Of Winnies and Mindin Nos?
Friends,
It is 915pm on a Monday evening, and I have FINALLY had a chance to sit down and type an update….things have been busy here at the project, and between work and Olympic watching (yes, we do have a TV across the street that has been showing all Olympics all the time! It is great…GO MICHAEL PHELPS!), the past couple of weeks have been good.
The rainy season continues to pester us with crazy weather, our clothes have been hanging outside wet for the last week (check that, I just took them down today to hang in our bathroom, b/c there was a huge storm coming and the clothes were just about dry…well, most of them, anyway…), and all around Addis, construction is underway…new roads, new buildings, it never seems to end. A continual work in progress, that is what the city is.
You know, though, that is what we are, as well….works in progress, always learning and experiencing new things. As a Christian, I am continually learning that God knows what He is doing, and that it is such a blessing to be part of His work here in Addis. This seemingly easy lesson does not come, well, easily….
For one week, the entire team, staff and missionaries spent time on a retreat outside Addis, at a crater lake called Babagayo….beautiful place! I have been there a few times, but never for more than a day trip. This was a Living in Grace seminar put on by Mission to the World, a time to learn what grace really means to us, as Christians. Something that I often times do take for granted, so it was a good time to refresh our spirits, and have some great fellowship with our staff….not to mention cleaner air!
But coming back from this retreat, we had a full week, as a medical team came from the states….great to have them here! We had clinics every day, both at the project sites and at local churches…many people were seen and ministered to…
So now we have no teams here, and yet each day brings about new things…here are some interesting tidbits from this past week….
-As I was sitting down in a meeting last week, I noticed a small white thing on my shoe….it had been raining (surprise!) and the ground was muddy, so I figured it was some sort of trash…until it began to wriggle….yes, I had a small worm on the side of my shoe (not of the earthworm variety). Being the public health microbiologist that I am, I just showed Danny, my co-worker, and then flicked it on the ground… (and yes, I did wash my hands well after that…)
-Speaking of worms, it is now back to school time, which means new uniforms, school supplies, and yes, de-worming! It is amazing how one small pill can do so much damage to these wriggly creatures, yet alleviate so much discomfort to us humans. The kids didn’t mind taking the medicine, mostly because each got a new toothbrush as well….
-On another note, I had my first near collision in a minibus the other day as I was coming home from the gym…we were headed down a hill in the dark, and there was a man in the street that suddenly lunged out in front of the minibus….our driver swerved to miss him, and went on the curb, nearly hitting a telephone pole…here is what I heard in the minibus:
WINNIE (Meaning: AAAAH, somewhat of a surprised expression)
MINDIN NO? (Meaning: What is this?)
BI JESUS SIM/BI IGZIABIHER (Meaning: In Jesus name/In God’s name)
Fortunately, by His grace, everyone was okay, and we spent the next couple of minutes congratulating our driver on being a great driver, while he angrily yelled to himself about the crazy man in the road…
Just another week in Addis.
****Prayer/Looking ahead****
-We are in the midst of talks with the health bureau about scaling up TB diagnosis in the health centers, especially looking at those people who are difficult to diagnose (AKA HIV positive folks)…this may be a long process, but a worthwhile one…
-Brian March, another intern here, has been doing some awesome work with the boys groups here, would you continue to pray for him, for energy and enthusiasm? He has a real heart to impact these boys for Christ!
-For many sick people in the project….we have a bunch of people whose health has been failing recently, for various reasons, please remember them in your prayers…
-And as always, for Christ to be glorified in ALL we do!
Next time: A day in the life, part II ( I haven’t forgotten…)
On the road in Addis,
-Derek
