Tuesday July 23, 2013

There have been certain moments thought our six weeks in Africa where Stacy and I will say to each other, "that's a blog worthy moment" and today was definitely one of those days.
We were standing around chatting with the boys in our "cracker Amharic" (as Stacy calls it) waiting for the team to arrive when I see a crowd of kids running behind the can. Now, a crowd of kids in Korah is not uncommon. Especially when the ferenge are in town (that's what they call us foreigners).  But this gathering was for a different reason. And only in Africa do children gather because a boy brought his pet monkey to the compound. For real. I looked over and saw this tiny little animal climbing on this boys shoulder. I quickly ran over to get a closer look and the boy handed it to me. Not only was I holding a monkey, but I was holding an African monkey! I know I sound silly but you have to understand, monkeys are my favorite animals. It's been one of my lifelong dreams to actually get to hold one. I spent the rest of the morning chasing it around and being in a total daze. But the fun doesn't stop there. That afternoon we went to Fikadu's house to have coffee one last time before our departure Sunday. I was just sitting there enjoying some popcorn when Fikadu brought me another monkey. Two monkeys in one day. I was totally freaking out at this point. The boys and I sat and laughed as we watched him eat popcorn with his tiny fingers. I was soaking up every moment when I felt something warm on my leg...yep, you guessed it; the monkey peed on me! I was totally embarrassed as Mama Desta quickly got up to get me a wet cloth to wipe myself off with. That night I came home and felt super itchy. I assumed it was the millions of Mosquitos that swarm my head each night, but when I woke up I was covered in flea bites. Only in Africa can I say I held a monkey, it peed on me, and it gave me fleas. This is definitely a TIA (this is Africa) moment that I will never forget.

July 7-14

Day 26 since I’ve been in Ethiopia and this is my 6^th blog post. I had every intention of writing a blog everyday so everyone reading would feel like they were here with me, but that is just not the case. Partly because I don’t have the time to sit down and write about every little detail about my day, but mostly because I don’t have the words. And even if I did, you guys wouldn’t understand. Korah is a completely different world from where we live. I see children fighting until there is blood for the leftover sheep bone from lunch. I have countless children asking me for shoes. I have mothers asking me to take their baby to America. There are people all around me dying from HIV and leprosy. And there are children eating trash. These are the things I see everyday.
As we walked through Korah delivering beds last week, I stood there watching everyone and thought to myself, “This feels like home.” Being here is physically and emotionally exhausting. But I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. The things I’ve learned and the relationships I’ve made are all going to make this place incredibly hard to leave. This culture is full of people who share and look after each other. They have welcomed me in with open arms and captured my heart. I literally will never be the same people of these people.

Monday-Wednesady

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Tuesday marks emotional breakdown #2 since I’ve been here. It’s the little things that trigger my flood of tears. Today was the song “Amos Story” by Aaron Ivey. 30 home visits in three days takes an emotional and physical toll on a person. And out of all of these visits one stands out among the rest…

As we walked through the streets, my feet splashing in yesterday’s mud puddles, I couldn’t help but smile. Fikadu is one of my favorite people I’ve met in Ethiopia, and I was so excited to see where he lives. We were welcomed into his small mud-covered home by Mama Desta’s sweet smile. Her name means “happy” and that she is. We sat on springs and blankets that they call their bed as the smell of enjera and coffee filled the home. Enjera is kind of like bitter, soggy bread. Which sounds disgusting, and it was the first couple of times I ate it. But this was the best enjera I have had since I’ve been in Ethiopia. I think the fact that she spent all day in preparation for our visit made it taste that much better. Talk about hospitality. This lady who has nothing, gave us everything.

Thursday & Friday- June 27-28

 I’m literally holding back tears as I sit at my computer and relive these last couple of days. I am emotionally and physically exhausted. And forever changed.

Stacy and her husband, Brad, are starting a new sponsorship program called “Out of the Ashes.” While we are here we get the really cool opportunity to meet each child. As I sat and read each child’s profile I was brought to tears (something that happens quite often since I landed in this beautiful country). I read things like “I only take a shower twice a month” and “I eat once a day.” The question that really got me was “Have you ever considered giving your child up for adoption?” and more than half of the parents/guardians answered “yes”…

These people are living in such terrible conditions that they would give up their own child if it meant giving them an education or a chance at a better life. Walking into each home and seeing the child face-to-face makes this all so real. Most of the time sponsor kids become just a face on our refrigerator who we send money to each month. It’s easy to forget they are real people. As I sit amongst mud-covered walls and in plastic houses meeting these beautiful children, I’m reminded of how God, not only sees me, but all of these kids. He’s literally got the whole world in his hands.

I talk a lot about a group of boys in Korah. Mostly because they are whom I spend most of my time with and I absolutely love each and every one of them. They make me laugh and are just full of so much joy. Friday we all hopped in the van together and made our way to the dump. It was so sad to see their whole demeanor change as we drove through the gravel roads up to one of the boy’s houses. I was overwhelmed knowing that each of these boys, who I have grown to love so much, have all lived here. They each have stories of eating sugar packets and creamer, and sleeping with pigs to keep warm. And if you asked them when the Ethiopian Airline dump truck came, they would know the exact day and time. It was such a sad reality that people lived this way. And still do. What I saw and smelled is something that will forever be ingrained in me.

 Maybe I don’t have the biggest house or nicest car, but I have the ability to take a shower everyday. I have a warm bed and clothes falling out of my dressers (literally). I have a pantry stocked with snacks for whenever I get hungry. I have an education. And I have a mom and a dad who love me very, very much. These are the things I take for granted everyday and these are the things that these children long for everyday. God is daily breaking my heart for what breaks his. And it’s only week one…

Tuesday & Wednesday- June 25-26

 I’m laughing as I write this post because I came into this trip thinking that there would be a lot of days where I just felt really lonely (which there might be, but that’s besides the point). And the only American friends I would leave with would be Stacy and her kids. I laugh now because it’s the most ridiculous thing ever.

I’ve spent the last two days with my new friend Kayla. She works for a local hospice ministry, Tuesday-Thursday, making home visits to check on their patients. She graciously let me tag along yesterday and today (Tuesday and Wednesday). Tuesday the patients weren’t in their home so we went for lunch. It was so much fun getting to share our life story and how we ended up in Ethiopia. How awesome is our God that he can bring two people from two totally different places together in a third world country?! And to think I wouldn’t have any friends…

Wednesday we made our way through Korah to a lady’s home that tried to commit suicide earlier this week because someone insulted her. We were there to encourage her and pray for her. As we were praying the lady was very unresponsive. Then the man praying outloud asked her, “Who are you?” she straightened up and answered, “I am Satan.” He then asked, “How many are there?” and she replied, “We are three.” The lady screamed three times indicating each demon that was leaving her body. It was the craziest thing. And not the mention, the whole thing was in Amharic, so I didn’t know exactly what was going on until Kayla translated it all for me afterwards. I’ve heard about this kind of thing happening but I never thought I would be able to witness it for myself. It is so hard to describe out loud, and even harder to describe in a blog post.

Korah is a dark place, full of spiritual warfare, but God is here. I see him everyday in the face of the beautiful, stinky, snot nosed children that make each day worth getting up for. I see him in the smiles and songs of the women making paper beads. And I see him in my fearless leader, Stacy as I learn more about her and her heart for these children. There is no doubt that God is here and he is working, especially in my heart.  

Friday-June 21, 2013

 We started our day in Korah filled with dozens of beautiful children. Which is the norm for the next six weeks and I am beyond thrilled about that. Speaking of norms, I also got to spend my morning enjoying a coffee ceremony with some of the women of mission Ethiopia. Coffee ceremonies are probably one of my favorite things. (I’ve had three in the past two days.) They roast the coffee, grind the coffee, and add the water, all on this tiny pot of hot coals. It’s probably the most delicious coffee I’ve ever had in my life. And until you taste it for yourself you won’t understand what I am talking about.

During these six weeks, I get the opportunity to make home visits. Kayla is a really awesome woman who was called to Ethiopia missions right after her first trip here. She finished nursing school and is now the nurse in Korah, and becoming a fast friend. She asked me to accompany her on a medical home visit today. Thank goodness this stuff doesn’t make me queasy, but I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. When I entered the small home there was an old lady laying her bed. Kayla pulled back the covers to unveil the lady’s body, which I literally have no idea how to describe to you all. Her legs were smaller than my arms, and you could see each of her ribs. Her body was in a C-shape from lying in the same spot for the past two years that she couldn’t even move her legs without crying out in pain. I had to hold back the tears as I helped Kayla bandage this ladies bed sore. I am amazed at how willing she is to jump into any situation. Her love for the Lord radiates through everything she does, and I am excited to continue getting to know her and work along side of her in Korah.

I know you probably don’t care that I ate pizza for lunch, but I had the best company. Some of the older boys in the compound have taken the title as our “body guards”. They are just genuine boys who are full of joy. And we invited them along for lunch. There was so much laughter at the table as we sang and danced to Justin Beiber. Guys, I’m telling you every person I meet makes it easier and easier to fall in love with Ethiopia. We ended the day with bible study with a few of the missionaries from around the area. What an encouraging time to study God’s word and sing praises amidst the beautiful African sunset. Just adding 10,000 more reasons to praise God.

Thursday-June 20, 2013

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As I am sitting on the deck of the beautiful guesthouse I will call home for the next 6 weeks, there is a cool breeze blowing followed by dark clouds, and I can’t help but wonder, why am I really here?

I started my morning, just like any other, with a big cup of coffee with more cream and sugar than normal. (I blame the jetlag, but we all know that’s my normal routine anyways.) Then we ventured into town to get a look at where we would be spending the majority of the six weeks working. Stacy had painted a beautiful picture of what Korah would be like once I got there, but I didn’t fully understand it all until I saw it for myself. You’d think that a town with a label such as “extreme poverty” would be such a sad, dark place. But it was just the opposite. As I entered the compound I was greeted with big white smiles peering through the dirt-covered faces of the children. They grabbed my hand and led me through, stopping momentarily for hugs and kisses from some of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet. I got to spend the afternoon laughing with the women of Korah as they worked diligently making some of the most beautiful jewelry and scarfs. They even let me make a few, and graciously helped me when I made a mistake. (Which was often. Those ladies are good at what they do!) But the happiness I felt in that small room was overpowering. I’m sure I’ll have the biggest, cheesiest smile in all of my pictures, but I can’t help it. They have a joy that is contagious. It’s only day one and these people are already doing way more for me than I could ever do for them.

I brought Kisses from Katie thinking it would be the perfect book to read when I have some down time. The first chapter is already stretching me even more out of my comfort zone, so I might have to put finishing this book on hold. One thing that did stick out was the verse Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Katie writes that she has been given so much. I am no different from Katie in the sense that I, too, have been given so much. What a waste it would be for me to come here and boast about the things I am doing. It’s not anything that I can do. It’s all Christ. Without Christ I would not even be here, and not to mention fully funded. (Still praising God for that!) And to answer my question “why I am really here” I believe it’s because I have been demanded to give much of myself. I have a heart for the poor and orphaned because that’s a part of God’s heart that he has entrusted me, and so many others, with.

I am beyond thrilled for this opportunity to serve in Ethiopia and love on these precious people. There is no doubt in my mind that God is working here and will continue to work throughout the next six weeks. And I can’t wait to share this journey with you all through stories and pictures.