. Bloom where you're Planted: December 2007

Monday, December 31, 2007

Christmas In Yetabon

I’d like to introduce you to some of my dear friends here.

Zoedeetu is a “house mother” to the 60+ kids who call Project Mercy home. She also works as an evangelist at the church during the day. Zoedeetu has been an incredible Christian mentor to me. She radiates love for Christ and shares that love with all she meets.

Mohammad is the farm manager here. He carries a lot of responsibility and always has “bizou sera” (a lot of work to do), but never fails to greet me with a big smile. He’s a very innovative and ambitious farmer. Several of his children are in the Project Mercy school.

Salam is the baby of the family, and being the baby amongst 65 kids equals a lot of attention! It’s fun to see the other kids, as well as many of the workers, dote on her and shower her with affection. She’s well-loved! When I first arrived, she wasn’t very comfortable with the white people. She’s since warmed up to us and now calls my name when she sees me.

These 2 little guys are also given a lot of attention. Tesfu, on the left, is Salam’s brother, and the 2^nd youngest house kid. My favorite memory with him occurred soon after I arrived. I was taking a jog in the field, and he wanted to come along. As we were “running,” he was jabbering away in Amharic, oblivious to the fact that I couldn't understand a word he was saying. Every once in a while, his voice would inflect in a question and he would look up at me, to which I would nod and smile.

Abenezer is a sweetheart, too. He was the first surgery patient in the hospital here. He had an intestinal blockage when he was only about 2 ½ years old. Today he’s a very hyper little kindergartner.

This is Whinishet with her son, Yididiah. Whinishet teaches English in the primary grades. She and her husband, Danny, who is also a teacher, are very active in the church. Whinishet has a gift of hospitality, often inviting us to her home for a “coffee ceremony,” an Ethiopian tradition where the coffee is roasted and prepared in front of you while everyone sits and chats. Yididiah will steal your heart when he says “What’s up?” in his cute little toddler accent.

These 3 ladies are very important to me and all the guests at Project Mercy. Allum, Workie, and Totiledge are the cooks, and what wonderful cooks they are! These ladies are in the kitchen by 6am and they don’t turn the lights off until after 9pm! I have so much admiration for the long days they put in 7 days a week! And they remain so gracious and loving. I didn’t think I would like Ethiopian food very much before I came, but they’ve got me hooked!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Malcom Ghena!

That's "Merry Christmas" in Amharic. And it was a merry one. Scott, the other 'ferengi' long-termer, and I went to Addis for the weekend. If we were going to experience any sort of traditional celebration, it would have to be there. The western-style shopping centers were all decorated with Christmas trees and an occasional Santa statue (no live ones!), with Christmas music in the background. That helped to get me in the spirit. We went to 2 Christmas programs at English-speaking churches. One of them even had a French choir! They sang a song we had sung in the French choir in Burkina (for Daphne: "Cloches sonnets resolu. Pais salu! En Jesu!"). It made me a homesick for my friends there, but I was so filled with joy to reminisce about the wonderful time in Burkina. At that service, we sang most of the traditional carols, which was what I was craving to make the celebration more complete.

Of course, it wasn't complete without being home with family. However, God blessed us with an invitation to have Christmas dinner with some other missionaries in Addis, giving a family atmosphere. Gary and Peggy, who serve at a Korean hospital in the city, hosted us, along with their daughter, visiting from Illinois. After eating, we played speed scrabble and Dutch blitz. That really felt like Christmas…I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Well, maybe one other thing…I needed my cow fix! Marta and Deme (the founders of Project Mercy) invited us to stay at their home while we were in the city. They have a few animals in their compound, and I got some quality calf time Christmas morning! Take notice of the scarf I'm wearing that Mom knitted for me, which I received Christmas eve…thanks, Mom!

There's not exactly that letdown that we all have after Christmas is over in America since we have another Christmas to look forward to in 2 weeks! We'll be staying in Yetebon for that one to celebrate with the kids here.