Ethiopia

I have heard others say they left half their heart in Ethiopia. I’ve thought about this and the similar feelings I have as well. Feelings of sorrow at saying goodbye to new friends, feelings of wanting to be here home with my family and friends, and yet wanting to further experience all that we were introduced to in Ethiopia. I think for me, I haven’t left my heart in Ethiopia, I have brought Ethiopia home with me in my heart. 

My most memorable moments include,

The beautiful sight of children laughing, always laughing and smiling, so excited to be with us, only wanting to be with us. It made me feel so special and yet so humble at the same time. Why would my presence bring such joy to their faces? It also made me want to step it up and be that person who was the best and most loving I could be.This is something that is in my heart.

The sight of boys playing football in the streets with shoes that have holes in the bottoms so big they might as well have been playing barefoot. Those same boys using the streets in the early morning to exercise on, doing sit-ups on the medians, kicks and jumps along the curbs. I love the simple joy that can be found in companionship. I take that with me in my heart. 

Seeing those women, from the very old to the very young, walk that dangerous busy road to the top of the hill only to pick up a heavy burden of branches and slowly walk that same road, with bodies bent over under the weight, back to the bottom. This sequence then repeated itself again and again during the day. I wonder how many trips they have taken? All this told me poverty is not something that comes about because of laziness, I saw people who worked harder in a day than I have ever worked. Poverty is a thing you are born into, stuck in, and without someone or something to help break that cycle you will likely never be free from it, nor will your children. I take this back with me in my heart. 

I remember the gift of roses... I wonder what the cost was to give us a rose? I imagine I have never received a more costly flower. It made my heart swell with love. I will always remember to see a gift beyond its cost to purchase because what might seem to me a small gift could be the most extravagant. I will appreciate and be thankful for every gift and count them as special and precious.

I remember laughing at myself when I completely messed up an attempt at making injera. The lady of the home we visited in Modjo made injera for a living and was so excited to show us how to do it. When she offered me a chance to try I weighted the costs, figured I would mess it up, and that it wouldn’t matter, so I jumped in and tried. As I had feared I didn’t do very well and ended up with a piece of bread with large holes in it where the batter didn’t meet in the middle. She laughed, I laughed, the team laughed. It was good for my soul and good for hers as well. I am glad she was able to see herself as someone who was good at what she did, and that it wasn’t simple, and she could be proud of her work. I will remember I don’t have to be the best at all things, and my failures may bring someone else some pride that they can know things that are of value and teach them to others. 

When I think of Ethiopia I think of Yoseph, whenever he was asked to do something he always answered “It is no problem.” When asked if he liked something he would say, “it was very good.” I want to take such a positive outlook on life back with me in my heart. I want to find myself saying to others, Yes, it is no problem, I can do that for you, and to use the words, it was very good, or very nice. I want that to be my heart. A servant heart, I can do for you, no problem, and whatever I receive, it is very nice, or very good. These are words I want to come out of my mouth. 

I remember watching the young men with the children, such gentleness, such love in their actions and words. I love the gentleness I saw in Ethiopian people. I can sometimes be harsh, I want gentleness to flavor my life.

Some sights on the streets were so overwhelming. I saw children who had been injured or had been hungry too long in their short lives, begging. I saw adults who had had their bodies tormented by leprosy, or some other disfiguring event. It was so hard to see such things and know that I couldn’t just throw money at them and help their situation. I hurt for them, for their lives, I pray they will have an opportunity to know God. That He will fulfill their needs, physical emotional and spiritual. My prayer life will be enriched by remembering them to God.

I also was inspired to see the rich standing and talking to the poor, side by side. There seemed to be no worries about classes of people. I am not sure the Ethiopian people would understand the American way of only being comfortable with those who are of your same social economic situation. I take this part of Ethiopia back with me in my heart, people are people, love people, that is all, love people. Step beyond the weird social system I have been taught to live in. Just love people, both those of less income, and those of greater. Upon thinking of this I find I am very uncomfortable around people I perceive to have greater wealth than I have. Why is this? No wonder so many Americans are so lonely...

One thing that did bump my way of thinking a bit was seeing so many people just hanging out on the streets with each other. At first I thought, “doesn’t anyone work in this city?” The answer of course is yes and no. Many do work, many work on those same streets and they were at their jobs as I drove by, selling things to passers by. But some did not have work, so they were there to be social. Being social is such a gift. I am so caught up in being busy, getting things done, move on to the next thing. I am challenged to slow down a bit. Find a balance, let some days slide away with little accomplished but a good visit with a friend. What will last in the end anyway? My vain little attempts to work, or relationship with others? I think this will be something I will ponder and work through in my heart.

I am challenged by the generosity of the people of Ethiopia. How is it that those who have so little are the best at giving and sharing? How is it that I who am so privileged am so stingy and selfish? This I take home with me and struggle through in my heart. 

I loved hearing the prayers of the people. I didn’t know what was being said, but the way they prayed, the way they go before the throne of God with such thankfulness, such boldness, was inspiring to me. I love the thank you and amen after each section of the prayer. When one family we visited was asked can we pray for you, the answer was, “prayer is essential.” Prayer is essential, could it be said any better? My heart is full of the thankful spirit of the Ethiopian people. 

These are some things I have in my heart now after coming home from Ethiopia. I feel connected to the people there, my heart is full of their love, their faces, their stories, their way of life. On the way home I met a young man who was traveling back to the states after having a long visit home to Ethiopia. He asked me how I liked his country. When I said I loved it he was so pleased. He couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful he felt that people would come to his home country and love it. I think Ethiopia is a hidden treasure that is just waiting to be found. I am so glad I had the chance to go and meet such extraordinary people. 

You know you are in Ethiopia when you smell smoke, exhaust, spices, coffee, and animals all in the same breath.

You know you are in Ethiopia when you awake to the sound of dogs barking and fighting at 3 am and then the sound of the call to prayer mingled with the crow of roosters just as you are drifting back to sleep at 5 am. 

You know you are in Ethiopia when you are greeted with a smile everywhere you go, and the sound of children laughing is a common thing.

You know you are in Ethiopian traffic when all you hear is the beep beep of the vans and cars letting each other know where they are and what their intentions are. Somehow the system works, I saw only one traffic accident in the seemingly craziness of the roads.

You know you are in Ethiopia when you see people with briefcases, people with goods to sell, and people with nothing who beg for a living, all on the streets side by side.

You know you are in Ethiopia when you see herds of goats and donkeys being driven by youngsters through the above crowds of people.

You know you are in Ethiopia when you see everyone walking, everywhere. Distance seems no obstacle. Most carry jugs of water or large bags of coal or feed.

You know you are in the Ethiopian country side when you see farm fields looking like a patch work blanket laid across the land. The crops have been harvested and the land waits for the rainy season. The means of this farming is now grazing on the land, oxen. Soon they will be hooked to wooden plows and will work the ground before the sowing by hand of the seed. 

You know you are in Ethiopia when you are served injera at every meal. Delicious when combined with all the spicy meats and vegetables.

You know you are in Ethiopia when you are so overwhelmed by the graciousness of the people you think your heart can’t hold it all. These people are some of the friendliest most hospitable I have ever met. They truly are a reflection of God, generous, so kind, so tenderhearted. 

You know you have been to Ethiopia when you can’t imagine not going back.