A quiet Saturday......

Well we thought it might be a really busy Saturday as Rolf planned to pick up the water technician from Dibate and fix the well but he couldn’t find him and network was down.  He returned home an hour later.  (He will try again for Monday.)

We had also planned to go to Yamp to pick up some medication and see the Moore’s dikdiks but one of their family members was sick.

Instead, Rolf painted the room added to our house (blue and green walls) and did some prep for the upcoming baptism teaching times.   After the windows are built, the girls can move in....maybe next week?  The plywood on the walls and roof lack quality and are warped in several areas but the girls have absolutely no complaints!  Just add color and all is well.

I talked myself into doing some baking despite the hot and humid weather.  (Is it worth heating up the house?)  Well considering we cannot go to a local bakery, I did manage to bake 3 loaves of bread, applesauce cake (using local apples from Injebara) and a double batch of oatmeal raisin cookies.   This baking is supposed to last at least until Wednesday but I doubt it will.    Tummies start rumbling when they smell fresh baking!

Water troubles continue....pray for rain

The water troubles continue.  Women are walking with torches (fire) to a natural spring down the hill from us at 4 am in order to fetch water.  The other shallow well produces little water and it seems that the water isn’t very clean.   Lots of people complaining of tummy issues this week.   Because of this, Rolf actually took jerricans along to Injebara and filled them there. 

So pray for rain to fill the streams and well with fresh water and pray that the water technician will be available on Monday.  (Rolf already picked up the needed supplies from Injebara.)    We realize this is an issue every year at this time but it is accented when the well breaks down.

Balancing physical and spiritual needs

It has been quite the week already and it isn’t over yet.  Tomorrow morning, I will meet with the women for Bible teaching.   I rely heavily on the Holy Spirit to bring the ladies to the study and that I would have wisdom and boldness as I speak from God’s word. 

Rolf was able to meet with the teaching staff today for a time of Bible study.  Apparently it has been over a year since they have met together and it is obvious some of them have not been fed for a long time.

Tomorrow, Rolf will drive 3 hours to Injebara with 3 Gumuz men.  They will leave around noon and spend the night, returning 24 hours later.  The goal is to pick up some needed supplies to fix the well as they were not available in Dibate, to pick up money to pay staff from our SIM colleagues bringing it from Addis and to introduce the Gumuz to the SIM project (farmer coop introducing new ideas and new seeds and seedlings).    Pray that it will be a valuable time and that these men become integral in bringing new crops (grains, cash crops, fruit and vegetables) into the community.

The fixed well is a shallow well and is not producing enough for the community.  We will need more rain before it fills regularly.  The other well has plenty of water but needs more work done on it.   Praying for more rain and that the well can get fixed by the weekend.  May there soon be an abundance of water in this land!

It is always a challenge to balance the physical and the spiritual but with God’s strength it is possible.  May those who have not yet received the gift of salvation, see Christ’s love flow through us as we walk alongside them and hear His word from our mouths.   

Pray for Adu and Wake this week (2 of our guards at the school).  They have heard the message but have not received it.   Wake is the son of Wotak and has great influence in the community. 

Crashed

Well this morning (Tuesday) was my attempt to get back into routine. I should have admitted to myself that I just didn't have the energy in order to homeschool the kids. Mesalech can't come back to work until her situation is sorted and my usual enthusiasm for cooking is gone. (This is when take out would come in really handy!) 
 With 5 kids of our own, conflict resolution and decision making is a constant part of our lives. (Our kids are getting quite good at it and understand how to do that without violence.) This is not the case with the Gumuz community though the mature believers are growing in this area. In addition to this, we are responsible for the project staff. In addition to this, we are involved in the ministry of teaching and discipling. 
Yesterday, I crashed. My house was a mess, more decisions to make re: people's conflicts and broken wells, it was hot and I was tired. I managed to get a nap in the afternoon but was woken by my children calling me (which I will admit made me rather grumpy). 
 This morning, I was woken at 6:30 by a very cheerful 3 year old who wanted to play. Rolf made breakfast and I was tired through and through. We attempted school at 8:30 and made it through an hour. I then realized it just wasn't worth it. I need to refuel before I can give again (even just to my kids). Why is that so hard to admit? n Rolf has a busy day and I feel like finding a corner and having a good cry.

Recuperating

The events of the day are now almost over but I decided to send the previous update anyways so that you can see that I struggle too. One of the two wells was fixed, reconciliation took place though there is still much growth needed for it to be complete and we will sit for an hour around a campfire with the kids.

It will be a busy week but we trust that the Lord will continue to bring us strength for each day.

Prayer for water, prayer for reconciliation

Please pray for the well to be fixed tomorrow (Tuesday).  Rolf attempted to fix it again after its 3^rdbreakdown.  After 2.5 hours, he and Demis decided to try and bring someone in with potentially more knowledge than they have. 

Rolf will bring the water technician from Dibate tomorrow morning at 10am. 

Then at 2pm, he will sit in on a reconciliation meeting between Mesalech and Mimi.  Pray for their relationship to be restored and pray that those involved would have wisdom in how to deal with the situation.

Sunday: New Gumuz songs and a day without much rest

We had hoped for a day of rest so that we could enter the new week with renewed energy but it didn’t work out that way.  We have seen time and time again that after a time of spiritual growth, there is a time of discouragement, illness or difficulty.   This morning, the Gumuz translators introduced two new Gumuz songs to the church community.  It was met with many smiles and enthusiasm.  Some of ”my” dear ladies caught on quickly and were trying to teach me as they sung.  We sang each song at least a dozen times!

The kids and I came home and Rolf stayed on for the teaching time with the Gumuz discipleship group.  Rolf returned home early with extreme weariness and Travis was teaching this week.  Rolf managed to get in a ½ hour rest before Mesalech’s sister came weeping to our house.  Yes this is the same sister that we previously asked many of you to pray for in regards to her baby.

She was carrying her daughter so I couldn’t imagine what had happened now.  She was weeping so hard that I couldn’t understand her words so I had to keep telling her to stop crying.  I finally found out that Mesalech had been hit with several stones by Mimi, one of the teacher’s wives.  So I woke Rolf up and we both went down to see what had happened.

This event has confirmed to me that this family is very dramatic.  I did not doubt it must have hurt to be “stoned” but the 2 young Ethiopian girls and Diribe were weeping so hard, I was expecting to see Mesalech dying.  In fact, her pulse was fine and she was able to move her limbs easily.   She did not respond to my talking except with moans and groans (hence a sister who was beside herself with fear).  I could see the stone had hit her on the left side of her back likely bruising or breaking a rib.  It didn’t look damaged though and it seemed to be more like she was dealing with shock than an injury.

We decided not to rush her off to town but rather deal with the issue as best we could.  I was able to calm Diribe down and remind her that as a believer we are not to shout accusations at each other but rather do something much more difficult:  turn the other cheek, forgive and pray for our enemies.   I assured her that it is not easy but it is a command.

Rolf decided along with several others that it was best to deal with this after we found out Mesalech’s physical condition and after everyone had calmed down.  The wife was sent to her mother’s home for a week (she has to walk 15km) and Rolf would take Mesalech to town where she could either stay or go to her mother’s home.

Rolf returned an hour later.  Mesalech got 7 shots (I assume of pain medication though I am not sure why so many).  She looked like her old self so it must have worked really well or else the emotional trauma had worn off.   Since Mesalech’s sister had not packed her bag as I asked (for a week), she returned with Rolf.  It was decided though that she needed to leave for a week as well which she will do tomorrow.

Unfortunately this greatly affects me ... I have two houses that need cleaning and I need to start homeschooling tomorrow but Rolf’s decision was right.  They both needed to face the consequences (even if Mesalech just spoke some harsh words) and we will pray that in a week there will be reconciliation.   We pray that Mesalech and her sister would understand the need to forgive and we pray that Mimi would come to Christ.  She comes to church regularly but there is no outward sign that she is a believer. 

And pray that my energy would not fail me as I face a week of teaching without the extra hands in my home. 

A few hours later:  We decided to watch a video together as a family “Where the Red Fern grows” was selected by the children.  We were nearing the end when there was a knock on the door.  What now?  It was Travis.  They had gone to the well as a family to get drinking water. When they tried starting their pickup truck, it didn’t start. Travis ended up walking to our house (mile uphill in the dark) leaving Andrea and Micah behind. 

We promised our kids we would finish in the morning at breakfast time as it was past bedtime anyways. Rolf drove Travis back, it started with a sparkplug change and that ends a VERY busy week for us all!  Thank you for your sustaining prayers.

Health outreach Monday day 1: Guests arrive

I had hoped to write daily updates during this week but I ended up being involved far beyond what I imagined.  On Monday, we expected the team to arrive by supper but they were unable to leave as early as they hoped.   Instead they arrived exhausted at 8:30pm after 12 hours on the road and went straight to bed.  But our prayers were answered and they arrived safely.


Dr. Bernard is from Nigeria and his wife is from the UK where they live.  For the past year, he has been the SIM doctor for missionaries and Ethiopian employees.   Minah is the SIM nurse and her husband Jim has been working at Bingham academy in a support role there.  They have one daughter Millie at home (15yr old) and she came along. 

Minah has been a kindred spirit and an excellent health support person to me these past 8 months. I have been able to call or email her with health concerns or advice on different situations that have arisen at my front door.  She and her family are returning to the US this summer.

I approached Minah about coming out to Gesses a number of months ago and when her response was enthusiastic, we began praying about it.  We have truly seen that the Lord prepared the way for them to come and that their coming has had a positive impact.

Health outreach Tuesday day 2: setting up and clinic

After serving guests breakfast, Dr. Bernard and Minah were driven to the Yamp clinic (15 minutes away) by Emmanuel, SIM driver.  (Rolf went along to show the way to the village.)  They spent 8:30-12:30 working alongside the Ethiopian nurse and Jake Moore (CMF missionary).    This gave them a good idea of the illnesses they would be seeing all week. 


I spent the morning orientating Carole and Millie and doing some schooltime with the kids and prepping for supper.  Lunch was easy since I just served the chilli and rice prepared for the previous supper and our regular injera meal.  Emman brought them back for lunch and then we began the Gesses health outreach at 2:30pm.  Dr. Bernard was able to work with Askale’s husband Demalash (whom Rolf picked up from Dibate) in one room.  Demalash is able to speak multiple languages and translated from English to Gumuz. 

In another room, I translated from English to Amharic for Minah and Demis (Gumuz elder) translated from Amharic to Gumuz.  (This process was not quite as tedious as it sounds because I am able to understand Gumuz to some extent and Demis picked up a lot of English terms and questions along the way.

We had two rooms setup for seeing patients and I believe we saw a total of 30 patients in 4 hours.  We worked until about 6pm and didn’t have to turn anyone away.  One of the prayers we had was that the Lord would send the right people and right number of people to our doors.  I believe he did.

It was amazing to hear multiple Gumuz in a row complain of identical health issues and it was important for Demis to see this.  In fact over the course of the coming days he would even find it amusing.  Symptoms:  Back pain, stomach pain, noisy stomach, heartburn.   Reasons: Heavy loads, worms, excessive alcohol.   Malnutrition is also at its peak because there are only a few wild fruits and vegetables available at this time of the year.  Everyone is eating a diet of sorghum/millet and large beans called Opa. 

At 6pm, I did supper prep and we enjoyed a tortilla meal together. I spent an hour and a half in the evening with Minah planning for the next day’s training time.  It was hot and humid, our minds were full of all we had seen and heard.  Sleep did not come easy for us.  In fact, it was so hot that Emmanuel (driver) decided it was best to sleep on our back porch.

The men seemed to sleep better than the women which is maybe no surprise.  Jim and Rolf had worked all day on putting up the frames of the extra room on our house and they made good progress.

Health outreach Wednesday day 3: training and clinic

After breakfast, Emmanuel brought Dr. Bernard to Yamp while Rolf went to pick up Demalesh from Dibate.  Demalesh translated for Minah and I while we did a morning of health training with our Gumuz staff.  We talked about diarhea, worms, hygiene and using medicine properly.  There were definitely some new ideas that were learned especially in the area of worms.  They know only what they see and so the idea of invisible hookworms sucking their blood, causing anemia, bloated tummies, etc was very new for them.  And since tapeworms break off in 1 cm pieces, they had no idea that eating raw meat can result in tapeworms growing several metres inside their bodies.  Shocking really but true.  Eating raw meat is a rather normal occurrence here.


Andrea supplied the tea and bread for our teabreak and Dr. Bernard’s wife, Carole and Minah’s daughter Millie helped our kids with some school work.  The highlight for them was making and using salt clay (homemade clay) to mold different animals which they then baked and painted.

I served lunch at 1pm (injera and pumpkin and shiro (bean) wat prepared by Mesalech and quesadillas for those who don’t enjoy injera).  Demalash and Demis joined us for lunch as well since they were part of both the morning and afternoon program.   They enjoyed ferenjie (foreigner) size cups of coffee. 

At 2:30, we began our 2^nd clinic day and we were more efficient than the previous day but still averaged about 15-20 patients per room.  We finished at 6:30pm (yes a little later this day) and we had to ask 5 people to return the next day.

There were many similar cases to the previous day but it became more and more obvious to us all that alcohol is a much bigger problem than any of us imagined.  Alcohol is affecting every family from the old to the young.  Children are being given alcohol, youth are drinking, pregnant and nursing mothers are drinking, fathers and the elderly are drinking excessive amounts of alcohol....most on a daily basis.  This is not the traditional soured sorghum drink (keya) that they make in their homes, this is the strong stuff they trade their grain for in Dibate.  They buy it by the jerrican.  We knew it was being used for weddings but didn’t realize it was actually being drunk on a daily basis in homes.

Minah and I could see Fetal alcohol syndrome children and we saw several alcoholics.  I discovered that most of the women that I meet with each Thursday drink atleast a little each day and are married to men who drink excessively.  One of them came in the morning with a gash on her head from her husband who had beat her.  Children are not fed properly because their parents are drinking....it affects each home.

Inwardly I was weeping and outwardly, I translated for Minah about the need to stop before they destroyed their health and home completely.  Some men and women were ready for change while others just wanted a quick fix for their present ailment. 

Many trips down to our house for water or some medication and my sciatic nerve on my left hip (which first began hurting during my last pregnancy) began acting up.   How do the women manage here?  Giving birth to more than 8 children and carrying heavy loads of firewood and water on a daily basis!  They just live with pain.

And then it was time for supper, the kids were happy to help me put the pizza together and again we were able to eat by 7pm.  Everyone was tired but the Lord continued to grant us energy.

Rolf and Jim finished the framing and about ½ of the plywood walls and ceiling.  Rolf was asked to fix the well which he was able to do and the community had water again.  We began praying for rain.  It was another hot and very humid day....rain was near.

Health outreach, Thursday, day 4: Yamp outreach, women’s bible study, health training and clinic

Dr. Bernard had an earlier start this morning as he joined the Yamp nurse and Jake at an outreach village 30 minute drive from Yamp.  Meanwhile, Minah and I were able to do a second day of training.  The main subject that we discussed was nutrition.  Since I was unsure as to what the schedule would look like, I had decided to keep the Thursday women’s bible study.  Andrea kindly offered to visit a few nearby villages to call the women while I began teaching with Minah.  Rolf brought Demalash from town to translate. 

By 9:30am, 20 women had arrived and so I took Demalash with me to translate at the church while Andrea translated for Minah from English to Amharic until Rolf returned from some errands. 

Though I had only planned to review the story of Adam and Eve’s sin, it ended up being the main teaching story again.  It was new for ½ of the women and review for the other ½.  This time, I decided to have the women dramatize the story while I told it (and they had to repeat the words spoken).  It was very effective and when I ended the story with God’s love for Adam and Eve, the women said:  “We do not know what love is,”  They all began to share about their difficult marriages, excessive alcohol used in their homes and their inability to love each other.  I  began to weep and the Holy Spirit prodded me to speak urgently to them about praying for their husbands and asking the Lord to help them purify their homes of alcohol.   They spoke of their false love and their false happiness and I spoke of where true love comes from and how true joy is evident in believers.

I believe that the women were touched by the word of the Lord and my heart broke for them and rejoiced that they had come to hear of God’s gift of love and forgiveness. 

From there, I went back into the health training time for another ho . ur and then it was lunch.   This time Demis, Demalesh and Wohis joined our team for lunch (since they were all helping with the afternoon clinic).  Yet again the Lord strengthened me and I was able to serve gladly despite my own weariness. 

Dr. Bernard and Carole and Emmanuel only arrived back at 1:30pm and had to leave with more than 20 people still wanting treatment.   Minah and I started the afternoon clinic here in Gesses at 3pm and Dr. Bernard came ½ hour later after a rest.  Because of our later start though, we only ended after 6:30pm A spaghetti supper was served with coleslaw and a short time of debriefing.  Then it was time for bed.

And I saw the Lord’s hand in our family.  Though our children hardly saw me all day, they were joyful and finding things to do without complaining.  They were truly part of the team!  Rolf and Jim finished the plywood and electrical work.  It was another hot and humid day but we were all so tired we slept well.

Health outreach, Friday, day 5: prenatal and goiter clinic

I was ready for some rest and I was able to have a different schedule.   Yamp had planned a prenatal and goiter clinic for their morning and we had planned for a prenatal clinic in the afternoon (giving pregnant women priority).  A lady arrived at 8am here in Gesses and so Dr. Bernard did a quick checkup with her.  She had the opportunity to be the first Gumuz woman in Gesses to hear her baby’s heartbeat with a doplar.  She said she was 5.5 months along but in reality she was 36 weeks!  I imagine they are quite often surprised by labor! 


Both Dr. Bernard and Minah went to Yamp in the morning and so I spent the morning baking with the kids!  (I didn’t have the energy to do school and neither did they.)  We baked cookies, made jello and baked bread.  The kids each got a large chunk of bread dough and made animals that they could eat for lunch. Ariana made a butterfly.  Kalia made a large braid, Joel and Millie made turtles.

Word had gone out into their area that there was a goiter clinic and all the highland Ethiopians from Dibate with goiters on their necks arrived in Yamp.  They saw many varying stages of this illness.  (Sorry I can’t attach pictures but you can google it.)  It is an iodine deficiency causing swelling of the neck that can be the size of a cabbage.   People buy rock salt here that does not contain iodine.  As well there are certain diets that bring about this illness more quickly.

They actually had to leave before seeing all the patients and arrived back in Gesses after 1pm.  Lunch was fresh bread with curry lentil soup and injera (had it on the menu each lunch so that Emmanuel got injera atleast once a day!)  Again we delayed our clinic here to 3pm.   There were few prenatal specific patients but a steady number of others.   This time the nurse from Yamp and Erin Moore (missionary wife of Jake in Yamp) came out.  Erin took my place translating from English to Amharic and Demis translated to Gumuz.  Her two oldest children came to play with our kids which was a treat.

This allowed me to come and go until 5:30 pm so I was able to put supper in the oven ahead of time:  sweet and sour fish with rice.   At 5:30 Erin needed to leave so I took her place and we worked until 7pm and had a late supper.   But we finished!

Rolf and Jim nearly finished putting the tin on the outside of the walls (in order to keep the rain from touching the wood and so the windows remain to be completed (which will likely be made in Addis when we go up next).

I was amazed at the cheerful attitudes each person had despite the heat and inconveniences.  We were encouraged over and over again and each one used their gifts to serve in some way.  It was beautiful to see us working as one body.

Saturday, day 6: Village visit

No set schedule but our guests wanted to see some of the village around us.  I took them first to Demis’ house since they had worked with him.  We got a grand tour (took pictures of different cultural items and they even sampled some keya).  From there, we went to the elementary school where the classes were in session (make up classes) and then through one part of a village where they observed a young girl grinding grain, and an old woman smoking a pipe and making rope. 

By the time we were home (9:30) we were all hot and sweaty.  The humidity was high and the clouds were rolling in.  Dr. Bernard, Minah and I had a meeting until noon in regards to where to go from here in regards to meeting the physical needs of the Gumuz.  It was a helpful discussion and we are hopeful that the Yamp nurse will be able to make regular visits here.

After lunch (leftover stew with rice or injera), one of our guards with his wife and 5 kids came for checkups as they were unable to come previously.  This was a family that I really wanted to be seen since they have come with so many different issues.  The main issue is malnutrition.  The question is: why is a whole family dealing with malnutrition when their father is one of very few Gumuz who has a paying job!  They eat beans and sorghum/millet.    The oldest three children age  9, 7, 6 are the worst of them all.   But there is basically nothing to buy in town so unless you grow enough vegetables for the whole year, you go without any  for 6 months or more.

Another guard came with his niece who couldn’t hear for a week.  Minah quickly saw that her eardrum had burst and hopefully it will close up again.  I always wonder what happens with these cases when seen by the local witchdoctor.  What do they end up all sticking in the ear in order to “heal” it?
And then we had a thunderstorm.  It was magnificent!  The first of the season and so we look forward to many more.  The kids danced around with joy!  Then they all took showers and baths knowing that the water would quickly become too cold to use.  

I made some chicken fettucine for supper with the last of the vegetables stirfried on the side.  We had a really nice evening and we gave each of our guests a Gumuz necklace or bracelet as a thank you for the hard work they had done.  The nice thing about having visitors is that they aren’t afraid to take pictures and so I look forward to sharing many of their impressions with you in a few weeks!

He has risen! Gumuz first drama....

The Gumuz church successfully presented their first Easter drama.  Some highlights:  A real donkey carried Jesus through the church.  Real knives and spears were carried by the thugs who arrested Jesus.  The three crosses were the three pillars in the centre of the church used to support the roof.  Using a ladder and ropes, they actually hoisted Jesus up on the cross so that he was well above us all.  They closed all the windows and doors to darken the church after Jesus died and then when he appeared 10 men swung the doors open bringing in bright light.  Great effect!

Improvements for next year: facial expressions.  Jesus was smiling through most of the crucifixion.  Emotions.  Putting more emotion into the actual drama to make it seem more real.

We believe though that it was able to teach the Easter story in a way that words alone cannot and we trust that those present have shared the story with many others.

We were invited to a young families’ home for supper and were served keya, mutton stew with sorghum injera and coffee with wild hibiscus seeds ground up in it giving it a nutty flavour.  Very nice.  Chimare and his wife named their first child Nadia after our 4^th so the kids were quite enthralled with this baby.

Ariana healing from spider bite or shingles...

My mom did some research for me and it seems that spider bites and shingles have a lot of common symptoms and so we are less sure than before as to what Ariana actually has.

Thankfully though the intense itching has subsided and it is less painful to the touch.  The red spots are starting to dry up (they never really blistered) in some areas.  She has been a really brave girl through this all and hardly complained (except when a sibling, a parent or a Gumuz grabbed her arm or back which happened several times!)

Thank you for praying for her in this.  Time to get some sleep before the new week begins.  (It may be an interesting night as the neighbouring village drums are beating and there are many singers out tonight! 

Spider bite or shingles?

Three days ago, Ariana complained of extremely itchy bites. She figured something had bitten her in the night. She is our child who most quickly reacts to fleas, bedbugs or other insects. When I looked under her shirt, I was rather surprised to see a swath of blister-type bites from her back, under her armpit and all the way to the middle of her chest.  
I suspected a spider bite since they had seen one in her room and she didn't wear a nightshirt that night because of the heat. They also cause a trail of blisters like this (at least they have in others who believed they were bitten by a spider). 
 We did a little shock treatment on her that first night and it reduced the pain considerably but she couldn't handle more than a few small shocks. She is happier to put up with the pain.
Today, with the line of blisters still looking just as red and with them being just as itchy, I wondered if it might be shingles. Shingles always forms a band and causes an itchy, painful blister type rash. It isn't very common in children as far as I know but when it is apparently it is not often painful like shingles is in adults. I guess we will wait it out and in the meantime, I am treating her with some hydrocortisone cream which gives some relief.

The strength of drama for non literates

Join with us in praying that this Easter, the gospel message will go out with power. It is 1 year ago that the Gumuz stepped into leading their own church after the highland Ethiopian evangelists left Gesses. 
This Sunday, the church will perform a drama which they are very excited about.  This morning, at our women's meeting, Yasheko (who is in the drama) enthusiastically retold the Easter story to all the women after I had just finished a lesson on Adam and Eve's sin. She could tell it so well which I believe was largely due to having been part of acting it out. 
Using pictures is only partially effective as they have so little contact with paper, while drama seems to engage them more fully. I hope to improve my own teaching by utilizing drama more fully. 

change of plans

The medical team (Dr and nurse and spouses) have postponed their trip to Monday which should work out quite well.  My houseworker, Mesalech will be back from the Easter holiday and Rolf also has a more open schedule that week.

Please do pray for their safety in travel on Monday and that the Lord would grant them success as they treat our people and give training to our staff.

The Blessing of a birthday

Today I was blessed by my kids and my husband in a special way.   I was woken with happy birthdays and Rolf made French toast for breakfast.  He then made a trip to Yamp with a very sick baby of one of our Gumuz staff. 

The kids and I had a morning of school and I was impressed with the good attitudes.  They told me at lunch that they had tried their hardest.  It showed.

I was asked numerous times during the day about the party: when was it starting again?  Where was it?  Was it time yet?  I answered each time that I actually knew nothing about the party.  They kept forgetting they were talking to the person the party was being thrown for.

I had the house to myself for an hour while they left for Andrea’s house to get ready.  Joel returned at 3:30 to tell me it was time to go but I needed to wait a few minutes.

I arrived at a very quiet house but when I stepped inside I was met with 6 little children and two adults (Mesalech and Andrea) who all shouted surprise!  Very nice.  The house was thoroughly decorated with streamers and signs and balloons. 

We then enjoyed some cake together and the kids played with balloons.

Rolf had planned to cook supper but we found we were completely out of drinking water (which we get from the well).  I told him I would gladly cook supper over carrying water from the well (which is what most women have to do at this hour).   He also tiled the shower walls today as a birthday gift.

And the day ended with a phone call from home and a lovely chat with my parents.  It actually does work to skype to our cell phones if we have network.  The phone rang but wasn’t able to connect due to poor network so I stood under the stars and waited for the phone to ring again, which it did.

I was blessed with some emails from home as well which always cheers the heart.  Thank you ... a birthday well spent.

Engulfed in Smoke

Today is Easter or Resurrection Sunday for most of you but here in Ethiopia, we celebrated Palm Sunday.    We were having a quiet afternoon when we began to see clouds of smoke out of our living room windows.  We heard the crackling of the roaring fire and the smell has permeated our house and our bodies.

A number of men ran by with their bows and arrows and Rolf joined them.  We followed at a slower and safer distance.  The valley behind our house was engulfed in smoke and the fire was 20 feet high in one area.  My neighbour lady told me that her son had set it and she didn’t seem too worried.  In fact, three of her girls (10-13year olds) were setting additional fires. 

Apparently it was their turn to burn off their tall dry grass and it just happens to reach our yard on 2 sides.  So the men started to backburn to keep the fire from roaring through our yard. 

I am starting to see that these people enjoy drama which may be why they don’t inform their neighbours ahead of time when they start a bush fire.  We heard shouting in different areas as the fire ran its course past people’s homes. 

It is quiet now but the smoke remains and the ash will likely fall for the next 24 hours.  It does make me wonder, how do Gumuz with asthma make it through the burning time?

Part One: The birth of a baby

On Thursday, Rolf picked up Askale (Ethiopian evangelist who translates for me when I teach the women) from Dibate.  I doubted the women would come for the teaching time due to the celebration that had been taking place for the past 4 days.   But we prayed together and then went visiting to several homes.

The first home, was the home of one of our guards.  A week ago, his wife gave birth to their 7^th child.  Though he is a believer, his wife is not and she has struggled through this pregnancy with Rolf taking her to town on several occasions.

If I was able to download pictures, I would be able to show you the beautiful little girl and 5 of the other children crowding around.   She had given birth (as is custom) alone in her hut after 2 days of labor.  We were in Addis at the time and were so thankful for a healthy and safe delivery.   We believe that the Lord is working in her heart and trust that she will soon be a follower of Jesus.

Part 2: My dilemma....to eat or not to eat

From there, we headed to my friend Yasheko’s house.  She was still hosting relatives from afar who had come for the memorial service of her husband’s father’s death.  We were welcomed in and our hands were immediately washed (pretty rare event).  Within just a few minutes, we were handed a plate of meat.  The chunks of meat were large and had been placed on a bed of coals for a brief time.  Yasheko’s son kindly cut the large pieces into more manageable sizes. 

But even the dim lighting of the hut could not mask the very red meat set before me.  My mind was racing.  Would I offend my friend if I turned it down?  Yes.  Were there pieces that I could consume?  Yes.  My hesitation was that these pieces are the very pieces I usually avoid....internal organs that are extremely chewy and full of flavours that my palate has not acquired a taste for. 

I decided to go slowly and take my queues from Askale.  My first piece of intestine was actually pleasantly soft and I chewed it slowly.  After all the organ bits were consumed, 8 more raw pieces of meat stared back at me and 4 of them were designated for me.  Askale urged me on so I slowly picked up a piece thinking only of the tapeworm that could quickly form in my body.  I could just take some drugs to kill off any worms but I try to avoid that if possible.

In the end I couldn’t do it.  My dear Sonia was sleeping peacefully on my bosom and so I very naturally was able to find a place for my 4 pieces (to be given as a gift to Kalia’s dog) without anyone noticing.

I think next time I may just ask if they could return the meat to the fire (after it is cut) for a few more minutes.  Raw meat is eaten without flinching by most people in this part of the world, but it is one item that I have been able to avoid.

Everything by prayer....upcoming visit

SIM has a motto that says "By Prayer" and it is a motto we have come to see as vital to the success of any ministry.   There are times we forget to “enquire of the Lord” and we usually regret it.  It is not that our decisions go badly each time we forget to bring it to our Father in heaven, but rather it is failure to include him in our lives.   He desires a relationship and for that to happen, we must invite him into each area of our life.  And He truly does care because we are His children.

We are hopeful that the medical/building team will come in just a few days but there are always things that can keep something good from actually happening.  And so I ask again that you would pray.

Pray that the Dr and nurse and their spouses would be able to get the transportation that they need.  Pray for their safe travel and that the 6 days they have with us would bring healing to many and that the Gumuz would come to faith because of the love they are shown and the physical help they receive.  

And pray for the Easter celebration that is being planned for this coming weekend.  Rolf had an amazing turnout this afternoon and they were enthusiastic with their practicing! PTL.  The majority of Gumuz are nonliterate and so we are praying that by dramatizing the Easter story, they will more fully grasp who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

Wedding dance at our front door

This afternoon, we heard the familiar sound of dancing and singing but there was also something different.  It was very close.  I looked out the front door and a small mob of women was making its way to the Williamson’ house where 4 of my children were visiting with Andrea.   In a few minutes, Kalia and Joel came sprinting to the house excitedly telling of the party that was coming our way.

I had been told by Mesalech that the other bride had been exchanged (one was given yesterday) and brought here to Wotak’s village.  One of the cultural things done is that a group of women with the bride in the centre dances from house to house.  A very small amount of money is then given to the women to help with the upcoming wedding.  (Two girls are exchanged and then the families prepare a wedding feast.)

So I was ready and sure enough they came dancing right to our front door.  I was please to recognize many of the women (some of whom have been gone for over a month visiting their relatives in another village).   They women were decked with beads and the bride was easily picked out since she had several dozen beaded necklaces around her neck.  She was also the only one not dancing.

They jumped up and down and were truly joyful.  My prayer was: may each of these women one day dance for the Lord!  How beautiful would that be!  And I believe that it can even happen in their lifetime!

The women finished their song and continued on with sweat pouring down their faces. 

Communication Challenges

One of the areas that I struggle with the most living in Gesses is communication with the “outside” world.  There are no radios or televisions here, no internet access and intermittent cell phone coverage.  We do a send and receive for emails via satellite phone two times a day.  For the most part we are content with this.  We don’t place high value in most of these things but we come from a culture that does.    

We know that screen time can be a way to deal with external and internal stresses and it is also a way to deal with boredom.   Even in our context, we have to discern when and how to use our screens.  But for me, it is a way that I can connect your world with our world.  A way that you can quickly pray for our needs and the needs around us.  It is also the main way we receive news from home and around the world.  And hearing news is like water to the soul.  It encourages us to carry on. 

We read William Carey’s biography and even in his time (more than 100 years ago), he was discouraged when he didn’t hear from his friends and churches.  He waited more than 8 months to receive his first letter due to a war (he didn’t know was happening).   

This week the computer that was set up for email died without warning.  It is up and working again but I had to give it to the Lord again. 

I desire contentment even when people or things fail me.  

I desire joy even when the few conveniences we do have are taken away. 

I desire peace when the world around me is in chaos. 

I desire love even when those we love do not return that same love.

Most of all I desire that all who know me, would know Christ.