OH! BTW... Last night there was a major hail storm in the middle of the night. I thought our house was going to cave in! I asked Michael if he woke up from it because he sleeps basically outside in a tin shack. He said he didn't remember it if he did wake up. I couldn't believe it, it as so loud! That is one thing I have seen many of here... hail storms. They have a ton of 'em!
Today has been one of the best days. No lingering cough or stuffy nose. Lots of energy instead of constant tiredness. I have been blessed with health and good people today. My teammates are my family. Even tonight, watching Sammy eat with us, felt like he was family too. He IS family. All our translators are our family. We are all so lucky to have such great translators. God has just really shined a light on this trip for me today. He has blessed me today with just pure peace and happiness. One of those days...
At the factory today it was Michael, Christy, Heather, Emily, and I. We were on the ball today. The black wall was finished, we started more on the dots. Got a lot of that done. Finished touching up the rest of the blue walls, and my clothes were dry and clean from yesterday's wash. Woo Hoo!!! It was a good and productive start to the day. At noon we headed over to meet the rest of our team at the school where we held the VBS. It was good to see the kids today. They are all just so precious and grateful for everything. Such a huge difference between them and children in America. These children know what it means already to rely on the Lord DAILY. Ive been at the factory all week with being in charge with this project, that I haven't been able to spend much time or hear these kid's stories. But, at the end of the day I've been able to hear some from the other team members.
One child prayed for food because he and his family didn't have food one day and the next day some lady had given them some bread to eat. The child said he was so grateful to God because he provided for his family and answered his prayer. I think they said this kid said that during one of the bible stories they were doing during VBS. SERIOUSLY?! These children shine Christ's love and we have so much to learn from them what true suffering is, and what true dependence on the Lord looks like. It has been a complete blessing and privilege to be able to just love on them. Precious precious children. Love them....
We visited the kids for a few minutes and then we all headed over to the W.A.R. head quarters and had lunch. Lunch was awesome. Good food and good company. It was one of those times where everyone is sitting around talking and having fun.... except George. He wasn't feeling well and definitely didn't look like he was. For lunch we had injera with shiro (a chickpea sauce that can be spicy), and potatoes with carrots, and some kind of cabbage stuff. It was all really good. They also had french bread that tasted SO GOOD! It tasted like how bread should taste. That was a good high light of the day as far as food goes.
After lunch they made us a coffee ceremony. They asked us if we wanted mil in our coffee... yes please! So good! When we all got our coffee Michael decided to start talking in a british accent all while bucking his teeth out toasting to the queen. Hilarious! Something I can't help but bust out in laughter every time he does it. The look on his face when he does it is priceless,,,, and the fact that he's black just made it even more funny to me.
This is some of us at the W.A.R. head quarters during lunch.
From L-R... Heather, Brittney, George, Danielle, Christy, Julia, Me, Michael, & Sammy
Su and Kat were there at the VBS camp and for a little while for lunch. It was really good to see Kat. I hadn't seen her almost all week. I really like that chicka. When we left the W.A.R. head quarters we headed back over to the kids at the school. I thought they had all left since lunch was so long. They were all outside playing. We gathered all of them in one of the classrooms and sat down. Some of the kids stood up and said how thankful they were to have us there and how much they learned. Carrie was there all week and taught them a lot of new English to them. They loved her and all thanked her for all they learned from her. It was touching to watch each of them get up and speak from their heart how thankful they were for giving them the week they had. I kinda wished I was there some this week besides the one day I was there. But, I know I was needed at the factory and that is where God needed me. Not only did he need me there but I needed to be there to learn from the things God was teaching me there. God Believes in me and my capabilities in my artwork even when I don't... and that is exactly what I have learned this week among other things.
We all said our goodbyes to the children, hugging, kissing, and taking numerous repetitive pictures with them. Then we all got on the bus to head to the factory to finish up. On the way over there it was pouring rain... another hail storm. When we got there some got off to help with what was left and the others went back with Danielle to help her grocery shop and fix dinner. Carrie helped me with putting up the mosaic Mirror wall. It looks really good! The others did more of the dots and Emily and Heather started to tape off where the zig zags were going to go on the cinder block (the lower parts of the walls). Heather also finished up painting the lockers the women use. It's all coming together very well, but we are definitely going to have to go back tomorrow to finish since lunch took longer than we thought. That's okay though.... it's not much left.
This is Carrie helping me with the mirror mosaic wall. There was a lot of monkey-ing with that project.
The bus came back to pick us all up to take us back to the house. Danielle had dinner almost ready when we got back, so we all just chilled until it was ready. Best home dinner yet! Cheese burgers, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet corn (out of the can this time), and peaches. It was so good! Sammy said it was the best meal he's had. He even said "I want to be American." Hahaha..... no Sammy, you don't... Ethiopia just needs some REAL American quizine imported for ya :) He is such a sweet spirit to be around. The Holy Spirit definitely dwells within him. I can see it.
After dinner we all chilled out, did our highs and lows of the day and goofed off. Emily got her camcorder out and did my Birthday video confessional. Hilarious. So fun and so much laughter. It was a good night with good people. It's my last night as a 24 year old. Another year.... It's been a hard and painful year, yet so sweet and so much growth. Here's to the next year, to grow sweetly closer to my Lord.
Su and Kat were there at the VBS camp and for a little while for lunch. It was really good to see Kat. I hadn't seen her almost all week. I really like that chicka. When we left the W.A.R. head quarters we headed back over to the kids at the school. I thought they had all left since lunch was so long. They were all outside playing. We gathered all of them in one of the classrooms and sat down. Some of the kids stood up and said how thankful they were to have us there and how much they learned. Carrie was there all week and taught them a lot of new English to them. They loved her and all thanked her for all they learned from her. It was touching to watch each of them get up and speak from their heart how thankful they were for giving them the week they had. I kinda wished I was there some this week besides the one day I was there. But, I know I was needed at the factory and that is where God needed me. Not only did he need me there but I needed to be there to learn from the things God was teaching me there. God Believes in me and my capabilities in my artwork even when I don't... and that is exactly what I have learned this week among other things.
We all said our goodbyes to the children, hugging, kissing, and taking numerous repetitive pictures with them. Then we all got on the bus to head to the factory to finish up. On the way over there it was pouring rain... another hail storm. When we got there some got off to help with what was left and the others went back with Danielle to help her grocery shop and fix dinner. Carrie helped me with putting up the mosaic Mirror wall. It looks really good! The others did more of the dots and Emily and Heather started to tape off where the zig zags were going to go on the cinder block (the lower parts of the walls). Heather also finished up painting the lockers the women use. It's all coming together very well, but we are definitely going to have to go back tomorrow to finish since lunch took longer than we thought. That's okay though.... it's not much left.
This is Carrie helping me with the mirror mosaic wall. There was a lot of monkey-ing with that project.
The bus came back to pick us all up to take us back to the house. Danielle had dinner almost ready when we got back, so we all just chilled until it was ready. Best home dinner yet! Cheese burgers, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet corn (out of the can this time), and peaches. It was so good! Sammy said it was the best meal he's had. He even said "I want to be American." Hahaha..... no Sammy, you don't... Ethiopia just needs some REAL American quizine imported for ya :) He is such a sweet spirit to be around. The Holy Spirit definitely dwells within him. I can see it.
After dinner we all chilled out, did our highs and lows of the day and goofed off. Emily got her camcorder out and did my Birthday video confessional. Hilarious. So fun and so much laughter. It was a good night with good people. It's my last night as a 24 year old. Another year.... It's been a hard and painful year, yet so sweet and so much growth. Here's to the next year, to grow sweetly closer to my Lord.
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