In relevance to the last blog, here is a blog about the connections I believe were God-ordained. Starting from our stay at the resort in Hawassa (see the last blog) to our first day back in the capital Addis since landing in Africa, check out the awesome people we met.
G O D – I N C I D E N C E S:
Roberto & Isabel: World Bank Affiliates
As explained in my last blog, my team and I met Roberto at Halie Resort. It happened to be a place where he and Isabel frequent to do work, as the Wifi there is one of the fastest around the area. He works closely with the World Bank and is currently collecting data about the Hwassa Industial Park. Through his connection to the World Bank and the UN he was able to inform us pretty frequently what was happening around the outskirts of Hawassa while we were held up at the resort.
It’s crazy how this connection helped us learn about what was going on in Hawassa concerning the looting and robberies that happened. Roberto was more than kind enough to keep us updated as frequently as he could while ensuring us we were right where we should be– at the resort.
Once we got the clear to go, Roberto and Isabel and ourselves went our separate ways up to Addis. After we all made it safely to the capital, some of my teammates got to hangout with them again at a traditional Ethiopian dance/show dinner.
From left to right: Sam, Tsege (see below), Isabel, Roberto, unknown, Maria, Jaivie
The Couple from the U.K
Sam actually met this couple at the resort and offered them a ride with us out to Addis in the van that our host booked for us. I am unfortunately blanking on the names so they will simply be named as above.
As explained in the last blog, the woman is of Ethiopian descent and thus was able to help us translate what the driver was doing or saying during our drive. Which we quickly learned was a God-send, as she was also able to help direct the driver to drop us off right by the house we were supposed to be at for our first night in Addis. Unfortunately our time together with them was short and we forgot to take a picture with them.
However interestingly enough, a few days after my team and I settled into the Boyle part of Addis, Jaivie and I almost ran into this same couple by a mall. We were wait going around to meet our ministry host for the day. Unfortunately they were crossing the street before we could call out to them. But it’s crazy cool to think about how small this world can be and how interconnected we are.
Chris & Zoila
This is the American couple my team and I met through our squad leaders (SQLs) who were first introduced to Chris through a Christian organization they got connected to in Addis. This sweet couple kindly took my team and I in for the our first night back in Addis, until we could get Wifi to look for a more permanent place.
Chris just so happens to work for the U.S Embassy here in Ethiopia, while his wife Zolia works as a preschool teacher her. Thanks to his connection to the embassy, our SQLs were able to get a better idea of the situation in Hawassa while we were there, which is pretty cool if you ask me. Chris and Zolia have chosen to do a longer version of the race, if you will with their young children- moving from one country to another about every 2 years, as warranted by the U.S State Department while hoping to serve the community around them through local Christian organizations.
Tim from Fresno, CA
We met this man in the elevator of a mall, off all places. We were intrigued first that he was a while male, and second that he was wearing a necklace with a wooden cross. Tim first opened up the conversation with us by asking where we were from (as you can imagine, we look different too), upon which we exchanged some small talk and learned that he was from the States as well, specifically Fresno, CA. We were all heading up to the mall’s food court to grab some lunch.
Through our short exchange, we were able to set up the possibility of getting connected to the ministries he was, namely New Life or Addis Hiyiweti in Amharic and Horn of Africa Evangelical Mission Engagers.
That possibility became a reality and we were given the opportunity to hang out him and the organizations, through which we were able to meet even more people. We also got to hear his testimony which was so cool!
It’s crazy to think that this connection was made in the small, confined space of an elevator.
Pictures of Tim can be found in the last two photos below.
Tsege and the Ever-Charismatic, Sweetheart (real name: unknown)
Sam, Jaivie and I, had walked over to Top Ten Hotel from the mall to get some Wifi, which was actually suggested by Emanuel who we had met earlier at the mall with Tim.
There we were just wanting to grab some coffee and chill. Just as we started to settle in one area, I realized that the World Cup was playing on the TV so Sam and I chose to move up closer to the TV when… A charismatic gentleman asked where we were from and welp more connections were made. We met Tsege and her friend Sweetheart, which we know wasn’t his real name but we played along.
Tsege and Sweetheart are actually both from the States as well, having immigrated there about 25 or so years ago. Tsege is back in Ethiopia with her son, to give her son the opportunity to learn more about his heritage and study the Amharic language. While Sweetheart was back out here, on vacation (if I recall correctly). And so we spent a good hour talking about life, including life in Northern California as Jaivie is from the same part of the state as they are.
We ended this awesome time with plans to meet again, this time for a dinner and a show. Hence why Tsege and Sweetheart can be found in the first picture, a gathering of connections.
Oh also, crazy enough Jaivie’s mom was trying to connect Jaivie to her co-worker who happened to be in Ethiopia for a couple of months. But then Jaivie realizing Tsege being from the same part of town as she was, threw it out there if Tsege knew this person, Brooke. And well, low and behold, SHE DID! I got goosebumps when I first heard this too. God is too awesome!
From left to right: you all know me, Sweetheart, Sam, Jaivie, Tsege
Elsa the Canadian-Ethiopian
We got connected to her through Tim. She is actually the founder of a women’s organization called New Life or Addis Hiyiweti. She came back to Ethiopia not knowing exactly what the Lord wanted her to do, but through connections (sorry if that word is becoming redundant) here she women with HIV/AIDS were placed into her path. Since then, she has been working closely with empowering women with HIV/AIDS, as the stigma towards women ostracizes them.
Jaivie and I had the pleasure of tagging along with the women to visit another humanitarian organization, founded by a national called Mekedonia Home for elderly, disabled and homeless. It was amazing to witness the amount of love and tie and hours volunteers pour out into this charity-run facility. God is so good! Learn more about them at: http://mekedonia.blogspot.com/.
Please visit Elsa’s website at: www.lovingandleadingothers.org
Tim, Jaivie and I and the women of Elsa’s organization along with a couple of her teammates
Tariku, Executive Director of Horn of Africa Evangelical Mission Engagers
Last but not least we met Tariku! While we only got to talk to him for about half an hour, his love and humor for what he does in spreading God’s word around Africa is so inspiring! Check his organization out at: www.hornofafrica.org.
From left to right: Tim, you know the Asian ladies, Emanuel, Tariku
GOD IS SOOOOO COOL! I am so blessed and honored to learn this daily and simply through the people He has put in my path! All it took was a willing heart…
