Day 2 in Ethiopia

Day 2: After a wonderful breakfast at EGH we were off to Korah.  You may have read some of my previous blogs about Korah.  It was started as a leper community, a place for the unwanted people of Ethiopia.  It is a very poor community, laden with poverty and illness.  Many of us would consider the conditions here uninhabitable.  The roads are dirt (mostly mud this time of year), and I actually couldn't believe our Toyota vans made it down the road.  The homes (huts) are mostly made of mud with corrugated metal roofs.  The floors are dirt.  It was hard to tell how many people lived in each home, but I know it was more than just immediate family most of the time.  

The people here are amazing.  They welcomed us with open arms and a ton of love.  We hadn't been off the bus even a few seconds before we all had children hugging us and holding our hands.  They would lead us by the hand wherever we went for the next two days.  Their hearts did not demonstrate poverty.  Their spirit was strong and oh how they love and thank Jesus for being their Savior.  I felt small, and convicted for the things I take for granted.  

 

We were given a tour of the community, including Alert Hospital, the leper hospital.  We met many wonderful people here and all they wanted was physical touch...hugs.  It was beautiful.  Some of the women were gracious enough to let us try spinning thread...we were pathetically short on skill for this task!  Our inadequacy did make them laugh, so it was a valuable deficit to demonstrate.  
We met the women of Mission Ethiopia.  They are widows and a few of them graciously shared their story and testimony.  They make beautiful beads from paper to generate a small income, and several of us purchased some.  The beads had tags on them with the maker's name.  The women were so proud to tell me I had selected beads made by them, and each set of beads came with an enthusiastic hug from the artist!  I felt very blessed to be able to meet them and share a hug.  They sang us a few spirited worship songs, and I again felt small and convicted about times when my own faith seemed to waiver.  In the middle of their poverty and earthly challenges, they worshiped with such fervour and grace.  Powerful. 

Roger Gibson (one of our leaders and founder of Man Up), his wife Kari (Mamma Kiki ), and their beautiful daughters Hannah (15), and Zoie (6) have been living in Ethiopia and spending most of their time in Korah.  There is a mutual respect and love between them and the people of this community.  Roger has been leading the boys in the community in Bible study and was finishing up with the book of Daniel.  Watching him mentor these boys in the ways of the Lord was truly inspiring.  Wednesday night, we attended a gathering where Roger lead the boys with an inspiring sermon.  I watched seven young men confess Jesus as their Savior this night.  This was truly amazing.  It just doesn't get any better than to be present when someone accepts Jesus.  Following this we were able to spend time in fellowship around a bonfire getting to know the boys.  We shared popcorn and sodas.  I have new friends half way around the world, but more importantly, new brothers in Christ.  Boys like Big Centiu, Little Centiu,  Little D, Pastor T, Kennedy, Brooklyn, and more who I will always pray for and who I know are praying for me, too.  Connected through Christ with eyes and heart wide open.

Day 2 was awesome!