We're here in the
church of the Holy Trinity.
00:00:01.96\00:00:03.06
It is a very old church
in the heart of Addis Ababa.
00:00:03.06\00:00:06.23
I'm told someone
actually talked with someone
00:00:06.23\00:00:09.53
who has seen it, but we
can't gain entrance now.
00:00:09.53\00:00:11.66
There is a Holy,
and the Most Holy place,
00:00:11.66\00:00:14.56
an entire sanctuary,
and I'm told there is
00:00:14.56\00:00:16.53
a replica of the
Ark of the Covenant.
00:00:16.53\00:00:18.56
Axum in Northern
Ethiopia was among
00:00:56.80\00:00:59.33
the most powerful
kingdoms of the ancient
00:00:59.33\00:01:01.36
world emerging around 400 BC.
00:01:01.36\00:01:04.60
The kingdom exerted
the greatest influence
00:01:04.60\00:01:07.20
of all on the
future of Ethiopia.
00:01:07.20\00:01:09.63
Most importantly it
introduced Christianity
00:01:09.63\00:01:12.30
which reached Axum at
the time of the Apostles.
00:01:12.30\00:01:15.36
Ethiopia is spoken up in
the Bible on many occasions.
00:01:20.80\00:01:23.93
Moses married a
woman from Ethiopia.
00:01:23.93\00:01:26.76
A eunuch, a great power
in the court of Candace,
00:01:26.76\00:01:29.86
Queen of Ethiopia
was baptized by Philip in
00:01:29.86\00:01:33.20
the Jordan River.
This event occurred after
00:01:33.20\00:01:36.23
understanding the
prophecies that explain
00:01:36.23\00:01:39.10
what he had recently
witnessed in Jerusalem,
00:01:39.10\00:01:41.70
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
00:01:41.70\00:01:44.13
But this is not the only
opportunity that Ethiopia
00:01:45.43\00:01:48.40
had to learn of
the one true God.
00:01:48.40\00:01:50.26
It seems that a
Queen by the name of Sheba
00:01:50.26\00:01:53.36
from the land of
Ethiopia visited King Solomon
00:01:53.36\00:01:56.40
long ago. No doubt Solomon told
00:01:56.40\00:01:59.36
her much about the creator God.
00:01:59.36\00:02:01.53
Foreign Language .
00:02:05.06\00:02:25.80
Haben, it's really
good to be here today
00:02:25.80\00:02:27.50
when I first saw you
I thought this fellow
00:02:27.50\00:02:29.60
looks familiar I
wasn't exactly certain of the
00:02:29.60\00:02:31.76
story but then I
realized you are our program
00:02:31.76\00:02:34.56
producer here in
Ethiopia, and I've seen your
00:02:34.56\00:02:37.20
picture in some of
our magazine articles.
00:02:37.20\00:02:39.06
Tell me a little
bit about yourself.
00:02:39.06\00:02:40.86
My name is
Haben, as you say it is.
00:02:40.86\00:02:43.93
So, I am working
here in Addis Ababa here
00:02:43.93\00:02:47.90
in Ethiopia as a
program producer.
00:02:47.90\00:02:50.43
But you didn't
always worked for AWR.
00:02:50.43\00:02:53.40
You have a long and
exciting story really.
00:02:53.40\00:02:55.86
If you wouldn't mind let
start with your childhood.
00:02:55.86\00:02:58.30
Tell me about your childhood.
00:02:58.30\00:02:59.56
Okay, I am born
in Tigray, Awi'aro,
00:02:59.56\00:03:03.13
in the northern
part of Ethiopia.
00:03:03.13\00:03:04.60
After I think about
I was nine years old,
00:03:04.60\00:03:10.20
I'm joining the
campus, orphanage campus.
00:03:10.20\00:03:12.60
I'm parting with
my mother because of,
00:03:12.60\00:03:14.96
she cannot care for
me during that times,
00:03:14.96\00:03:17.40
so I'm joining
the orphanage campus.
00:03:17.40\00:03:19.70
I remember there was
Dr. Yasmin, she cares
00:03:19.70\00:03:22.70
about us, she teaches
us about the love of God.
00:03:22.70\00:03:28.60
But when I was there
I didn't believe in God.
00:03:28.60\00:03:32.26
I didn't want to
attend the church.
00:03:32.26\00:03:35.26
So I didn't join
the praying programs.
00:03:35.26\00:03:38.23
Everyday after eating
my supper there is a church
00:03:38.23\00:03:42.46
but I am not
attending there, I am going away
00:03:42.46\00:03:45.83
further from the
campus, not only me even with
00:03:45.83\00:03:48.90
my friends. So when
I was there, they was
00:03:48.90\00:03:54.13
starting the Eritrean
War. So I didn't like to join
00:03:54.13\00:04:01.20
the army during that
time, I was in high school
00:04:01.20\00:04:04.00
student. But because
of the government it says
00:04:04.00\00:04:08.96
you have to join the
army. So I'm joining,
00:04:08.96\00:04:13.00
but I was not interested
in during that time to
00:04:13.93\00:04:16.70
join the military
because I was starting to study
00:04:16.70\00:04:19.73
my education as well
as I am trying to see
00:04:19.73\00:04:23.23
something about
the goodness of God.
00:04:23.23\00:04:25.90
As you can see AWR is
frontline mission radio.
00:04:27.90\00:04:31.23
Our first priority is to
travel where missionaries
00:04:31.23\00:04:34.63
cannot go. We
broadcast thousands of hours
00:04:34.63\00:04:38.23
each day in seventy
major languages of the world.
00:04:38.23\00:04:41.10
AWR has the capability
and capacity of blanketing
00:04:41.10\00:04:45.03
almost eighty percent
of the world's population.
00:04:45.03\00:04:47.70
Not only do we
broadcast via shortwave radio,
00:04:47.70\00:04:50.86
but our signal is
on over 1000 FM and AM
00:04:50.86\00:04:54.73
stations around
the world as well.
00:04:54.73\00:04:56.80
Our podcast subscribers,
Internet users, satellite
00:04:56.80\00:05:00.86
downlinks are growing
rapidly, evidenced by the
00:05:00.86\00:05:03.80
hundred thousand plus
e-mails, letters and phone
00:05:03.80\00:05:07.00
calls we receive
each and every year.
00:05:07.00\00:05:09.43
Yes, AWR is your
mission radio. No walls and
00:05:09.43\00:05:13.90
no border. For AWR
that means change lives
00:05:13.90\00:05:16.80
and change hearts
around the world because God is
00:05:16.80\00:05:19.60
using the airways of AWR
to reach people everywhere.
00:05:19.60\00:05:23.86
Here's another story of
hope from Adventist World
00:05:27.90\00:05:31.63
Radio. Praba was
ready to take her own life.
00:05:31.63\00:05:35.46
She had two small
children, and was abandoned
00:05:35.46\00:05:37.93
by her husband, and
because her family was
00:05:37.93\00:05:40.50
too poor to help Praba
had to nowhere else to go.
00:05:40.50\00:05:44.10
Overcome by
disappointment and grief,
00:05:44.10\00:05:46.70
she decided to commit
suicide. But that night
00:05:46.70\00:05:49.73
she says was a
great turning point,
00:05:49.73\00:05:51.76
while tuning her radio,
she stumbled on a broadcast
00:05:51.76\00:05:55.03
from Adventist World
Radio. Being a life long
00:05:55.03\00:05:58.16
Hindu, she had never
before heard of a Christ
00:05:58.16\00:06:00.60
who cared for her.
With a new hope in her heart
00:06:00.60\00:06:03.70
Praba decided to
live for God, so she says
00:06:03.70\00:06:07.23
I'm sure I have a
job to do for the people
00:06:07.23\00:06:10.00
who are like me
on the edge of death.
00:06:10.00\00:06:13.20
Adventist World Radio
shares the hope of Christ
00:06:15.23\00:06:18.93
with millions of
people everyday in their own
00:06:18.93\00:06:22.06
languages. For more
information visit awr.org.
00:06:22.06\00:06:26.80
The Holy Trinity
Cathedral located in Addis Ababa
00:06:31.43\00:06:34.70
is a massive cathedral,
believed to be the second
00:06:34.70\00:06:37.90
most important place
of worship in Ethiopia,
00:06:37.90\00:06:40.76
ranking behind
only the old church of
00:06:40.76\00:06:43.40
St. Mary of Zion in Axum.
00:06:43.40\00:06:45.46
Today almost half of
the Ethiopia's population
00:06:52.20\00:06:55.16
is orthodox
Christian. Orthodox Christians
00:06:55.16\00:06:59.73
bring religion into
every aspect of life,
00:06:59.73\00:07:02.40
and have traditionally
dominated the country's
00:07:02.40\00:07:05.36
past and continues
to influence the phylum,
00:07:05.36\00:07:08.30
political, social
and cultural values.
00:07:08.30\00:07:11.66
Albino Palace, patriarch
of the Ethiopian Orthodox
00:07:14.43\00:07:17.63
Church said, we
follow the same dietary laws
00:07:17.63\00:07:20.83
of Judaism. That
set out in Leviticus,
00:07:20.83\00:07:23.26
meaning his followers
keep culture even though
00:07:23.26\00:07:27.06
they're Christians. Parents
circumcise their baby boys
00:07:27.06\00:07:30.93
as a religious duty. We
often give full testament
00:07:30.93\00:07:34.16
names to our boys and
many villagers in the country
00:07:34.16\00:07:36.93
side still hold
Saturday sacred as the Sabbath.
00:07:36.93\00:07:40.56
We're here in the
church of the Holy Trinity.
00:07:43.96\00:07:45.90
It's a very old church
in the heart of Addis Ababa.
00:07:45.90\00:07:49.06
I'm told someone
actually talked with someone
00:07:49.06\00:07:52.46
who's seen it, but we
can't gain entrance now.
00:07:52.46\00:07:54.56
There is a Holy, and
the most Holy place in
00:07:54.56\00:07:57.50
the entire sanctuary,
and I'm told there is a
00:07:57.50\00:07:59.56
replica of the
Ark of the Covenant.
00:07:59.56\00:08:01.86
I'd love to see
it, but apparently
00:08:01.86\00:08:04.10
we can't gain entrance.
00:08:04.10\00:08:05.96
According to
Ethiopian tradition the Ark of
00:08:11.86\00:08:14.36
the Covenant which
was kept within the
00:08:14.36\00:08:16.50
Holy of Holies in
the sanctuary was carried
00:08:16.50\00:08:19.56
off from Jerusalem
and brought to Ethiopia in
00:08:19.56\00:08:22.10
first millennium BC.
It is believed by many to
00:08:22.10\00:08:25.76
sit in the church of
St. Mary of Zion in Axum.
00:08:25.76\00:08:29.23
Today every other
Ethiopian church has a replica
00:08:29.23\00:08:32.76
of the Ark. Throughout
Ethiopia, orthodox churches
00:08:32.76\00:08:38.80
are not considered
churches until the local
00:08:38.80\00:08:41.50
bishop gives a Tabot, a
replica of the tablets in
00:08:41.50\00:08:45.43
the original
Ark of the Covenant.
00:08:45.43\00:08:47.16
It's the churches
single most important element
00:08:48.00\00:08:50.53
and it gives the
building its sanctism.
00:08:50.53\00:08:53.16
Pilgrims still
journey to Axum, and the great
00:08:57.16\00:08:59.56
majority of Ethiopians
have believed passionately
00:08:59.56\00:09:02.40
that the Ark of the
Covenant resides there.
00:09:02.40\00:09:04.70
What they do in
Special Forces, can you share
00:09:14.30\00:09:16.16
it all, a little bit
about what is Special
00:09:16.16\00:09:18.50
Forces and how
do you train for it.
00:09:18.50\00:09:20.20
I remember it's
not only how to fight
00:09:20.20\00:09:26.50
or how to use the
guns, different type of guns.
00:09:26.50\00:09:29.30
And even if they
train us about the karate,
00:09:29.30\00:09:33.06
kind of equal to karate like a
00:09:33.06\00:09:35.60
martial arts,
something like that.
00:09:35.60\00:09:36.83
I know that in my own
country the Special Forces
00:09:36.83\00:09:39.56
are the first ones that
are put out on the frontlines,
00:09:39.56\00:09:42.33
was that the case with you.
00:09:42.33\00:09:43.66
In Ethiopia it's different,
first the men that are
00:09:43.66\00:09:50.10
fighting in front of
us. If there is any problems
00:09:50.10\00:09:54.03
or holes or if
they are defeated.
00:09:54.03\00:09:57.50
Then the Special Forces
starting to fight again.
00:09:57.50\00:10:01.13
So, if everybody
is running from the
00:10:01.13\00:10:02.30
frontlines then
they send you up. Yeah.
00:10:02.30\00:10:04.70
Okay, I'm not interested
during that time to join
00:10:04.70\00:10:09.16
the military, but
because of the government
00:10:09.16\00:10:11.13
I've joined the military.
This is a border issue.
00:10:11.13\00:10:15.00
This is a national
issue. So you have to join the
00:10:15.00\00:10:18.50
military. If you have a
nationality of Ethiopia,
00:10:18.50\00:10:22.96
you have to fight for Ethiopia.
00:10:22.96\00:10:25.03
So your country was
at war with someone else.
00:10:25.03\00:10:27.56
Yeah with Eritrea.
Most people don't have
00:10:27.56\00:10:30.33
a clue where Eritrea is.
Tell us where Eritrea is.
00:10:30.33\00:10:34.43
Okay, Eritrea and
Ethiopia connect in the eastern
00:10:34.43\00:10:37.80
part of Ethiopia and
Eritrea is in the southern
00:10:37.80\00:10:40.83
of Ethiopia. Before
its in one but after some
00:10:40.83\00:10:46.03
government changing
they've separated from
00:10:46.03\00:10:49.03
Ethiopia. They have
their own country now.
00:10:49.03\00:10:52.16
So we saw so many things
in the battle area during
00:10:52.16\00:10:57.03
that time. You
see something wounded,
00:10:57.03\00:10:59.80
and something
dead, you see blood.
00:10:59.80\00:11:03.66
So you're out of your
imagination during that time.
00:11:03.66\00:11:08.90
You are deciding
today to die because
00:11:08.90\00:11:11.30
after that I will
die. So you're seeing
00:11:11.30\00:11:14.23
death all around you, and you're
00:11:14.23\00:11:15.80
saying there's got to be more.
00:11:15.80\00:11:17.36
My friend has told
me that why you are
00:11:17.36\00:11:20.56
believing now in
God. I told him, I saw
00:11:20.56\00:11:24.30
so many miracles in
my life, God helps me.
00:11:24.30\00:11:28.10
So at one time I remember when
00:11:28.10\00:11:31.23
I was in a battle, I
think it was in the morning
00:11:31.23\00:11:34.50
my friend opened
his radio program.
00:11:34.50\00:11:38.50
When he opened the
radio program it says
00:11:38.50\00:11:42.20
this is Adventist World
Radio the voice of hope.
00:11:42.20\00:11:45.70
So my body was
shocked because I hear about
00:11:45.70\00:11:49.50
Adventist now,
because I remember when I was
00:11:49.50\00:11:52.33
in the campus, I told
my friends I was in this
00:11:52.33\00:11:54.93
campus; I was in this
denominational campus.
00:11:54.93\00:11:58.10
So they're happy,
I'm starting to hear
00:11:58.10\00:12:00.46
World Radio, so I get the hope.
00:12:00.46\00:12:02.93
You're in the
middle of a battlefield.
00:12:02.93\00:12:05.00
Your friend's got
apparently then a radio.
00:12:05.00\00:12:07.36
He's listening to AWR,
and you begin listening
00:12:07.36\00:12:11.40
and your heart is
changing, how about his?
00:12:11.40\00:12:12.93
Did his, what was
going in his mind.
00:12:12.93\00:12:15.10
We believe in God, but
it's not necessarily to
00:12:15.10\00:12:18.86
say something about
God in this place because
00:12:18.86\00:12:21.70
it is illegal. The radio
it's good for me during that
00:12:21.70\00:12:24.96
time because it
changed my life. I am starting
00:12:24.96\00:12:28.33
to pray. I'm starting to
what they kind of call it
00:12:28.33\00:12:32.96
to changing my
vision, to become a servant
00:12:32.96\00:12:37.50
of God. So I say to
God, God help me, if you help
00:12:37.50\00:12:42.86
me out of this battle
area, I will serve you.
00:12:42.86\00:12:46.50
Is the one that
they say is the real one,
00:12:49.93\00:12:52.23
is that up at
Axum. They say the real
00:12:52.23\00:12:54.63
Ark of the
Covenant the original from
00:12:54.63\00:12:57.13
Jerusalem is there and
kept there by the monks.
00:12:57.13\00:13:00.06
Yes, there is an
Ark in the Axum church.
00:13:05.80\00:13:08.90
There is only one
person who's permitted to enter
00:13:08.90\00:13:12.16
that room and see the
Ark. There are seven rooms
00:13:12.16\00:13:15.70
in that church in
which no one can enter.
00:13:15.70\00:13:18.20
The Ark at Axum is
the original Ark which was
00:13:18.20\00:13:22.13
done by Moses. No
one ever sees the place
00:13:22.13\00:13:25.73
because it's highly
protected, but there
00:13:25.73\00:13:28.73
are other
earthen replicas with the
00:13:28.73\00:13:30.83
Ten Commandment in
other church such as this one.
00:13:30.83\00:13:34.63
Can I ask you how
the Ark came to Ethiopia,
00:13:34.63\00:13:39.00
I've heard
stories that it was one of
00:13:39.00\00:13:41.83
Solomon's wives
who was Ethiopian,
00:13:41.83\00:13:43.90
it was their son who
brought the Ark here.
00:13:43.90\00:13:46.10
Is that the correct
story? Yes, that is right.
00:13:46.10\00:13:54.93
The son of Solomon
called Menelik was living
00:13:55.63\00:13:59.36
with his father in
Israel in Jerusalem.
00:13:59.36\00:14:02.40
When the ordered for
all first born to leave
00:14:02.40\00:14:05.50
Israel happened,
Menelik left Jerusalem with
00:14:05.50\00:14:08.73
the Ark and brought
it here to Ethiopia.
00:14:08.73\00:14:11.56
Many people don't know
how close that Ethiopia
00:14:11.56\00:14:14.63
is tied to Moses
and to Solomon, and some
00:14:14.63\00:14:20.20
of these things, it's
very interesting information
00:14:20.20\00:14:22.56
that you share.
Well thank you so much,
00:14:22.56\00:14:25.36
I appreciate it. Thank you.
00:14:25.36\00:14:31.30
Churches in Ethiopia
are very hallowed places.
00:14:35.56\00:14:38.16
Shoes are always
removed before entering
00:14:38.16\00:14:40.90
the church. Clothing
should cover all parts
00:14:40.90\00:14:43.96
of the body and never
try to enter the replica
00:14:43.96\00:14:46.63
of the ancient
sanctuary containing the
00:14:46.63\00:14:48.80
holy of holies which
is immediately behind the
00:14:48.80\00:14:51.63
front curtain. It is
reserved strictly for priests.
00:14:51.63\00:14:55.50
Our team desperately
wanted to film the area
00:14:55.50\00:14:58.36
but had no success.
This cathedral is also the
00:14:58.36\00:15:04.00
celebrated final
resting place of Emperor Haile
00:15:04.00\00:15:06.66
Selassie and his
wife Empress Menen Asfaw.
00:15:06.66\00:15:10.06
Their massive
Aksumite -style granite tombs,
00:15:10.06\00:15:13.36
complete with
lions' feet sit inside.
00:15:13.36\00:15:15.93
The heir to a dynasty
that traced its origins
00:15:17.50\00:15:19.93
to the 13th century,
and from there by tradition
00:15:19.93\00:15:23.36
back to King Solomon
and the Queen of Sheba,
00:15:23.36\00:15:25.90
Haile Selassie is a defining
figure in both Ethiopian
00:15:25.90\00:15:30.40
and African
history. In 1923 he obtained
00:15:30.40\00:15:34.70
Ethiopia's entry into
the League of Nations.
00:15:34.70\00:15:37.30
Shortly after
Ethiopia's first constitution
00:15:37.30\00:15:40.76
was introduced. Upon
his death the emperor's
00:15:40.76\00:15:43.96
body was declared
sacred, and he was
00:15:43.96\00:15:46.33
the last emperor of Ethiopia.
00:15:46.33\00:15:48.76
I'm told the sanctuary is
right behind this curtain.
00:15:51.76\00:15:54.13
The holy and the
holiest of holies and in there
00:15:54.13\00:15:57.73
the Ark of the
Covenant at least the copy
00:15:57.73\00:15:59.60
they say, because
they say the original is
00:15:59.60\00:16:01.83
up in Axum, which is
hundreds of kilometers
00:16:01.83\00:16:04.60
north of us. Abune
Petros is the patriot
00:16:04.60\00:16:15.10
of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
00:16:15.10\00:16:17.20
He was asked about the
tradition linked to the
00:16:17.20\00:16:19.83
church's claim to hold
the Ark which Ethiopians
00:16:19.83\00:16:22.93
call it Tabota
Seyen or the Ark of Zion.
00:16:22.93\00:16:26.13
It's no claim it's
the truth he answered,
00:16:26.13\00:16:29.06
but remember it's all
tradition. I asked if the
00:16:29.06\00:16:36.00
Ark in Ethiopia
resembles the one described
00:16:36.00\00:16:38.33
in the Bible: almost
four feet long, just over
00:16:38.33\00:16:41.66
two feet high and
wide, surmounted by two
00:16:41.66\00:16:44.80
winged cherubs
facing each other across its
00:16:44.80\00:16:47.16
heavy lid, forming the
mercy seat, or footstool
00:16:47.16\00:16:50.50
for the throne of God.
He said, can you believe
00:16:50.50\00:16:53.16
that even though I'm
head of the Ethiopian church,
00:16:53.16\00:16:55.86
I'm still
forbidden from seeing it?
00:16:55.86\00:16:57.96
On the other hand
many Biblical scholars
00:16:59.66\00:17:01.96
believed the Ark was
hidden away in the cave.
00:17:01.96\00:17:04.26
The Ark of the
Covenant, the Ethiopian eunuch,
00:17:04.26\00:17:09.36
how Christianity
actually came to Ethiopia.
00:17:09.36\00:17:14.00
Much of it's
conjecture but it is interesting
00:17:14.00\00:17:17.86
conjecture because
always in conjecture
00:17:17.86\00:17:19.73
there's a little
bit of reality too.
00:17:19.73\00:17:21.66
I had a Bible
when I was in the war.
00:17:23.70\00:17:26.10
I got from my
friend. I'm starting to read
00:17:26.10\00:17:29.40
the Matthew,
Luke, the Christ's life.
00:17:29.40\00:17:34.46
So my life was changing.
A friend gives you a Bible
00:17:34.46\00:17:38.66
and my life just begins
to transform. I was speaking
00:17:38.66\00:17:42.40
to many people
about the love of God.
00:17:42.40\00:17:44.80
But they told me
that we will die tomorrow
00:17:44.80\00:17:48.93
or after tomorrow, so
it's not needed for us,
00:17:48.93\00:17:52.60
they say to me because
they have not any hope,
00:17:52.60\00:17:57.76
but for me I have a
hope. Your leaders said you
00:17:57.76\00:18:01.90
were extendable.
Don't bother about any of
00:18:01.90\00:18:05.16
this stuff, you're extendable,
00:18:05.16\00:18:06.50
but you grabbed the hold of hope
00:18:06.50\00:18:08.16
and said God I
want to serve you.
00:18:08.16\00:18:09.56
Yes, even it's
illegal to read the Bible
00:18:09.56\00:18:12.40
or to sing spiritual
songs there to share the word
00:18:12.40\00:18:16.40
with other friends.
It is illegal in the army
00:18:16.40\00:18:18.86
in Ethiopia. So
I remember one time
00:18:18.86\00:18:21.56
when I was in the
war in Bure, after three
00:18:21.56\00:18:26.70
or fours hours we're
fighting our army starting
00:18:26.70\00:18:30.33
to go in the front.
And one of our leaders
00:18:30.33\00:18:35.73
whose name is
Asafa, he was with me,
00:18:35.73\00:18:38.56
and we were
starting to collect some guns
00:18:38.56\00:18:41.40
something like
that from enemy guns
00:18:41.40\00:18:43.26
and our military who
had died. In front of us is
00:18:43.26\00:18:47.33
open area, so
another army are starting
00:18:47.33\00:18:51.63
to come to us, to shoot us.
00:18:51.63\00:18:57.10
You end up right in the
very front of the battle.
00:18:57.10\00:18:59.70
Yeah, so my commander
says you have to stay here.
00:18:59.70\00:19:04.86
He made me to stay in the
a little stone to cover us.
00:19:04.86\00:19:09.33
And they're started to
fire their guns upon us.
00:19:09.33\00:19:13.66
The stone is coming, this
time it is coming up to us,
00:19:13.66\00:19:18.10
what can I call
it? From the stone.
00:19:18.10\00:19:20.06
Oh pieces of stone.
Yeah, pieces coming over us.
00:19:20.06\00:19:23.86
But the commander says be ready.
00:19:23.86\00:19:27.90
My commander, he has a
bomb, so he is starting
00:19:27.90\00:19:33.56
to throw it to
them. They're coming,
00:19:33.56\00:19:36.23
but they're not
coming close to us
00:19:36.23\00:19:39.30
because they're afraid
of us. So only they are
00:19:39.30\00:19:42.00
starting to fire
against us. We are hiding there,
00:19:42.00\00:19:45.70
I'm starting to
choke, he says my commander
00:19:45.70\00:19:48.33
be ready now. But
something come into my heart,
00:19:48.33\00:19:51.73
the sound of God, it
says pray, pray, pray.
00:19:51.73\00:19:56.20
So, I'm starting to
move my gun to my left down
00:19:56.20\00:20:02.76
on the ground. And
I am starting to bring
00:20:02.76\00:20:04.30
my book Holy Bible
and I'm starting to pray.
00:20:04.30\00:20:07.03
God save me from his
condition, lead me out,
00:20:07.03\00:20:10.10
I want to become your servant.
00:20:10.10\00:20:12.56
Bullets and rockets
are flying and hitting all
00:20:12.56\00:20:15.93
around you, the
chunks of rocks are raining
00:20:15.93\00:20:19.30
down on you because
the bullets are hitting
00:20:19.30\00:20:21.50
everywhere,
you're such a gun sight,
00:20:21.50\00:20:23.80
pick up your Bible
and if I understand you
00:20:23.80\00:20:27.30
correctly a total piece
came over you at that moment.
00:20:27.30\00:20:30.00
After I'm finishing my
praying, opening my eyes
00:20:30.00\00:20:36.10
into my Bible in the
backpack. I think after two
00:20:36.10\00:20:40.06
or three minutes our
army coming from the right
00:20:40.06\00:20:42.56
and the left side. So we
are saved during that time.
00:20:42.56\00:20:47.60
So they saw us,
they told, are you okay,
00:20:47.60\00:20:50.56
something like
that. We are okay.
00:20:50.56\00:20:52.63
Through the Radio Wave of AWR,
00:20:54.73\00:20:56.53
God is reaching
people around the world.
00:20:56.53\00:20:58.70
We'd like to offer you
an edition of Making Wave.
00:21:00.60\00:21:02.60
It's four of our
episodes brought to you from
00:21:02.60\00:21:05.13
around the world.
God speaking to hearts,
00:21:05.13\00:21:08.33
the hearts of the listeners
of AWR exciting stories.
00:21:08.33\00:21:11.10
We hope that you'll
share those with friends
00:21:11.10\00:21:13.23
and neighbors,
apprentices, anyone you come in
00:21:13.23\00:21:15.73
contact with.
Join us to make waves.
00:21:15.73\00:21:17.86
It's completely free.
Right now the information
00:21:17.86\00:21:20.83
is on your
screen. For your free,
00:21:20.83\00:21:23.93
no obligation DVD, write
to Adventist World Radio,
00:21:23.93\00:21:27.90
12501, Old Columbia
Pike, Silver Spring,
00:21:27.90\00:21:31.70
Maryland 20904, or
call 1-866-503-3531
00:21:31.70\00:21:39.33
or log onto www.awr.org/MWDVD.
00:21:39.33\00:21:46.50
Be sure to
request offer number 10,
00:21:46.50\00:21:49.00
that number again
is 1-866-503-3531.
00:21:49.00\00:21:54.80
Here is another story
of hope from Adventist
00:21:57.20\00:22:00.40
World Radio. Igor and Svetlana,
00:22:00.40\00:22:03.23
unlike some other
Russians have seen nothing
00:22:03.23\00:22:06.20
but hard times since
the fall of Communism.
00:22:06.20\00:22:08.90
The agriculture
industry so vital to their rural
00:22:08.90\00:22:12.33
town has plummeted
leaving the area in poverty.
00:22:12.33\00:22:15.76
Watching their dejected
neighbors fall to alcohol
00:22:15.76\00:22:19.50
abuse, they were
concerned about the influence
00:22:19.50\00:22:21.93
such a hopeless society
would have on their five
00:22:21.93\00:22:24.76
children, so they searched
for a positive influence
00:22:24.76\00:22:28.16
for their
family. They found it in
00:22:28.16\00:22:30.56
Adventist World Radio.
You are the brightest light
00:22:30.56\00:22:34.16
in our hard life
they wrote to us.
00:22:34.16\00:22:35.86
We're always looking
forward to your next program.
00:22:35.86\00:22:39.03
Thank you for your
message of kindness and hope.
00:22:39.03\00:22:42.40
Adventist World
Radio shares the hope of
00:22:45.10\00:22:47.70
Christ with millions of
people everyday in their
00:22:47.70\00:22:51.40
own languages. For more
information visit awr.org.
00:22:51.40\00:22:56.76
My friends they know about me,
00:22:57.63\00:22:59.96
that I am Adventist. I
told them so many things
00:22:59.96\00:23:02.86
when we are in the battle area.
00:23:02.86\00:23:04.86
One day they're
coming, crossing the road,
00:23:04.86\00:23:08.30
they saw
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:23:08.30\00:23:10.90
So they're coming
to our camp and told me
00:23:10.90\00:23:14.53
we saw your
church. I am so happy,
00:23:14.53\00:23:17.40
I am so happy and
starting my baptismal class.
00:23:17.40\00:23:20.26
And I'm baptized and
receiving Jesus as my
00:23:20.26\00:23:24.03
personal savior, when I
was in the military in the
00:23:24.03\00:23:26.46
government work.
So I mean I was there,
00:23:26.46\00:23:30.36
I'm starting to pray and
attending Sabbath programs.
00:23:30.36\00:23:33.36
But some programs are
over during that time.
00:23:33.36\00:23:36.10
My leaders said
stop to go to church
00:23:36.10\00:23:42.50
because in this military
life it's illegal to worship,
00:23:42.50\00:23:48.56
to read the Bible,
or to go to churches,
00:23:48.56\00:23:52.36
because you are in
military. I wrote a letter,
00:23:52.36\00:23:55.73
I'm writing to my
commander and I said
00:23:55.73\00:23:58.80
I didn't want to
serve here in the military.
00:23:58.80\00:24:02.10
I need to go out,
because I'm a servant of God.
00:24:02.10\00:24:05.66
But the military
commanders told me that
00:24:05.66\00:24:08.33
we need you to work
here for about fourteen
00:24:08.33\00:24:10.93
or something like
that years. You have a good
00:24:10.93\00:24:12.96
conduct, so we need
you. One day there is man
00:24:12.96\00:24:17.00
I knew, he saw me, he
hugged me, he is very,
00:24:17.00\00:24:20.63
very, very
happy. And he told me,
00:24:20.63\00:24:22.56
did you want to come
out from the military,
00:24:22.56\00:24:25.30
I mean the
governmental work, the military.
00:24:25.30\00:24:27.23
I said yes, I want. So
he told me, why you are
00:24:27.23\00:24:31.46
not joining the
Ethiopian Adventist College to
00:24:31.46\00:24:33.83
take the theology
program. I told him
00:24:33.83\00:24:36.86
I have not
money. But he told me,
00:24:36.86\00:24:38.93
I will make your fee, I
will pay for all things,
00:24:38.93\00:24:40.93
so you can come
out from the government
00:24:40.93\00:24:43.83
work and join that
Ethiopian Adventist College.
00:24:43.83\00:24:47.26
So during the summer
break I am coming here
00:24:47.26\00:24:50.63
to Addis and starting
to work in AWR as a reader.
00:24:50.63\00:24:55.23
And after I'm
graduated I go to Tigri.
00:24:55.23\00:24:59.23
When I was in Tigri,
I'm telling the people about
00:24:59.23\00:25:02.13
my life and about the
love of God and so many
00:25:02.13\00:25:05.30
people were touched.
There are so many brothers
00:25:05.30\00:25:09.70
and sisters I got
there. They are happy,
00:25:09.70\00:25:11.66
and God gave me
about seventeen people
00:25:11.66\00:25:14.73
that are baptized. It
sounds like AWR reaches
00:25:14.73\00:25:18.30
in the battlefield,
it's reaching across
00:25:18.30\00:25:21.50
country lines where
they don't want Christianity,
00:25:21.50\00:25:24.23
it seems like it's
reaching everywhere.
00:25:24.23\00:25:25.86
Yeah, yeah, so
many letters are coming.
00:25:25.86\00:25:28.33
You are
reaching the unreachable.
00:25:28.33\00:25:30.86
I can show you a letter
that I have from Eritrea,
00:25:30.86\00:25:34.13
even in Tigri told me, we
are working here secretly,
00:25:34.13\00:25:37.10
but you are working
no secretly, openly.
00:25:37.10\00:25:39.76
So you are doing
great, please continue.
00:25:39.76\00:25:42.73
You can't stop the waves of AWR.
00:25:42.73\00:25:45.03
Yeah, so you're
interesting, we're happy.
00:25:45.03\00:25:47.56
God is working
well there in Eritrea.
00:25:47.56\00:25:50.66
So one day we'll get to
be together again in heaven.
00:25:50.66\00:25:54.03
I believe in that. Amen.
Haben, thank you so much.
00:25:54.03\00:25:57.26
What a story we've heard today.
00:25:58.63\00:26:00.23
Haben of course
isn't the only person
00:26:00.23\00:26:03.06
who has found
salvation on a battlefield,
00:26:03.06\00:26:05.63
but the real question
is whether those people
00:26:05.63\00:26:08.23
have followed through
by living a life dedicated
00:26:08.23\00:26:11.90
to Jesus Christ.
Haben certainly has.
00:26:11.90\00:26:15.06
When I think of Haben's
story I think of Psalms 91.
00:26:15.06\00:26:18.96
Let me read a portion
of it for you. It says
00:26:20.73\00:26:22.83
"If you make the
Most High your dwelling,
00:26:22.83\00:26:25.76
then no harm will befall
you, no disaster will come
00:26:25.76\00:26:30.10
near your tent. Then
there's a section here as
00:26:30.10\00:26:33.20
though he's right
in the battlefield.
00:26:33.20\00:26:35.30
You will not fear
the terror of the night,
00:26:35.30\00:26:37.83
nor the arrow that flies
by day. A thousand may fall
00:26:37.83\00:26:41.76
at your side, ten
thousand at your right hand;
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.80
but it will not come
near you. Friend, you may have
00:26:44.80\00:26:49.20
some problems in
your life, some fears,
00:26:49.20\00:26:51.90
some things that you
don't know how to handle.
00:26:51.90\00:26:54.66
You can turn to God
and find peace and comfort
00:26:54.66\00:26:59.70
and rest. You can trust
in Him. You can claim this
00:26:59.70\00:27:02.73
promise as your very
own. You probably notice that
00:27:02.73\00:27:06.36
Adventist World Radio
has a way of finding people
00:27:06.36\00:27:08.90
in the most
unusual circumstances,
00:27:08.90\00:27:11.13
and I know that many of
you would like to help AWR
00:27:11.13\00:27:15.10
to find other people
like Haben, who in their most
00:27:15.10\00:27:18.76
unusual circumstances are
shown the way of salvation.
00:27:18.76\00:27:23.10
AWR is touching
hearts everywhere.
00:27:23.10\00:27:25.90
If you like to partner
with us, give us a call today
00:27:25.90\00:27:28.16
1-866-503-3531 or you
can write us at 12501,
00:27:28.16\00:27:35.46
Old Columbia Pike,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
00:27:35.46\00:27:39.90
or log on to www.awr.org.
Thank you for watching
00:27:39.90\00:27:46.40
and please join
us again for another
00:27:46.40\00:27:48.06
exciting gospel
adventure, because
00:27:48.06\00:27:50.20
around the world
AWR is making waves.
00:27:50.20\00:27:53.33