Time is going soooo fast!

Hello again,
Thanks for your prayers, I appreciate them all. Keep my teams health in your prayers-I'm getting a cold, a couple of people are just getting over them, and someone else has strep throat. We have definitely been feeling your prayers as our team has become closer and feels much like a family. Today we were just discussing how everyone's prayers have helped there to be no drama between the team of only women-definitely a God thing!
My worksite continues to be wonderful. I love the kids- we've taught them the alphabet, numbers, math, songs, games, and some English. Also, I brought some toys that Jenny (a women I work with at the pharmacy) gave me. Last week we gave the older kids airplanes, which they loved. This week we let them have a choice between 2 toys- a ball that you try and flick in a basket, and a flying disc. God was definitely present as each child got the toy they wanted with only 1 flying disc left over. There are only 5 days left at the worksite so that's a little disappointing.

A group of people is at a worksite with former prostitutes. There is a girl that is 3 or 4, whose mom was a prostitute and brought her to the house. Shortly after coming to the house the girls’ mother left to go back on the street. The women in the house 'adopted' the little girl as their own and have been taking care of her. Anyway, the little girl doesn't have any toys and one of the girls asked me if they could bring a couple of things to her. I gave them a bunny beanie baby and some hair things. They said that she instantly fell in love with the bunny and carries her everywhere. When she goes to the bathroom someone is in charge of watching her. When they come in the morning they have to greet the bunny. Also, all of the women in the house loved the hair things. They put them in their hair and on their wrists. It’s amazing how such small things can bring joy to them!

Again, thank you for your prayers. I'm halfway done with my time in Ethiopia and it's flown by. I'm not sure that I'll be ready to leave this country in 2 weeks. I do know that I'll be ready for some real American food when I get home! :)

First Week at Worksites

Hello Again,
I found out my worksite on Monday and it's an orphanage called Kingdom Vision International (KVI). I believe the website is kingdomvisioninternational.com or it might be .org if you would like to look at it. It's an amazing place started by a man a little of 2 years ago. He had a vision from God for an orphanage and he started it. They also do some foster care, a sponsorship program, and a few other things. It is awesome, the staff is so lovely and the place is very nice. The kids are adorable as well. I know it is going to be very difficult to leave all of them at the end of the trip. God has already done some amazing things since we have been there. On our second day we noticed a boy that had a deformed leg so that it was kind of webbed at the knee and also had some infection on the knee. One of the girls that was with me named Atalie prayed that night for healing for the boy. The next day the Ethiopian with us was talking to one of the older girls and found out that his leg was webbed like that from birth, and then the knee looked infected because he was in a fire. We also discovered that that morning they had found out that he received a sponsor from the United States so he can go to the US and have surgery to repair the leg. So our God is definitely good and heals.

I'll tell you a little more about the worksite. There is a school building there and the younger children go to school in the morning and the older children go to school in the afternoon. We've been helping with schooling so far. We've taught the younger ones a little about the alphabet, some songs, and played games. With the older children we've taught them a bible story each day, also sang some songs, played some games. I also gave each of the older children an airplane to play with that someone that I work with Jenny gave me to bring here. They all loved the airplanes and have loved the activities we've done with them. I'm so amazed by the love that the children have for us. Each day when we get there and when we leave they hug us and kiss our check as a greeting. They also always want to hold our hands, and it's awesome. There are just 3 of us at my worksite: myself, an American, Atalie, and an Ethiopian student named Parasem (no clue how to spell her name). We have been working pretty well together, but please keep us in your prayers that we will continued to be united and on the same page.

Other things are going well. We've gotten to eat out more so I've gotten to eat the Ethiopian version of some American foods like: pizza, burgers, and spaghetti. It's very nice to get a break from Ethiopian food. We've also had some speakers and done some American and Ethiopian worship.

Yesterday we went shopping and I got a ton of things. I love shopping in other countries when you can argue the price. Especially here because 1 birr (their currency) is equal to $13 so yesterday I spend about 330 birr on a lot of stuff , which is approximately $30, when I don't want to do the math. A couple of the shop people spoke English so that was better to argue the price with them. They always say "final price, final price" and when I would go to walk away they would then lower it.

The poverty hear is unimaginable. It's so different than anything I've experienced before. In Botswana we were in a rural village so they were poor, but they hadn't been elsewhere so they didn't realize how poor they really were. Here there are people everywhere. There are so many beggers, especially children who ask you for money. People live on the streets. It's so hard to describe. I don't think I'll ever get used to it, but as I've prayed and as a team we have talked about God breaking our hearts for these people. At first I was walking in fear, but as God has broken my heart for these people it has been much "easier" to deal with. Even if I can't give these people money, I can at least give them a smile and say hello or "Salem" which means hello in Amharic, which I think at least humanizes these people.

Today is a free day and so we're checking our email and eating and then just hanging out at the Red Cross. From now on I'll probably just be checking my email on Saturdays here during our free day. Please keep our team and the people we are encountering in your prayers. Pray for unity, and health for all of us. We haven't had too many people sick, which is great. Also Ashley made it on Tuesday and is feeling better, but continue to keep her in your prayer as we continue on this trip.

Sorry this is so long today, but a lot has happened in a week! Hope to catch you up on Sat.!

Getting Used to the City

Hello All,
Thanks for your prayers they are defiantly appreciated. I'm getting used to driving around the city now. It's not so overwhelming. I'm still defiantly glad the Ethiopian students are with us though. We still aren't sure about Ashley. She might be coming on Sunday, but the doctors never figured out what is wrong so Amy told her to only come if she is feeling great. I'll let you know about her once I know.

Yesterday we had orientation with the Ethiopian and American students. A lady that works for Campus Crusade for Christ and is from Ohio but now lives in Ethiopia and is married to an Ethiopian for 9 years did it. She talked about the 2 different cultures and some differences between the two so both groups could better understand where the other is coming from. It was very helpful and interesting.

My roommates name is dogi and she's very nice. I found out that she is engaged as well. She goes to the University in Abbas and is studying language and literature in english. Here in Ethiopia they don't really get to choose their major the government decides it. They are able to give their choices, but don't necessarily get one of their choices.

After lunch we went to Mount Toto (not sure on the spelling) and we literally walked up the mountain, it was at least a paved road. But while walking up it started to pour and hail so that wasn't too much fun. It was so beautiful towards the top, and then we went into a museum. The museums here are very strange. It's just a bunch of random things like dresses, and bibles, and there were some olympic medals too. It was a little odd. After the climb back down we went to a zoo of sorts. There were mainly just lions and then a few other animals. You could get so close to the lions, we would never be able to get that close in the states. After that we came back and ate. Then we went back to the red cross and ate and the watched the movie the book of eli. It's a very strange movie and none of us really knew what was going on.

The food here is ok. I'm getting used to it. Every meal I usually find something I like. Yesterday for lunch there was fruit so that was good. Most of the meals consist of enjara (no clue on the spelling), and then some sauces that you scoop it up with. It's usually pretty spicy, so I'm not a huge fan of it. They also have deep fried zucchini which I do like. I'm getting enough to eat so far and my stomach hasn't been too upset so that's good.

I hope you all are doing well!

We made it early this morning!!!

The Red Cross is super nice-very similar to a dorm and much different than Botswana. We have beds that came with sheets, pillows, and towels. There’s also a desk and closet- much better than I expected. We met our roommates a bit ago and mine seems very nice. Right now, we're on our first adventure in Addis so we could begin to “get acquainted” with the city. We split into groups with our roommates and went to an internet café so we could check email, etc. The connection is so SLOWWWWW!!! Hopefully, the next time we get to come to a café the connection will be a bit faster!

The ride here was very overwhelming, there are people coming up to us and everyone yelling at us and the mini-bus/taxi things are crazy as well. Everyone drives all over the place so I've found it best not to watch! I'm so glad that the Ethiopians are with us or I would be lost.

I'm enjoying myself a lot right now. It's crazy that I'm actually in Ethiopia. I can't wait to get some rest because I'm pretty worn out from the travels (didn’t sleep much on the plane).

Prayer requests would be for Ashley (one of the leaders). She didn't travel with us because she was admitted into the hospital the night before we left. We're hoping that she'll be able to meet up with us later. Continue to keep our team in prayer as we rest up and find out which sites we will be working out. Prayers for safe travel will also be appreciated J

More later……

Bags Are Packed!!!

As you can tell from the title of this post and from the picture above I have all of my bags packed! I hope that my checked bag will be under 50 lbs, but I'm not sure it will be. On the bathroom scale it was a little over, but we'll see on the actual airport scale. Most of the stuff in that bag is toys that Jenny, a coworker at the pharmacy, gave me to bring to the kids as well as some beanie babies that we used to play with as kids. It also has some food for me to snack on while I'm in Ethiopia, because I'm a huge snacker and I'm also a picky eater so after I attempt to eat the Ethiopian food I might need a little snack. There's also all of my toiletries, and other random things in it. If the bag is over I'll just have to put the beanie babies and some food in my backpack to carry on the plane so I don't have to pay an extra $200.

Well this morning was my last day of work for the summer. I only worked until lunch time so I could finish packing and also work on finishing up my homework. I'm taking a class this summer which is supposed to be 3 weeks long, but the last week is while I'm in Ethiopia so I'm trying to finish up 3 weeks worth of work in 2. I still have a 7 page paper left to write and some chapters in the book to read, so please pray that I get it all done this weekend! I also had to pack for camping this weekend for the 4th. So I'll be working on homework as well as relaxing over this weekend!

Ethiopia is 4 days away!! I'm so excited for all that God has in store for our team on this trip. I can't wait to be in the country and for all of the experiences I'll have there. I'll be meeting the team on Monday in Des Moines for some bonding, preparing to go, and eating before we fly out on Tuesday. We fly out at 3 from Des Moines on Tues. then we stop in Chicago, and London, before landing in Ethiopia. Then we'll be staying at the red cross in Ethiopia until we leave on Aug. 8th. It's crazy that I'll be leaving in 4 days I've done all this preparing since about March-getting the funds raised, vaccinations, anti-malaria medications, shopping for supplies, and finally packing.

I still have about $400 left to raise so if you would still like to donate you have time. I have to have all the funds raised by Sept. 15th. You can donate online still or else mail me the checks. The online info as well as my address is on other posts so you can read those if you are interested. Also I'm really hoping to be able to update you while I'm in Ethiopia on this blog. I know that we will have some access to the internet and our email. I'm not for sure if I'll be able to get on here though. If I can't get on here then I'll be emailing my mom updates so she'll post them on the blogspot so you guys will still be able to check in on what I'm doing.

I'll leave you with my prayer requests for the trip:
-safe travels-airplanes, car rides, buses, etc. also that no one's luggage is lost on the plane
-preparing the hearts of all of the people we will come in contact with
-our teams safety as we are in Ethiopia
-funding for the remainder of my trip
-spiritual growth for me and my teammates, that we will see God's work in awesome ways
-relationships between team members and roommates
-this weekend that I will get all of my school work done so I can really focus on building relationships with my team