Picture Video

Here's a video that I made with pictures that I got from others on my trip. I showed this at my church when I talked about the trip. I hope that you can see a little bit what the area was like even though most of them aren't my own pictures.

Back Home!

Hello Again,
I'm back home after a VERY long traveling experience. We were in airports for about 33 hours so that wasn't too fun. The short plane ride from Chicago to Des Moines was very welcomed-we pretty much got in the air and then we landed. We were all so ready to be home by this point. Your prayers for safe travels were very much appreciated going to Ethiopia and back was very smooth so God definitely answered prayers. We got through customs, immigration, and security very quickly and easily.

The last week was great and also allowed for some time for relaxing and reflecting on our experience. Last Monday (2nd) was the last day at our worksites. It was a bittersweet time: fun to be with the kids for one last whole day, but very sad to leave. We played with the younger kids in the morning and helped them paint in coloring books then played a lot of games. In the afternoon we wrote each of the older kids (there are 25 of them) a note and so they read those and each got a piece of gum. Then some of them wrote us notes and so that was nice to see that they appreciated us and truly liked us. Then we played outside and talked with all of the kids before they had a program for us. They had a traditional coffee ceremony and the staff thanked us for coming and spending a month with us. Then we each said thank you to the staff and kids and told them that we would miss them all. They gave us each a gift of a shirt. It was amazing to see how God used the 3 of us to share His love with all of the children and how in return we saw His love through the children. It was very hard to leave the kids as we said our last goodbyes and got tons of hugs and kisses. When we all left the gate we were in tears. I would love to go back to KVI in the future if it is part of God's plan for me because I really fell in love with the kids and staff.

On Tuesday I went to my roommates home and spent the night. It was great to meet her family and friends. They were all very nice and welcoming and I had a great time at her home. Many of her friends spoke English so it was nice to talk to them and I think they enjoyed talking to me and getting to practice speaking in English to me. On Wednesday morning we visited the Compassion site where Dagi went as a child. I'm not sure if I've mentioned before, but my roommate Dagi was sponsored by Compassion. It was great to see that Compassion actually works and the money that is spent actually goes to the children. Being a Compassion child is where she learned about God and Jesus and how she became a Christian. I was able to meet the director of that Compassion site as well as other staff and children that were there. I sat in on a Bible class while I was there. Also one of the worksites was a different Compassion site and the Ethiopian that were at that site were asked to translate letters. We were then able to read the letters one night before they were translated. I would encourage anyone to sponsor a child because it really does make a difference in that child's life. It was awesome to see it in action!

After the homestay we headed to a nearby town called Debra Zeit and stayed at guest house there for our debrief time. It was beautiful-right on a lake and the scenery was amazing. While they were did a lot of reflecting on the trip and what God did while we were in Ethiopia. We also got to relax and have a lot of free time away from the crazyness of the city and spend a couple of last days with our roommates. Then we also talked about adjusting to life in the US and back home. As I was reflecting on my experience of the month I realized a lot of what I had learned and what God showed me during my month in Ethiopia. I learned so much more about God's love. His love for me and His love for creation. I'm sure you could probably tell in a lot of my blog posts. I think I really realized during this trip how much He loves me no matter what I do. I also think I realized a lot more what I want to do with my pharmacy degree. I've always thought about doing missions or something after I graduate and help people with getting medications and I think that is still the case. I really want to serve those people that are underserved. I'm not sure if that will be in the US or in another country, but I want to really work with the poor people of this world to show them how much they are loved and cared for.

Now that I am home and unpacked I cannot find my digital camera. I'm not sure if I left it in Ethiopia or if it's somewhere in my house, and got stuck with something that I put away, but I don't know where it is. Therefore I don't have pictures to post at this moment. Hopefully I will find it and then can post some pictures for you of my time. I also took some pics on a disposable camera which I have so when I get them developed and scanned on the computer I will put them up on the blog. I can also post other people from the trips pictures when they put them online.

Thanks again for your support and prayers and I'll update again later with pictures hopefully and anything else that I've been processing and want to tell you!

Last Update from Ethiopia

Hey everyone. This will be my last time on the Internet while I'm in Ethiopia. It's crazy how fast the past 3 weeks have gone and that I only have one week left. There is so much to update you all on and I don't have a ton of time so it'll be kind of short, but I'll make sure to update you on everything when I get back to the states and have time.

I went to one of the Ethiopian students houses last weekend and we made traditional food. It was a lot of fun to make and tasted much better than the food that we eat where we live. I'm still not really a fan, but it was better. This coming Tues. we are all going to our roommates houses to spend the night so I'm excited for that. It will be very interesting to see where my roommate lives and to meet her family.

I'm still in love with my worksite. It really makes me wish I was able to adopt kids right now. They are all so loving and many of them have had hard lives before coming to the orphanage. It is nice to know that they are living in this orphanage that is so nice and much better than living on the street, which is where many of them lived before. Our last day at our worksite is Monday and I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to all of the children. On Friday I gave the younger kids the beanie babies that I brought and they had a lot of fun playing with them.

Other things that we did this week included: going to a healing service, evangelizing on the street, more shopping, and going to a fistula hospital. The fistula hospital that we went to was amazing. They take in any woman who has a fistula and pay for the transportation to the hospital, the surgery to repair, and the rehab after the surgery. They also teach the women skills so they can be independent. They learn how to make baskets, blankets, and other crafts. We also had the opportunity to buy some of their crafts and the money goes to the person that made it. It was an incredible place that was started by an Australian couple in the 1970s. The husband has since died, but the wife is 86 years old and is still practicing surgery. We've met so many people that have had a vision for something and dropped everything to complete it. Very inspirational.

This week we'll go to church, have our last day at our worksites, have our home stays, and then have our debrief at nearby town of Debra Zeit. Thank you all for your support and prayers. I really appreciate them all!

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……