Recap: The End

Alright, so there you have it folks. If you've read this far, I congratulate you. You've suffered through my tiresome recaps on our trip. Another trip will be leaving soon, and I'm horribly jealous of them. I miss the Smiths dearly and pray for them often. Our team has one more meeting left to close out our time. I pray that after 2 months and all sorts of other changes in life, we will still get back together and remember our time with the Smiths, and still be moved to pray at the very least for them. And for you, the reader, I pray that some day you will follow suit and go yourself. If not Ethiopia, then somewhere...anywhere. There so much out there, so much need. But don't just go for a one time experience. Go to be a part of God's mission on Earth and i the nations. You won't regret it. Don't believe me? Then ask any of us: Heather, Steven, Chad, Shelley, Robert, Josh, Ruth, Victoria, Jessica, or Justin. They'll tell you all the other stories that I couldn't write out. In fact, even if you do believe me, go ask them. The story of the Smiths, of SIM, of Ethiopia and all that God is doing over there needs to be heard. So go ask, go listen, go love. Just go.

Thanks for reading this. I'd love to hear your comments. So comment accordingly.

And, as always, thank you for your support of our team, our church, the Smiths, and Ethiopia.

Paul Golangco.

P.S. For more stories from Ethiopia, be sure to check out the Smiths' blog at www.smithsinethiopia.com. You'll also get to see some pictures of our team in action.

Recap: Review of Ethiopian Airlines

So we flew Ethiopian Airlines getting to Ethiopia and on our way back. I'll go ahead and say it now...I wouldn't do it again. First off, we weren't aware of the 15lb carry on limit for our 2 bags. Some of us skirted this by having a laptop with us, but for the most part, we had to pay extra to check in our extra bags. I will say that Ethiopians are some of the most beautiful people in the world, so having an all Ethiopian crew wasn't too bad. However, when it comes to service, I was a little frustrated. Maybe it's just a cultural thing, but the flight attendants didn't really make an effort NOT to hit you when walking past. In fact, if you were sleeping, and it was time for a meal, they would actually shake you to wake you up and ask, "Chicken or beef?". Then they would unlock your track so that it comes down in front of you, all while you are trying to wake up and figure out what's going on.

I found out on the flight why they had the weight limit too: The overhead compartments couldn't hold much weight reliably. So my overhead would open up every so often if I didn't slam it shut. Maybe it's because my 'laptop bag' actually weighed about 40lbs. It was nice that each seat had its own screen for watching movies. However, you couldn't really select the movie you wanted to watch. They just streamed the movies on different channels, so if you didn't one of the 4 movies playing when it starts, you just have to wait until it's over to start from the beginning. Lastly, there weren't any personal air vents, at least on one of our flights. The whole cabin just had 1 temperature. So when someone complained that it was too cold, they turned off the A/C and we just sat through a stuffy, sweaty hour dealing with the heat. They eventually turned the A/C back on so that we could cool off, but it was pretty miserable. Maybe it was just our flights, and supposedly, EA just bought a new fleet of planes, but I don't know if I'd ever choose to fly with them again. I might reconsider that statement if I could be guaranteed not to be shaken awake when meals come by.

Disclaimer: I know I might sound a little whiny and entitled and spoiled. I probably am. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the blessing it is to travel internationally. And I'm amazed that we can even fly. All I'm saying is that if I fly, I'd just rather not do it through Ethiopian Air. I supposed I've had worse experiences, like flying in an uncompressed 20-seater while having to sit on my own luggage. So I can't complain too much. At least my seats on Ethiopian Air came with seat belts and floatation devices. Someday, when my luggage has its own seat belt and can float, I might change my mind on that.

Recap: Back in Addis

After a long and tiresome week of working, we made our way back to Addis. Although I say it was a long week, it went by entirely too fast. I'm pretty sure everyone on our trip would've gladly stayed a few more weeks, at least. But alas, we had to go home. Ruth and Robert had actually gone back to Addis a day early with Amanda to meet with the Compassion children they sponsored. It was during this time that Robert got sick. He seemed to have it worse than the rest of us, but was able to experience the market with us. We went to a 'cultural experience' restaurant for dinner that night where we watched some amazing Ethiopian dancing with live band. Victoria was even brought on stage to dance. She held her own like a champ.

The 2 days we spent in Addis were for some much needed R&R and reflection. I wish we could have had one more day to really digest and work through what we had experienced without having to head home to a world of distractions. What we were able to work through and talk about was so encouraging to the soul. A lot of the team struggled with where to go from there. Several wanted to move. Some wrestled with matters of theology. But all of us were just grateful. Grateful to the Smiths. Grateful for the experience. Grateful for God's grace. Grateful for God's blessings whether in Ethiopia or America. It was hard to fly out of there because of the bond we now shared with Shane and Allyson and Hannah and Mia and Moses. But they come back to the States in December, so we look longingly for that time.

Speaking of the Smiths, during our debrief, Shane and Allyson got to share with us how they felt things went. It was at this point that the burden on my back lifted. Allyson expressed how they felt so loved and cared for and how we were such a life giving team. To hear that come from her lips affirmed all the work and effort that we had put forth for the past 4 months. From the beginning, our team talked about how we could take care of a thousand patients and build a thousand buildings, but if we didn't love on the Smiths, then our trip was a failure. By Allyson letting us know that we loved them so well, she let us know that all of our efforts, all of our planning, all of our energy was successful. Between that and hearing the hearts of our team shifting to international missions, my desire to never lead another trip completely changed. It was then that I felt like all the work was worth it. It was then that I didn't feel so burdened by what wasn't done. And although there were times when I felt like I was failing as a leader (which was sometimes an accurate feeling), being able to be a part of how God is loving on His children and molding their hearts is something that I wouldn't mind being a part of again.

I'll have to end this recap series in another post, but I'll end this one just by saying thank you for all of you that have and continue to support each member on this team. It impacts more than you know, not only for each member of this team, but for the Smiths in Ethiopia as well.

Recap: Random Adventures

So amidst the daily task of the medical and construction teams, we were able to get out and experience a little bit of life outside of the compound. It was always an adventure and a great memory for those that got to go. So here's a little recap of what all happened.

Fish Fry:

For lunch one day we got to go just outside of the compound (on the other side of the container bridge) to eat some fresh tilapia. For about $6 USD, a lady went and caught about 32 tilapia and fried them for us. And it was AMAZING. I tried to fry some tilapia when I got home and it just didn't taste the same. One of the hard parts about eating there was that this lady was just frying the fish under a tree with everyone else around us. We drew enough attention as it was being Americans. But for us to be eating as much as we were, there was a little bit of a commotion. On top of that, we attracted the dogs. This might not seem like a big deal, but when 90% of all dogs there test positive for rabies, it was nerve racking. This was probably the only time I was actually scared. I had 3 or 4 dogs licking their lips around my ankles. I tried to ignore them, but the thought of getting rabies just plagued my head. But I just kept on eating, and that helped take my mind off of things.

Getting Gas:

After getting one of the water pumps up and running again, it was discovered that the compound was out of gas for the pumps and generators to run off of. So Pirtle and Josh rode out with Shane to pick up a barrel of gas. They stopped at the market where their senses were blown away, and not in a good way. Imagine a lot of body odor, mixed with sweat, mixed with rotting food and you have an idea of what was going on. Then, of course, as they were sticking out in the crowds, a torrential downpour came upon them. So they took shelter in a barber shop and just hung out for a while. After the shower passed by, they were back on their way with a new appreciation for refrigeration.

Famine Relief:

SIM was providing Maize seeds for some famine relief. I got to go with Robert, Chad, Amanda and Laura to take pictures. Otto Bruhanu was leading it up, so it was good to see him again. After being as much of a distraction as possible with my cameras and crawling all over the place, the mayor of the town invited us to grab some drinks at the 'bar' next door. So we sat and had sodas while he and his friends had some beers. It was kind of weird to be sitting and having drinks with the mayor while poor and starving locals were outside collecting maize seeds for planting. After some intriguing conversation, we were heading back home with a slight pit stop (by pit stop, I mean Laura got stuck in the sandy road and we had to get her out).

Bishangari:

One of our treats was to go out to the Bishangari Resort, about 30 minutes outside of the compound. This was a totally different scene than what we were used to with rocky, craggy beaches and lush accommodations. We actually got to see other Westerners at the restaurant, as well. Flat Stanley also accompanied us out here to take pictures with us. It was a wonderful evening to just relax with the Smiths.

Coffee Ceremony:

Ethiopia, being the birthplace of coffee, has a long standing tradition of making coffee the way it was made originally. This meant that the beans were picked, roasted over an open flame, pounded to a grind, then served with popcorn. The process usually takes a couple of hours. But Yonas had us over and used previously ground coffee to serve us. So we just got to hang out with him and his wife and talk. This was one of my favorite times because we got to learn so much about Ethiopian culture with a very educated Ethiopian. Plus, Yonas is one of the friendliest, most lovable people I know.

Hunting:

We brought Shane some new crossbow bolts for his crossbow, so of course we had to use them. The baboons were mean and large and needed to be scared off. But they were also smart, so it wasn't easy to pin one. After some walking around, Shane, Chad, and Victoria shot off a few bolts at baboons and warthogs, but with no luck.

Termite Mounds:

Another source of great entertainment, anywhere in the world, is blowing stuff up. Since termites build such great, cavernous mounds, a little gasoline and a match goes a long way. So we all drove around and experimented with the right amount of gasoline that it takes to make a mound exploded. Justin, Chad and Shane got great explosions, while Amanda, Pirtle and myself just had some good fires. If you're ever near a good sized termite mound, you should really try this.

Recap: The Construction Team

So the other half of the team spent time working on the facilities of the compound. Our focus was on the girls' school room, the Smith house, and the Beach House. Given the circumstances (difficulties in communication, construction missionaries being gone, Ethiopian 'handywork'), I think we were as prepared as we could've been. That still didn't keep us from feeling like we could've done more.

Justin, for the most part, spent his time in the Smith house working on all the electrical work. He got their veranda lights working and fixed their washer. The washer's cut off valve had malfunctioned so that Allyson had to manually turn off the water whenever she was doing the laundry. Justin, in his awesomeness, was able to rig it so that she didn't have to constantly monitor it. Allyson was ecstatic about this and just started doing tons of laundy, just because she could. Robert, our painter, along with Pirtle were a great help in geting the girls' school room painted a lovely sky blue with a white epoxy flooring. Meanwhile, Chad and I, and any combination of the other 3, banged our heads on the (uneven) walls of the beach house. Trying to get anything level was near impossible, especially with the house always shifting on the sand base. So trying to get an upright shower installed was quite the frustrating task. We got the job done for the most part, however, minus some missing hardware and a little bit of grouting that we ran out of. Thankfully, I think the Smiths or the other teams coming through will be able to finish it up without much of a problem.

This was all just our planned work on the compound. Looking back, it was often hard for us to see how much of an impact that we made, especially compared to the work of the medical team. But some of the unplanned tasks that we ended up helping with included working on the water pumps (not any small task when they are buried under layers of mud), trying to retrieve a broken key out of the ignition of one of the only land rovers, flipping over broken refrigerators (somehow that fixes them), installing car decks, driving a couple hours to get gas, and helping with famine relief. Plus, a good chunk of this time was spent just hanging out with Shane, which he was incredibly thankful for. So with all that in mind, we were able to do quite a bit. It was just less focused than we expected.

A lot of times I get asked about why we couldn't just hire African workers to do the jobs that we do. Until you get over there and see what it takes to get the job done, you might not understand. But local labor is very unskilled, and the skilled labor from Addis is expensive and hard to get. This way, we were able to come and bless the Smiths in this small way and provide for them in ways we're not totally sure If anything, we made Allyson's life just that much easier.

Recap: The Medical Team

So almost 10 weeks after being back in the States, I figured maybe you've lost interest enough in the trip to stop returning to read this blog. Or maybe you've gotten all the details from some of the others on the trip. Well, that's good because I don't really have a lot left to say. The next 5 days for us were pretty basic. So I'll just give you a quick rundown of some things the medical staff did.

The medical team worked in the clinic doing various tasks, like training the new Ethiopian nurses (thank you, Josh), prenatal care, and general medicine work while some of the nurses would take the afternoon off to hang out with Hannah and Mia (much needed girl time for them). On Tuesday, I was able to work with Shelley and Victoria at the Malnutrition clinic. This was one of the few times throughout our time that I was able to be amongst the locals. It was also a time when I had to reconsider my photography. On this day, I felt I was just taking pictures for great pictures. But I wasn't connecting with the people I was shooting. The language barrier and my inability to print off enough pictures kept me from really being able to tell their stories or give back to them. I had to put away my camera for the most part because it was more of a barrier to me than an aid to be with those at the clinic. Instead, I actually was able to help chart for the nurses. So my small drive to be medically helpful was filled by just doing that.

Throughout the week, there were 4 deliveries that the nurses were able to help with. Unfortunately, it's shameful for the women to 'expose' themselves for this section, let alone with a male present, so Josh, our PA, couldn't take part in any of this. Thankfully, however, Heather works in Labor and Deliver, so she was right at home. Another part about Ethiopian childbearing is that the mothers don't make a noise during delivery. Sure they scream afterwards, or really just a long grunt, but again, it's against their culture. Funny story...during one delivery, one of the nurses was getting ready to play catcher, so she went to grab a birthing blanket. And just that quickly, as soon as she turned back around to get in position, there was a newborn baby sprawled out on the ground. Talk about a quick and easy delivery. Don't worry about the child being on the ground, the mother was too. Really I think they were on a mattress, so no harm was done.

In Ethiopia, childbearing is a huge blessing, so the more children you have, the more blessings you have. It's fairly safe to assume that any women of child bearing age is pregnant or just had a baby. We met one man who had 3 wives and 31 children between them. Needless to say, that family stays busy. And speaking from simply a longevity perspective, the more children you have, the higher your chances that at least one will survive to adulthood to continue your bloodline. We had at least 1 still born, and one of the twins that came to the clinic didn't live much longer. And not too long after we left, there was another childbearing death. So anything you can do to increase the chance of your family line surviving, you try.

Outside of that, the medical team saw a little bit of everything: ear infections, STDs, possible leprosy, some never before seen stuff, TB, all sorts of bodily fluids, etc. It was really encouraging to see everyone really getting into the mix so easily. For the most part, they were all totally comfortable in that setting, and very much in the groove. I loved to see them being so much of a help to Allyson and the clinic staff, but more than that, I loved being able to hear how God moved in their hearts that maybe they could be doing this more long term. If you're still reading this, be sure to send some encouragement to the medical folks that went on this trip. I'm not sure any of us really know what kind of an impact that we had on the Langano compound.

This is Africa

AFRICA.

so many things come to mind….

a large continent on the other side of the world
the old-school commercials encouraging others to help feed the hungry children who live there
genocide
AIDS
a people in need
God’s people
beauty
stillness
hope.

My idea of Africa has changed as I explored the land there. I left home to an unknown place with little to no expectations. You see, I didn’t want to get my hopes up as I had on another missions trip I went on in the past. So I left without a clue of what I would see, how God would move and speak, and how I would be forever changed.

While there, the Lord really gave me a tunnel-visioned mindset of the “here and now”…the sentence “you are IN Africa” crossed my mind multiple times a day and I was grateful to God that He allowed me to come to this place and help serve these people. He also allowed me to not get so caught up with the questions of “what are You teaching me here? what am I supposed to take away from this trip?” but rather to live each day to the full for His glory and to serve the Oromo people whole-heartedly. Whether I was in the clinic performing malaria tests or checking expectant mother’s bellies to tell them how far along in their pregnancy’s they were …hanging out with the Smith’s girls…walking around the Langano compound…slaughtering cows or blowing up termite mounds…visiting patients in their homes and being served a meal…going to a funeral and attending a wedding, or simply fellowshipping with the team, I recognized a heart of thanksgiving and a heart of repentance within me. On one hand, I was thankful that God had allowed me to be born in America and to have the education and skills that I have in order to come to this poverty-stricken land to bring hope and help to a people in need. But somehow, at the same time, I was keenly aware of my own selfishness, of my own overindulgence in American culture, and my own idleness in the states of how I spend my time.

Returning home, I have found many emotions surfacing as they come in like tides of the ocean, with their highs and lows, never knowing when they may hit me. I awoke the morning after we returned and while I laid there, I was struck with the idea that I had just slept in MY bed that I own, in my air-conditioned Dallas apartment that I spend too much rent on…but that there were these images and smells that I couldn’t get out of my mind of the land I had just seen, the living conditions of the people there, the people and their hospitality, and of the medical help we were able to provide. As I thought upon these things, I felt the Lord speak His truth over me, that the God we serve is so much bigger than we can imagine, that He is so holy, and just, and righteous, and worthy of our praise. Even though my heart is torn and confused during this time of re-entry, I rest knowing that I will always have a heart for the nations now and I am so thankful for how the Lord has changed my perspective. He is worthy of our time and efforts. He is worthy to be served. He is beautiful.

Recap: I fail...

I TOTALLY forgot about the event that got us going, bright and early on Saturday morning. Allyson, prior to our arrival, purchased a cow for the wedding and the rest of the week. So on Saturday morning, we woke up 30 minutes early to go Old Testament on this livestock. The cow, understandably so, was late to the event. But Justin, the man of the hour, was a patient man...it gave him more time to sharpen his knife. Pirtle kindly held his alternatives, in case something went wrong. But that would later prove to be a poor decision on his part. We brought the cow to the an open area of grass by the kitchen. After hog tying it and tucking its tail, they said a prayer over it, Avatar style. Then we waited in anticipation for the green light to begin the slicing. They carefully stretched out the neck skin so that Justin would have a good, tight surface to cut into. Once he started he got through the first layer, then stopped, early. He got back after it and cut the trachea and stopped early again. He continued on until he almost got to the spine. That's when the blood started flowing. It was at this point that I started thinking back to all the Levitical laws of slaughtering the offering and how this was a daily occurrence. But my reminiscing was cut short when Bessie started to breathe. You could hear the air flowing in and out with a bit of gurgling to it.

This is when Pirtle having the sharp objects became a poor decision. I'm pretty sure the amount of blood that came out of the cow had also dropped down from Pirtle's head. He was whiter than Casper. He managed to mumble out, "I've gotta go sit down" as his wide eyed face slowly looked the other direction and began to move. Thankfully, his wife, Heather, thought it best he not carry the knives and took them out of his hands. In a tunnel-visioned daze, he took a seat beyond earshot of the soon to be sirloin.

What seemed like forever, turned out to be just a few minutes. And just like that, we had dinner for the rest of the week! It was a cool experience to see how they survive out there. There's not a Tom Thumb to drive to within a few thousand miles of where they are, so they have to do the job themselves. Thankfully, Justin didn't poorly represent us inept Americans by cutting off an udder or something. And we were able to eat well for the rest of the week.

Recap: The Wedding

I've been delaying on writing this post. There was so much that went on during our first Sunday at in Ethiopia that I was a little overwhelmed with trying to recap it. But I can delay it no longer. So here goes (I apologize if this one is a little long)...

Saturday night brought on a pretty amazing thunderstorm. I really miss those storms. They're reminiscent of a Texas thunderstorm with the loud thunder and lighting and heavy rains. But the rain falls straight down, which allowed us to leave our windows open. (This wasn't a big deal at first, but towards the end of the trip, our room was getting pretty stanky. So good ventilation was a MUST). We didn't really think much of it until the next morning when Shane walked up in a suit, wearing high water rubber boots and a rain parka. He came bearing news that the road to get out of camp was now a free flowing river and that 2 cars full of wedding attendees were stuck in it. So Victoria, Yonas and I loaded up with Shane, along with Aberra (the groom) and some other folks that were looking for rides to the church. Along the way to pull the 2 cars out, we also ran into another car whose battery died. But we had to prioritize and wished them good luck as we drove past. Once we came upon the 2 cars (a land cruiser and a mini-van), we realized they were REALLY stuck, as in they were bottoming out on the road that was now just a path of flooded potholes. Some places, the water came up to my knees. (The thought had crossed my mind to question what might be floating in the water, which is now bathing my legs and filling my sandals with sediment. But I decided it best I know think too long, lest I vomit at the options.) The cool thing about this event was that as I stood on the banks of the former road, I looked around at the crowd that had amassed. The young and old, rich and poor, Americans and Ethiopians, naked and suits...we were all there trying to help. It truly was an entire village rallying together. The best part was that I could look across the river and see a couple naked children standing beside a man in a suit and tie, standing beside a boy with a suit jacket and no pants, sitting beside a boy with a sweater on, standing beside a white guy in a suit and tie and parka and rain boots, standing beside an Ethiopian with a machette in his hands. It was such a great mix! After a couple of hours, an extra landcruise, some metal cables, a walk through a cow pasture (aka lake of poo-water), and Yoni almost falling into the river in his suit, we got the 2 cars out. How they managed to get to the church, I'm still not clear on, but mission accomplished. Now on to the wedding festivities...a couple hours late.

Ethiopia weddings aren't quite like the western weddings that we're used to. They are ALL DAY celebrations. And I mean CELEBRATIONS. The bride and groom go to separate locations and they have some kind of service/celebration there and a meal. So we started off with Aberra at the Langano church. We were a little late, so people were a little frazzled waiting for Shane and Yonas to come back from finishing up with the river situation. It wasn't too bad, but Victoria, on the video camera, and I didn't know what was going on, nor could we understand anything that anyone was saying. Once shane and Yoni got there, everyone loaded into the vehicles. V and I got to sit in the back of the truck that was leading the way. Our job was to document the entire trip, which we thought would SURELY be less than 2 hours. Wrong. For the first 30 minutes or so, we did the best we could to detail the 8 or so trucks driving in a line, honking horns, singing, yelling, etc. But given the horrid condition of the road, a lot of our time was spent trying not to lose a rib when the truck bed decided to jump at us.

Along the way, we came upon another little township with a ditch going through it. Our truck, being the lead, crossed over the small land bridge that lead to the other side. Once across, however, one of the town folk started digging up the bridge, much to the dismay of the passengers in the cab of our truck. So they ran out after him and threw the guy down. This started quite the commotion. While I'm sure it was a tense situation for them, V and I were stuck, by ourselves, in the back of a truck, with lots of expensive equipment, cut off from anyone else that spoke English and being surrounded more and more by the townspeople wanting our stuff, all the while a little scuffle is going on about 30 yards from us. I was pretty nervous just for us westerners. I'm not sure what happened that allowed the rest of the trucks to pass through (I think one of the missionaries paid someone off), but once Shane and his car arrived, we wanted nothing more than to jump inside his safe-haven-on-wheels. It helped that our driver in the truck told V that she was pregnant and didn't need to be riding in the back of a truck. Then we were back on our way.

I wish I could detail out the scenery of the drive to where the bride was. It was absolutely breathtaking. I would love to have a little cottage out underneath the 60ft canopy of forrest. But this blog is already getting too long. So I'll recap the rest of the drive like this: Groom's car ran out of gas; V and I get back into the truck bed to document the arrival of the party, Mulatu (preacher) is singing and dancing and preaching to the public from the same truck bed we're in, then almost falls out when the truck moves abruptly. A local boy shows us how to get to the bride's house, then begins to hit on V and puts his arm around her. As the trip leader, I felt it my responsibility to step in and let the boy know that I owned her. That seemed to work.

Some of you may be wondering: What about the rest of the team? Well, I would love to tell you that Justin gave a message at the Langano church and they saw healings, the dead being raised to life, and 5000 souls coming to know the Lord. But I think the wedding pulled most of the congregation, so our team of 9 out numbered the 5 church attendees (including the translator). But from what I hear, Justin still brought the Word. After the service, the team got to work on making a bouquet, making the cake, and other wedding prep type stuff.

Anyways, once we arrived at the compound where Adonis (the bride) was, the 'band' showed up. Frainish (one of the nurses) and her drum led a procession of singers and dancers that escorted in the groom to a seating area in front of some older gentlemen (the bride's father and his gang, I suppose). There was a giving of dowry (lotta clothes and jewelry), a meeting of the 2 souls, some awkward pictures, then the feasting began...a memory forever scarred into my soul....

It's a sign of honor to be hand fed by someone in their culture. So I gave Otto Bruhanu (former camp director at Langano) a Gorsha. Evidently it was too small b/c Nico (one of the other guys we rode with) explained to me it had to be a big piece and proceeded to shove a fist sized piece of injera (imagine really sour crepes) and dorawat (meat and sauce) down my mouth. But "1 gorsha is for acquaintances, 2 is for friends, 3 is for family." So as soon as I swallowed the first massive handful, I found another one coming at me. And it's insulting to turn a gorsha down, so I just had to take it. Unfortunately, my gag reflexes didn't like it and a few pieces of injera came flying out from my clenching lips and through my nose. Everyone else had a good laugh. I think a little piece of me died inside. Thank God for Fanta Orange to help wash it down.

Well, after that, I don't remember much. There was an exchanging of rings, kissing of the elders, using an overflowing squatty potty, more dancing and singing, then a 2 hour drive back to Langano, but this time, with the whole bridal party. Once back at the compound, the band got out and did a little ditty around our car with Aberra and Adonis in it. And more dancing (including the graceful moves of Shane) escorted them into the meeting hall for another ceremony, officiated by Mulatu, and more eating. One of the cool things that they did, though, is the giving of gifts was a celebration as well. It was a way to honor the bride and groom. Then they cut the cake outside, after spraying confetti and silly string all over it, and the party really began. There was a good sized bonfire and the band started beating out some funky beats for the whole crew to get jiggy wid it. I didn't partake, however, Justin and Amanda got in the circle and pulled out some moves that made them famous around the surrounding areas.

All in all, it was the most amazing wedding any of us have ever been a part of, despite the atrocities that occurred on my gag reflex. I took a freezing cold shower that night and tried to get some rest amidst the nightmares of more gorshas. Up to this point, we've had 3 days in Ethiopia, and already we've been tossed into the fire of Ethiopian culture...and we're loving every minute of it. Sorry for the long post...it was a long day...

Recap: The Work Begins

I slept alright inside of my princess mosquito net (as it became known by). It was just a big net that fit a full bunk bed inside, but it draped in lovely fashion over the bed, making me look like female royalty. The team (including Amanda) would eventually change all of my sheets to pink and decorate it with appropriate princess decorations.

Anyways, this would be the first morning that we would get to experience Ethiopian coffee and tea. And it was...phenomenal. Most of the team had at least 2 cups per day, sometimes per meal. Maybe that's the norm, but I try to stay to a 5 cup max per week. But we would need the energy: our work had begun. The medical staff went to the clinic to begin training, then organizing and inventory-ing the medical supplies. Heather and Jessica got to hang back and help paint the kitchen. Meanwhile, the construction guys started work on the Beach House renovations. Justing, Victoria, and Robert went with Shane and Austin to attend a baptism service at the lake. Because of the nature of the baptisms, Shane only took a few of us to minimize the 'western' presence there. After another wonderful meal from Yeshi, the team began work on the school house that the girls do their lessons in. This was a surprise for Allyson b/c she needed a better place to teach.

That night the team watched a video on the Fistula Hospital in Addis. Unfortunately we were unable to make a visit to the hospital due to the wedding. But watching the video was heart wrenching. Hopefully we'll be able to make a visit on our next trip to Ethiopia ;-). If you don't know about this hospital, take a look here.

After the movie we helped decorate a little bit for the wedding, and I was able to have a good conversation with Shane. I don't remember everything that was said, but I just remember that after the conversation, the Smiths wouldn't leave my prayers. And I don't mean that in a bad way, rather, a connection was made that would tie me to that family. And the only way I know how to continue to support this family best is through prayer.

So there's not too much to tell about Saturday. It was just a day of working, cold showers, great coffee, and budding friendships.

back to the life we left ...

Well, I've been back from Africa for over a week now. The trip was amazing ... I fell in love with Africa, I fell in love with the people of Ethiopia, and surprisingly ... I fell in love with a new way of life that I wasn't expecting. 

We landed in Addis, the capital on Thursday night after 25 hours of travel. Over the next 3 days, we were go-go-go ... going to a lixo (funeral), eating dinner in an Ethiopian hut, going to African church, preparing for a wedding, unpacking a TON of medications and supplies for the clinic, GOING to an African wedding ... all the while trying to sleep in a bed about 2 inches too short for me, and showers about 10 degrees too cold for me. 

There are so many stories to tell from each of the above ... but the wedding was the coolest! Seriously ... imagine the following. Before the bridal party arrived by caravan, several guests show up in eager anticipation. And then ... the first car comes into sight. Franish, a tall, slender, meek (remember this ... meek, I tell you) African woman grabs a drum about 2 feet in length and about 1 foot in diameter, slings the strap around her neck, and begins to beat both ends of the drum. As she is beating, she starts singing ... then she starts screaming ... after each line, the remaining guests begin to gather around Franish, repeating back to her the lines she just sang. As they gather, they begin to sway ... hunching down just a bit at the waist, and moving their hips, and swinging their hands from side to side. As the cars pull up, the bridal party pours out and begin to join the crowd ... the bride and groom stay in the car for just a moment longer. Now, the pastor in the community, Mulatu, begins to sing with Franish. The crowd gets more and more into their celebration, stomping their feet, jumping up and down, screaming as loud as they can. 

Now ... imagine us white people ... standing behind this crowd ... awestruck from the awesomeness that is happening before our very eyes. Get this, though ... the more and more they get into it ... I begin to feel the earth beneath me shake!!! It was crazy ... and I loved every second of it! The next 6 to 7 hours was part ceremony/part PARTY!!! We ended the night dancing around a bonfire until there was nothing left except for orange ambers.

The next day was Monday ... the first day at clinic. I have to confess, I was worried. Allyson had been emailing us for months to brush up on our infectious disease and tropical medicine. Short story even shorter ... I didn't do any kind of brushing of medical books. We took a tour of the clinic on Sunday morning. Allyson tried to explain how the work would flow ... and I was getting that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing this was going to be bad. So Monday comes, we meet the staff of Ethiopian nurses, translators, and the like ... and we are broken up into groups. I am paired with Allyson, Victoria, and Nwagwo (pronounced Na-gow). Allyson says she will see the first patient so we can see how it's run ... and as the first patient walks in, Nwagwo asks them what is going on ... as the story unfolds ... I know what is going on. The gnawing feeling goes away, and I slip right into medicine mode ... un ... be ... lievable. I take the next patient ... and then on the next ... Allyson looks at me and says, "Josh ... are you interested in doing missions?" 

Do you ever have one of those moments, where you don't know whether to cry or vomit or laugh or lose control of all bodily functions ... picture me ... in that dilemma.

"I have thought about missions ..." I replied.

"You know ... we have an opening here in Langano ..." Allyson retorted.

I still don't know what to do with that ... mostly because it was so honoring, and humbling ... and maybe because I felt like my desire for missions had always been just that ... my desire ... never something that was a possibility or in the will of the Lord for me ... but here it was ... sweet, simple, but huge ... an invite into the mission field. 

Over the week I would see malaria, malnutrition, mastitis, anthrax (possibly?!?!) conjunctivitis, leprosy and then things I am used to ... allergies, arthritis, coughs, etc. It was so natural though ... frustrating at times as well. In Langano, there are 3 different languages spoken - Am-haric, Oromo, and English ... and so there is the patient who speaks Oromo, the translator that speaks all the, but primarily Am-haric (I think), and then me ... speaking only English me. 

It was one of the greatest weeks of my life ...

As a whole, the trip did not radically change my view of God or my relationship with Him. Instead, it was very reaffirming. I felt like the whole time I was there, He would reaffirm certain desires of my heart and reaffirm much of the work He has done in recent months in my own heart. But He also gave me words ... in recent months and years, even, I have had this angst inside of me ... desires I could not express, or a discontentment , or unsettledness ... whatever it was, I believe I have words now to express those desires ... ready for them??? 

I love medicine ... I love that the Lord has blessed me with an amazing education, and a profession that can be used to change and help so many lives. And now, He has given me a direction ... NOT Africa, necessarily ... but a direction as a whole. This gift has been given to me not to terminate on myself, but to help those who need it ... and those who can't get it. I don't know what that looks like ... but it is going to be an amazing ride figuring it out!!!

Recap: Hello, Langano.

Shane left right after breakfast with Justin and Robert to pick up some supplies for the camp. The rest of us took a land cruiser and van to Langano. The 4 hour drive from Addis to Langano brought a stark shift in economic status and cultural norms. Addis is a very westernized, capitol city with very western clothing, dance clubs, bars, restaurants, and plenty of shopping. Not too long after we got out of the city, roads stop having names, dresses became a requirement for women, pants became optional for youth, and there were often more animals in the road than cars. This was all a welcome change to the constant distractions of technology and over-packed schedules.

Towards the end of our drive, we turned off of the nice, paved roads onto a red dirt road, surrounded on both sides with lush green vegetation, mud huts with thatched roofs, and semi naked youths running beside the cars, screaming hello and asking for handouts. We eventually came upon a freight container that was being used as a bridge. This was the entrance to the Langano camp grounds. We had to get out and unload the luggage from on top of our land cruiser so that it could fit through the container. So we walked the rest of the way (a little over a mile).

The walk was surreal. We entered a jungle of sorts with black and white, shaggy calabas monkeys jumping in the trees, birds of every color flying around, warthogs sun bathing in the field, dic dic (small antelope) quickly evading any sightings. We were in Africa!

Life didn't slow down a lot from there. We unloaded bags, got our rooms set up, had a tour of the camp, helped with a pregnant lady with respiratory problems, attended a funeral, visited the hospital, and met the camp staff in various fashions. Heather and Victoria helped with the pregnant lady and went with her to the hospital while some of the other guys were the token firenges (foreigners) at the waiting benches. Half of our group went with Shane and Yonas (the camp director and my favorite Ethiopian staffer) to the funeral, while Austin and I went with Allyson and Laura (community health worker) later on.

The funeral wasn't like I expected. Laura eventually got us there after almost tipping over the truck and driving through a few people's fields. But there wasn't the screaming and crying and wailing, like I experienced in Sudan. Rather, it was a pretty low key hang out. The 4 of us firenges just sat on a bench and stared at the widower. Laura and Allyson brought some medicines for the widower b/c he had a blood clot in his leg that he was supposed to get treated when his wife died. After a long awkward staring contest, Laura and Allyson convinced Galeto (the widower) to receive the treatments. Then they invited us to eat, much to Allyson's dread.

Maybe it was the build up from Allyson, maybe it was my palette, but the food wasn't too bad. They just brought out a pot full of what looked like mushy chorizo, and surprisingly, tasted like mushy chorizo. I would've loved to of had some tortillas and picante sauce right then. But soon, the amount of butter used in this dish started to weigh me down, and we left to finish up our day at the camp.

We were able to end the night with some great spaghetti made by the camp cook, Yeshi, and pray over Shane and his family. It was a great start to the week, and an appropriate pre-cursor to the events ahead.

Recap: Arrival in Addis

So the 15 hour flight to Ethiopia with a 45 minute stop in Rome was LOOOOOONG. What made it less long: watching this happen over and over again (That's Josh in the background laughing with us):

So we got into the Addis Airport Friday evening, local time. Nothing too exciting happened, which is a good thing in Africa. When we finally got our luggage and started heading out, we were warmly greeted by Shane, Moses (his 5 yr old Zambian son), Austin Mann (amazing photographer/friend that was stranded in Ethiopia b/c of the Volcano), and Amanda Goble friend/former neighbor that was hanging with the Smiths for a month while the Mendonsas in Kenya were home in America). It took a few minutes for Moses to finally warm up, and the first thing he says to me: "Paul Golangco?" I, being shocked that he knew my first and last name, replied, "Yes, Moses?".

"Are you Chinese?"

"..............Yes, Moses."

"Paul Golangco?"

"Yes, Moses?"

"Can I have some gum?" "Sure, Moses."

And thus started the continuing relationship between Mo and I. Evidently he was on a big China kick, so he was very curious about the whole country. I later found out that he was having nightmares of Chinese people attacking him, so I'm not sure why he has this fascination.

Anyways, we spent the night in Addis at the SIM guest house. It was our last taste of warm water for a while. So we soaked it in. But another lesson I've learned: never bed check the beds in Africa. Bed checking is where you see how comfortable a bed is by flopping down, belly flop style, onto the bed. I did this in Sudan and in Ethiopia, and both times there was a loud and painful THUD that sounded once my face planted on the mattress. Regardless, a warm shower and a horizontal bed were a welcome comfort after the long trip. I slept well for the few hours between the night club next door shutting down and the 4am Call to Pray. The next day, we would make the 4 hour drive down to Langano to usher in a slew of memories that won't be soon forgotten.

Recap: Travelling out of Country

As I said in the previous post, we hit a small snag at the ticket counter. Imagine 11 relatively young international travelers, each with 2 50lb bags and 2 30lb carry on bags, weighing each bag and adjusting weight as necessary. Then imagine them all getting in line to check in for a 25+ hour journey to Ethiopia. And as they all proceed to the self check-in terminals, they each individually find out that their records cannot be found, and they are directed to wait for a live United Airlines employee to assist them. Now imagine you're that employee. If that were me, I'd be getting a little frazzled at the sight of this scatterbrained and loquacious crew.

The night before, I was over at the Pirtle's place, watching them pack (and taking my mind off of the millions of possibilities of things that could go wrong) while rambling off the random thoughts that came to mind. One of those thoughts, spoken out loud, was that our group was missing that cheesy, schmoozer type personality that oozed charm and made friends with everyone he/she ever met. That's when both Steven and Heather stopped and looked at me. Evidently the reason I couldn't see that person was b/c it was me. So fast forward a few hours, and you find me standing at the ticket counter, fully embracing this new revelation and hamming it up with the lady behind the computer, trying to make sure she doesn't mark us all up to be cavity searched at the security line. She was the first of many airline employees that we would have to deal with trying to get to and from Ethiopia. It worked and we made it on board safe and sound.

Once we got to Dulles Airport, we faced a new challenge. Evidently, Ethiopian Airlines has a 15lb limit on carry-ons, unspecified on their website. Not only that, but Aasif was the attendant at the gate that would be checking us in and he was an unfriendly, black and white rule follower with a thick accent. As we waited in line, I prayed that I wouldn't get him, but if I did, that we'd be in his good graces. But as more and more fliers made it in front of him, the less likely it was looking that he would be in a good mood if/when I got there. Sure enough, when I got to the front of the line, Aasif called me past the red line that I was NOT supposed to cross until he was ready for me. I flashed a smile, tried to be as friendly as possible and hoped he would be easy on me. It didn't work. $60, he tells me, is the fee I owe to get my carry on checked in. It would be the fee that every one of the team would need to pay. So I talked to him a little about it all, and we were able to get away with only checking 7 of the 20ish bags. He and the other 'gate keeper' also let us slide with the weight limit a little bit. By the end of it, Aasif actually upgraded me to 1st Class!!! Not really, but I admit that I tried. He did however give me an exit seat. But I turned it down...I'm not sure why.

So after all that, we finally made it on board Ethiopian Airlines, ready for a 15 hour plane ride to Addis Ababa. I'll have to give you a review of Ethiopian Air later b/c there are stories to be told there. But this post has gotten long enough.

Paul G

Recap: Pre-Trip Preparations

It's amazing how quickly 3 months turns into 3 weeks. It wasn't too long ago that I remember Matt asking me to take charge of this trip, and now I'm making 2-3 long trips up to Flower Mound to get the final details taken care of. I knew from the get-go that I was going to have to rely solely on the Lord's provisions to lead this team well. Somehow or another, in the last 3 weeks, I managed to neglect that idea and tried to tighten my fist around anything and everything to make sure I was in control. I wrestled and fought and exhausted myself trying to be this superman leader that would wow the church leadership and everyone else that was watching. It still amazes me how quickly I forget the Lord's commands and promises. Even to the last night as I prayed that the Lord would help me let go and trust in Him, I felt the weight of anxiety fall on me, thinking that I was going to screw up, that I forgot some major detail, that I was missing some document, or that I didn't think about some obscure, yet essential part of the trip. But in His grace God gave me peace and helped finally find rest. The next morning I showed up at the airport without a worry b/c I knew God had everything taken care of, even as the people at the check-in counter couldn't pull up our records (next recap). There wasn't anything I could more to get ready for the trip, so it was easier to let go of control when I knew I've done what I could, and there was nothing more I could do. The way I started the preparations was the same way I ended the preparations: Trusting in God. I faltered and fell a few times along the way, but His grace brought me back. As any kind of leader, this was an important lesson to learn. And I'm glad I realized it before embarking on this adventurous journey where we would face any number of situations that challenged our idea of control.

the trip of a lifetime!

So we just got back from AFRICA!!!  We had such a great time!  I could not have asked for a better team!  We laughed, some of us cried, and all of us had our paradigms completely shaken and shifted about who the Lord is and His abounding steadfast love for us.  Over the next few days we will begin to post personal stories … stories of things that happened, stories about internal struggles AND victories, and eventually stories of new perspectives, hearts, and the process of re-entry.  So, I hope you enjoy our stories ... I hope the Lord moves in your heart for personal insight, but more than that, I hope that in our stories, He awakens a love and a passion for His children who are lost across the earth ... and a desire to see them come to know the sweetest and greatest love anyone has ever  known …

 

Psalm 67

 1GOD BE merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us--Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!—

 2That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.

 3Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.

 4O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

 5Let the peoples praise You and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You!

 6The earth has yielded its harvest [in evidence of God's approval]; God, even our own God, will bless us.

 7God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall reverently fear Him.

 

- josh

 

Last Night in Langano

Hey guys,
Another quick update...We are finishing up our time in Langano. Tomorrow we will head back to Addis for some much needed R&R. Everyone is safe and fairly healthy (just a little sickness from me due to an Ethiopian wedding and Jessica was having some stomach queezies). Our time here has been amazing, and we are all sad to leave this beautiful country. Moreso than that, the relationships we've made here have been so life giving. I'll try to give a day to day, but it will have to wait until we're stateside. For now, I'm off to pack (and let the Smith's get to bed).

Love you all.

Paul Golangco

Ethiopia...Our new Home

Hey Everyone!

We made it to Addis Ababa just fine. Spent the night in the SIM Guest House and made it safely to Lake Langano. We haven't had internet access, so sorry this is a little late. But we're all fine and healthy and working hard. The Smith's are great and we've had such an amazing experience so far. I don't have much time, so I'll just leave you with a few experiences so far:

• Ethiopian Funeral
• Baptisms of former sheiks
• Riding around the jungle on the back of a Land Rover
• Baboons
• Calabas monkeys
• Slaughtering a cow
• Eating some funky & sketchy (but good) Ethiopian dishes
• Moses
• I Bless The Rains Down In Africa! (thunderstorms)

That's all for now. I probably won't be able to update you again until we get back stateside.

Paul G

We've Landed!!!!

In Washington-Dulles. It was an uneventful flight from DFW to Washington, just the standard unfriendly TSA folks and a small hickup with the ticketing counter. So we got to Dulles to get to the Ethiopian gate and get our tickets, but it turns out that most of our carry-ons are over the weight limit. With much effort (and cash), we skinnied down what we had to transfer to checked luggage and walked around for dinner. So as we are waiting for our food during the hour and a half till we start boarding, excitedly awaiting our flight to Africa!

So in about 17 hours, we will be touching down in Ethiopia. Please keep us in your prayers during this time as we will be stuck in cramped spaces, crying babies, international smells, and lack of sleep. Hopefully I'll be able to update when we touch down.

(Ameseginalehu! aka Thank You).

Paul G

Last Minute Thoughts...

So we are about to embark on our journey to Ethiopia. It's been a great few months of preparation, prayer, and learning. I find it hard to believe how quickly this time snuck up on us. And now here we are, on the brink of departure, so I want to leave you with a few requests for prayer and an update on our situation:

• Please pray for peace in the country. The elections are going on in Ethiopia, and there is a slight potential for peaceful gatherings and protests to turn violent. Speaking with some friends on the ground there, they said there's nothing of note to report about. So I'm hopeful that nothing should arise during our time there. However, our missionaries on the ground get to be there when the election results are announced in May and June, so keep them in your prayers.
• Please pray for our travel to and from Ethiopia. Currently, we have a stop in Rome on the way there and on the way back. As of right now, Italian airspace is open, and I'm praying that it will remain that way.
• Please pray for the Smiths, specifically for their youngest son, Moses. He has had several swollen lymph nodes all over his body that doctors aren't sure what they are. They will be removing one for biopsy. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and comfort for Mo.
• Please pray that God blows us up! Not just the team, but the Smiths, the villagers, the people we interact with...EVERYONE. I have faith that God will move mightily in ways we don't know. Pray with me in this.

Some other things:

• I watched Bizzarre Foods b/c there was an Ethiopian episode. I now intend on feeding hyenas while I'm over there.
• Phone and Internet connectivity out in Langano is pretty close to non-existant. So I'll try to update this while we are in Addis when we arrive. Then again before we depart. For emergencies, we have a sat phone.

That's it for now. I'm sure another post will come out later today...

Love you all,

Paul Go

Things I will miss ...

in no particular order ... or ... are they?
 
1.  Starbucks
2.  3G Network
3.  my bed
4.  Jeremiah Red from BJ's
5.  Drinking said beer with @Justin Williams and @Lance Colwill
6.  my family ... and hearing updates about how they are doing
7.  LOST
8.  Electricty
9.  Internet
10. Hot Showers
 
Things I will not miss ... in a VERY particular order ...
 
1.  Driving
2.  I 35
3.  the bible belt, i.e. religion
 
Today is the first day that it actually set in ... I'm leaving for Africa in less than 48 hours.  And today was the first day I realized that I would not be in my ordinary routine for the next two weeks.  Today is my last day at work, the last guy's night for a couple of weeks, my last time at Panda Express ... It's weird ... I'm only leaving for 2 weeks, but I think there is something inside me that knows that it will stay in Africa ... or even die there. 
 
This is the part of me that I can only describe as that last little "pulling" feeling inside of me that keeps me more in the visible reality than the unseen.  It's the thing inside of me that chooses doubt over joy, or ultimately, chooses unbelief over belief.  I want this part of me to die.  I need this part of me to die.  We are told that there are, essentially, two realities.  The first reality is simple, it is what you and I see everyday.  It is what we touch, taste, smell, and understand.  But scripture speaks of a second reality ... a superior reality ... an unseen reality.  This is the reality where the "impossible" is the norm ... this is the reality of counterintuition ... the last shall be first, the one who seeks to lose his life shall find it. 
 
This second reality is where our faith is meant to be anchored.  When our hearts are anchored in the spiritual reality ... nothing of this world can sway us away from the Father.  In fact, when our hearts are anchored in the heavenly places, the Father delights in trusting us with His kingdom and we set ourselves up for increase! 
 
So, what does that have to do with me?  I think, hope, pray, believe and expect that in the coming weeks, my heart will no longer be anchored in this inferior reality ... that there has been a fragment of my heart that has been resistant to being plunged into the heavenly realm where it WILL BE CRUCIFIED ... but it must be ... and it will be.  So this is me ... seeking to lose my life so that I may find it ... and live it to the fullest! 
 
WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA!!!!!!!!!! 

Unplugging

My life has become everything I hate about the 21st century. Don't get me wrong. I love that I live when I live. I love that I have a BluRay player and an HD TV, but that I can remember my first microwave oven, my first VCR, and my first touch-tone phone. At the same time, I love that I had to learn how to use a card catalog, but I live in a world where I can get virtually any information I "need" in a matter of seconds. Still, I have come to embrace the distraction that results from the availability of all that information. Just this morning, when my wife walked out of the kitchen for just a second, I immediately reached for my blackberry. It's my habit so that I can try to catch up while she is out of the room because I have myself convinced that it makes me more attentive to her when she is with me. Well, on this occasion, I reached down to grab it and it wasn't there. It was still charging, and in that moment I realized that I have become so taken with my ability to stay plugged in that I have learned to abuse that ability. I have the ability, no, the propensity to distract myself from any meaningful interaction with myself or - more importantly - with God, all the while using my "need" to be in touch with the world as an excuse.

Acts 17:26, 27 says, "...26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us..." According to this passage of scripture, penned by Luke almost 2000 years ago, God chose for me to be born where I was and when I was. Why? So that I would seek Him, hoping to find Him. What has happened to me? What has happened to His plan? How is it that He ordained for me to live in 21st century America in order to seek Him and that I allow the wiles of 21st century America to help me avoid seeking Him? I would argue that we live in a time where distraction is an opiate like at no other time in history. I would also argue that it is the intention of the enemy, Satan, that this is so. Nonetheless, I praise God for that last little phrase from Acts 17:27, "Yet he is actually not far from each of us..." God put me here to seek Him, and the enemy, no doubt, works diligently to cultivate the affections of my heart for anything and everything else, but God, in His infinite grace, will not allow His plan to be thwarted. Just as the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:10 (perhaps my favorite scripture), "But by the grace of God I am what I am..." He called me to this life knowing my evil inclination to deny Him, and He stands near to me, cultivating my heart toward love, stirring my affections to Himself, the only one really worthy of any affection at all. I pray that one day, I can declare with Paul, as 1 Corinthians 15:10 continues, "...and his grace toward me was not in vain."

This long introduction brings me to my thoughts about this trip. I have always believed that any short-term mission trip is- in a vacuum - much more beneficial to the missionary than those being served. To that point, I think I see some of God's design in having me on this trip, at this time, working itself out. We are going to an area of the world where internet and telephony are sparse, and we are going at a time when all communication will be cut off flatly. We will be in a remote part of Africa, cut off from the world and all the distractions I have learned to use (other people have certainly mastered other distractions at other times and in other places) to keep me from dealing with the One that really knows all the evils that still need to be confronted in my heart.

I am looking forward to this trip, well, as much as I can while I am consumed with school work, projects that I am managing for my company, and the myriad other things that feel more like loose ends that need tying up every day. I am looking forward to serving these sweet people that have committed the last year and a half of their lives to serving the Oromo people in Ethiopia. I am looking forward to serving the Oromo people themselves. I am looking forward to being a part of a long string of rich Americans that give up their lush lifestyles in the United States for just a little while to eat food that makes them sick and work in conditions that they never have to tolerate to serve people with illnesses we never see in the U.S. I am looking forward to doing all these things with joy, but this is not a selfless mission for me. I am hoping that God will use the inability to use being "plugged in" to the world to unplug from everything that matters, the physical ailments that may come and the discomfort of not being able to control the climate around me to break something loose in my heart. There are parts of my heart that I know are encrusted, but they have been that way for so long that I have no recollection of what was there. May God use this time to pluck us all from our comfort zones so that we can see the world from a different perspective.

Here are a couple of scenes from Dead Poets Society:


The impact Mr. Keating had on these boys lives had everything to do with changing their perspective. He got them out of their boxes and away from their conventions long enough that they were able to see things a little more clearly. For this, they transfer the admiration Walt Whitman had for Abraham Lincoln onto this school teacher, defiantly calling out to him, "O Captain My Captain!" If this ordinary man could inspire such admiration with just a token shift in perspective, then how much more can we all expect to be turned inside out by our Savior on this trip? This is my prayer for Ethiopia I. This is my prayer for myself, my wife, and our brothers and sisters that are going with us. May our great and glorious King be glorified in our hearts and through our lives.

Coin for Coffee Update...

Welcome to the land of late updates. Our Coin for Coffee fundraiser was a big success. Thanks to everyone's help (and very gracious donations) we raised nearly $2100 towards our trip!!! Again, we want to thank everyone that was able to make it out, especially our friend Brooke with Well Coffee (WellCoffee.com) that provided the delicious coffee. As a side note, we still have a few bags left, so if anyone is interested please let us know. Thanks to April for providing us with some great music throughout the night. Finally, thanks to Courtney and his room mates for allowing us to barge in and take over their place for a while.

To end, I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures we had hanging up during the party. It is a picture of the Smith's son, Moses, reading a book to a local chicken. No, seriously...

Coin for Coffee...

So sorry for the late notice, but we will be hosting a fundraiser tonight. Below are the details and some background info.

What: Coin for Coffee
Why: Help send us to Ethiopia
When: Tonight 8pm-11pm
Where: Maple Terrace Apartments 3009 Maple Ave Dallas, TX 75201 US Map

Coin for coffee is a fundraiser for our team of 11 embarking on an adventure to Ethiopia April 21-May 3 to bring hope and life. We will be serving at a medical clinic as well as providing some construction/electrical assistance.

It's BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug) and there will be coffee bags available. Suggested donation is $20.

This will serve as a fundraiser for the trip and an opportunity to taste some of what Well Coffee is brewing (WellCoffee.com). So, come join us for good coffee, good music, good people and a fantastic view from a penthouse/rooftop overlooking downtown Dallas.

The countdown has begun ...

Today, we are 39 days away from boarding a United flight to D.C. where we then will connect with a flight straight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  The team seems to be meshing and growing well together.  I think we are all excited/eager/nervous/nauseous that we are just over a month away from leaving … for different reasons, financial support, spiritual angst, fearful anticipation, unwant of discomfort, etc.  Whatever the reason, regardless of each one's specific circumstances, there is still a very constant theme of hope and excitement in our meetings , which continues to spur us on to the next meeting, and then again to the next … and this is not of ourselves, but a gift from the Father!

Paul, our team leader, asked me this week to write an entry for the team blog.  I haven't written many blogs in my time, and not exactly sure what to communicate, so I will just write about what the Lord is doing in my own heart as it relates to the trip.

This trip is actually something I feel the Lord has been pointing me towards for quite some time.  I remember several years ago, when I first started going to the Village Church, we had our partner from China come and tell us of the work we were doing there.  At the end, he said, "So I'm sure that many of you are asking yourself 'what now?'  'Should I go?' And I can answer that question for you right now.  As I have been talking about this, all the work we are doing, the hope of Christ in the nation of China, and telling you about how He has moved … have you been moved?  Have you had something inside of you stir and ache to see these things?  If you have … the answer is … go …"  Cut to Josh, sitting in the rows, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, because this guys has just straight up called me out from the stage.  So begins my search to quench this seeming thirst I now had acquired.

I just recently graduated from PA school and as soon as I finished I was looking at short-term missions.  There wasn't one specific trip that stood out to me, but there were so many options.  I was actually quite hesitant about going on a Medical trip … a lot of it had to do with feeling inadequate about my medical knowledge … I mean, I was just a punk kid, recently graduated from PA school … what could I offer?  What could I bring?  But as I prayed and talked about it with my friends, the choice became clearer … Ethiopia I …

It's funny how the Lord works sometimes.  In the past year I have felt bombarded by Jesus and His Spirit.  At first, I thought it was about a billion things in my life that were unsatisfying to Him.  I saw no clarity in the direction of my spiritual walk … in fact, I felt torn in so many different directions.  I felt like I had to get this in shape over here, and then go over there and tidy up, and then run over there and keep something from falling apart … I seriously felt like the guy who spins all the plates at once … always focused on the individual problems at hand with no end in sight.  Little did I know that as I was juggling all of my actions and circumstances … He was about to blow them all up, and let the plates come crashing down.  See, I have this thing inside of me that thinks that I have to perform for God … that I have to clean myself up for God to accept me … and that if I don't, He will become disinterested in me … not really angry with me … just doesn't want anything to do with me and having no affections for me. 

Through a few "random" divine encounters … my paradigm began to shift.  Romans 8:5 says, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set the minds on the things of the Spirit."  It has been through this verse, and the surrounding chapter and dear, dear friends that the Lord has shaken the belief system I once had.  See … I have been a believer for most of my life.  Specifically, in the past 4 years, I had my life radically changed by the love of Jesus Christ, but I began to fall into a life of 'should' rather than the life that His word tells me that I have.  I was shocked by grace in the face of the revelation of my total depravity 4 years ago… and in the subsequent years, I began to see my shortcomings and still tried to perform to gain and keep God's acceptance.  I should be doing this … I shouldn't be doing this … Why am I still doing this? … Why am I not doing that … These thoughts filled my mind … and as I set my mind on these things, these things of the FLESH, I began to live according to them … meaning that THEY, these things, became my focus … not Jesus Christ.  Did you know that as believers of Jesus Christ that we are considered holy … blameless … children of God?  We … are … His … beloved!  Set your mind on these things … meditating on the TRUTH that you are holy, blameless, righteous, and a child of the Living God … and you will live with this truth, that Jesus has given you these qualities by His death, as your focus, rather than how you stack up to a religious moral code. 

So … a year ago I felt like Christ was taking sucker punches at me from every direction … but … because of the great love with which He has loved me … I can see now that all of that has been pointing to something greater the entire time.  I now see clarity where I once did not see before.  Right now, that clarity is pointing to Africa.  I can't say that I know why.  I can say though that He is stirring up a holy expectancy that if I seek Him, I will find Him … not just in Africa … but in the process of getting there, the trip itself, and everyday after.  I am His beloved, and He is my God.  He longs for me to see His face … and I long to see Him.

Be blessed today … and rest in His love for you today!

jp

First Real Post

I suppose as the leader of this trip, it's my duty to make the first post. Hopefully by the end of the trip, there will be a good number of the team that has contributed. Let me go ahead and start this off by saying that I'm pretty sure every emotion possible is going/has gone through me regarding this team and this trip. Excited, scared, humbled, proud, overwhelmed, blessed with grace. You name it, I'm feeling it. Thankfully, I know that God has each one of us here for His purposes, so when my emotions are going haywire, I rest on that.

We're now 2 meetings into the preparation for our departure on April 21st, and it feels like we're full steam ahead. The team seems to be clicking nicely (it helps that half of the team is all in the same small group) which is something that I'm so thankful for. I'm also incredibly thankful for Ben and Sherry Barnett. Sherry has pretty much taken on the medical supply side of our trip, the part of the trip that I'd be weakest at. Ben has been incredibly helpful with adding insight and wisdom from his various travels. Though they are not going overseas with us, they are a huge part of our team.

As part of the preparation for the trip, we've been going through the Missional Living Handbook that the church has written up. We're kind of the guinea pig to it, so it's cool to take it for a test run. I'll be the first to admit that I hate workbooks, but the way that this workbook is put together and how it really leads to great discussion has helped make it less of an annoyance and more of a tool. So far, we've only gone through one lesson, but it is foundational to our mission, not as a trip, but as believers in Christ. We had hearty discussion over how our lives are not compartmentalized into church, work, missions, hobbies, etc. Rather, our lives ARE missions. Our trip to Ethiopia isn't an experience, or just a trip. It's an outpouring of our faith to bring the Gospel to all corners of the earth and to assist those that are there doing so. We go to empower, not to just experience. I don't think this was new to anyone, but it was great to just be able to flush it out. I'm excited to see what comes with the rest of the lessons.

I could ramble on for a while, but I'll end with some things that you could pray for for our team:

• Schedules - It seems that we might not have a full team at every meeting because of having differing schedules. Please pray that God works it out for us.
• Finances - We are just over 2 months away from the trip, and we each have $2500 to raise. If you feel led to support us financially, please talk to one of us to find out the best way to donate.
• The Smiths - We will always keep Shane, Allyson, Hannah, Mia, and Moses in our prayers. Please pray for Shane's health, for Allyson's training in Kenya, and for a teacher for the kids (their teacher had to leave for family reasons).

Ok, that's all for now, there's plenty more, but I think I've written too much as it is. Thank you all for your love and support. You have no idea how much that means to us.

Blessings,

Paul G

About the Trip

Hello everyone,

This is the cumulative blog for the Ethiopia I Team with the Village Church. Hopefully you found your way here because you know of someone on the team. At some point, whoever you know on the team will post something on this blog, so keep checking back to see what he/she has to say. And for everyone's benefit, I'll use this post as a way to just get you up to date on what this team is doing:

Eleven men and women from the Village Church (www.thevillagechurch.net) will be heading to Lake Langano, Ethiopia from April 21st-May3rd. We will be working with Shane and Allyson Smith, missionaries from the Village, as they run various ministries through SIM International. Allyson will be utilizing our 6 medical professionals to help out with the clinic that services a wide are of Ethiopia. The closest hospital is a 4 hour car ride, so if it's not a deathly emergency, they go to the SIM clinic. Shane will be taking the other 5 team members and will work on the compound, doing all sorts of odd jobs like painting, wiring, setting up solar panels (maybe), and building a library. But more than just that, we are will be going to support the work of the Smiths as they have been called to be long term missionaries in Africa. Hopefully, the calling that is on the hearts of some of the members on our team might be made clear through this trip, and that they would know that the Lord is calling them to move overseas. Then again, maybe he solidifies in some of our hearts that we are missionaries right here in Dallas, so this is where we are to stay. In any case, my prayer is that each individual on this trip is not seeing this as a one time deal, but rather it is a way to shape and form our lives to not be individual acts of mission trips but that our lives be lives totally on mission.

To go on this trip, each one of us will have to go through a round of at least 7 shots (Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Tetanus, MMR, Adult Polio, Yellow Fever, and maybe rabies). We will also be going through the missional living handbook produced by the Village. And we are each responsible for raising $2500 for the team. Lastly, we will be doing some cultural adjusting for Ethiopia. So there's a lot ahead of us in preparation for our departure. Please continue to pray for us as this is all for nothing if not for the Glory of the Lord. And please continue to support your friends and family on this team with encouragement and anything else that God might lay on your heart.

We love you and thank you and look forward to sharing our stories with you as we continue on in this life.

Peace and Grace,

Paul G

Team Leader