Ethiopia is in the midst of significant political and ethnic turmoil right now. Some even say it is on the brink of civil war, although any conflict would be short-lived and one-sided. The small, but powerful Tigray (Tee-Gray) Tribe has held nearly all the political and economic power for several decades and has been accused of suppressing conflicting voices from other tribes. The Oromo people…

  Selam Awassa offers a tremendous opportunity for young men and women in Ethiopia to advance themselves and their families. $125 per month provides tuition, room, and board for students attending both programs. If you want to see hard-working, intelligent students have a strong education, valuable skillset, and relationships with mature Christian educators, partner with us to send three more students to school this fall.…

Discovering Light sees hope and opportunity where others often only see poverty and despair. Last week, a team from San Diego experienced this in living color during a tour of our programs in West Arsi. This trip was originally planned for October 2016 but was postponed due to the political unrest that gripped Ethiopia last year. The region is settled for the time being which…

Earlier this month, some of the Ethiopia’s state of emergency (SOE) restrictions were eased by their federal government. This is a welcome development in the ongoing struggle between disaffected Oromo and Amhara tribes and the national leadership. Obtaining an accurate or thorough description of political, economic, and cultural news remains a challenge. Naturally, those writing articles and stories do so from a personal perspective. In…

Help Discovering Light kick the new year off strong. Contribute to the ongoing success of the Arsi and Bale Disciple Making Movement, help us launch a new savings group program, and support small business development with a financial gift in 2016. Make a donation by clicking on this link: GIVE NOW. Advent is upon us in the West. Beginning Saturday night, we will focus in…

As you may know, the last several months in Ethiopia have been tumultuous, especially in Oromia state, home to the numerous Oromo tribes. In fact, the unrest has been brewing for some time as the Oromo and Amhara have expressed discontent and frustration with the Tigrayan-led federal government. We’ve shared a bit about this in our weekly prayer bulletin but thought it was important to…

Despite their cell phone use and other small signs of technological advance, it can be difficult to see rural Ethiopians as innovative, creative, and productive. The mud huts, antiquated farming techniques, dirt roads, limited plumbing, and electricity paint a picture of stunted development. The typical response from outsiders is pity, confusion, or both. Those inclined towards compassion tend to see needs (many of them urgent)…

**If the following stories inspire you, consider partnering with us to help more students go back to school this fall. Click on the “Sponsor A Student” button below to learn more.** 13 Graduates and Counting. Ethiopia’s manufacturing and hospitality industries are expanding at a rapid pace. Our partner Selam Awassa Vocational and Technical College is poised to launch young men and women into this environment…

There’s nothing like hearing first hand the stories of transformed lives. Last month, Discovering Light sent a team to Southeast Ethiopia to see how our programs are impacting Arsi Oromo families. The team spent time with people in several savings groups, visited Discovery Bible Studies, attended morning chapel at Selam Awassa Vocational and Technical College and toured the campus, and met a three of our nine post-harvest…

When you are 65, and your husband is 80, and you have produced 10 children and 40 grandchildren, the relatively limited time remaining on this planet is only outweighed by the desire to provide a secure future for your family. Dabi Ogato and Serbite Gunamo from Melka Agamsa village in West Arsi, Ethiopia have done their best to take care of their large brood. One…