Part 3. Two Years and counting...

It was about 1pm on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, the seven of us, our twenty one suitcases and a plane load of anticipation landed on the tarmac of the Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa.  We had three things going for us from the get go: our colour, our culture and our children. 

Who knew that being born brown with black hair and having children who were born even browner was going to make life more comfortable for us during our time in Ethiopia.  Somehow looking like the locals makes a total difference in being able to work and connect with them.  We can walk down the road with unassuming passers by taking a second look but for the most part, not even noticing the “ferenji” in the room or on the sidewalk.  One man said out loud what I see on so many faces as he was able to articulate it in English.  He yelled out to Jamal and I after walking past us one day, “Ferenji? Habesha? What are you? Please tell me!”  Even when we tell people sometimes, they don’t believe.  It can work for us or against us especially since we can't barely speak the language soon and we are assumed to know what is being spoken to us.  Thankfully we have learnt how to respond in such situations but look forward to the day where no explanation will be necessary.  We take being called “Habesha” –the people of Ethiopia, as a compliment as they are beautiful people.

My beautiful daughter and Ethiopian little sister

The second advantage we came with was the cultural mix we brought- not the Anglicised culture that affects many around the world but one that was akin to the indigenous culture of New Zealand, Aotearoa; our homeland- the one that derives from the Samoan heritage which flows through our veins.  The culture that respects our elders, the culture that lives off the land, the respect of the biblical foundations that were passed down through generations and the role that food plays in relationship as a communal event. While there are some similarities, there are still many differences.  Ethiopia is the only African country not to have been colonized so that has affected their culture and their guarding of it in so many ways.  Their culture is strong and pure.  It's great.

The third advantage was the fact that we carried five children here with us.  Not only does that also fit in with the culture of having many children, but it opens up streams of communication that wouldn't have otherwise been opened.  It’s like when you JUST have your first baby and you can have a conversation with any woman who has had babies from then on about the whole birthing experience.  You always have a story to tell.  Our stories were packaged in five beautiful bodies, packed with an enthusiasm for life like not many others.  Every day they would thank God for this opportunity to be here and for the blessings he had given us.  We came for children, with children so the relationships they were able to have with these children extended beyond our capabilities.  

So we are now six, our lives have been shaken, molded, bent, stretched and humbled in so many ways.  

It's really hard to imagine what life is like in Ethiopia unless you come and visit yourself and to say life in Ethiopia is the same for me as it is for a family living down the road, would be ignorant to say the least.  So for us, here is a little bit of what life looks like.  I snapped some pics on my phone as we walked to the main road to catch a taxi the other day.  And when you think Taxi, don't think it's the expensive way to travel.  It cost us about 10c in USD each to catch the taxi that day.  And the taxi seat is often shared two between three people or three between four.  This has been our mode of transportation for the last two years.  Taxi, bajaj and horse and cart!

A common sight when we walk down our street as we sit between a rural area and an ever expanding new development area

The rural area uses what is typical in Ethiopia as agricultural instruments- the old Ox and yoke

These precious girls were carrying this 20 litre bottle of dirty water they had fetched.  

This is what we see.  How we respond is another story.  How we live has also changed.  From a humble three bedroom house to an extravagant two-storey seven bedroom home then back to another humble three bedroom house with really sporadic and lowly dimmed power, no hot shower and common water issues.  But we are contented with what we have now.  The kids have adjusted to the cold showers.  God provided some nice furnishings to make it feel like our home and we are still able to sleep in peace as mostly it is quiet. 

Outside our current house.  Most houses are closed in like this. No picket fences here!

This coming school year, which starts in just less than two weeks, our children will go to a local International school for the first time in two years all together.  The boys have been there since January of last year and now the girls will join them.

Work for us will include teaching at the school just adjacent from us.  This school was our only source of power as the lines haven't been built up around our area yet.  So we made an agreement with them that we would help at the school if they helped provide power to our house.  Asaua is really excited about teaching English this year as well as a little sport.  I too will be helping out when I can.

We also have been building capacity to work through Zion Church to rehabilitate prostitutes in the area that surrounds our church.  Our church family are a major part of our life here and we were captured by their vision for the community, the poor and the future of Ethiopia.  Their five fold vision was just shared with the church members this past weekend as we come to the close of another year and the vision looks like this:

1.  To Preach the Gospel

2.  To Make Disciples

3.  To bring Deliverance to those who are bound

4.  To Plant churches in rural areas where there are no churches

4.  To Help the Poor

We are trying to help the church realize their vision in whatever capacity we can.  Right now they are also planning to build an actual building to replace the sticks, tin and tarpaulin that has made up the building for the last 12 years.  

We have started an English service that continues to grow and serve the English speaking community of Debre Zeit but we have a long way to go!

Often we are frustrated, disappointed, stirred and discouraged but this verse I found this week reminds me that even though we may not see fruit yet, we must keep carrying on...

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor 15:57-58

There is huge potential in Debre Zeit for business and income generating activities and our hope is to help lead the people here into a place where they can tap into the resources that are already available to them- through education, through rehabilitation and through a growing faith in a God who wants to give His children good things.  

Without the support of people like you who read our updates, who pray for us, who give financially to support us to be here and support those we work with, we wouldn't be able to do any of this.  So for the two short years this has been a reality for us, we want to say AMESAGENALEW!! THANK YOU! We are blessed.

Blessed to be a blessing