I'm Poor Sarcastically, Rich Realistically.

64.

58.

Those numbers together: 122.

Alright, so... I have this lazy tendency not to follow through with washing my laundry. Sometimes it's because I'm waiting until all my clothes are washed (since I don't always wash right when the basket it half full or more) before I start folding any putting them away. Sometimes it's because I "forget." And others is because I just don't feel like it. Most of the time it's a random combination of the above.

Last night as I was falling asleep with my legs wrapped up in my clothes that had been there for at least two days, I determined to fold them tomorrow after work. Well, a few minutes ago I just finished that task.

As I was folding, I was listening to Amharic music. And like most thoughts in my day, I was remembering Ethiopia. At times it felt like I was back there because on my washing days I would plug up my tunes and get to washing; and the Foster Home would blare their music whenever they have a full house cleaning day.

Well, as I was reflecting on Ethiopia, I started to consider what I was doing in its reality. For days I've kept a stash of clothes on my bed that I would get when needed, or just remained there as I depleted my "collection" in my closet and dresser. It was actually crazy to see the many clothes. So, as a point to myself I began counting my clothes as I put them away.

• Undergarments--18 articles
• Shorts--8
• Acceptable Shirts--13 (Note: By acceptable and unacceptable, I'm referring to whether or not I would where this out of the house. So, another way of putting it: in-house, or out-house shirts.)
• Unacceptable Shirts--11
• Pants--6
• Sleep pants--1
• Hang-up shirts--7

That totals up to being 64 articles of clothing. But in actuality, that's about 64 articles of unneeded clothes, because I then did a follow-up count of clothes that were already in my closet and dresser.

• Hang-up shirts--32
• Pants--2
• Undergarments--5
• Acceptable Shirts--6
• Unacceptable Shirts--4
• Shorts--2
• Pants--7(Sleep pants, Wind pants, and Regular pants)

That amounts to 58 articles of clothing. And for sake of parallelism, these clothes would be considered my "needed" clothing. A grand total of 122 of clothes.

That's a ridiculous amount when compared to Ethiopia when the average family I've encountered would have 2-5 shirts, 1-3 pants, 0-1 pairs of shoes, etc.


But, to retract the comparison, let's go back to me(since I can't put you under the microscope and examine and judge you). It's obviously not a need to have 122 pieces of clothing. While I was in Ethiopia I did pretty well with just 7-8 of everything. So my grand total then was 21-30 articles of clothing. I wasn't left to wander the streets naked because of my "lack" of clothes. Sure I often resorted to re-wearing clothing at least for 2 days, but most days the only way you could tell was the fact that Monday I wore 'Serenity' and then Tuesday or Wednesday I wore 'Serenity' again within days of each other. But even with wearing clothes at least twice before washing, I made it a "habit" to recycle my clothes. If I wore a shirt Monday, then at the end of the day I would put it in the back of my closet so that Tuesday I would have a different shirt, and that the days following that, until the end of the week came, I would were different shirts.

And that might be the thing that confuses me the most. The need to never be seen wearing the same shirt/outfit two days in a row (or even on cases of once-a-week "wear-ness," wearing the same shirt two Sundays in a row).

When I went to Ethiopia I experienced very few instances of Culture Shock. I never curled up in a ball, rocking myself back and forth at the atrocities I might have witnessed (Cow slaughtering right there in the open in multiple locations; dog food being goat heads; public restrooms). I adapted pretty well overall--no jet lag, no severe homesickness, no culture shock.

When I returned home, I still didn't have jet lag, but I did have homesickness. But there was no Reverse Culture Shock. Perhaps the main reason is I also have a tendency of blocking out and ignoring that which doesn't concern me. If people spend thousands of dollars on entertainment, sports tickets, whatever, I didn't really care. Sure it happened, but it didn't affect me. Personally, I know few people who actually do spend thousand of dollars on frivolous things.
Sure there have been moments where I've looked at what others have said/wanted/etc. that I might have scoffed at ("My mom didn't buy me an iPad! I hate her!") or could have humorously related to ("Microwave didn't heat my food all the way through, now I have to wait another 30 seconds[or I have to eat half-cold, half-hot food]").

But now I'm here, looking at my amount of clothes, beginning to realize how frivolous certain aspects of my thoughts, actions, and possessions are. Really, what need do I have for 100+ clothes? What need do I have for more than 30 hang up shirts? Why is it so important that I not be seen wearing my purple shirt two Sundays in a row, even if it was washed during the week? Why do I feel OK with having clothes I don't need that end up on the bed for half a week? Why do I have to say "OK, shirt dirty" if I just wear it fresh after taking a shower and going into an air conditioned car to then enter an air conditioned building where I hardly touch anything that transfers grime to my clothes?

Of course I should live a life where people can be attracted to my character and countenance and then point to Christ. Of course I shouldn't live a life that repels people. But where does courtesy cross the line into obsession? Why does it matter if I wear the same shirt in the same week? Why does it matter if I don't throw my shirt in the dirty clothes if it doesn't look or smell dirty? Why does any of it matter?

Perhaps it's a whole concept of looking new each day. Our memory often associates sounds, sights, smells, and actions as memory triggers. Perhaps it's because we may have done something that day in those clothes that could trigger memories in me or others that just the other day I did this or that.
Or maybe it isn't. And we are just so gung-ho about our image and appearance that it's ridiculous to wear the same things, therefore we need 100, 200, 300 items of clothing to change up our image from day to day; to look better, smarter, cooler, funnier, more helpful, more approachable, more sophisticated.

So then, it's all appearance. It's all external.
And that's where we need to be different. To live different. We need to be focused on our internal. We should strive to wear a different shirt of the fruit of the Spirit each day. Monday: Love. Tuesday: Gentleness. Wednesday: Kindness. And so on and so forth. God has multiple characteristics; our countenance should demonstrate His diversity. If we always walk somber, then God is portrayed as a somber Deity. If we always walk around with righteous anger to sin, God is portrayed as stickler for rules.

I don't know. I'm really not sure where I'm going with this. I wanted to draw up a concept, a nugget. Something about we shouldn't be so diverse in our outward appearance that we maintain the stagnant inward appearance, but every time I try to rewrite the sentence, it gets erased.

I really can't explain it. It's just a weird culture thing that sets me aback. It's so vital to wear different clothes. But why? If we wear the same shirt two Sundays in a row, are we going to get lynched? If I don't throw my shirt into the dirty clothes bin after the first time I wear it out of the house, despite how little dirty it is when the day is over, will I get stoned?

Sure these are ridiculous questions. But it's a ridiculous situation. Why do I have so many clothes? Why have I never realized this? Why have I seen it fine to not be done with laundry until three-four loads are done?


Perhaps it's time to purge my clothes.

But perhaps a more vital issue and thought: Perhaps I need to experience and express more of the Fruit of the Spirit. Why only have one? Why show only one side of God? God is unfathomable, so why just shine a keyring flashlight on one part of his essence?

Yay4rambling

It's all a jumble of personal understanding and wanting to deny that understanding.

All the time I'm missing Ethiopia. All the time I want to go back. But in those times of wishing I were there, I know I'm not supposed to be there. At least not right now. I have responsibilities I owe myself and others in my life. Primarily those in my future: Whoever I get involved with in whatever ministry God leads me into.

Presently I am to go to community college to get an Associates in Arts degree that will be transferable to any NC university as completion of General Education requirements. It will save loads of money and it will give me time that I need to figure out exactly what I am supposed to major in.

At this moment the university spectrum seems to be revolving around photography and my love for writing. So, ideally photojournalism. I may at a later time explain why this, but not now. It's unimportant. Except for the fact that it might lead into future mission ministries.


So, the way I see it, to be an effective missionary(as we are all called to be. I'm not implying I'm being called to be a full-time missionary to Ethiopia) personally, is to finish this next leg in my life journey. To get my A.A degree. Without it, I can't live up to my potential. And I will ultimately be cheating those children and others I minister to.

But there's also another matter to consider as to why I am here and not 7,000 miles away. And it's spiritual in nature. Basically, how can I serve God and be His ambassador if I am not in constant, close communion with Him? If He is just a name to me, a force that can protect and guide me, a love that can sustain me, I'm missing out on everything else He is. If I just accept Him as a god, then I will never become the image of Christ--which is my(and every Christian's) highest calling, preeminent calling. We were called and predestined to become the likeness of Christ. If I throw that to the wind, then what good missionary could I possible be? I'll deteriorate into a fake. I'll get into a deep slump of going through the motions; and lack genuine love that gives basis to everything worthwhile(1 Cor. 13).

So that's what I'm looking at now. I can't go back and serve if I'm not in fellowship with God. I have to be able to be "souled out" for God. If I'm not, then nothing will last. I'll end up in a place of regret and stagnation.

That has to be my focus here though. If it's on my college, then I'd work out ways to be able to do it online or some other way to speed up my return to Ethiopia. But if it's on my spiritual growth, then I'll be able to see that two years is a beneficial amount of time. It may be too short. But I must focus all my being into redeeming every second of the time I spend in America. If I lollygag, make God just another god, focus on myself and not Him, or whatever else I could possibly do to stop God's shaping my Christ-likeness, then I'm regrettably, irresponsibly, foolishly wasting valuable time I've been given.
Perhaps a trial will face me that will make or break me while over there. Perhaps there are a billions "what ifs" or other perhaps that could happen. I need to be ready for whatever happens. And by ready, I simply mean holding God's hand while bearing all my armor, while being able to flee when I need to, fight when I must, and fear who I need to. It'll be a process, it'll take time. But I have time. I have 2 years. If I devote myself, I may be in a position of being one step closer to looking like Jesus. But if I waste my time, then I'll be one step closer to being just a smudge, a failure, a fake.

So that is what's going to have to be my motivation for sticking in, for not giving up, or being rash. I'm here to change. I'm here to grow. It's not any time to be wasteful.


Redeeming the time...for the days are evil...

Photo updates!

So, I figured some people haven't looked at my photos on Facebook; some people may be trying to relive Ethiopian experiences; or some people like viewing my photos(so long as they're in a small, semi-irregular pattern). Therefore...here are some photos! :D

 This is Dagim. He was my first home visit kid. :D

 These are some neighbor kids to one of our program children.

 Dagim and Nati just after an art class with their project around Easter time. It's a cross with a heart saying "Christ is Risen"...if I can read it right.

 This is social worker Tigist and her program child Berhane.

 This is Yakob and his dog.

 I'm thinking this kid is new to the program. I never went to his house so I never really got to know him. :/

And this is Solomon, brother of Tekalign, outside his house on my last home visit with his family.

In the mood

A few days ago it was my month "anniversary" of being back home. I started to write blog entry about it, throwing in a story or two from my stay in Ethiopia, but I ended up not wanting to.

But I just sat down from making my injera starter, and I felt Ethiopia-like enough to blog.

I apologize for not blogging in a while--or at all, really. While I was there I was busy, or so wrapped up in routine that I didn't find anything new to talk about. (Which is something I'm going to change next time. While I enjoyed teaching at the Academy, I don't think I'm going to do it all the time. At least not in a teacher mode. Maybe as a substitute for Michelle or as her helper.

So. To give you something to eat from my Ethiopian table of memories, I'll probably start with my future-sponsor kids. I'll post pictures of them, their stories,and why I feel led to sponsor them.

First off: Abreham Gudu.

Abreham's parents are both dead, therefore he lives with his grandmother. (In the link at the end, you can read his full story as provided by BCI in their newsletter.) Abreham's grandmother is Oromo and spoke only Oromepha when she first moved to Debre Zeit. Abreham, too, only spoke Oromepha, but being younger quickly picked up the language and because the translator for his social worker and grandmother, as well as for other people his grandmother encountered. He is now in the process of learning English, which means when he learns it he will be trilingual!

My story with Abreham starts, to my recollection, when I visited his house. It was a few days before activity day and I interacted with the family as I do on homevisits. Well, when the activity day came, he noticed me and began spending time with me. He would want to play with me; and when it was lunch time he actually had to fight to sit with me. **Not actually fight, but once the former kid left to get seconds he came in for the kill--of me. :P **

As the article reads, his unemployed grandmother cares for him and his siblings--one of which is younger than he. He is the only one in the program, so his care cares for the entire family.
When I first was considering him he had only 1 sponsor. But now he has 2. Hopefully I can be his third and bring him to full sponsorship.   Abreham's article.


The next child is Tekalign:

I can't remember if I first met Tekalign on a homevisit or an activity day. I do remember that the first time we connected was at his house on a home visit. By the time I left he and his little brother were hanging on to me every chance they had. And on my last home visit with the family I was able to look through his school work and tests. :P Bright kid.






He lives with his HIV-positive mother and her three other children. Solomon is the oldest at around 10. Tekalign is around 7. Alemaheyu(Shown in the picture to the left of me and Tekalign) is 4. And Sitota is 1 year old. Alemaheyu and Sitota are both fully sponsored; Solomon is 1/3 sponsored; but Tekalign has no sponsors. He's probably the choice if I had to choose only one of my three kids if it were in terms of connection.



And the final kid is Natnael:

 






























His story is this:
A number of years ago his mother and father died. Orphaned, his neighbor took him in. This neighbor, to my knowledge, already had kids of her own and was already pretty old. But she took him in regardless. She now has seven children in her care including Natnael.
This kid is all smiles and is a well-behaved one. At activity days he often sat with me or invited me to sit with him(Even if at times I didn't realize who he was). I was able to visit his house last on the day of my departure. I actually think it was one of the longest because Getu, the social worker, informed me around the time we left that we were there for 2 hours. It sure didn't feel like it!
Natnael is not in the program, so he has no sponsorship. He also only has two "siblings" in the household that are sponsored--both are fully. His guardian works in her house which serves as a cafe, selling injera and meals. Natnael spends time on the streets selling a variety of things to help provide for his family whenever he isn't in school.
This obviously isn't a great means of income for him--even if just for the reason of health risks to lack of personal hygiene other people on the streets.



So these are the children that are closest to my heart. I'm anxious for the day I have a job so I can see these children either reach full sponsorship and be in the program, or take the next step to full sponsorship.
(And then for the selfish reason of having correspondence with them.)


I hope you have bared with me through this random rambling of my time in Ethiopia and my plans for the near future.
Thank you for your prayers (prayers for them; and prayers for me as I find a job; go to college; and spread the word of BCI).


As always, if you have any questions about sponsoring a child in the program or going on a trip to Ethiopia, then contact me and I'll point you in the right direction.

I'll be--no promises--posting highlight entries of different children in the program soon.

Please, pass the word along of my blog and of these children in Ethiopia.


In Christ Alone,
Kevin

Last group for a bit.

This is one of the baby twins that we have in BCI. I couldn't tell you which one, though. :P

This is Yakob.

These are a few of my students that were luckily spending the night at the foster home right before I left so I was able to say goodbye. This is Dawit, Estifanos, and Nicolay.

This is Natnael(The kid I'm considering sponsoring), Getu, and Bootie.









Give me feedback?

More pics

Alemaheyu. The younger brother of Tekalign. :)

Abreham and his grandmother.

This is the wall right outside the restaurant I "frequented."

Photo update

So. I uploaded nearly all of my photos onto Facebook. But I'm sure most of you haven't/didn't/won't look at those photos. So I'm going to post some select few. I'm also going to try my hand at editing. I'm just fumbling around not really understanding anything(AKA clicking "Auto" numerous times).

A kid at the first football game held at the Academy.

This is the guardian of Natnael.

Grain Support distribution.

Grain Support distribution.