Deaf high school. We never could get the students from the government high school, because of all the games and tricks and brainwashing being played on the students. Therefore, we are giving up on it for this year, but preparing a new strategy for next year. This does not happen again, in the meantime, we have let go of all our new staff (they all have accepted graciously to leave) which will save us about $600.00USD. We are letting our new compound go which will save another $1,000.
In addition, we are narrowing our tutoring program down to two grades, only 7 and 8, and will let go of 5 and 6. (We had stopped with the 9th and 10th 3 months ago because they were supposed to be our regular students) Anyway, this will save us a lot of money on transportation costs and bread and tea every day. Therefore, we will save another $400.00. All our staff have agreed that the most important thing we can do now given our whole situation is to save you from having to continue on the way you are doing and we all want to see you here. So for now we have focused on this as our priority. Everyone here loves and respects you so much. As you can see from what we will be saving by narrowing things down to this extent, we will be saving over $2,000.00. I hope this should give you a lot of freedom after we get our credit card debt paid off again. Anyway, I hope this info blesses you and gives you some relief. YOU are extremely valuable to everyone here. Much love and kisses!
Becki
