Inspired

Okay. So it has been far too long since I wrote anything, but I have been inspired by my friends the Baginskis to put something down. The Baginskis' and the Benkhert's are working in Ethiopia providing love and support to children there. Their blogs can be found at Drawn From Water and Five Family. Both families and their blogs keep my memories fresh. I can't believe that just a few years have gone by.
Pastor Tesfaye, Lord willing, should be here tomorrow morning as he has to have a special surgery on his heart. Knowing his love for the Lord and His people, having the surgery will really embue with an incredible energy and vigor. Pray for him.

Cool Sandals

When I show friends this photo they always ask if I took them home from my hotel room. I did not, but I did look for them in the markets.

This is Lidet Kifle - she lives just down the hill from the Masha guesthouse. Lidet's father was physically abusive and her mother is losing her eyesight. The father no longer lives with the. Lidet has a brother and sister; they greeted me everyday . . . like a father. We had tea and biscuts at her house, a tradition round house made of mud and straw. I miss them and worry about how they are doing. I recently wrote a letter and hope to hear back.

Which century are we in? Ironic thing - this guy would pull out a Nokia!

Over 11,000 Views

I stopped posting some time ago, thinking that people were done reading about my experience in Ethiopia. I just happened to stop by tonight to find that over 11,000 views are registered on my counter. The last time I checked there were just over 1,000, I think. Helps to have a facebook account I suppose.

I still think about my trip often and of the people there; I just sent a few notes overseas, one email, and had shay at our local Ethiopia Restaurant, Queen Sheba. Of course, my waitress, being a good Ethiopian, tried to feed me, but I had just enough birr for tea.

Amesegenalihu for reading.

Many Months

Since I last posted anything about my trip. But that does not mean that not much has been happening. Last Sunday I went to a regional meeting in Yuba City. We were shown two new possibilities: an inexpensive vehicle that could be used for microenterprise in Masha, and a handheld, wind up Mp3 that could be used for evangelism and teaching.

The Ethiopian Mission Network Conference will be held at Fremont Presbyterian on April 23-25, 2009. You can register to attend at the link on this site.

The Classroom

My friend Val was interested in seeing my Ethiopian classroom. I'm sure most thought I would be teaching in a room like this: I was prepared to teach under such adverse conditions but we were granted much better accomodations:
The first classroom you see belongs to the elementary school. Not that the secondary classrooms in the other buildings were all that much better. They were brick, but often had broken or missing windows. The classroom you see pictured above was one of the newer ones.