Ethiopia Arrival Newsletter
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I am still holding out at the SIM (Sudan Inland Missions) guest house. It is a good to be in a place where I can have dialogue with other missionaries from not only Ethiopia but Kenya and Djibouti, as well. There is a UN worker from a Sudan refugee camp, two Bible translators, a retired missionary doctor and his wife who are now involved with several different programs (school for the blind, Bible colleges, etc.), a school director from Djibouti, and several families with children. I have always loved diversity and here it is in reality.
I had thought I'd hear something from CBF on Tuesday. Everyday I would eagerly check my email. Today is Friday and, to be honest, I am hesitant to check. I would be so happy to be affiliated with CBF but if it is God's will that it is not possible I will be thankful for what the application process taught me. I have a much broader view of what missions is in the 21st century is from being acquainted with their values and perspective. However, if I am not accepted I will pick up where I left off on applying with another missionary support organization.
Last night I went to the airport to meet friends flying in with a large group they were bringing from Denver, CO. Their flight was 4 hours late, which is not unusual. A more modern grocery store is not far from the airport so I spent the time, until they closed, combing the isles for supplies that would be helpful to have in Hosanna. It was difficult to find any packaged product with protein in it so I am thankful to Nancy Sampson for all the Green Protein powder she has given me. It will be well used, whether or not I like it.
As people arrived from their flights I observed the most beautifully embroidered black chiffon ankle length dresses with crepe fabric underneath. The chiffon floated as steps were taken by these tall, very straight Moslem women. It seemed to be in such contrast to the tight Capri cut jeans, low cut tight tops, and spike high heel shoes worn by the more westernized women waiting in the internationally mixed crowd.
I turned to find an available chair and who should I see sitting in the Sheraton Hotel waiting area but Deme taking a much needed snooze, I'm sure. I quietly sat down beside him and waited until he awakened. The greetings were as dear as usual and we had good conversation. We were the only two there to greet the team so he watched at one end of the two exits and I looked for them at the other exit. It was great to see Tammy and Noel
Cunningham, who had called me before leaving the US and told me the time of their arrival and invited me to have dinner with them at a famous Italian restaurant , Costelli's, tonight. Knowing how exhausted the team must have been after traveling for almost 24 hours, I made the greetings short but look forward to catching up with them tonight.
I had an e-mail from them a few days ago telling about their $25000.00 fund-raiser for
Project Mercy. It is the "Hope Bracelet Project" and the artist who travel here with the team teach the young people at P.M. how to make the glass beads and string them with sterling silver beads with one silver bead imprinted with "HOPE 07" and sold for $100 each.
While traveling home I was amused that shepherds in the city had their flocks out in the median of a major street to graze on the grass. Not much of that in this big city.
I got a great price on a stove for 253.50 USD and the next day I was in the same shop to
Purchase mini DV cassettes for the video camera while a customer was purchasing the same stove for 540.00 USD. We had been told when we purchased that the one we bought was the last available at that price. Once the price is set and duty is paid the merchants are not allowed to change the price; is what my supervisor explained. The price of the small refrigerator was 343.50 USD and when I went shopping at the grocery store last night I saw the same model for over 500.00 USD. It had obviously been shipped into the country much later. I am learning a totally new way of purchasing.
I will let you know as soon as I hear from CBF and will let you know when I have moved to Hosanna (when my resident's visa is renewed and when the house I am to live in is finished). Meanwhile, I am communicating with a language teacher who lives here and has published several teachers' manuals for teaching English specifically to Ethiopians.
These are good study and guidance materials which I will be using at the Bible College in Hosanna.
God has been good to provide: a smooth journey from Atlanta to Ethiopia, the protection I needed, the healing of sore throat within 24 hours, the nutrition needed, and a comfortable place to stay. I have only had problems sleeping; first, because of the loud music that goes on not far from my window until midnight. I thought was from a night club but Wed. night I recognized praise music we had sung over and over at Pastor
Kindeya's church when Pastor Barb was here.
Leaning on Him,
Dee Donalson
Greetings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I am still holding out at the SIM (Sudan Inland Missions) guest house. It is a good to be in a place where I can have dialogue with other missionaries from not only Ethiopia but Kenya and Djibouti, as well. There is a UN worker from a Sudan refugee camp, two Bible translators, a retired missionary doctor and his wife who are now involved with several different programs (school for the blind, Bible colleges, etc.), a school director from Djibouti, and several families with children. I have always loved diversity and here it is in reality.
I had thought I'd hear something from CBF on Tuesday. Everyday I would eagerly check my email. Today is Friday and, to be honest, I am hesitant to check. I would be so happy to be affiliated with CBF but if it is God's will that it is not possible I will be thankful for what the application process taught me. I have a much broader view of what missions is in the 21st century is from being acquainted with their values and perspective. However, if I am not accepted I will pick up where I left off on applying with another missionary support organization.
Last night I went to the airport to meet friends flying in with a large group they were bringing from Denver, CO. Their flight was 4 hours late, which is not unusual. A more modern grocery store is not far from the airport so I spent the time, until they closed, combing the isles for supplies that would be helpful to have in Hosanna. It was difficult to find any packaged product with protein in it so I am thankful to Nancy Sampson for all the Green Protein powder she has given me. It will be well used, whether or not I like it.
As people arrived from their flights I observed the most beautifully embroidered black chiffon ankle length dresses with crepe fabric underneath. The chiffon floated as steps were taken by these tall, very straight Moslem women. It seemed to be in such contrast to the tight Capri cut jeans, low cut tight tops, and spike high heel shoes worn by the more westernized women waiting in the internationally mixed crowd.
I turned to find an available chair and who should I see sitting in the Sheraton Hotel waiting area but Deme taking a much needed snooze, I'm sure. I quietly sat down beside him and waited until he awakened. The greetings were as dear as usual and we had good conversation. We were the only two there to greet the team so he watched at one end of the two exits and I looked for them at the other exit. It was great to see Tammy and Noel
Cunningham, who had called me before leaving the US and told me the time of their arrival and invited me to have dinner with them at a famous Italian restaurant , Costelli's, tonight. Knowing how exhausted the team must have been after traveling for almost 24 hours, I made the greetings short but look forward to catching up with them tonight.
I had an e-mail from them a few days ago telling about their $25000.00 fund-raiser for
Project Mercy. It is the "Hope Bracelet Project" and the artist who travel here with the team teach the young people at P.M. how to make the glass beads and string them with sterling silver beads with one silver bead imprinted with "HOPE 07" and sold for $100 each.
While traveling home I was amused that shepherds in the city had their flocks out in the median of a major street to graze on the grass. Not much of that in this big city.
I got a great price on a stove for 253.50 USD and the next day I was in the same shop to
Purchase mini DV cassettes for the video camera while a customer was purchasing the same stove for 540.00 USD. We had been told when we purchased that the one we bought was the last available at that price. Once the price is set and duty is paid the merchants are not allowed to change the price; is what my supervisor explained. The price of the small refrigerator was 343.50 USD and when I went shopping at the grocery store last night I saw the same model for over 500.00 USD. It had obviously been shipped into the country much later. I am learning a totally new way of purchasing.
I will let you know as soon as I hear from CBF and will let you know when I have moved to Hosanna (when my resident's visa is renewed and when the house I am to live in is finished). Meanwhile, I am communicating with a language teacher who lives here and has published several teachers' manuals for teaching English specifically to Ethiopians.
These are good study and guidance materials which I will be using at the Bible College in Hosanna.
God has been good to provide: a smooth journey from Atlanta to Ethiopia, the protection I needed, the healing of sore throat within 24 hours, the nutrition needed, and a comfortable place to stay. I have only had problems sleeping; first, because of the loud music that goes on not far from my window until midnight. I thought was from a night club but Wed. night I recognized praise music we had sung over and over at Pastor
Kindeya's church when Pastor Barb was here.
Leaning on Him,
Dee Donalson
posted by John | 8:44 AM
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