One of my responsibilities around our compound is maintaining the missionary housing. Joan, one of our teammates has been having trouble with her toilet off and on for the past few months. Unfortunately it tends to get worse on the days when it is important for it to work correctly. But whenever I come to check on it, the toilet suddenly decides to work correctly. So finally, we had both reached our limit and decided that it was time to fully dive in & dig out the system. All of the pipes leading from the bathroom to the septic tank were uncovered & inspected. The septic tank cover was dug out of the ground and the tank inspected. After a thorough inspection, we were still dumbfounded when no problems were found. Next we moved into the bathroom and began investigating. As we took the toilet apart, we finally found the issue. The issue is that Joan likes trees too much. You see, of all the people on our compound, Joan is the most vocal and demanding protector of the amazing trees (which is important and helps keep the rest of us in line). But perhaps the trees feel too comfortable around Joan because one tree had sent a root into her bathroom through a crack in the concrete. That root then found its way through the top of the waste pipe. Fortunately, Joan agreed that it would be ok to cut this tree root :). The amount of root fiber that we pulled out of the pipe was astounding. I was grateful that the root did not break through the sidewall of the pipe. Joan is just glad to have a fully functioning toilet again and that no trees were significantly harmed in the process.
Living in another culture can be very challenging at times. Not only is the food, housing and language different, but, more importantly, the mindset and way of thinking are often different as well. It's that second part that is easy to forget and it's the second part that can cause the most challenges. Lately we have run into a few more of those challenges. After one meeting with some of our local workers, I sat and looked at our Ethiopian manager dumbfounded, wondering how in the world things could go the way they did. Although he is Ethiopian, he is not originally from the Langano area. He grew up just 5 hours away in Addis Ababa, but he has struggled with the same challenges over his 3 years living at Langano. He highlighted the core issue with a great metaphor. He said, “Bryan, you point to this picture frame and say this is glass. Then they say, no that is not glass that is clay. Trying to understand their way of thinking is so very hard, and that is with something so simple as a piece of glass.” He is right. Although we have been living and working in Langano for over a year, there is still so very much that we have to learn. Please pray for us as we seek to better understand our neighbors, that we may love them more effectively and share the Gospel more fully.
Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there! Without you, none of us would be here today. :) A special shout out to the women who nurtured and grew us into the people we are today. I'm sure we didn't make your job very easy, but I think we turned out alright :)
Hey Mom! Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for everything you have done over the years. Thank you for standing in the snow at my soccer games; for teaching me responsibility; for laughing at my jokes; for thinking dessert is an essential part of a meal; and for teaching me to study and memorize God’s Word. Your encouragement, discipline, correction and guidance have made me into the woman I am today. Words escape me; all I can say is “Thank You!” You are one of the strongest women I know. I am continually amazed by your courage and perseverance. Your willingness to grow and learn from mistakes inspires me to pursue my own sanctification. I’m lucky to call you my mom. Growing up I remember that all you ever wanted from us kids for Mother’s Day was “no fighting for an entire afternoon.” Regardless of our best intentions, we could only keep the peace for about an hour. Maybe this year will be the year! I promise not to antagonize, provoke or argue with any of my siblings today :) Know that I love you and wish I could be there to celebrate YOU today. Happy Mother’s Day!
Bryan dancing with his mom Oh mother of mine … over the years, you have worked so tirelessly to pour into my life. Here is a simple thank you. Thank you for driving us to school so we didn’t have to ride the bus; thanks for the amazing birthday cakes; for the freedom to make my room my own; for rebuking me when I was wrong and encouraging me to stand for what was right; for all the care packages; for the ridiculous & non-stop strings of puns; for all the blankets, pillowcases, curtains and so on that you have made of the years; for teaching me how to look for ways to encourage others and work behind the scenes to make things great; for teaching me to set my sights high and go beyond the requirements or high expectations; for insurance to cover my astounding ability to create medical bills; for the sleepless nights on uncomfortable hospital chairs; for not getting mad that I purchased plane tickets to leave the country 48 hours later and miss 3 days of high school while you were at school working that night ;). Thanks for teaching me how to cook, clean & sew, Nicole greatly appreciates those traits! Thanks for encouraging me to spread my wings and see where God leads. After visiting 4 continents and living in 2, my understanding of God has grown and made a great impact on my life and will continue to for many years to come. God has blessed me greatly through you. Thanks for everything else I didn’t mention, all the big & little things that you do. Thanks for being mom. Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Easter! Confession: I totally have a love/hate relationship with the Ethiopian calendar system. How do you coordinate things when people are using different calendar systems? The question, “In yours or mine?” always comes up and has caused quite a bit of confusion. BUT one thing that I love about using a different calendar system is that we get to celebrate most holidays TWICE!!!! :) Once firenji (foreigner) style and once Ethiopian style.
While most of the world celebrated the resurrection of our King just over a month ago, Ethiopians celebrated this Sunday (May 5th). We celebrated by going to church and listening to a sermon from Luke 24. Then we rested for an hour before the festivities began. As like most holidays, the Ethiopians that live on the compound invited us to their homes as a part of their extended family for food and fellowship. They usually work out a schedule for us as we do a ‘progressive dinner.’ The only catch to this ‘progressive dinner’ is that you eat FULL meals at each stop along the way! We ate at 3 different homes covering a total of 5.5 hours, 6 rolls of injera with doro wat (spicy chicken stew) and 3 cups of coffee. I can usually barely finish 2 rolls of injera, but every holiday the Lord seems to expand my stomach so won’t offend our hosts. It is fun to be apart of the body of Christ.
When Bryan and I got home we were stuffed to the gills, but as my family always says “There is always room for dessert!” Ethiopians don’t eat very many sweet things, so we finished our Easter celebration with an sponge cake covered in fresh strawberries and whipping cream at home!
We recently held a camp for 13 teenage girls with disabilities in our community. These girls are among ‘the least of these’ and in the world’s eyes have no hope. While at camp, these girls got to play sports, paint fingernails, and hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. Many of them expressed an interest in the teachings from Scripture, please pray that their hearts would be changed and that their hope would rest in Christ alone.
Below is a story written by Mia Smith, our 12-year old teammate, about one of the girls who came to camp. I have had the pleasure of studying the Bible and tutoring her in 8th grade math, and believe me when I say that “Mia is not the average 12-year old!”
Misha* could capture anyone’s heart! She is a beautiful ten-year-old with a contagious giggle. Unlike other girls and boys her age, she does not herd animals or go to school - she cannot go anywhere without being led by one of her siblings. Misha is blind. Before camp Misha had never been able to swim or play soccer. Camp created a safe environment for her to do this and more. During craft time, when Misha was able to sew a small bag, I was amazed. Using one hand she would hold the spot in which the needle would to go and while holding the cloth with her mouth she would use her other hand to insert the needle, thus making a single stitch. Upon completing the craft, Misha announced, “I know I am not good at sewing, but nobody tell me if it looks bad!”
Desiring a glimpse of her surroundings, Misha left nothing untouched. Her fingers walked freely. She participated in all the activities and brought a smile to everyone’s faces. Carefree, her ability to trust was astonishing. While being guided down trails, she never once questioned why or where we were taking her. At teaching time Misha was always very attentive, taking in every word that was said. Her inability to see only strengthened her ability to hear and understand. Within moments she had committed all of our voices to memory and knew us each by name. In the time that Misha spent at Camp Langano she learned extensively about Christ and his love for her.
Mia helping Misha play soccer
A few days ago while I was sitting in church and looked over and there was Misha! She had come with her sister who is about 5 years old. Greeting her I was again astounded by how she still remembered my name and the names of the rest of the leaders at camp. During church Misha listened intently while smiling the whole time. When singing time came, she stood up and sang her wonderful little heart out. Camp has given Misha a taste of God’s love and we are excited to see her grow in Him.
* Misha’s name was changed for her protection
