Forever Out Of My Comfort Zone

Back to Addis Ababa

We woke up to a glorious sunrise.  My roomie and I never quite got to normal sleeping and waking hours during our time together, but we got pretty close.  This Friday morning, our last in Awassa, we woke up in time to photograph the sunrise. 

I have to stop here to say that as our week was coming to a close I was so thankful for my roommate.   So thankful!  We could not have clicked any better.  We’d sit up in our room at night talking about our thoughts on some pretty big issues.  Being in Ethiopia makes you think about some pretty big issues.  It was like we had known each other and been friends for a very long time.  Being so far from home and so out of my comfort zone – that was pretty awesome!  Thanks Allison!  Allison has adopted a son from Ethiopia and her work there is far from done.  She’s got an amazing story and I’d recommend her blog to hear her story.  It’s a story that is far from over.  

http://7447milestotheson.blogspot.com/

We loaded up the van and after a brief and sadly final stop at the Ajujua Orphanage we were on our way.  Much to my sadness (although I guess not really)… we took a different route back to Addis.  It was beautiful, but uneventful.  I swear I will never forget that ride into Awassa for as long as I live.  When I decided to exit my comfort zone I didn’t realize God was going to propel me out of it.. LOL.   The ride out was actually quite pleasant and I was awake and alert for this trip ready to take in the scenery.   

Once in Addis we stopped at Fekadu’s home for lunch.  Fekadu was there every step of the way on this journey and it would not have been the same without him.  This is one amazing individual.  Fekadu was a sponsored child through Compassion International.  His sponsor came to meet him a few years ago and they are still in touch.  The more I learned about Compassion on this trip and the men I met that credited Compassion with shaping their lives has given me such an overwhelming respect for this organization.  Fekadu owns and operates a business out of Addis called “Life Tour and Adoption Resources”.  If you are going to Ethiopia to adopt a child, to investigate adopting a child, to visit the family of a child you have adopted (no matter how remote their location – aka Gambella), or to go on a trip such as ours – Fekadu is your man.  He’s not just a driver, he’s not just a translator, he’s a man who understands the lay of the land and who understands everything that someone like me who has never been there before has no understanding of at all.  Not to mention he was so much fun to be with.  His smile and his humor just make me smile thinking back on our time with him... ”Seriously Fekadu”.  I don’t think he understands how integral his part in our trip truly was.  He was as much a member of our team this week as any of us.  Without him – I just can’t imagine.  So thankful for this guy!  When I think of Fekadu I think of a story from Bob Goff’s book “Love Does”.  Fekadu is secretly incredible! J He doesn’t wear a cape, but I think to many adoptive parents whose travels he manages, he’s a super hero.

Saturday morning was the start of the final day on this journey I had made.  We had just a few more stops to make before our day would end with the long plane ride back home.  We awoke to scalding water in our hotel room which resulted in rinsing my hair with the little amount of bottled water I had left in the bathroom for teeth brushing.  One morning I had no water, this morning I had scalding water.  For a week in Ethiopia I’d call that good. 

We started our day picking up some gifts to bring home, a couple of authentic Ethiopian coffee pots (jebena), and a little bit of – ok – a lot of coffee.  Note to self – next time purchase coffee on day one so that the wonderful smell in the van can be with us all week long.

On this day I spent more time with Zewdu that the other days.  What a genuinely sweet individual.  His wife was about to give birth to their first child and son to be named Lekibir which means “to glorify God”.  I love that.  Zewdu like Fekadu was sponsored through Compassion International as a child and Zewdu is now employed by Compassion in addition to being the Awassa man on the ground for Project Hopeful Awassa.  What amazing things he’s doing with his life. On our travels this day, we passed a friend of his.  Zewdu explained that this friend had been in the Compassion program with him.  He told us that these guys and gals that were in the program with him are like siblings.  Compassion provides its kids with food, water, medical care, life skills, and an environment that encourages them to develop a strong relationship with God.  That is truly what happened with Fekadu and Zewdu.  They both have incredibly strong faith that carries them through their lives.  What I love is that Fekadu and Zewdu are both living their lives giving back and working to help sponsored kids in both Project Hopeful and Compassion.  They are doing amazing things with their lives.  So impressed by both of them and thankful for the time I was able to spend with them.

One of our last stops on our trip was at Ahope in Addis.  Ahope is an orphanage for HIV positive children.  Since my return, when I hear the bitter banter back and forth over topics such as healthcare, I find myself so frustrated.  If only our anger, our energy, and our outrage could be focused on these babies in this orphanage.  We waste so much negative energy in this country when there is so much to be done. The orphanage appeared clean and well run and again the young man that gave us the tour and told us about this organization was just so incredibly impressive.  Good people!  Amazingly good people! 

A quote from their website reads:

As we move towards our tenth anniversary, AHOPE for Children and AHOPE Ethiopia are at a cross in the road. When AHOPE started, we were fundamentally a hospice – where children would be cared for in the time before their death. But with the advances in HIV treatment, PEPFAR, and the increased sanitation measures in Ethiopia, our children are living and it is our responsibility to give them a future. We have adapted from our early hospice days into so much more.

To learn more about Ahope you can visit http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/   

AHOPE seemed like an appropriate end to this journey.   AHOPE was a place where lives used to end, but now is a place of hope and lives to be saved.   A journey really just beginning.

Ethiopia is a place where people hold hands, where honor and respect are valued, where children as well as adults break out in song and praise of God at a moment’s notice. 

I miss goats in the road.

I miss strangers taking my hand to guide me when I obviously had no idea what I was doing.

I miss driving down the road without children running towards my car yelling “YOU YOU YOU” 

with a big smile and a wave.

I miss the complete lack of anger, frustration, and hostility.  The genuine goodness in everyone I met.

I miss the beautiful faces and amazing smiles.  Gorgeous people from the inside out.

I miss hospitality from complete strangers who couldn’t speak a word to me and had no idea who I was yet went into their homes and brought their furniture outside so that I could sit instead of stand.

I miss witnessing lives being changed before our eyes.

I miss the amazing people that I met.  People that I hope changed me.  People that I just want to be like because they are so good and so awesome.   Because of how they live their lives I feel an obligation to change the way I live mine.  I have so much.  To not give back, to not Live Differently, to not be secretly incredible would be to not honor God and the life he’s given me to live.  I’m not sure what that looks like yet.  What the next step is.  But I’m working on it.  It consumes my thoughts.  I’m pretty sure like that day of the Facebook post about this random trip to Ethiopia – there will be another day (hopefully sooner because I’m watching for it) and I will take that next rocket propelled trip again out of my comfort zone.  I highly recommend it.

Beautiful People...

Wednesday - Time to meet some incredible women...

Wednesday we would continue the visits to the children sponsored by our team members.  Our day started with a shopping trip to purchase items that we would bring with us to the families.  We decided that for each family we would purchase a supply of some basic necessities like salt, soap, oil, and corn.  These items would serve them well for some time to come.  We would also purchase some shoes for Marta (the girl that my family sponsors) and a pair for the mother of another sponsored child.  Teshome was our go-to guy for these items.  Remember when I explained that he negotiated the cost of the cows as well as the purchase of new shoes… well this guy is simply amazing. He knew the size to buy and the style that would work. Two pairs of shoes later we were off to purchase blankets.  

Several blanket purchases later it was time to get the groceries.  Once again, we had to stay away – otherwise the price of the corn would have gone up considerably.  While Teshome got the corn we had the opportunity to look around a bit.

A view into the market

I asked about the goats in the road.  Didn't they belong to someone and weren't goats valuable to families? Why would they be unattended?  I was told that they did belong to people, but nobody would take goats that weren't theirs.  Take someone else’s goat?  That would be dishonorable.  I would soon learn the answer to these questions before I asked them… the reoccurring answer was that Ethiopians do the honorable thing.

Random goats in the road.  I guess it was naptime.

We went for ride on a cart pulled by a donkey while we waited.  My donkey was bleeding a bit.  One thing I had to get used to in this culture was that animals serve a purpose.  They didn't get names (well, besides Jimmy the cow and I’m pretty sure there is a goat out there named Carolina, but don’t tell Fekadu), they weren't household pets, but rather they had a job to do or a meal to become.  This animal lover had to learn to ignore the sound of the whip on the donkey’s back.  

Something about Greg - the kids just loved to hold his hand!

When we went to visit the sponsored children only a few of us would go in to allow for the sponsor and the family to have some time together.  This morning I spent more time riding and waiting than anything else, but during that time I was able to see so much and just take in my surroundings. 

Here are some photos of from the morning visits:

There were many houses like this separated by fences made of sticks. It had the feel of a  neighborhood.

I held up my finger to say "one minute" - this sweet girl thought that was how she should pose. 

Loved his smile!

Another visit, another crowd.

So sweet.

Proud Momma and her sponsored little one.

 After the morning visits we went on to meet some amazing women.  These ladies are part of the Income Generation Program.  These women are provided with funds through Project Hopeful and in partnership with the Income Generation Program are given training, guidance, and initial funds to begin their own businesses.  Several of these women were funded through some of you.  These women didn’t know we were coming, but were there for their Wednesday meeting where the women gather to exchange ideas and foster relationships with the others in the program.  They were not expecting to come into a room with us and discuss their situations, but they graciously did. 

She clutched her hands as she told us her story.

  I think it began as a bit stressful for them, but they seemed to relax and in the end were sharing smiles with us and they had such beautiful smiles.  

I loved that she relaxed and smiled as our visit went on!

We could all learn so much from this smile!

These women have hard lives, but they are completely ready, willing, and able to improve their situations through the power of their own hard work.  I’m so thankful that we were able to participate in giving them the opportunity to do this.  Without this program their ability to get a business up and running would probably be nearly impossible.  By the end of our trip 13 women had received funding to get their businesses started.  

Following our meeting with them, we went to visit some of the businesses.  These aren’t fancy store fronts.  These women are sitting on small stools on the side of the street for hours on end selling their products.  It’s not an easy task, an easy job, and easy life; but to their credit they are excited about the opportunity.  They are excited to be empowered.  They are determined.  Despite their circumstances they are ready to work hard to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Their clothes were torn and dirty, their living conditions horrendous, but they persevere.  

These are some strong ladies!  My prayer for them is success!!


Thursday – time to finally meet my girl…

Today the destination of our visits required four-wheel drive.  We loaded up into two vehicles and headed out first thing.  Our first visit was the birth family of one of the team’s adopted children.  I didn’t go on this visit, but it was powerful just witnessing the reunion from afar.  What a gift these two families were giving each other - the gift of a son, the gift of friendship, the gift of love without borders and without limits.  Love as God intended it, I’m certain.

While the rest of the team waited by the vehicles… the neighbors did what Ethiopians do… they brought us chairs. It was almost comical in my head at this point how everywhere we went, chairs would follow.  This time it was a bit different though. This family went into their house and brought chairs outside for us to sit on while we waited.  It was so sweet.  We didn’t speak their language and no words were exchanged, just pure and simple Ethiopian hospitality.  Sweet people.  

Their living room came to us.

I love this photo!

We were in such a pretty location and as was becoming normal, people just came out to look at us.  Each time this happened, my camera was how I would interact with them. We didn’t have words to communicate, but I knew that they never get to see themselves so I would take photos of them and then show them the still image captured on my camera.  The children would laugh, the teenage girls would give an embarrassing giggle, but it was a way to communicate with them without words and an icebreaker that always resulted in smiles.

Our next stop was Marta. Finally. Time to meet our Marta. I wished so much that Jim and the girls could be with me for this one, but it would be just me representing us all.  I was nervous, excited, apprehensive, and so ready.  

The walk to her home.  For now, nobody really around.

Marta was disowned by her family following her refusal of an arranged marriage.  She’s about 16. We chose to sponsor her because I was so impressed by her strength.  We arrived as usual to just a few people.  We met and quickly went into her home.  It took only what felt like a few seconds for the crowds to grow.  The doors and windows filled with beautiful faces. 

The Window

The Door.

So much for a few minutes alone with Marta, but they all stayed outside and we were given the opportunity to exchange some thoughts, feelings, gifts, and hugs.  I told her (through Teshome’s translating) how my family prayed for her and that we were so proud of her and her strength.  It was hard not to cry as she told me how much our support meant to her.  Her hugs and body language said it all.  She was so grateful. It made me so happy to know that we were making such an impact on her life through our sponsorship.  Her Uncle had taken her in and although her family lived close by they had no contact with her.  What a sad feeling of abandonment that must be for her.  I’m so thankful for her Uncle.  I wondered if her family was aware of the celebration that was occurring on her behalf.

She was beyond thankful.

Cost of an Ethiopian pair of shoes - $25, the fact that they fit - amazing, the expression on her face - priceless!

We walked next door to a hut where they were preparing food for us.  We were able to watch them prepare a dough-like mixture and bake it over an open flame.  I was amazed as the women worked, that no one seemed phased by the flames so close to them and their hands.  These women maneuvered the kindling that fed the flames like you and I would turn the knob up and down on a stove.  It was truly remarkable.  

While we were waiting for the food to be ready, loud singing could be heard from outside.  A few of us got up and walked out to find SO many children clapping their hands and singing.  

This was truly a celebration and my hope was that Marta felt like it was day created just for her.  I hoped that today, "she" felt like a rock star.  She is a rock star!  After some tears, some singing, some eating, laughing, and picture taking it was time to say goodbye.  The visit seemed to go so fast.  All the way to Africa to meet my girl and in no time it was over, but our visit will warm my heart for some time to come.  I can’t wait for the next call for packages or letters.  How much fun it will be now to send her things having met her in person.  I think of her so often.  I loved her smile and I just loved her - my special friend on the other side of the world.

We loaded up and headed off to our next stop.  It was time to deliver more packages to more sponsored children and to provide these families with bibles and much needed mosquito nets.  We met with the families to learn more about their stories.   There are many different languages and at one point we had translations going from one language to another before it was translated to us.  One girl came with crutches and an artificial leg, another came via a wheel chair.  

I was impressed by the effort it must have taken for them to get to us that day and as was the norm, they had smiles on their faces and thankfulness in their hearts.  After meeting with the families one of our team members gave a talk on how to use the mosquito nets effectively in addition to a lesson on hygiene and HIV/Aids.  

It's hard to understand how our world can allow such problems to go unsolved.  There is so much anger over the healthcare changes in our country today.  If we took an ounce of that effort and put it towards this... if only.  

It's important to know:

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes and in 2010, malaria caused an estimated 660 000 deaths mostly among African children.
• Malaria is preventable and curable.
• Over 4,000 people will die of AIDS today in Africa (just like every other day). Two-thirds of the 40 million people with HIV/AIDS live in Africa, that's almost 27 million people - making Africa the epicenter of the disease. 

On a lighter note...after a busy morning, we walked down the street for some lunch. I was sticking to my pop-tarts and cheese and cracker packets, but the guys dove right in.

The restaurant where we had lunch.

Hungry boys - love these guys!

Bon Appetite

For my entire stay in Ethiopia I never tired of just looking out the van window.  There was so much to see.  Life here is so different.  Difficult yet beautiful.

Our day wound down with some very important errands to run. We stopped by Emebet and Sharbatu’s homes to pick up the necklaces these women had prepared for sale.  I was very impressed by the number that they had made and how pretty they were.  In the few days since we had left the supplies with them they had truly worked hard.  


From there it was off to purchase formula.  Like my friends and family had contributed to the purchase of cows, my roomie was busy collecting money for formula.  We cleared the shelves to fill some bellies.  

Back to the Ajujua orphanage we went.  It was time to deliver the formula, have dinner with the Board, and say our goodbyes.  They would be praying for our safe journey home and we would be praying for them.    

Tomorrow it would be back to Addis Ababa and the beginning of our journey home.  That will be a post in and of itself.