Half of the Long Expected Post

Time keeps on ticking by—I can’t believe that Aaron came and went, we flew to Kenya and northern E and back, I got kissed by a giraffe, I stepped back into the busyness at the project, I celebrated Thanksgiving here and survived the Great E Run!!
This could get really long, but instead of being wordy I’m going to attempt to let the photos share my stories:) BUT, this server has been blocked AGAIN and I can’t load any more photos now.
It was really great to have Aaron here—I’ve probably said this on here before, but one of the greatest struggles of being in a place like this is the feeling that everyone in my “other life” (you, probably!) can’t comprehend my life here. Thus, it’s difficult to share what life is truly like here and the burdens in it. For this reason, I am glad that now I have another bridge between my worlds, that now Aaron knows some of the faces of these dear ones I work with and cry over.
It was also pretty great to have a break:) I definitely needed some time away and some space to process life and to think about this great big looming “what’s next?” question I’m facing. I didn’t come up with any answers and feel like I am a long way from them, but I was reminded that it’s not my life and it’s not about ME. So hopefully these photos will give you a glimpse into our journeys! If this allows me to post more later, I will post all the ones I intended to. I would like to clarify that Aaron’s photos are exponentially better than mine, and really I should just wait for him to finish putting them online and send you there. But until then, enjoy these!
*I was uploading pics backward so they'd be in chronological order (I am slightly OCD, I think). But alas! that means the safari pics didn't get loaded before my technical troubles started in earnest. So sorry, hopefully they will come later!

After being in Nairobi, I felt like I had been to the West and back! Here I am pretty excited that we got to order pizza and have it delivered. Wonders never cease:)

Headed to the aiport in Nairobi

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We flew up to Northern E to the town of Lalibela for a day. It is home to these incredible ancient rock-hewn churches. They are all carved below ground level, so you can't see them when you are just standing in the town.

St. George Church, probably the most famous one there.

A and I with St. George Church in the background.

These are called "tukels" and they are the traditional E. style of building. They start with a stick frame, then plaster in the walls with a grass and mud mixture that is actually harder than cement. The roof is regrassed every few years. The 2 story tukels were used to house animals in the bottom and people in the top.

Dusk view from our window--the town was peaceful. Life continues much as it has for centuries there--the placid evening was interrupted only by the lowing cows, bleating sheep, and the high pitched shout of children playing soccer in the streets.

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*Due to the E gov. heightened security right now, PLEASE use discretion in any comments you may leave! Not that my readers usually post politically sensitive comments, but just be aware! Please don't mention the country, the government, or the political situation. Thanks.

I'm really . . . .

going to post!!!
But this server has been blocked again, so it makes everything more complicated!
I'm still alive and breathing--and I got turkey, mashed pototaoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, so that made me pretty happy.
I hope you are all well and had the chance to sit and wonder about the blessings in your lives this last week!

The Struggle

This world has nothing for me and

This world has everything

All that I could want and

Nothing that I need

--Aaron Tate

Just Thinking

I'm really alive! We didn't get eaten by lions or trampled by wildebeests or drowned by hippos! I promise a real update soon, maybe even with pictures:) Oooh, betcha can't wait!? Haha, really I will post soon, but until then wanted to share something someone else said that I've been thinking about.

Can we give up all for the love of God? When the surrender of ourselves seems too much to ask, it is first of all because our thoughts about God Himself are paltry. We have not really seen Him, we have hardly tested Him at all and learned how good He is. In our blindness we approach Him with suspicious reserve. We ask how much of our fun He intends to spoil, how much He will demand from us, how high is the price we must pay before He is placated. If we had the least notion of His lovingkindness and tender mercy, His fatherly care for His poor children, His generosity, His beautiful plans for us; if we knew how patiently He waits for our turning to Him, how gently He means to lead us to green pastures and still waters, how carefully He is preparing a place for us, how ceaselessly He is ordering and ordaining and engineering His Master Plan for our good—if we had any inkling of all this, could we be reluctant to let go of our smashed dandelions or whatever we clutch so fiercely in our sweaty little hands?
“We have not loved Thee with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.”
If with courage and joy we pour ourselves out for Him and for others for His sake, it is not possible to lose, in any final sense, anything worth keeping. We will lose ourselves and our selfishness.

We will gain everything worth having.

Elisabeth Elliot, The Path of Loneliness

Off

to the wilds of Africa! Haha:) Aaron and I are leaving tomorrow for Kenya, and I am supposed to be packing right now. But packing requires decisions and as we all know that is one of my least favorite activities in life!!
Have a great week, all!

The Burger Queen Experience

The other night most of the staff went out to "Burger Queen" after work. It was pretty impressive--country music from the satellite radio in the background, real burgers and french fries and ketch-up. Mostly, though, it was just a great time of laughing with this group of people who have become some of my dearest friends!

It's still a little wierd to look up and realize my brother is here, in my Ethiopian life. I'm happy he is:)

Danny, me, and Aaron, in case you didn't figure that out!! :)

My half eaten basket (yes, a real basket to add to the experience!) of food:)

Mmmm, good. It's really just one of Danny's favorite places to eat in Addis; that's why we went!

*For all of you observant people out there who already commented or were about to--no, I still don't like kettle korn or burgers. But they don't kill me and I can still talk about them:)