Called to Friendship for Hospice Ethiopia

When Stephanie Council retired in 2017 after a 32-year career as a technology manager, her expectations were to begin her life of travel and leisure. But everything was turned upside down when what she thought was going to be a season of joy turned out to be one of the worst years of her life due to family trauma. “To say my life was upside down in one of the biggest life transitions is an understatement,” said Stephanie.

To say my life was upside down in one of the biggest life transitions is an understatement.

Yet, it was in this season, while sitting at church one Sunday when God intervened. While her pastor talked about an upcoming mission trip, God welcomed her on a journey that would change the trajectory of her path toward a unique opportunity to meet an incredible team, make new friends and serve a hospice care ministry in Ethiopia, where she still volunteers today. “When I found out it was mainly a medical mission trip, I almost did not go,” said Stephanie. “I asked, ‘What was an IT person doing on a medical mission trip?’ Well, God knew!”

The Popeye Moment

Stephanie also got the opportunity to volunteer with an amazing team supporting the technology behind bringing The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) to Ethiopia. Having attended the GLS since 2005, the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way have continued to ring true; they were no less impactful on her first trip to Ethiopia in 2017 than when she first heard them. “I had a ‘Popeye’ moment,” said Stephanie, referencing a past Summit talk. “I couldn’t unsee what I saw.”

On her first trip, Stephanie met a man named Ephrem Abathun and his team while on a tour of the local hospice care ministry called Hospice Ethiopia. With a vision to bring hospice services to the entire country, their heartbeat is giving people care, dignity and hope in their final days. “I wondered how I got to this place to witness such suffering but also such beauty,” said Stephanie. “After that tour and meeting Ephrem, I knew I had to stay involved and do what little part I could with my technology skills to help this ministry team serve their community.”

Ephrem and Stephanie attend the GLS in Ethiopia

On her second trip to Ethiopia, she and the entire team at Hospice Ethiopia got to attend the GLS. Ephrem, the Executive Director at Hospice Ethiopia, shared how blessed he and his team were to have quality training as they progress their important work.

Called to Friendship

Since 2017, Stephanie’s involvement has evolved from what started as a tour to now a beautiful friendship with Ephrem. “Since I met Ephrem, God kept whispering that my role is to encourage this leader, to let him know I will do whatever I can to help him. This friendship has become a family connection. And now our dream is to continue to develop partnerships and support to eventually have a state-of the-art building in Ethiopia that helps grow hospice services and provide hope and dignity for people in their final days.”

Stephanie has since returned and has also helped build a new website, create their annual reports, support basic fundraising to provide computers and other supplies, and recently coordinate a tour in the U.S. for Ephrem to meet potential new partners and increase the circle of friends around the globe supporting this incredible team. “I have a front row seat to these amazing miracles,” said Stephanie. “Recently Ephrem was able to get his visa approved and he came to the U.S. to build partnerships. During COVID it was difficult to plan the trip, but God took over and aligned our paths.”

Ephrem met with the head of the Palliative Care Department at Stanford to discuss opportunities for improving hospice care.

“One of the exciting connections was made by just using a Google search and allowing God to point us to meeting the right people!” Stephanie shared. “Ephrem met with the head of the Palliative Care Department at Stanford to discuss opportunities for improving hospice care. As a result of this meeting, Stanford is offering to help provide palliative care training in Ethiopia!”

ONE person can make a HUGE difference if they listen to God’s whispers and just show up and serve.

Ephrem also had the opportunity to visit several hospice programs across the U.S., speak at churches, and meet other professors and leaders in the industry. “Seeing God work in moments like this is so rewarding and brings such blessings and value to my life!” Stephanie exclaimed.

What Happens When You Say “Yes”

“Through my leadership journey, I feel honored that God would find me worthy to serve alongside some incredible souls,” said Stephanie. “The people I have met because I have gotten involved in serving Hospice Ethiopia inspire me to my core. I now have good friends in the UK, Ireland and Ethiopia. We Zoom regularly in the common interest to encourage a leader in Ethiopia and do our little part to support him and the entire Hospice Ethiopia team.

“I’m grateful for the GLS for inspiring me serve outside the U.S. and not be intimidated by the change of cultures. Not only is the GLS a place to get refreshed and allow God to feed your mind and soul and recalibrate your actions and purpose, but the Grander Vision stories about ordinary people doing the extraordinary have shown me that ONE person can make a HUGE difference if they listen to God’s whispers and just show up and serve.

“You don’t need to have a medical background to support this very important cause—God can use you!” Stephanie exclaimed. If others would like to join Stephanie and Ephram on this journey to pioneer hospice services in Ethiopia, go to hospiceethiopia.com or email Stephanie at stephanie@hospiceethiopia.com.

Join leaders like Stephanie and Ephrem at one or all of the Global Leadership Network events in 2022 to discover how you can make a difference where God is calling you. Learn more at GlobalLeadership.org/Events.