Rain!!

The thunder rolled and the darkness came.  Still no power so the night was very dark, but softly the drops of rain sounded on my tin roof!  It was great to hear.  More than a brief sprinkling but not a deep downpour, the rain was the beginning to an answer to prayer. This little bit that we received although not enough to quench the thirst of this area or this great land is a good start.  Please pray that the rain will continue across the land.

 

Where’s the Lights??

It’s the season of short rain, but there’s actually been almost no rain (at least in this part of Ethiopia).  So far I have enough to eat and drink, but I know that many do not.  Please join me in praying that the rain will come soon and relieve a parched land.

As a consequence of no rain, the water supply in the lake which gives hydroelectric power to Addis Ababa and many towns (including Zeway) is very low.  They have been making rolling power cuts to decrease electricity consumption.  Right now I’m working off of a computer battery which is slated to go dead in about an hour.  After that… completing tasks becomes rather difficult as we depend so much on computers to do much of our work.

Please pray

 

Bulbula Elementary School

One of the half completed classrooms in Bulbula slated to be completed in the comming year. The community began construction and ran out of funds to complete the buildings. There is a 1/2 foot layer of dust on the ground. The school officials have been keeping the doors locked because the children have been using these unfinished classrooms as toilets. Currently there are around 130 children in each class.

This is a latrine which is currently being dug at the school. The old latrine is falling apart and at least 25 years old.

 

My Friends

I don’t think I’ve actually introduced my friends Corrie & Sara.  This picture is actually a bit old as Sara (on the right) has recently returned to the US.  These two gals are/were my dearest friends here in Ethiopia.  Every time I return to Addis Ababa there’s always a small reunion as we reconnect once again.

 

Thunder

Two nights ago I spent the night at Lake Langano with some guests who came to visit our project site. As we drove to the lake the sun was beginning to set.  We could see dark clouds in the distance over the lake and there was a dark wall over one part which meant that it was raining there.  As we approached I wondered if the rain would reach where we were- you never know here as it can rain in one spot and you can walk a few steps and it’s dry there.  Well, after we arrived and got ourselves settled into the hotel, I took a walk as the rain started coming.  Big drops fell but it was more like a heavy sprinkling.  I walked by myself down to the lake.  I felt rain on my face– for the first time in at least 5 months. It was hot and humid.  I stepped into the lake, I could barely see the moon peaking through the heavy clouds and up above me was a mass of dark. The thunder was rolling and the lightning flashing as I felt the cool of the water on my legs.  The waves of the lake sounded like traces of the ocean. I closed my eyes and listened to the peaceful sound of the crash of the water against the lake shore.  It’s incredible how in all of those sounds and sensations God can feel so close and alive. He is always close and always alive but somehow in the almost dark with the rain wetting my face and hair it was exhilarating  to feel Him so close.

I’m not sure if I’ve talked about the drought that is afflicting various parts of this country.  This rain is a late but wonderful sign.  Please pray that it will not tease us, but be the beginning of a watering of this land.

 

Yippee!!

Exactly 25 days from today my parents will be arriving in Addis Ababa!!! I don’t think that I can effectively convey how excited I am to have them here. I think that I am the most excited about having them see, live and breathe a bit of my life. They, like anyone who comes to visit, will be able to really see and experience the world in which I live. I just wanted to share that with you.

 

Rocks + Windows

I’ve been in Addis since the group left so that i could attend a workshop on Orphaned and Vulnerable Children.  I’ve been staying at my 2nd home in Ethiopia, with Aynalem and Dereje who are my family here.  The other day Dereje told me some shocking news.  The part of Addis that we live in has a church and a mosque right next to eachother.  They even share a fenceline.  Well Dereje was leaving the church following some meetings that he had there.  He said that at that moment a service at the mosque must have just finished because a flood of people came out and started throwing rocks at the church.  They smashed in windows and apparently a student (who attends the church’s school) was also injured.  The poliece were called and the mosque leaders said they were sorry and that they would pay for the damages.  No one was arrested.

Nothing of this magnatude has ever taken place in this neighborhood before.  Please pray for the rising religious tensions in this country.  There are rumours of other anti protostant activities occuring in other parts of the country.

 

Are They Really Gone?

A little over a week ago I met the Heartland team at the airport & just last night I said goodbye to them. It’s incredible how fast their visit went by. I had been eagerly waiting this visit from my friends (and project supporters) and now they’re already gone. I love groups. Each one is different, special and I never know what to expect. This particular team in particular holds a special place in my heart. There is a deeper relationship here that is unlike most groups. This team is comprised of members around my age, last year there were some special bonding and relationships built. When I was stuck in the US last summer I received a surprise phone call inviting me to visit the Heartland Church in Kansas City. I gladly took them up on the offer and spent a week with people I now gladly call my friends. Needless to say, I know I (and the project) have a special bond with this great group of people.

The Heartland team with some of the Zeway staff

Now to the point of this post- I need to fill you in on what we did and experienced. I came into Addis the day before the group arrived. I survived a 6 1/2 hour stay on the bus (now this bus ride is normal about 3 1/2 hours)- We had a flat tire and had college students who didn’t want to pay the normal bus fare. Let me just say I was relieved to finally reach Addis.

This year we received 18 guests from Heartland Church. 8 people went out to Belo which is a 13 hour drive from Addis and the remaining 10 went with me back to Zeway. We did so many things, saw the hippos, had presentations about the project, visited schools, met with government leaders, ate dinner at my house and did at least 26 house visits. Now, not every person did 26 house visits, but each person did about half that many. These house visits are the focal point of visits, as they allow sponsors to meet their sponsored children and see how they live and interact a bit with their families. We were given endless coffee ceremonies with graciousness as if we were kings and queens. I am always incredibly humbled at the hospitality that I/we are shown every time we enter a house- people scrambling to find seats and listening to murmurs of well wishes and feel at home. Most of the time there is love and hope but sometimes we are met with shame, sadness and despair. Those are the times when it is the hardest because you struggle to find the right words and pray that God will fill you with His words during prayer.

Home Visit: Amy & Nejmudin

As I write this I realize it’s not much of a summary of the past week, but rather a brief reflection. I hope you enjoy it anyway. Now I’m tired, and thankful for a little bit of rest before beginning a week of meetings about orphaned and vulnerable children. I’m tired from the questions and the stress of responsibility. But refreshed from the prayer and heart led ministry of the Heartland team. Thanks Guys!!

Me preparing strawberries for strawberry shortcake at my house the night I had the team over for dinner.

 

A New Blog

If you’re looking at this site, you now know that I’ve switched my Blog Host.  I haven’t been able to access blogspot in a few months… so I’ve turned a new page and am giving Word Press a whirl.  I think that you’ll find that it’s practically the same as my other blog.  So keep up the reading… I love having you as a part of this journey with me!!

 

Annual Review Meeting

Last week we held our annual review meeting with all of the local stake holders. This means that those from the community & government who are involved with our programs in Zeway came for a 2 day meeting of a review of the years activities and to give input for future growth. We had about 75 people present for the meeting. We received some good critique as well as helpful suggestions for the future.