Week 1

Week one went by, and it was wonderful! When I first arrived I was given the day to rest and get settled, so I slept. The next day I got to meet the kids. They are so happy and cheerful. My house mate and I hit it off right away. Her name is Jill. The kids are on break this week and last. We spent the week coloring gifts with for the kids sponsors. After I would do crafts with them and Jill would play sports. The food here is good, though very spicy. The mammas and kids think its so funny when our eyes water. Coffee is a huge part of the culture here. Every day after lunch they serve some in tiny cup, because its so strong. I'm usually not a coffee drinker but I like Selom's, shes the cook. They even have a special coffee ceremony, where they roast the coffee beans first then gind them and make them into coffee. I havent seen that yet but its a holiday on thursday and I think they are having one then. The holidayis called Meskal. Its for "the true cross".  The stories goes that an Ethiopian woman found the cross of Jesus. So they build a big bonfire a put a cross in the middle. Which ever way the cross falls is the way to the true cross. Its only religiously important to the orthodox. To everyone else its just apart of culture. Unlike most countries the traditional colors here are white. Inside the village is nice and beautiful, but outside is very sad. Kids sitting on the side of the road, trash in the streets. Saterday a school came to do community service. That day was easy because all Jill and I had to do was supervise. We went to church sunday with the Mammas and the kids. We couldnt understand a single word because the pastor spoke Amharic. But we could feel the meaning. After service a man walked up to us and stood before Jill clicked his heels, saluted and bowed, then turned to me and did the same. The mammas where laughing too so we new it wasnt the traditional way to greet some one. Well that was the first week. I'm looking forward to the next!

rain drops

It's a strange feeling, having so many people cry for you. Its not exactly good, because you feel bad about being the source of their sadness. But it also feels wonderful. Because if they are crying for you, then that means they love you. And to be loved by so many people is the greatest honor I've ever had.

adventure is out there!

I was just informes today that I would be going to not one country, but two. Ethiopia and Rwanda. It got me thinking about the movie Up and how the main phrase is "adventure is out there." And so it is. This trip is my adventure, but that doesn't mean you have to go to a different continent to find an adventure.there is more than enough work to be done here in the States. We need missionaries just as much if not more than other countries. Because they know what they need. We don't.ours is a battle of the mind. Which is the hardest battle to fight. Adventure IS out there. Or here.

too soon to go

I have been hearing a lot recently about people who have passed on. These deaths were too sudden and unexpected. It makes you think about your own loved ones. A phrase that we say all the time is "I'll tell you later." But what if you don't get to tell them later? I'm sure their families and friends had things they wanted to say to them. Life is too precious to wait until later. Take my advice friends, don't wait until later. If you have something important to tell someone, or, if there is bad blood between you and someone, don't wait to fix it. Tell them befoore the day ends.

patients is a virtue

I have realized something in my short eighteen years of life. Don't pray for patient because then you get put in a situation were you have to be patient. Like right now I am in that in between stage were I'm done with one stage of my life and waiting for the next. It is not the most frustrating time of my life, but very close. Everyone says that patients is a virtue, but why does it have to be so hard to get a hold of? Its like a wave. It come to you on its own. If you try to grab it, it pulls away. Luckily, it always seems to meet you when you absolutely need it. At least its friendly.

Finally done

So graduation is over. I am officially an adult and feel no different than I did as a highshool student. My graduation party was about two weeks ago and I was completely overwhelmed. Just by the love that was showed to me. It truely brought me to tears. You go through life knowing that you have friends but it doesn't occur to you that they love you until something like this happens. So now I just want you all to know that I love you so much and that I am so grateful to have you in my life. I cant express in words how much you all mean to me.

No Shoes, No Service

Today was Toms "Day Without Shoes" and yours truely participated. I walked from my house to the mishawaka Library which are about two miles apart. It was very intresting, walking without shoes. When people see you, without shoes, they avoid your eyes like they hope you wont look at them. Every now and then they meet your eyes, and when they do their eyes are filled with pity. I went into two antique stores and they paid me no mind. But when I got to the library, I couldn't stay because I didn't have shoes. On my way home, a couple stopped in their car and asked if I was ok and if I needed help. This No shoes, No service rule is one of Americas worst. I understand restraunts, but a library? For all they know, the reason I didn't have shoes was because I really had none. There are people, even in the states, who don't have shoes.They cant go into a public library, a place that should be open to everyone, because they don't have shoes. Shoes. Such an easy thing, and something we have in abundance. Now, I'm not saying everyone should walk around without shoes, because it hurts. And I'm definatly not wanting you to feel guilty when you buy a gorgeous pair of shoes. I like new shoes just as much as the next person. I'm just saying to keep it in mind next time you do buy shoes. What if, one day, everyone in america just didn't wear shoes? What kind of impression would that make on our No shoes no service society. The store owners would have to let people in or they would have no buisness. We could do so much, if we just acted like the country we were always suposed to be. One country, under God.