A Little at a Time
Day 3: Today was the first day I cried. Driving through Addis put into perspective exactly how much poverty is at work. Seeing two boys sleeping in the median of the enormously busy street with their dogs lying next to them took my breath away. I'm finally starting to take it all in. The median was no wider than two feet; taxis, buses, and cars were close enough to brush their skin. To see such a human condition put all of the world into perspective. I couldn't imagine walking the streets of Addis all alone finding any way to eat and stopping anywhere to nap. Everyone has to see it. Amazing Moment: eating Ethiopia's version of Italian food in an African Art Gallery. Brad and Angelina have been there. Also, Gaia (my team leaders' daughter) is the most hilarious 3-yr. old girl I've ever met.
Day 4: I attended an Ambo church service this morning it was just another moment of realization. I looked around and saw that I was in an aluminum /tree building, listening to a pastor I couldn't understand, all while holding a little girl from the village the entire service. It was amazing to watch another culture worship the same God I know. When we came back to the school and church in the afternoon the kids swarmed us. They have to be touching you at all times, and they all know a single english phrase- "what is your name?" Not that they can pronounce your name. I have never experienced children so affectionate; every few minutes they would say, "I love you." I even heard one girl say' "my ferenje" (ferenje= foreigner). We played Ethiopia's version of duck-duck-goose (my workout for the day). We also danced, spun each other around, and played sharks and minnows (lion/gazelle style). While wrapping up the day and heading toward the bus- the kids showered us with kisses, hugs, and even the occasional dragging away from the bus. It is all so surreal. After dinner, we had a team meeting, and it was the most fun I've had yet. Everyone was sharing and laughing. One of my team members, Whitney, shared that she asked a little boy how old he was and he responded that he didn't know. He was sad for some time after that. This is their world; and I'm glad that I'm here to be apart of it.
Day 5: What an amazing day! I woke up more pumped than ever because I knew today I would get to play soccer. We went out to the garden and Missy (my team leader) shared her story. Her story is one of suffering and God's love. It was so moving especially since I could relate to certain aspects of her story . I think she is so brave and God has blessed me with her as my leader. For the kids in Ambo, we organized an English lessons. it was amazing teaching them English, I got so into it! We would act out words and actions and then have them act out the commands. It was so exciting when you could see them start to get it,,, and then completely understand it. I was like a proud mom watching my kids accomplish a language. They are smart- very smart. In the afternoon we came back to play outside activities. We had facepaint, a big parachute, and soccer games. A dream of a lifetime came true for me today. I got to play soccer with a bunch of African kids, in Africa, on a field filled with rocks, grass two feet tall, and hole/dirt hill. It was so beautiful and fun. I played with them through the entire afternoon, and I couldn't have been happier. While refing/coaching/playing soccer, I talked to a man who introduced himself as the project organizer for the children in conjunction with the church. His english was very, very hard to understand, but I listened so intently because he began telling me his story. He was born to a Muslim father and after he became a Christian he has been shunned from his family. His story was so uplifting for me .
Day 6: Meeting all the street kids today was unbelievable. They are a group of about 100 boys all in tattered clothing, usually wearing all the clothes they own. Some have shoes, some don't. They look as if they sleep on the street, and fight for every meal, because they do. They are all very fun and affectionate. They asked me my name and my father's name, when I responded, "Glenn" one boy confused this with "clint." He got really excited and basically asked if my dad was Clint Eastwood. There is one boy, and he looks exactly like Don Cheadle- spitting image. So, everyone calls him Cheadle, and he loves is. After we did face painting Cheadle took the baby wipe I was using, and began cleaning my face for me. It was such a close moment I will definitely never forget. We played ultimate frisbee, hand games, slaps, and just had great convos. As the day wound down, we served all the street boys lunch. It was such a privilege to serve these boys some enjera. It was chaos, they were hungry and it was obvious, I am so blessed. Again, I absolutely loved serving them.
Day 4: I attended an Ambo church service this morning it was just another moment of realization. I looked around and saw that I was in an aluminum /tree building, listening to a pastor I couldn't understand, all while holding a little girl from the village the entire service. It was amazing to watch another culture worship the same God I know. When we came back to the school and church in the afternoon the kids swarmed us. They have to be touching you at all times, and they all know a single english phrase- "what is your name?" Not that they can pronounce your name. I have never experienced children so affectionate; every few minutes they would say, "I love you." I even heard one girl say' "my ferenje" (ferenje= foreigner). We played Ethiopia's version of duck-duck-goose (my workout for the day). We also danced, spun each other around, and played sharks and minnows (lion/gazelle style). While wrapping up the day and heading toward the bus- the kids showered us with kisses, hugs, and even the occasional dragging away from the bus. It is all so surreal. After dinner, we had a team meeting, and it was the most fun I've had yet. Everyone was sharing and laughing. One of my team members, Whitney, shared that she asked a little boy how old he was and he responded that he didn't know. He was sad for some time after that. This is their world; and I'm glad that I'm here to be apart of it.
Day 5: What an amazing day! I woke up more pumped than ever because I knew today I would get to play soccer. We went out to the garden and Missy (my team leader) shared her story. Her story is one of suffering and God's love. It was so moving especially since I could relate to certain aspects of her story . I think she is so brave and God has blessed me with her as my leader. For the kids in Ambo, we organized an English lessons. it was amazing teaching them English, I got so into it! We would act out words and actions and then have them act out the commands. It was so exciting when you could see them start to get it,,, and then completely understand it. I was like a proud mom watching my kids accomplish a language. They are smart- very smart. In the afternoon we came back to play outside activities. We had facepaint, a big parachute, and soccer games. A dream of a lifetime came true for me today. I got to play soccer with a bunch of African kids, in Africa, on a field filled with rocks, grass two feet tall, and hole/dirt hill. It was so beautiful and fun. I played with them through the entire afternoon, and I couldn't have been happier. While refing/coaching/playing soccer, I talked to a man who introduced himself as the project organizer for the children in conjunction with the church. His english was very, very hard to understand, but I listened so intently because he began telling me his story. He was born to a Muslim father and after he became a Christian he has been shunned from his family. His story was so uplifting for me .
Day 6: Meeting all the street kids today was unbelievable. They are a group of about 100 boys all in tattered clothing, usually wearing all the clothes they own. Some have shoes, some don't. They look as if they sleep on the street, and fight for every meal, because they do. They are all very fun and affectionate. They asked me my name and my father's name, when I responded, "Glenn" one boy confused this with "clint." He got really excited and basically asked if my dad was Clint Eastwood. There is one boy, and he looks exactly like Don Cheadle- spitting image. So, everyone calls him Cheadle, and he loves is. After we did face painting Cheadle took the baby wipe I was using, and began cleaning my face for me. It was such a close moment I will definitely never forget. We played ultimate frisbee, hand games, slaps, and just had great convos. As the day wound down, we served all the street boys lunch. It was such a privilege to serve these boys some enjera. It was chaos, they were hungry and it was obvious, I am so blessed. Again, I absolutely loved serving them.
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