Children are a blessing

 I used to think that having a big family was a huge disadvantage in travel- in doing “mission work” in a third world country.  The costs, risks and excuses increase and so does the opposition- I mean, it’s okay if WE want to go overseas and do this thing, but if it’s not something the KIDS want to do, then surely we should consider their desires and dreams and accommodate them.  I guess this has become a part of New Zealand culture for sure, where the children’s needs and wants are at the forefront of a parents priorities.  But are children able to make decisions based on unseen future consequences?  No. Are their friends and family who want to see them grow up, develop and love them, also able to think about the best for these kids? I don’t believe so. 

“How can we have reverse culture shock, when we didn’t get culture shock in the first place?” says Jamal (15) as he eats his Red Rooster chicken like it’s on a plate of injera with his fingers.  This is his first trip back to the Western land of Australia after almost a year in Ethiopia.  His four brothers and sisters have neither been shocked so far in the past two days since we left “home” (that is, Ethiopia.)  He is right in some ways.  They really DIDN’T have much cultural shock when we arrived into Ethiopia nor in the months that followed.  They adjusted so so so much better than we could have hoped for.  They have managed to conquer their fears, their friendly natures and social abilities really worked to their advantage as they adjusted to the many differences that Ethiopia brought. 

What I must conclude and encourage is that doing mission work with many children can only be a good thing.  The environment is consistent as it is full of familiar people, language and the culture that a family develops over the years.  Not only this, but it requires a new level of companionship as a family that can only benefit your children.  Our family, though still far from perfect, is so much closer than when we were preparing to leave New Zealand a year ago. 

Then, my daughters would hardly give me kisses or cuddles any more- especially in front of their friends-not to mention their 14 year old brother.  Now they do- unashamedly.  This is one part of the Ethiopian culture that I love- their sense of physical affection and ability to give it without embarrassment-especially within the context of the family.  It puts us families to shame.  They also have times of prayer and fellowhips around coffee, which to some extent we have adopted but not nearly as much as the average Ethiopian families that we know and love.  They also put us to shame. 

But for ten months, we didn’t have a TV or playstation.  We had and enjoyed many family times, playing games, reading, having family devotions and prayers and getting out and playing games with others.  We have eaten in restaurants as a family as we can afford to do so in Ethiopia.  We have seen and experienced so much more which has only been beneficial to our children- even in the tough times where we have had to deal with certain challenges like being picked on or finding out our friends have HIV-the discussions and problem solving conversations that have come as a result will only have helped our kids to deal with bigger problems in the future.

It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out, that what we did, in taking our kids out of their naturaly environment in New Zealand and risking all, despite the opposition we faced from friends and family and those who don’t even know us, was worth it.  On the way out of Ethiopia, the lovely lady who served us in the airport, inempt with capacity to handle this group booking, said frustratedly to her colleague, in front of my children, that I had way too many kids.  Oh, what a false belief she holds.  How little does she know how much better then world is because my children exist.  How much joy they have brought not only to us, but to those we work with and love in Debre Zeiit and how much more they will bring into the lives of those they will touch throughout their lives because of this experience.  I love my kids so much.  They are the joy that has held me together many times throughout my adulthood. 

Psa 127:3-5  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.