Ethiopia

So it's been three weeks since I've returned from Ethiopia, and I've tried desperately to process everything I saw and did and sum up the experience in a neat little sentence or paragraph. But I've come to realize that it  is impossible to condense 12 days of watching God at work into a few words...the memories and lessons are too vast and amazing.

I have run through the usual post-mission trip emotions: sadness at leaving the people, guilt about my privileged life, dissatisfaction at my normal routine, and inspiration to change the world. I know these feelings will wear off, but I hope when they do my heart is still touched and my life is forever changed. I don't know if I will be able to adequately "process" the trip this side of heaven...so many things can't be fully understood or appreciated until I see with new eyes.

Our team of 9 women spent the first few days in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. 75,000 of the poorest of the poor there live in an area called Korah, which is short for garbage...a fitting name since the village borders the dump and provides a living for the people who scavenge in it for food and goods to sell.

In the midst of that community is a vibrant, growing church, run by a team of pastors with an unparalleled passion to serve the widows, orphans, lepers, and HIV positive men and women of their community. Their faith in God was truly inspirational, as they joyfully trusted every need to be met for their congregation and themselves.

One of the beautiful women of Korah and her little boy (happy to have a cookie!)

We got to meet with the women of the church and encourage them with Bible stories, snacks, new clothes, and even a time of feet washing. They were crying as we (white, "rich" women from the US) washed their (lepers, prostitutes, HIV postive, poor, sick, needy Ethiopian women) feet, humbled at the love and service. But I think their favorite part of the day was receiving new underwear!

Smiles because they got new panties ;-)

We also spent a day hanging out with the kids of the church...all 350 of them in a tiny room. I'll never forget their little voices shouting the worship songs or the hands reaching (ok, attacking me) for stickers and candy. Most of the children there are orphaned, victims of the ever-growing HIV epidemic, but they were so eager to hold our hands, touch our hair, and just spend time with these women with funny skin who had traveled so far just to see them. They hung around our vans, and even ran after us as we left the village.

Two of the beautiful children of Korah

Several of the kids spoke a little English, so we could talk to them and express basic sentiments. Most of them asked us to sponsor them and gave us little slips of paper with their names so we would not forget them. Little do they know it is impossible for me to forget them...I hope to see them again one day but even if I don't I will always remember their happy smiles and unconditional acceptance and joy, and pray that their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs will be met.

A baby hanging out on his mom's back.

A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling....
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 68:5, 19

If you would like to sponsor a child in Korah, visit http://www.ywamethiopia.com/dynamic_content.php?pageid=23