Welcome Blog Readers,
It is a pleasure to write this blog update about this last week as Karen and I prepare to leave tomorrow (Saturday). We just arrived back in Addis from being in Roggie Thursday and Friday. Susan will be giving more detail on that; I will recap Monday through Wednesday and some parting thoughts.
This week felt as if we finally established a routine. On Monday Karen and I went to the RSCP feeding center while the rest of the group was teaching at Hope School. It was a heartbreaking last time at RSCP for Karen and me. That morning was very cold and rainy and most of those boys have hardly any clothing; the little clothing they have was soaked. You just wanted to wrap them all up in your jacket. We sang some songs and then re-enacted the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The boys enjoyed having one of their friends be the Dad as I played the part of the lost son. Karen beautifully narrated and then concluded with prayer. This lasted about 30 minutes and then it was time to feed them. The woman in charge then informed us that the bread had not yet arrived. It didn’t arrive for another 15 minutes, which isn’t long but it was painful to watch as these boys were trying to sit quietly, but they were wiggling in hunger and shivering in cold. It was quite the reminder that for some of them this little meal of bread, bananas, and warm milk is their only meal until the next morning.
After the feeding center we met up with the rest of the team at the school. From there we went to the feeding center for the adults, continuing to build relationships with the people there and making a few smile when we used the little Amharic we know. After the feeding center the girls returned to the girls home for another rewarding time spent with these young women who have had little positive interaction such as this. I know the women on our team have truly cherished the few times they have been able to spend with the girls. Erstwhile, the boys went back to the word working shop to continue our building adventures. The highlight was being able to completely finish some of the school chairs that we had started the first day we came. We put the finishing touches on by putting on the seats and backs of the chairs. I believe that it was the first time for any of us to put rivets in with a hand-powered machine instead of an electric tool. At least the drill for the holes was electrical. For us boys it was an “awesome rah-rah manly” feeling to look at these chairs and know that we went from bending pieces of metal to now having them complete.
Tuesday was Amharic lessons again in the morning. From there we rushed back to the feeding center to serve lunch (one last time for Karen and me). This part of our ministry has been a completely unexpected heart rending experience for us. It has really challenged Karen and me to pursue this type of service back in the United States. Following this we went back to the Sisters of Charity Orphanage and taught English.
Wednesday’s recap will be short for your sake and mine. Karen and I spent the morning one last time at the feeing center with the children while the others were teaching. We caught up with the team at Hope School, enjoyed the rare and beautiful sunshine by playing outside, and then headed out to the orphanage. It turned out to be a gorgeous day in Addis, one of the few full days of sunshine we have had. But, this was also followed by the hardest rainfall we have had. That night as we were playing cards, the power went out. We finished our game in candlelight around nine and decided it was a good time to go to bed because we were getting up at five for our trip to Roggie. The rain awakened most of the team around midnight. It sounded like the rain was going to collapse the roof of the house. The rain continued to come down this hard for another 3-4 hours – it was phenomenal, the sheer power of the rain. Yet, now that I hear the rain I think of what Susan shared early on in the trip how there are so many in this city who don’t have a home. Now when I hear the rain I thank God for the replenishing of the soil and pray for those without homes.
It is time to say good-bye – to the blog, blog readers, and Ethiopia. It has been an amazing time here, made possible by our team and Hope Enterprises. God moves in amazing ways: bringing this team together, Hope Projects, the Hope staff, etc. The love of Christ is alive and well here in Addis – all you have to do is see Pastor Matheos face light up every time he sees someone – and his joy is typical of the many wonderful Ethiopians serving the Lord here.
God Bless,
Stephen and the Team
