Melcome Meskal

What an action-packed day! On Thursday I had a half-day at work--but that does not mean it was lacking in adventure. In the mornings I teach in the "Montessori school," and on Thursday we mixed paint so the kids could practice their colors. WOW. What a different mentality these kids have. T'hi (the main teacher for the pre-kg kids) handed each student a used piece of computer paper and grouped the kids around single colors of paint. Within a couple minutes one of the cutest boys in class, Mentesaknow, was painting Yonas' head and face b/c he was jealous if his paint brush, then 3 of the 5 paint containers spilled all over the floor. It was such a sight to see. A total mad house. The kids continued to dip their brushes in the puddles on the ground, painting on their already written on paper. After we cleaned up the paint, one of the little girls in the younger group was awkwardly standing in the middle of the class, and without flinching she peed in the middle of the classroom. Ohh man! Never a dull moment.

All week Abraham and Rob, with the help of two kids, fixed up an old fooseball table at work. After a few trips to the Mercado and much manual labor, they put the finishing touches on the table before lunch. It was such a sweet and spiritual moment as the 4 of them screwed in the last few screws and flipped over the table to play the first game. They fixed the whole table up for under $30, and you could see on the kid¹s faces how thankful they were for the gift. Even the construction men were excited to play.

We ended up going out to lunch with a few folks from work. BTW! The volunteers at Asco are SO diverse. Most volunteers only stay a few weeks at a time, but they come from all over. I have co-workers from America, Ethiopia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, London, Israel and Lebanon.

We came home, I had some sweet worship time and then we ventured out to celebrate Meskal, which is an Ethiopian religious festivity. Tens of thousands if not a million people gathered at Meskal square, a central point in Addis. We stood out like a sore thumb with our bright skin and cameras, and we kept getting pushed to the front of the huge crowd. We were all trying to hold on to each other, to our belongings and stay in our feet with a smile on our face. At one point the police were blocking entry to the sections closest to the main stageŠbut they let us pass. It felt like we were participating in a huge civil rights event as the 5 of us crossed a picket line. It was so strange because everyone was cheering as we got closer to the opposite side of the crowd ­ like a game of red rover on steroids.

During the celebration there were fireworks and chants and they lit a huge Christmas tree on fire (I did not get to experience this part b/c I couldn¹t see over everyone). I am still a little shaking on the significance of the celebration, but this is what I have been told: The Queen of Sheba went looking for Jesus¹ cross, and she found out it was in 1 of 5 mountains. She prayed to find the actual location and was directed by a fire to the correct mountain. I think the story says that she brings the cross with her back to Ethiopia. The right side of the cross is supposed to have healing powers, which is also very significant. So each year they commemorate the events by lighting a tree on fire. There is significance in the direction in which the fire blows.

After the celebration concluded we trotted home with the crowds, ate dinner then decided to watch an episode of Friends after our full day. Joy, an American who works with a few folks from the house, was waiting for a ride back home. Her friends call in the middle of the Phoebe's bachelorette party, saying they are lost in our neighborhood and stuck in the mud. So we strap on our sneakers and go on a half hour search for their vehicle. When we finally found them, there were 5 Ethiopian men helping to push their mini-bus out of the bushes. Craziness. The tires were spinning and we are all screaming. Mind you, it is 10:30 pm, and the whole district of Tor Highloch is silent or asleep. After a few tries and some false alarms, we all pushed the car out of the ditch of bushes. We celebrated for a half a second, then it turned into an incredibly awkward situation because two of the men asked for payment. The mini-bus belongs to 3 girls, and they were trying to negotiate with the men, but since they did not arrange anything from the beginning Rob stepped in and tried to explain that we appreciated their generosity, but it is not ok to demand payment after an act of kindness for friends. I think the girls gave them a little money and we walked back home to finish Friends and go to bed.

What a day. Well, there is SO much more I'd like to share, but I need to get some rest before work. I will write more soon. Thanks for reading!

THE MILLENNIUM

"Today, once more, when Jesus comes amongst his own, his own don't know him! He comes in the rotten bodies of our poor: he comes even in the rich choked by their own riches. He comes in the loneliness of their hearts and when there is no one to love them. Jesus comes to you and me and often, very, very often, we pass him by." -­Mother Teresa

The Millennium
On New Years Eve us forengies went out to celebrate the turn of the New Year. We walked around for a while, soaking in colors, crowds and craziness, and then we watched the fireworks show from a hill in our neighborhood. It lasted almost 30 minutes and was one of the best shows I have ever seen!

Here is an article about the millennium celebration:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6990298.stm
And here are some images:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6990473.stm

Since Ethiopians celebrate with large meals, last Saturday we had a Cherokee Millennium Celebration with 3 sheep and about 60 guests, two of whom where a HUGE answer to prayer. Elsabet and Mekedes are two women around my age who I met walking home from town on Wednesday. They are my first GIRL friends here, and after work calms down a little, I hope to spend more time with them. I was so excited they came to celebrate the Millennium with us.

One of the big projects I was a part of this summer is called the Cherokee Ethiopia Education Program. Through this program, nine 11th grade Ethiopian students are studying in various high schools in the States for one year. These intelligent students are from backgrounds of poverty. 7 of the 9 families of these students came to our celebration, and it was very special to see how excited they were for their sons and daughters. Goodness! I am so thankful for being a part of a group that is having such a positive impact on so many families.

The Health
Hmmm. Last Thursday I started feeling rather sick. I was in bed for most of the weekend (outside of the Millennium Celebration) and it is a week later I am still trying to get over this cold. So, sickness has slowed me down. I am feeling a bit behind on learning Amharic and exploring Addis, but these things will come with time. The different germs I am being exposed to at work at not helping, but hopefully I will feel better soon.

The Jesus
Kate and I had house Church together last weekend. It is such a blessing to be here together ­ she is a huge encouragement to me, especially after 5 very difficult and challenging days of work this week. Anywhoo, we listened to a VERY powerful sermon called Risk and the Triumph of Love by John Piper, and are both learning so much about what it means to follow Jesus in our new environment in Ethiopia. I have been encouraged in many different settings to BE JESUS to those around me, but this week Kate and I had our eye opened. After talking about Matthew 25, we are praying that we can treat others like they ARE Jesus. This is not a new concept, but a very encouraging and humbling way to go through the day.


The Job
I am working at a Mother Teresa's Missionary of Charity Orphanage in Asco ­ the second orphanage I wrote about in my last blog. Rob Shields, anther UNC grad, and I are teaching 5 days a week. He is the school PE teacher, and I am still trying to find me niche. We take 3 taxis to work, which is 45 minute commute from home (totally about $0.60 roundtrip a day). The best part of the morning is passing a herd of donkeys on the way to the bus station.

There are 450-500 HIV+ kids that live at the orphanage only 5 full time nuns who are in charge, and a collection of teachers and volunteers who run the school. During the weekdays the kids are divided by grade level -- there is the Montessori school, KG and Primary (1-4 grade) and then the other kids go to off campus to public school. I was placed in the Montessori school in the mornings to help teach English and the Primary school in the afternoon to help with English and Art.

As I said last time, things are a lot more messy and complex than they seem. My first week was extremely frustrating. I am still trying to figure out what my "job" is, and how to be effectiveŠor what that even means. The "Montessori school" is rather misleading. There are 60 children with 2 teachers in one room. They are divided between pre-k and kids too old to be in the nursery. These kids are in this one room for most of the day, (outside of play time and lunch) and there is crying, screaming, yelling and hitting going on every moment. There are so many levels to these frustrating  problems ­ first and most obviously, the kids do not have parents, therefore, discipline is relative. The kids are swatted with a stick or branch at the teacher¹s discretion and therefore the kids see no problem with being violent with each other. Second, teaching is SO very different in Ethiopia especially with this many children. There are a few songs and games, but for the most part, education is strict memorization: the teacher says a word or letter or phrase and the students scream that back to the teacher. There is very little room for questions, discussion or other interactions. This makes my job as a teacher very frustrating.

On Tuesday I planned to take 5 kids at a time outside to work on colors. I had a handful of lessons planned. First, we would review the colors in Amheric and in English. Then I would give then each a piece of colored Cray paper to glue on the corresponding colored poster. After this project, I had a game planned, then some review and then I was going to read a book on colors to the kids. WOW. This lesson could not have gone worse. Before we even glued the cray paper to the posters one kids ran off with the glue and another took the posted in a corner. Then a child started crying b.c his piece of red cray paper was a bit smaller than his neighbors. The kids used the color game to hit each other over the head, and no one sat down to listen to the book so I know there is a need in the Montessori school, but each day I leave I question if I have the strength and courage to go back. There are so many things running through my head, especially since I have little direction and less structure and lots of unsanitary and frustration conditions. The younger kids basically sit on the floor the whole day and put small pieces of whatever they can find in their mouths. There are so many different things to focus on ­ the 10 screaming kids, the 1 who wants to learn, the 3 who want to hold my two hands, the 4 who cry if they cannot sit in my lap, the 2 in the corner hitting each other, the one who just ate a cracker covered in ants, the 6 who are playing a game, it just seems like chaos and it is overwhelming and beautiful at the same time. Even though the conditions are pretty horrible, I know that if this orphanage was not here and struggling for survival and improvement, these kids would be sleeping on the street. So, that is what I think about in the mornings.

If you have any teaching experience, I would LOVE your advice and suggestions.

Another big frustration is that Asco does not allow photography inside the compounds. Since one of the main reason¹s I decided to go to Ethiopia was to work on a documentary and also teach photography, this aspect is a big point of contention. I am hoping that I can either find another school or organization to teach photography, or maybe with time the Nuns will allow me to do my project.

Outside of all those frustrating aspects, the kids are really beautiful. They all call me by my Ethiopian name, Falikalik, which is really fun to say. When we are not in class, I play with them and teach them silly things like the dumb and dumber dance and how to do cartwheels.

I am trying to figure out if I should stay at Asco 5 days a week, or maybe split up my time. I will give it one more week and more prayer and then make a decision. Regardless of the crazy situation, I am excited about the opportunity to love and encourage so many children.

The Contact
We do not have a mailing address (we might get one ib the next month but I am not sure yet. So, if you want to chat, feel free to email me. I do have an international cell phone if you would like to call, its 251.09.13.20.45.47 ­but this would probably be VERY VERY expensive.

"Beautiful are the ways of God if we allow him to use us as he wants."
­Mother Teresa

Selam! Melcome Millennium!

(Peace, Happy Millennium!)

I am safe and loving Addis, Ethiopia. Thank you so much for being a part of my journey!

So, after we got off the 15+ hour plane trip and passed through customs, every single person was handed a pink rise and a card from the Prime Minister, welcoming guests to the nation wide celebration of 2000! As you may know, Ethiopia was never colonized, and thus, never changed calendars. So, with 13 months in each year, Ethiopia will celebrate Y2K on September 12, 2007. The entire city has been preparing for many months. Hotels, bridges and stadiums are under construction, children sing songs in the street and everyone is sporting a rubber celebration bracelet. The New Year will symbolize hope, change and a fresh beginning for this beautiful country.

Addis is very familiar many similarities with Amman, Jordan. We get called 'Forengie' (foreigner) on the street, but a simple greeting and handshake inspires strangers to share their million dollar smiles are all over the street. Most all Ethiopians are kind, helpful and very beautiful. Everyone wants to shake your hand and touch your skin.

I am living in Tor Highlouch, which is northwest-ish Addis (its hard to tell b/c every map I look at is different). There are 9 of us at the house right now. All but 2 are volunteers like myself, staying mostly until Christmas. I am living in a room with 2 other girls (Jessica Merriam and Kate Wilson). The Cherokee house is welcoming and protected ­ a "helper friend" guards the compound 24/7.

Like the maps, most things seem to be relative here. Take my Amharic tutor, Abraham, for example. Since his parents are illiterate, they never wrote down his birth year. He told me today that he THINKS he is 20, but not too sure. His parents said he is only 16, but I find that VERY hard to believe.

Needless to say, we will get not get official jobs until after the New Year, but we have wasted no time getting familiar with the poverty of Addis.

The first full day we were here we hung out at the YWAM orphanage and the Sister's of Charity orphanage. Both of these places BLEW my mind. One man is the Father of over 20 children at the YWAM orphanage, and each child adores him. They living on a small compound in the middle on now where, and playing Frisbee for a few hours brought joy to many of the precious children. The other orphanage in Asco is so wild. I do not have words. There are 450 hiv+ kids, with only 5 fulltime sisters working around the clock to care for these children. When we first arrived we visited was the 'sick room' where one of the sister¹s handed us each of us a baby who had recently been found on the street. I cannot begin to understand what it means to just leave a child on the street ­ but the orphanage is a safe and loving environment for them ­ even though every kid needs WAY more love and attention then they are getting. As soon as we walked down the stairs where the older kids play we were attacked by mobs of children wanting to play with our hair, sing Shakira and hold your hand. They start fighting over you. Its really strange. Its fun to see peace being instigated as you play with the children and teach them to take turns and be kind to each other. These children have the most beautiful smiles and their eyes are captivating. All of the kids are taking medicine for HIV, and are being taught to LIVE with HIV ­ there are schools and different vocational trainings for the older kids.

Well, there is so much more, but I will try to be short and sweet.

in ethiopia

I AM HERE! All is well. This marks the end of my 3rd day in Addis. I will share more details later this weekend.

My brother is going to put the posts up for me ­ for some reason our dial up internet does not like my blog page. SO! If you want to talk to me, just shoot me an email at jrussphotography@gmail.com and give me about a week...then I will write back.

Thanks for bloggin with me.