2 minute read
A DORMANT DREAM AWOKEN
An interview with George and Mia - Missionaries in Ethiopia
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TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY Hi, we are George and Mia Lee. We have 2 boys who are 5 and 2 years old. George is from New Zealand and was saved at University. Mia was brought up in Japan and Mozambique as a missionary kid (MK). We met in NZ where we were both working at the same hospital. George works in rehab and biomechanics and Mia is a doctor. We had both been to Ethiopia before meeting each other. We were brought together over our mutual love for Jesus and Ethiopia!
OFTEN, WE HEAR OF PEOPLE BEING “CALLED” TO MISSIONS, WHICH CAN BE QUITE ABSTRACT. CAN YOU ARTICULATE HOW GOD HAS CALLED YOU? George: My journey to Ethiopia began in my last year of University where I hit the lowest point in my life. One night I cried myself to sleep and in a dream I was given a picture of Africa. Later that year, I investigated mission organisations, and within 7 weeks, with barely enough to pay my rent, God provided the money I needed for a short term mission trip to Ethiopia. After my two month term there my heart wanted to return but I had no idea of the what or the when. Fast forward 10 years, Mia arrived in my life and our desires to do missions in Ethiopia had now crossed paths. I had to make a decision to stay in NZ and pastor, or marry the love of my life and make disciples amongst unreached
Mia: As I grew up as an MK I had an awareness of the nations and unreached people groups from a young age. When I was 11 our family moved from Japan to Mozambique to plant churches amongst an unreached people group. It was during the 3 years there that I saw clearly the power of the gospel to transform lives and communities, and I knew I wanted to do the same with my life. Since then my passion has always been to go where Christ is least known!
WHAT HELPS YOU TO PERSEVERE IN THE HARD TIMES? People praying for us and checking in on us. Knowing God has called us here. It’s the call that always keeps us here.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SPIRITUAL NEED IN ETHIOPIA? Orthodoxy and Islam are dominant in different regions of Ethiopia, and there is very strong religiosity. Pray for Jesus to encounter them in dreams and visions. There are misconceptions in the church particularly about Muslim people. Pray that Ethiopian Christians’ hearts will be transformed to be mobilised to reach them and not be deterred by fear.
