question

Question: Shouldn't you put money aside in case of emergency?


Answer: Are you saying what's happening in Africa ISN'T an emergency?


-Francis Chan


Sheli, so last night i only told Bonnie about this book: Crazy Love by Francis Chan. after you read the other 3, you must grab this one too.... it will change your life, ruin you, and wreck you.....

also, i loved your ideas yesterday about money making ventures for the orphans. so far you have mentioned some sort of jewelry and card making (having them color cards and we package them into sets to sell). any other good ideas out there. something easy we can teach them to do, have them make, and then bring the crafts back here to sell at church??? i know your ideas are out there, so let's here them!

great question!

okay so Angie wins the prize for the best question so far!

"I had someone ask me about issues with head lice while we are over there. Did you have any problems while you were there? I looked online and found some natural preventative shampoos and I am wondering if I need to get some!"

that is a tough one. :)

i personally did not have a problem with this. i stayed in some really nice places AND some not very nice places. at the not very nice place, my friend got some "bites" that to me, looked like bed bug bites. AND, i was not staying in Ambo but stayed in Addis the whole time. that being said, i think if you want to take precautions, bring the shampoo and pack your OWN pillowcases. i was planning on bringing my own pillowcase and forgot to put that on the packing list, so i will add it now!

we will also likely bring a couple of lice treatment kits just in case. keep in mind we will be loving on these kids and lice in orphanges is VERY common. the orphanage we are working in is cleaner than alot of them, but i think there is still a chance it could happen. i know when we traveled to pick up Eden, they told us to expect her to have lice and bring the treatment just in case. she didn't have lice (they shaved her head), so we just donated the treatment to the orphanage. ...



"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:37-40)

i know you guys get it. you know that Jesus means business--that we OUGHT to DO something!

while i was gone last summer, my husband blogged in my abscence. i only just this week had time to go back and read some of his blogs. they were pretty good. i loved this one and this one.

yellow fever

alright people, Ingeri wanted me to let you ALL know that Riverstone Health Clinic will be coming to our May 3rd team meeting to give everyone their yellow fever vaccination. they get these immunizations in batches so they are planning a batch for our entire team. you do NOT need to call the clinic or make an appointment for this--just come to our regularly scheduled team meeting and get your shots there!!!

keep the questions, concerns, and comments coming--you guys are awesome and have great feedback.


on a different note, i know ron talked to all of us about acting like Jesus to those we encounter in ET. i also want to challenge us to actually think of each person we come into contact with AS Christ. if you actually saw Christ as an AIDS orphan, what would you do for him?? (more on this later)... just think about it.

packing list (will continually update this post)

ok, so this post will be our "packing list" post. i will just keep adding onto it as i (and you) think of things so keep checking back to this post!

Sonia had this to say:
"are showers going to be scarce? You will have a shower in your hotel at both Addis and Ambo so you should be good to go!
Also you can get "travel underwear" at the Basecamp which are quick drying."


you neeeeed to bring a light rain jacket (i am bringing the one i backpack with-really lightweight)
shoes that willllll get very muddy
a very good flashlight (power in ET can be unpredictable)
i am also going to bring an itty bitty book light to read at night
i always travel with flip flops for bathrooms (even in hotels)
LOTS of Purell and antibacterial wipes
i brought Vick's Early Defense Foaming Hand Sanitizer (it lasts 3 hours)
toilet paper
ladies: menstrual supplies are scarce and of poor quality in ET--do not plan on buying them in ET
ear plugs: Addis is loud, hotel walls are thin, there is call to prayer, etc.....
lots of books, games, cards: there are no televisions in our hotels
bandaids (Bonnie says the fabric ones are best)
Neosporin
clothes you don't mind getting very dirty and are able to rinse out in the sink...
nuts, trail mix, protein bars and lots of your favorite snacks
your own pillowcase (just to be safe)





"Intentions are wonderful things. They are the starting points, the defining moments of our lives. But in and of themselves, intentions are wholly inadequate. As a Christ follower, it’s easy to mistake intention for action and stirrings for solutions. I sometimes give myself credit for being a pretty remarkable human being just because I feel angry about injustice, pain over suffering, or empathy in the face of hurt. But even the strength of my intentions is not an accurate indicator of whether or not I will take the time to act, to put faith to work, to be the difference that Christ has empowered me to be. Defining moments are only as good as the lifestyles they translate into."
Nancy Ortberg

meds

Amber brought up something in the meeting: Bring Cipro!



i already visited my doctor and have all my meds ready to go. this is what i am bringing:



Mefloquine

Cephalexin

Cipro

and a sedative for the long plane ride. (of course that is up to you, but i need one)



in addition, i will bring for sure Immodium, Advil, Aspirin, Tylenol, Sudafed, Mucinex, and Airborne

"I am the world's light." John 8:12

short video of Suleiman and the kids

we do need africa more than it needs us...

ideas...

Angie had a great idea: Faith Evangelical is hosting an event through World Concern that you may want to check out! It is an interactive, walk though exhibit that tells the stories of orphans in Africa. The dates are March 29th through April 5th. www.worldvisionexperience.org is the website and you can reserve the free tickets online. Thanks for the heads up, Angie!

also World Water Day is March 21st. Click here if you are interested in participating in the walk!

World AIDS Orphans Day is May 7th. Check it out here for more info.

last but not least: some people have asked me about the tee shirts i am continually wearing (it would seem that i now mostly buy clothing that benenfits orphans, AIDS related causes, or poverty). so here is where i have gotten some of my "goods:"

apathy aids awareness tee
AHOPE tee
Adoption Rocks tee (you can get white or black)
global food crisis tee (it says "please" in Amharic)--one of my fav. tees
the ONE tee
i need africa more than africa needs me


"Go and do the same" luke 10:36

now wot?

the first team meeting for Faith Chapel's Ethiopian mission's trip was great fun. we have an impressive lineup of people who are willing to "get out of their boats" and get into the boats of children who are suffering halfway around the world.

i am so humbled to get to serve along with this team. together, we will get to weep with those who weep...

this blog was created so that it can be a forum for your questions pertaining to anything having remotely to do with Ethiopia, the kids, or the trip.

if you have questions, ASK THEM because chances are, other people have the same questions!

to sum up, before the next meeting please work on the basic Amharic phrases. also journal up to page 44. most importantly, be praying for God to break your heart over what breaks His.

Bonnie, i think you are so right when you said that this trip will be vastly different than your previous missions. but, oh it will be so good to have our hearts broken.

one thing i was supposed to cover in this meeting, but we ran out of time is an "optional yet highly recommended/encouraged" reading list. these books will help you specifically with the type of ministry you will be experiencing in Ethiopia--pertaining to HIV/AIDS and orphans.
three books (2 of which are short reads):

"Red Letters: Living a Faith That Bleeds" by Tom Davis
"Fields of the Fatherless" by Tom Davis
"There is No Me Without You" by Melissa Faye Greene

ok, now it is your turn: leave your comments AND questions. we will try to answer all questions and if some of you have answers, leave your answers in the comment section as well...


"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world." james 1:27