Two weeks ago….
We forced our eyes open at 6:00 AM.
Monday morning is rough in any country. Our van rolled into Kore and pulled up
in front of the office. Sumer and I went inside to count workbooks, soap, and
hair oil. Each student would receive a decided amount of these things. Two
sighs of relief as we found the correct amount of each thing……besides the hair
oil, which takes a certain backseat to soap or workbooks. The hair will just
have to wait.
Kids collected at the gate
gradually until we had a legitimate mob of them, along with parents and friends
who had come to say good-bye. We hugged, kissed, and congratulated them while
we waited for the buses. One by one the buses came, six of them. The doors
folded open, creating instant chaos. It’s really very entertaining. When we
were almost sure we had every child, the buses filed out as they had come. (It
reminded me of the scene in Pinocchio when all the boys drove away hanging out
of those carts.) Luggage piled high atop
the buses, their arms waived a frantic good-bye to loved ones and to Kore’s
familiarity. The staff rode separately in our usual van, (thank you, Lord). We
caravanned four hours south into the countryside, stopping only once to squat
behind a cactus. That was an experience in itself, given the passing oxen and
the army aunts that attempted to feast on my ankles. We arrived at the school
ahead of the buses, stretched our legs, and organized the backpacks we would
hand out to each student. Most everything went according to plan, and about
four hours later our van was headed back to Addis.
We’ve been back to Shashamene twice
since we dropped them off. Both trips were busy and fruitful. I have never been
here for this part, but from what I understand, we will go every week for a
while, and then eventually it will slow down.
Emily Cornish is the other RN that
works here in Kore with Project 61. She and her husband had been in America for
the last two months, and returned. It is so nice to have her back, working with
me. She was here all last year, running the clinic in Kore and caring for the
students in Shashamene. We work together now, which we both agree makes it much
more pleasurable. We have been trying to bring more order to the clinic;
labeling, boxing, and sorting medicines and supplies. It is quite the job.
There are much much less patients coming to the clinic since two hundred and
forty of them are in Shashamene. Now we see the families and students of Bright
Hope school, a local school in which we have over a hundred sponsored children
in our program.
I had two delightful visitors last
week. Tiffany from my home church came to bring her adopted daughter home. What
a beautiful, and if I may mention, plump, little girl she is. It was so much
fun watching Tiffany love and bond with her over the week. Tiffany was
accompanied by Beth Forenz, who along with her husband John, is largely
responsible for my being here in Ethiopia. Four years ago, in obedience to the
Lord, they adopted three Ethiopian girls. The next year, John led a team of
twelve from my church back to Ethiopia. I was on that team, and my life was
obviously dramatically altered. Here I am, sitting in Ethiopia, drinking
filtered water, listening to scores of quarreling dogs, scratching the bites on
my legs, and it’s all their fault. Thanks a lot, guys. ;) I jest, but in all
seriousness I am astounded at the difference in other’s lives that one decision
can make. I am one of three people on that team who were called to missions in
Ethiopia. Who can know the mind of God? Anyway, I had a wonderful time with
Beth while she was here. I kept saying that I had my very own ferenge for the week. So nice to have a
piece of home. I showed her my work in Kore and introduced her to the best
chocolate ice cream in the world. We had a great time.
She also brought me two suitcases
full of treasures from home, including my very own mamma’s whoopie pies. So
good. I took one bite and my knees buckled. I fell on my bed and cried out, “Oh
mom! Nefukshein betam!!! (I miss you
so much).” I gave one to a friend to try. “This is called a whoopie pie,” I
explained. He paused after the first taste and stared at me.
“Why did you come here?”
I get this question occasionally
from people in Kore. They want to know why I left a rich developed country to
come and work in “Hell”. They ask me what I find attractive about Ethiopia, or
Kore specifically. It is a great testimony to the Lord and His leading, because
I don’t have an answer for them. There is little attractive about Ethiopia, and
nothing attractive about Kore. I left the most wonderful, peaceful, loving
home. I will miss every birthday, my eldest brother’s driver’s test, my
youngest brother’s first day of school, my parent’s 25th wedding
anniversary, the birth of my childhood best friend’s first baby. I close my
eyes to them and turn to the people for whom my heart is broken, with the words
of my God and my King echoing in mine ears, “He who loves his father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me….And he who does not take up his cross and
follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life shall lose it,
and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)
I am working every day to lose my life for His sake. Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, oh
my soul. 