Learning Patience

March 19, 2006

Every effort made to communicate here in Ethiopia comes with great challenges.
I am grateful that we have a telephone at the hospital in Yetebon which is a mile walk up the mountain from my home. I got plenty of exercise this week as I made that hike each day until I finally made a connection on the 4th day.
I am happy to have a new computer which makes it easier to connect to the internet. The nearest connection is in the village 8 miles away and I spent 6 hours making efforts to get on-line at the internet cafe and at the home of one of my Kindergarten teachers, whom I am training. I could get into the e-mail box but was not able to send mail; or, I would write an e-mail and click "send" and it would disappear.
I am growing through these experiences. Life in a third world country is not easy for the people who are under the burden of poverty, disease, and hardships. I have it so much better and am blessed to have a room and a bath with running water and electricity.
I will soon have better transportation, as well, and feel so fortunate and blessed. However, the greatest blessing is that of being honored to do the Lord's work here. He is working through me to train others to educate young children and
what a joy it is to see these children thriving, learning and looking healthier throughout each year. These are the future leaders of Ethiopia. I am seeing them learning to organize to help their community, now, as they move stones together (in one long line of almost 200); to make a pathway to the church; or, when they come to school with a bag full of trash, picked up along their way (which is sometimes a two hour walk from home).