Water Day Without Water

So I’ve been here for two weeks. My first week was just observing, and my second week was Spring Break. I’d say it was a nice way to ease into a new placement. I travelled to Lake Langano with my cooperating teacher, her family, and another teacher for Spring Break, and it was oh so relaxing.

My first week in Grade 2 was Ocean Week, so my teacher made all of her lessons ocean themed.  Much to the children’s delight, the week culminated by turning the playground into a water wonderland, and several other classes joined in the fun.  Before it was our turn to go outside, the water went out. Now if you’ve ever lived in a third world country, you know this is just the norm (In fact, the water has been out all week where I’m staying…). I was upset for the kids, and I just knew they were going to be upset too. Wrong. They went outside, and played in the left over puddles. For an hour. And they were happy, happy, happy! Some build mud castles, others drug each other down the puddle filled water slide with a rope, and some decided to lay in the sun to get “gloriously tan”. The water finally came on for the last 20 minutes, and I’m sure you can just hear the squeals of delight.

As I sat there watching them play (and avoiding my teacher with the hose), I couldn’t help but think about kids back home.  They would have pitched a fit and whined the entire time.  How many times do we complain about what we don’t have instead of taking time to appreciate what God has given us?  How many times do we worry about the future instead of enjoying the present? So today, if the water doesn’t come on, take time to play in the puddles. It’s more fun that way.

Driving in Ethiopia through the eyes of a rule following American

If you have ever travelled outside of the western world, you will never cease to be “amazed” by the driving.  On my other trips, I’ve always noticed it, but this time, I have decided to write it down.  Here are some observations of driving in Ethiopia made by a rule following American.

Honking: This can mean many things…

A.) “I see you, and I will not run over you.”

B.) “You are about to hit me with your vehicle.”

C.) “Hello!”

D.) “It’s your turn.”

E.) “Everyone else is honking their horn, and I think I will too!”

F.) “I have an extra seat in the taxi.”

Roundabouts: It doesn’t matter if it is full and at a stand still.  There is always room for one more car.

You need a place to park on the street? No problem, park on the side of the road.  The side of the road is full? No problem, double park.  There is still no room for you to park? No problem, triple park.  You actually want to drive down the street? Nope, sorry.

You see your friend walking down the road. What do you do? Stop in the middle of the road to talk, of course.

Don’t run over animals (ex. donkeys, goats, cows). Their owners would probably be upset.

Don’t run over people (ex. men, women, children). Their families would be upset.

If you think your car won’t fit through a gap, you’re wrong. It always fits.

You don’t have a field to play football? It’s not a big deal.  Just use rocks to block off one side of the road. Now you have the perfect place to play a nice afternoon game of football.

Oh no! There’s a giant puddle/pothole in the road! It’s ok, drive around it.

Two lane road? I’m sure we can fit at least three cars across… Maybe even four if you get close enough to the concrete divider.

Part 2 of my travel story may or may not happen... I've just finished my first week at Bingham, and it's time for Spring Break! I only have email at school, so I don't think I'll have any email over the break.  Thank you for all your prayers.  It is greatly appreciated! I look forward to sharing more after the break is over! Feel free to email me--I would love to hear from people back home. 

Travel: Part 1

**Disclaimer: This somewhat disorganized. I apologize… I’m still suffering for jetlag, and I just finished my first day of school.**

Everybody loves a good travel story, right? Being my first time to travel internationally by myself, I feel like it needs to be documented.

First of all, I arrived safely in one piece.  That’s the short version.  You can stop reading now if you want.

My passport and visa finally arrived! Only after my dad chased the UPS truck and asked for it. That was stressful, but God was faithful to provide!

We left bright and early for Nashville with a quick stop at Chick-fil-A for a final meal.  Everything went smoothly with the first flight to Toronto.  It was 0 degrees in Toronto, and of course the plane exited outside… I enjoyed a donut from Tim Horton’s, and I filled up my water bottle (strange detail, but keep it in mind…).

On the flight to Frankfurt, I had a whole row to myself, and I watched Frozen.  I’d call that a success!

I did not have my boarding pass for my last flight, but I was told I could get it at the gate.  I went through security to go to my gate, and they stopped me to look in my bag. (Keep in mind that this is my 3^rd time through security—what could possibly be wrong??) My Nalgene was full. “Can I pour it out?” “No, you can drink it.” After a couple of jokes about my water bottle being full of vodka, I successfully drank all the water. 

I had to wait awhile for my gate to open, and when it did, I went to get my boarding pass.  Somehow I was not on the passenger list. I very calmly asked what I was supposed to do. Of course it required going back through security to a help desk.  They were able to add me back to the flight with about 10 minutes to spare.  I had to go through security for the fourth time (don’t worry, I didn’t make the water bottle mistake again), and then run to my gate.  Originally, the flight was supposed to stop in Sudan to re-fuel, but it wasn’t until I was on the plane that I realized we were actually stopping in Saudi Arabia! (I usually don’t think it’s acceptable to say you’ve been to a country if you don’t get off the plane, but I think SA is an exception to the rule.)

I made it to Addis with all my luggage, and I found the people who were picking me up.  I think I will call my first independent international trip a success!

Put your nets on the other side...

After a long week of constantly checking the UPS tracking number for the return of my visa and passport, I decided I was not going to check it again before bed.  It was just making me upset, and the answer was not changing.  But all I could think of was this story:

 "When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." (Luke 5:4-11)

I found this strange because I haven't read this story in awhile, but I decided it must mean I needed to check the tracking number one more time.  Just like Jesus knew what he was doing with the disciples, he knew what he was doing tonight! The passport/visa has been shipped!!  God is so so good! Thank you for all your prayers, now we can pray that the trusty UPS will deliver it on Wednesday! Ethiopia, here I come!

Here's the proof!

Let's pray that passport home!

Friends,
As many of you know, my flight for Ethiopia leaves in 6 days.  Right now, I am missing on very important item: my passport and visa. It arrived at the Ethiopian Embassy in D.C. last Wednesday, but it has not been shipped back.  The website says it should take 2-4 business days, and it also has strict orders not to call and check on the status. I have a UPS tracking number that I've been tracking to see if it is on its way home. Please join me in praying that it will make it to my house by Wednesday!

Thanks for Checking In!

Thanks for checking in! I'll be leaving for for my student teaching placement at Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on March 13. You can keep up with my journey here. I promise to share my adventures as well as the funny things my kids say and do.

Please pray that last minute details will be worked out this week.