Another View

Last Saturday was a busy day for us – we participated in tree planting around tow, visited Mt. Entoto (a tourist attraction in Addis), and that evening watched A Walk to Beautiful, a PBS documentary about the Fistula Hospital here in Addis Ababa.  The hospital is the first of its kind and has been transforming women’s lives for decades.  Here is Heather S.’s account of the day and the things God has been teaching her through her experiences.

Yesterday was Saturday, our main day of rest and fun on project.  After helping with a citywide tree planting campaign in downtown Addis, we went up to Mount Entoto, one of the highest points in the city.  There we took a hike, a scenic route through the woods with a great panoramic view of the city.  The view of the city was beautiful, but the view we got into the hopeless situation of many Ethiopians was heartbreaking.

During the hike, there were about ten kids, varying in age from about four to maybe sixteen, who generally took care of the goats and each other.  They were all eager to shake our hands; but as I passed one five-year-old boy named Cado and patted his head, a view opened for me to see a desperate longing for love and comfort he had never received.  His brothers and sisters were mostly interested in getting money from us, but he took my hand and didn’t let go.  He even picked a flower for me.  He kept looking up at me with such simple gratitude on his face.  When we got back to the buses, I gave him a huge hug.  That’s probably the last I’ll ever see or know of him, but he’s taught me one lesson: one touch of love can go farther than a million words.  I think that’s why Jesus healed the outcasts with a touch.

First Project 2 Post!

The internet is back! Welcome to our first entry from Project #2!  We spent last week getting oriented to the culture, receiving evangelism training, and preparing for ministry.  One afternoon, everyone went out to some of the orphanages where we’ll be working.  Here’s Tori M.’s experience at Little AHOPE.

 

I’ve always wanted to come to Africa, and how my dream has come true!  Even though we’ve only been here for five days, Ethiopia has already had a major impact on my life.  However, our trip to Little AHOPE orphanage has been the most important.

As we entered the gate, we were told the kids were asleep, so of course I was disappointed.  The director took us around, and all of a sudden we heard voices!  My heart actually skipped a beat;  the kids were awake.  We mostly sang crazy songs and kicked soccer balls around.  Ekindu, Amanda, and I grouped together.  Ekindu decided to juggle the ball, and I was so amazed by his determination.  He would kick it once, and the ball would roll away.  This happened multiple times, and Amanda and I would cheer him on.  As we had to leave, I was upset that Ekindu didn’t reach his goal of four juggles.  But then I heard a little voice count, “1…2…3…4!”

Even though it took a good thirty minutes before his goal was reached, Ekindu wouldn’t stop.  We can learn so much from him.  As Christians, we evangelize time and time again, many times without results.  We feel like we fail, but we have to keep going.  In the end, our goal – Jesus winning over the world – will be met!  Whether we are sowers, waterers, or harvesters, we have a purpose; we will have joy like Ekindu, and we will meet our ultimate goal.

Project 1 Mural

One of our Project #1 projects was painting a mural at Big AHOPE, one of the orphanages we frequented. One of our staff, Sharon W., both designed the mural and headed up the painting efforts. She and her trusted sidekick Micah L. anchored a rotating team of students who worked hard to get it completed in a week. Here’s Micah’s description of the experience.


I had the opportunity to be present for the entire creation of the mural, and spending time with the AHOPE children, Sharon, and my fellow students impacted my time in Ethiopia in a big way.

We started work on the children’s mural from a faded chalk outline of Sharon’s design. I had been to the big AHope orphanage two weeks prior, and going back this time had me feeling at home. Sharon’s sketch had been there last time, so I knew where we were going from the start. Our helpers for the day, Reed S. and Lillian F., began work on the background. Reed was quick to coat his side (and at least one of his arms) with thick green paint by the first half hour. The children were so excited to help us, and their enthusiasm helped spur us on. By the end of day one we had completed the right side of the back wall.

Project 1 Women's Ministry

And we're back!  Sorry for the delay, folks.  We were experiencing some technical difficulties, but we seem to be back up and running.  If the internet holds for me, we'll have four blog posts today - two from Project 1 and two from Project 2.  Without further adieu, here they are! 

The women’s ministry team had some unique opportunities to serve low-income women in Addis Ababa by teaching them some marketable skills such as cooking and crafts. Here is Cori H.’s experience with women’s ministry.


From the time Amy K. [one of the project staff] told us about human trafficking in Ethiopia and the world, I knew I wanted to serve on the women’s team. She explained that many women lacked an education or the skills needed to support themselves. Many women choose prostitution or servitude in other countries so they can send money back home. When we signed up for ministry teams there was no doubt in my mind where I wanted to be. I hope to work with destitute women sometime during my life, and women’s ministry really excited me. This past week we taught cooking and crafts to former prostitutes and unemployed women. One of their dreams is to start a restaurant; we’ve bought them a stove and are giving them the cooking supplies at the end of the second project. I love cooking and helping them learn something I love. Today the women pulled out previous crafts we had taught them— beautiful rag rugs and paper beads. We also had them practice making peanut butter cookies. I find it really encouraging that the women enjoy and take seriously what we are trying to teach them.

The first women’s ministry we ever did involved visiting women with HIV/AIDS. I remember feeling burdened by the hopelessness and loneliness of their situation. But God also gave me a spirit of excitement and joy as I visited the women’s homes. I have a whole life to give to him and possibly to women like the ones I’ve met—if that’s His plan. I realize that in every part of my life, God has a way to use me to reach people. Whether I actually become a trauma surgeon, become a pilot, or finish college, my purpose in life is to serve and love Christ. I can’t wait for the rest of my life, and the opportunities waiting.