It’s only weird if ya make it weird. It’s kind of one of my favorite playful sayings. A lot of the race we experience things that people would consider “weird.” My favorite part of that is you can either choose to believe things are weird, or fully step into the culture and enjoy it’s uniqueness. And boy does Ethiopia have some strong culture. Here’s a few fun pictures of my experience in Ethiopia last month!
From Europe to Africa… our fourth and final continent. Being on plane with 27 other people you know. Climbing over sleeping people you don’t know to go to the bathroom. …It’s only weird if ya make it weird.
10 people in an 8 passenger van with 2 people you’ve never met driving you on a trip that is only “3 hours” which turns into 7 hours with horribly bumpy roads and GORGEOUS views. ….It’s only weird if ya make it weird.
Walking back from the grocery store and seeing everyone running like chickens with their heads cut off and wondering why. Then 2 minutes later your find yourself soaking wet sitting under a tiny tarp with a few locals to hide out from the random hail storm. …..
Praying for your team while they are out doing ministry and turning to see a chicken in your living room. …..
Having anywhere between 10 and 50 kids follow you when you walk down the road because you’re white and moms telling your their baby is crying because the’ve never seen a white person and it freaks them out. ….It’s only weird if ya make it weird
Riding one of these (Bajaj) around town and sometimes shoving 4 people in the back of it….
Playing the “sock game,” “tupperware& stick game,” and “wheel on a stick game” with kids on the street. Tell ya what, it’s a lot more enjoyable than soccer for me! …..
Slaughtering, cleaning, and cooking a chicken that was in your living room a few days before and would randomly creep into the outdoor bathroom….while wearing a dress. …. It’s only weird if you make it weird.
Having a women’s day at a church made of tarp with women who don’t speak the same language and watching them dance and sing in Amharic. ….
Having a goat in the back of the van to slaughter for the Ethiopian New Year…..
Having palm leaves spread through the house to celebrate the past year of 2008 and look forward to 2009, because that’s what year it turned this September after their 13th month. …
Attempting to do a work out when a two year old stands right in front of you and starts doing squats and thinks it’s the funniest thing ever….because it is. …
Going to a resort to get wifi and ending up on the dock behind it catching tilapia for the resort restaurant to cook. …
Living in a tent in our host’s driveway for a month with a dog who comes and sits right against your head while you are sleeping. … It’s only weird if ya make it weird.
Not just throwing coffee in a pot and going with it, but starting from the beginning and cooking down raw coffee beans. And stoping multiple times a day to take coffee. …
Preaching at a church with toilet paper as decoration and praying that what you are saying is being translated correctly even though sometimes you say 5 words and the translator speaks a whole paragraph and sometimes you say a whole paragraph and a sentence is said in return. ….
Having these guys chase after you every time you go for a run around the block and hearing “OOO-lee-vya” hollered down the road any time you walk out the compound. ….
Going to play “mini golf” to find out the ground isn’t level, their are water drains and the course is shaped to them ( so the ball never goes where you want), and there is a random horse roaming around on the course. …It’s only weird if ya make it weird.
….. And this.
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Our team had a great time with this beautiful, loving, hospitable family! So glad to get to know them and spend time with them. Prayers and blessings to Hizkias as he continues to plant churches, encourage existing churches, spread God’s love, and raise his family! Thank you for being you Ethiopia!
