Who, What, When, Where, Why?

What is this auction for and where are you going?

It occurred to me that not all of my friends may know why I'm doing an online auction and what the money goes towards.  While keeping this brief, here are some details.

Four year ago, I went on my first missions trip to Ethiopia and Uganda.  I had no clue what I was doing and felt shockingly out of place in my surroundings.  Wow, fast forward four years and three more trips and I can't wait to get back to Korah, the trash dump community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Many years I still go to Uganda, but this year it had to be put off until maybe this winter, so I will talk about Ethiopia here.

I go to Ethiopia with an organization called Out of the Ashes.  They have 400+ kids in their program which provided first and foremost an excellent education, but they also care for the whole child/family.

I can't talk about Ethiopia without talking about Teshome.  Neil and I started sponsoring Teshome five years ago and since then I have had the privilege to spend time with him each summer.  He has grown up so much!  Teshome is an orphan who lives at the shelter when he is not at his boarding school in the country side.  Teshome is family and we talk about him and treat him as such.  I can't imagine our life without him. The two pictures below are 2012 vs 2015.

My work always looks different there.  Some years I am updating sponsorship profiles while another year I taught a bible study.  This year I am on an art team.  Not arts and crafts ;)

We are going to be doing art therapy type projects with drawing, painting, and maybe even some music. Whatever the work, it is always a great time of encouragement. 

 One of the best things about going to the same place year after year is visiting with kids and families.  Sitting in people's homes and catching up since we have seen each other is one of my favorite things...especially since it usually involves the best coffee in the world!

 Even though I enjoy my travels to Ethiopia and the work I am doing there very much, know that it is no vacation.  I work hard, I try to learn and understand the culture better each year so I can know how best to help.  These kids and I are growing together and they teach me so much.  Here's to another successful year!

Packing Love into a Small Space

I love looking back at old photographs of myself.  By looking at my hairstyle, clothes, and friends I can remember who I was in that place and time.  I remember what was important to me and what I was probably thinking about back then.  These two pictures speak the same kind of story to me.  These were both packages I have personally packed over the last few years for our sponsor son in Ethiopia.  I didn't include a picture of this year's package b/c I don't want him to know what he is getting for Christmas in three short weeks :)

This picture was the first package I sent to him in 2011.  It all had to fit in a gallon size ziplock bag.  I had no idea what he already had or might need.  I knew I wanted him to be happy, so I made sure to send lots of candy. I wanted something useful so I added shorts and a t-shirt (because I was sure Ethiopia was always hot), but I had no idea what size to buy.  I didn't know if he had ever used art supplies, so I sent crayons and some paper.  The only thing I was certain of packing was toothpaste and a toothbrush.  I was certain this was a "right" choice because every place I have ever seen asking for donations says these are important because the kids in these kinds of villages don't have them.  

I LOVE this picture.  I LOVE seeing my effort and remembering that I really wanted to do what was right and make something special for a child far away. You know what? I did make something special because it was from my heart.

After visiting Ethiopia that next summer (and finding out it's often cold), I realized I had could have made some different choices in my packing.  All that candy?  These kids don't have fluoride and don't visit the dentist.  All I was doing was helping to rot teeth.  These kid's parents do not appreciate all the candy the Americans send.  While shorts would be worn while playing soccer, they would not be worn many other places.  Surely I could not have gone wrong with the toothbrush and toothpaste though?!  I'm sure now that they were never used.  How do I know?  Well, it's not part of their culture.  So many of these children and adults have beautiful teeth, but not by using western brushes. They use these wooden sticks to rub their teeth.  

Okay, here is the package I sent the third year.  Gone is the candy, replaced by as much protein as I could pack in.  The gum is now sugar free and I think I got the size of shirt right that time...although that is always tricky.  I packed a hat just like his brothers had here (and a picture of them in theirs) so he could feel connected to us.  There is a small ball he can share with his friends, and a small wooden heart he can fit in his pocket and carry with him always.  Some encouraging words topped off the package because those stick with a kid longer than any toy.  

Some things I think about now as I pack a bag for our kid or for other organizations are:
1) Will they have somewhere to keep/store what I send...if not, send more snacks
2) I know there can be long stretches of boredom that can lead to mischief...send games they can share together and stay out of trouble.  They don't need to know exactly how to play something.  The kids are excellent at making up their own games with cards and such.
3) Is there something special and unique that will make them feel loved.  There are so many things that can be duplicated and assembled into many boxes to reach many kids, but did that one kid feel special getting that one different, thoughtful, personal touch in their package?
4) Is there protein in there?  I never realized what a luxury protein is.

I don't feel bad about my choices that first year.  As I learn how to do better, I try to do better.  I know this will be a life long journey and I will someday look back at the package I packed this year and think "oh man, that was cute that I picked those things..what was I thinking" ;)

I hope he enjoys his surprises this year :)

How you can help make a special day for a lot of kids!

Last year when I was in Uganda, the staff at Return Ministries took about 30 kids to the zoo.  I was so happy they let me come along and play!

This year, the Pastor has asked that we take them for a day at an amusement park.  It's more than that though.  It's a day where the kids can choose to lay their troubles aside for a few hours and simply laugh with their friends on a day they will NEVER forget.

At first glance, these days might seem frivolous.  However, they came about after much discussion between Pastor Samuel and myself.  Within the last few years these children have been sponsored to go to school.  They are working hard to pursue their education, but everyday they come home to the same situations they were in before their schooling began.  These days going into the city serve as both a break from their routine and also as a chance to dream of their future.  These days they can hope and dream about a different life in their own country.  Most of the people they see coming into their village who may encourage them to dream big are from America.  The last thing we want these children to think is that to dream big means to go be among the Americans in America.  There is beauty in Uganda.  There are opportunities for them in Uganda.  These little world changers are going to be needed in Uganda :)

Would you consider sponsoring a child to go on this year's outing?  It will be $15 for each kid.
(This covers the bus rental, staff, two meals and a snack, admission to everything we do)
You can use the Paypal button on this blog to donate.

Thank you!

A Zoo Where the Monkeys Run Free and the Peacocks Are Caged

Right now, I am currently working with Pastor Samuel at Return Ministries to plan this years outing for the kids while I am there for my visit.   I wanted to spend some time tonight remembering my time in Uganda last year.  I pulled out my journal so that I could share with you a few stories.  Without all of you sponsoring this zoo day last summer, none of this would have been possible!!!!!!  It may look like a typical outing you might take regularly with your kids, but this was a day they will NEVER forget.

Stories from August 2013
After finishing our time in Ethiopia, my team hopped on a flight and headed back to the states.  I stuck around Ethiopia for another night until I could catch a flight to Uganda the next morning.  What a strange feeling it was to be "left" in Africa.  A year before, international travel was terrifying and now here I was doing it by myself!  What I found as I travel by myself was, I am able to experience people in more genuine ways.  This is now something I am looking forward to doing and it also scares me.  As a good friend once told me, "you have to do it afraid."  So I did, and I will again.

With only a few hiccups, I made it to Uganda the next morning.  After an adventure with my taxi driver (I didn't have the number needed to call my contact...typical Andrea), I made my way to my Ugandan friend Sarah who took me to the guest house that would be home for the next few days.

That is fresh squeezed Mango juice :)

The next morning, as I ate breakfast in the open air dinning room and drank my freshly squeezed mango juice, I could hear the children gathering at the church just down the hill.  They were so excited for our day at the zoo that so many of you sponsored!  Taking that walk down the hill to meet the kids was so exciting!  We hugged and laughed and were happy to be together again.  I was reunited with the little girl I sponsor, Vanessa.  Since I last saw Vanessa, she had become an orphan after coming home from the feeding program one afternoon to find her mother had passed away.  A life of too much hurt, struggle, and pain for one little girl.  Somehow she is still able to put a smile on and sing beautiful songs all day.  She has a big personality you can't help but love.

Vanessa

Shortly after reuniting with the children, our bus arrived to take us to the zoo.  Very few children had ever been to the zoo since it is uncommon for the kids to even leave their small village.  Usually in Africa, you cram as many bodies as you can into a vehicle, but the driver of our rented bus was having none of that.  Pastor Samuel tried hard to reason with the driver, but in the end four children were turned away and told "next time".  I knew these children had no hope of a next time, but in that moment I vowed to make a "next time" for those kids!

Arriving at the zoo, I could feel the anticipation growing on the bus.  I know the kids were ready to charge into the zoo, but another wonderful part of their day was the food that was lovingly brought for them.  We set up a little picnic on the front lawn where we passed out a hard boiled egg, banana, package of milk biscuits, and a bottle of water to each child.  I wish I had lots of pictures to share, but sadly my camera was stollen at the airport on my way out of the country (I didn't follow travel 101).   Thankfully, in the age of iPhones I was still able to bring home a few treasured pictures.
After breakfast, we were off to explore the zoo.   I never thought I would be any help teaching about the animals, but it seems I'm soaking up more information on our outings to the Denver zoo than I thought.  We walked a LONG ways that day, and I helped as much as I could to carry the smaller children that were being carried by their older siblings.  As I would take a child from another child's back, it was great to see the older sibling that is often responsible for their little brother or sister, be able to run and play with their friends.

Halfway through our walk, we ran into a couple who had skin just like mine.  While they were still far off, the children got so excited telling me that my friends were here, too!  They were so confused when I told them I didn't know this couple.  One little girl looked at me and said, "but you are the same color?"  It was shocking to them that I didn't know these strangers, and by the time we met up with this couple we had decided we should all meet them.  We did, and this couple thought it was pretty fun.

After our walk around the zoo, we took a lunch break.  We ate a peanut butter and butter sandwich (yes you read that correctly), another banana, a BIG chapati (google it), and an orange soda.  It was really lunch and a show as the groups of monkeys come down from the trees to try and take our food.  The men and older boys kept us safe chasing the monkeys away because the monkeys did not respond to the women.  These are the pictures I REALLY wish I still had!  I told the children that in American zoos we have our monkeys in cages but our peacocks are out walking around.  By the way, they think this is outrageous!

With full bellies, we set the kids loose on the playground to swing, climb, and laugh.

The things I loved most about this day was watching the children eat and eat and eat again, and also watching them just be kids.  There was nothing to worry about today.  Today was about learning and laughing.  The bus ride home was quiet as the kids  drank another bottle of water, ate chapati, and fell asleep.  Vanessa laid her tired head down on my lap and took a peaceful nap.  Two years in a row she has found rest in my lap, and this year I think she needed it even more than the previous year.
What a wonderful day!!

My beautiful friend Sarah and her daughter Pearl 

It was the best day, it was the worse day

   Friday I woke up early and started to journal while the room was still quiet.  A little after seven I heard a knock on our door.  It was Eric bringing the most beautiful words with him, "Andrea's boy is here."  I jumped out of bed and got dressed as fast as I could.  Angela's, Eric's, and my sponsor kids had WALKED 10 km this morning to see us.  It was not on the agenda to see them today so I was THRILLED!  Greetings were so warm and natural now with Teshome.  I sent him back out to the soccer game the boys were playing in the courtyard and I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed out.  I giggled to myself thinking 'I'm a soccer mom and I'm loving it!'

Angela made the boys oatmeal for breakfast and it was nice to do normal mom things for Teshome.  The simple act of being able to go to the kitchen and pour him a glass of mango juice...priceless.  The boys played our phones and ipads while we all got ready for our day.  To my surprise, instead of dropping them off back in Korah they were going to join us for the day.  Hooray!!  Exactly what I had prayed for, a chance to serve together!  Our first stop was to Embracing Hope which is a daycare.  This ministry offers free daycare for working moms from the struggling communities around them.  The childcare is free as long as the women are working and it must not be begging or prostitution.  Embracing Hope is clean, has good toys, the kids are happy, and the nannies seems to love their jobs and are very creative.  It's unbelievable how wonderful this place is.

I really can't find the right words to express my feelings watching Teshome with these children.  He was fantastic!!  When all the other boys ran off to play by themselves or to the van to play with the phones, Teshome was right with the kids.  Comfortable, gentle, funny, and playful.  The American's might as well have not been there because the kids just followed Teshome around wanting to play with him.  My heart was so full I thought it would literally burst!!
While walking from one daycare house to the next, we passed a woman in the street that came up and started talking to Teshome.  Then she turned and greeted me but I didn't understand much of what she said.  Turns out that was Teshome's bible teacher.  Love the small community :)
This ministry was so unexpected.  The good conditions, the lively energy from the nannies.  The schedule is strict and filled with good play and music class.  I felt like I was at Ethiopian Gymboree.  The best sight was seeing that all the nannies are locals.  It made me happy to see the care and routine poured into these children who at the end of the day are picked up by their parents.  At this young age, so much good is happening for them.

After EH, it was time for lunch.  We headed to the resturant inside the city museum called Lucy's.  By far the fanciest place we had been, but it was very cold and rainy and the food was not that good.  I sat on the same end of the table as our sponsor kids and by now it was easy for me to forget where they come from because they were just part of our group.  After the boys polished off a huge plate of ingera (topped with meat and eggs and all sorts of stuff), one of the boys wanted a toothpick.  He unwrapped it and casually tossed the paper over his shoulder.  I was shocked for a second but then I thought about where they usually eat.  They live at the trash dump and it really isn't a problem to throw trash there.

Teshome and the boys also came along with us to Kadane, the catholic orphanage.  Seeing him in an orphanage for the first time made me thankful he isn't in one.  I'm not sure his funny, gentle, loving personality would have survived in institutional living.  I prayed for his safety in Korah but was thankful for his freedom there.  We decided as a team that this would be our last day together with the boys from Korah since we had the whole day together that day.  On the porch of the orphanage, AB our translator helped Teshome and I be able to talk a little more.  It was great to have the help.

When we headed back to the van, instead of sitting in a two seat aisle, Teshome scrambled all the way to the back with the other boys, put headphone right on, and put his head down.  We both knew what was coming.  The few times I did look back and make eye contact with him he looked so sad.  The driver decided to drop us off at the guest house first and then take the boys home.  At the guest house, we piled out of the van and the team was saying our good byes to the boys.  Teshome came and fell into my arms and cried.  I cried.  I wiped his tears and told him how special he is.  We hugged and cried and I prayed for him.  Then it was time to really say the impossible good-bye.  He jumped on the van and ran to the back seat. The others were still saying good-byes and  I saw that he was struggling to open the back window of the van.  I ran to the end of the van and helped pull from my side.  We held hands and I stared at his tear filled sad face knowing there was nothing I could do to make it better and at that moment my heart shattered into a million pieces and my knees wanted to buckle.  We held hands until the van was ready to pull away.  I touched his face one last time and told him I loved him.

Here are the moments why you should ALWAYS bring your best friend with you to Africa.  As soon as the van drove around the corner and I stepped into the guest house courtyard, my knees finally gave way as I went into the ugliest cry I have EVER had.  Kendra was there to literally catch me and hold me up as I sobbed all over her coat.  I will never be the same after this day.  God blessed Teshome and I with some emotional highs today and He will pick us up from this pit of sadness. 

Just because things are hard or sad, doesn't mean we shouldn't do them.  The biggest blessings come from some of the hardest things. 

Korah Clinic

Day 6 was a great day.  I'm going to post the blog straight from my journal...that way I get to go right back to that day with all of you :)

"Today was a GREAT day!  Wanting to do something to help the guest house workers during their sad week, Brian made breakfast for us like only a southerner can do.  Fried chicken breasts with gravy and eggs over medium...yummm!

We were late getting to Korah, so we started right in with VBS.  Things are so comfortable with Teshome now.  No grand greetings, we find each other, stay together, and look like we have always been together.  When I spend time with other kids as VBS he doesn't leave...he is more confident that I am there for him and will always come back to him.  This kind of comfortable is good.

Tigist brought her sister Salam today like I had asked her to do, so after VBS while lunch was being served, I took the girls to the clinic to see Kayla.  Since the girls are not a part of a program they do not eat lunch and they also do not have access to the clinic without paying so visits there are impossible for their family.

I crossed the Korah street with Salam in my arm and holding Tigist by the hand.  If they were going to come through the guarded gate with me it had to be clear they were with me.  When I went through the orange clinic gate the first thing I saw was Kendra standing on the porch with a sweet little girl.  My heart was about to burst.  My first thought was "THIS is why we are best friends!"  This is so Kendra and what I love about her.  Neither of us had a clue the other one was headed to the clinic.  Kendra's little friend had a gash in her hand and others with us had seen that as well.  What Kendra was able to see that others missed was the little girl's response time.  She tripped, wobbled, and fell over a lot.  Kendra witnessed her not moving for a car until it was RIGHT in front of her.  She couldn't see.  The cut on her hand was from a trip and fall that might have been prevented if she could have seen the road better.  Watching Kendra's heart breaking through emotion while explaining these things to Kayla, who works at the clinic, was really touching and I knew she was forever changed in that moment.  It was a really special moment to share.

Kayla said the little girl would have to go to Alert Hospital for an eye exam and glasses.  Kendra and I quickly pooled our money together for this expensive visit.  Luckily, I had some donations in my backpack ready for just such an opportunity.  Kayla then sent for the girl's mother so she could give her instructions.

Meanwhile, Tigist, Salam and I sat patiently as a few others had their turn being seen.  Salam was a little frightened but her big sister did a nice job keeping her calm and letting her know that it was important to be there.  Salam's fingertip had now swollen even more and she was running a fever.  As we were waiting, Teshome showed up.  He came into the exam room with the girls and I and watched intently everything that Kayla did.  Salam needed antibiotics to fight whatever infection was taking over, so Kayla sent Tigist to bring their mother to the clinic.  When the mother showed up, Kayla was able to explain that Salam had an infection and needed medicine.  I noticed that the mother was surprised to see the finger.  I'm sure Salam didn't even show her.  What would be the point, her mother could not have afforded to take her to the clinic. Kayla showed her how much medicine to give her and when to give it to her.  Because Salam was not a part of a program, I used more of the donations money to pay her bill.  I'm thankful her infection would not get worse and her pain would soon be gone.  Praise God for putting the girl in my path and letting me be His hands guiding her to the clinic.  I'm so thankful there was a clinic to take her to!!

Kayla let Teshome and I stay and watch the next few patients.  One boy had a terrible gash on his calf.  He had been at the trash dump and a garbage truck scrapped leg when he got too close, trying to fight for the first of the food off the truck I'm sure.  Teshome has dreams of being a doctor and so Kayla explained the whys of everything she was doing.  He seemed to really love it.

Today's good-byes were not hard.  Today was a good day and Teshome and I knew we would both see each other again.  I won't see him until Saturday so it was just a "see you in two days" good-bye."

***Update***
Kendra got a message on facebook yesterday from Emily who runs the clinic in Korah.  The little girl saw the doctor and has a pair of prescription glasses coming this week!!!  We had been concerned that she had more serious issues, but the doctor seems to think it was just her sight.  Wow!!!  Kendra was truly the hands and feet of Jesus that day for the girl.  Her life will change so much.  I know Kendra wished she could be there as she puts her glasses on for the first time and walks down the road.  There is a whole new world waiting for her :) Can't wait to see her next time I'm in Korah!

The Day I Was Waiting For

I was so happy to wake up to those obnoxious drumbs and realize that today is Wednesday!!  Today was the day we would serve the morning in Korah and when we left for lunch we would bring our sponsor kids with us!  Months before when I heard we would be doing this my heart jumped for joy and now the day was here.


We started the morning out with VBS for the Project 61 kids in Korah, which was always fun.  After that we helped serve lunch to those same kids, but since our sponsor kids were coming to lunch with us, we asked them to help us serve the other kids.  Serving side by side, just how I hoped it would be.


After lunch we all piled into the van to head back to the guest house.  Teshome looked so excited to be leaving with us.  On the way the most unexpected thing happened.  Jessie had borrowed my speakers to put in his ipod and he started blasting Justin Bieber's Baby.  Guess what?  These kids from Korah that speak almost no English started singing EVERY WORD!!  It's was hysterical.  I guess Bieber Fever is global.

Back at the guest house, the kids were able to get showers and we gave them their new outfits.  When I saw Teshome in his clothes I had picked out I was so happy.  One problem though, the jeans were too small.  I brought two sizes with me because I wasn't sure how much he would have grown from last year.  This past year he has been at the boarding school and getting at least two regular meals every day.  Guess what eating regular meals for a year will do for a kid?  Make them grow... a lot!!  I felt bad that the jeans were a little tight, but it also made me so glad to see that he is healthier.  (No worries, a friend of mine sent a pair after I got home with a team headed back there).  We hung out for a bit, took lots of photos, and the boys had a grand time playing our iphones.  I felt bad for Teshome because I had deleted most of the games on my phone.  He did get very good at Angry Birds Star Wars by the end of the trip though.

We loaded up in the vans again and headed to a pizza place for lunch.  It felt good to be able to feed them, and not just the filling food they get at the feeding program, but yummy food that filled their bellies AND tasted good.  All the boys crowded to one table and even though I wanted to be right next to Teshome all the time, I also knew that he would have more fun sitting and eating with his friends.  When the pizza came out, the boys went and filled their plates and headed back to the table to begin stuffing the pizza in their faces.  All except Teshome.  Teshome put a slice of pizza on his plate and also grabbed a fork and knife.  Back at the table, he tried to cut his pizza but it was apparent he had no idea how to use a knife.  All of their meals are usually eaten with their hands.  I think he thought this is the way he should eat with the Americans.  Eric stepped in and taught him how to use the knife and after Teshome had done it successfully, he then told him he could use his hands to eat pizza.  The kids ate all they wanted and enjoyed their Fanta.

Then we piled into the van again to head to our next fun place.  Teshome said, "Mom, music?"  I happily handed over my phone and head phones and he looked like an American teenager.  We went to one of my favorite places in the world...Kaldis.  It's kind of like Ethiopian Starbucks (as you can tell from the logo) except the coffee is way better and there is ice cream.  We all enjoyed that stop.

It was getting late in the afternoon by now and the time had come to take the kids back to Korah.  Here is one of those moments I can still see perfectly in my mind and feels as raw as if it had happened this morning, but the chances of me putting the right words down to convey my sadness and confusion are probably slim.
Bumping along those roads, Teshome took one ear bud out and gave it to me so we could listed to the music together.  We huddled together and he asked me to pick the song.  I put on a little Van Morrison and told him he was my favorite singer.  Not exactly what he would have picked, but I think he appreciated it. I have a terrible sense of direction, so I wasn't sure when we were getting close to Korah.  I had my arm around him and as we drove down a road that seemed familiar to me, I felt Teshome lean in and take a big, sad sigh.  That's when I knew we were close.  That sigh, forever in my mind, said it all.  The day was coming to an end, the carriage was turning back into a pumpkin.  The day felt so great, it felt wrong to drop him back off to sleep in the shelter.  I know that Korah is his home, but the realities of poverty are harder when you come to know and love people who are suffering.  Even typing this now brings tears to my eyes and my breathing feels labored.  When you keep difficult "social issues" at an arms length you can think about them and then move on with your life.  When you wrap your arms around someone you love who is in the middle of these social issues then it changes you.  Nothing has ever made me feel smaller and more helpless than looking  Poverty in the face.

The van door opened and the boys jumped out.  We said quick good byes so we didn't attract too much attention and then they were running down the road to their homes and Teshome back to the shelter.  The question I have struggled with ever since I stepped foot in Korah a year ago has not been "Why is there poverty?" but "God, why did you show this to me, and what are you asking me to do?"  I have a feeling this question will take years to figure out, but the only thing I've learned so far is stolen from a popular quote,
 "Live Simply so others can Simply Live"

I went to bed that night hoping Teshome went to sleep happy about his day.