Amasaganalu = Thank You in Amharic
My first 3 months of Africa are officially over! What a bittersweet moment. As I transition into my next 5 months in Asia I just wanted to reflect on how much I enjoyed being on this side of the world. Going into the race, many people said I would have a rough start beginning my first few months in Africa. They said it would be a difficult transition as I dive into a very different culture and undeveloped countries. I would say I have to disagree. My time in Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia have been an absolute blast. For my first time in Africa I’ve had a very good impression. We visited parts of these countries that were not developed and they were beautiful. We had the opportunity to love people in urban areas and in bustling cities. Africa was amazing! And I wouldn’t mind coming back one day.
This month…
I was immersed into several ministries. Lived life like the locals did. Experienced heartache and rejoiced in celebration. I preached in African churches and taught English in Rwanda. Shared the passion of Jesus in very ecstatic churches and walked miles each day around the city of Addis Ababa.
This past month in Ethiopia we had the opportunity to visit several NGOs (non governmental organizations) and volunteer alongside them. We visited an orphanage that had a room of about 30+ newborn babies, visited charities that work to alleviate impoverished families and viewed the work of organizations who want to educate a younger generation on life skills.
All of these visits to different NGOs have been inspiring. But throughout the month we have had the opportunity to consistently work with three NGOs. Youth Impact, Nehemiah Autism Center and the Children at Women at Risk.
At Youth Impact we worked with students ages 10 to 18. They are involved in a tutoring program
that also provides meals, uniforms and a safe haven for students to have a community. The students in this program come from single parent homes and impoverished families. We were able to visit Youth Impact three nights a week to tutor students in English and spend quality time building relationships.
At Nehemiah Autism Center we were each placed in a classroom with a teacher and shadowed alongside them. We worked with Autistic children and performed daily activities, fed them lunch and enjoyed free time on the playground. We visited NAC about three days out of the week.
At the Women at Risk center for Children we would work with kids 10 and under on Saturdays by teaching them songs and bible stories. Then during the weekday helping students 10 to 16 years of age by practicing their English.
Ethiopia has been a busy month of traveling around the city and building amazing relationships with staff and the children that they work with! As my squad and I transition out of Africa, I wanted to list just a few things I’ll miss about this continent.
– Knowing that I’m in Africa and enjoying everyday life here
– Being a member of the family with our hosts and not just a guest
– The trust shared between people on public transportation in Ethiopia
– People that are always willing to help in every country in Africa!
– The strength of the women carrying baskets on their heads
– The babies strapped to the back of mommas
– The girls at Youth Impact
– Walking back from ministry with the Youth Impact girls singing songs
– Finding wild chameleons in the yard
– Going on a safari and experiencing majestic wildlife first hand
– Camping out in Queen Elizabeth National Park and having Hippos and Ugandan Kob walk around your tent all night
– Creating incredible friendships and meeting people for the first and last time
– Long and busy days that make your feet tired but fill your heart
– Africa time
– Rafting the Nile River
– Running the biggest road race in Africa with 40,000 people
– Good ‘ole Toyota Noah
– Looking off into the distance and seeing layers upon layers of mountains
– The girls at Canon Beatrice Ruhindi Training Center & the dance parties we had, the skills of basket weaving, knitting, sewing and hair that they taught us
– Having a revolving door of Africans stop by to visit us and say hi each day
– Celebrating birthdays in each country with their traditional cake
– The kids at Nehemiah Autism Center
– Bunk-bed tower
– Beautiful African textiles
– Learning traditional dances in each country
– Bright starry skies
– Weaving upon the roads with Uganda blasting western music
– Praise and worship in church
– Little kids running after you screaming “Mzungu! Mzungu!”
– Gazing at the wonder of elephants
– Drinking tea with every meal
– Hopping on a boda with my squad and looking like a biker gang around the city
– Taking a moment to realize that I’m actually in Africa
– Communal based people in Ethiopia, they will help you with anything!
– The friendships and stories shared
– Contemplative taxi rides
– Adventuring around the city and learning the true ways of traveling and finding things on your own
– Beautiful craft markets
– Buying a bag chips (fries) on the street for less than $1
– Flocks of sheep passing by you as you walk throughout the city
These are a few of the many things I will miss about Africa! It is still surreal that our time on this continent is over and that we will be heading to SouthEast Asia for 5 months. Thank you Lord for the many lessons you have taught me and the opportunities that you have given me.
-> Next stop: INDIA!
