Note: blog address change

For various logistical reasons, I needed to move my blog to another service, so from now on please visit my blog at: http://thebirthplaceofcoffee.wordpress.com. All of my old blogs have been transferred to wordpress as well. Thank you!

I'm going to be in Ethiopia with these crazy cats!!

From left to right: Andy Warren, Jason Polk, Bill Yarborough, Jeff Concannon, Emily Treadwell, Bev Warren, me, Cary Sink, Michael Treadwell

Front row: Liz Polk (holding Isaiah), Linda Swallow, Maria Concannon

We took this very fun picture during our American teammate retreat which took place in Athens, GA the weekend of April 15. For one reason or another we were all in the states at the same time, which I think is a miracle if you know anything about how hard is to get missionaries in the same place! So Andy, our team leader, organized this retreat for us. The Warren's, Linda, Cary, and the Treadwell's have all been in Ethiopia for a while (especially the Warren's who have been in Africa total for 25 years) and have been a HUGE help to me as I prepare to serve there. Liz & Jason and their two kids will be arriving in Addis about a month after I get there. They will be starting the new church-plant among the families we serve with. The Treadwell's have two kids and will be arriving back on the field this fall. Jeff & Maria live in Knoxville, TN and help raise money for our project and Bill is the MTW International Director for Africa. Missing from our retreat was all of the Ethiopian staff we normally work with, which I think was especially hard on my teammates who know them well.

Being a part of this retreat got me motivated to write out all of the things I am excited about in regards to moving to Ethiopia. People always are asking me "are you getting excited?!?" I think I am excited, but it's not the same kind of excitement as like going to see a movie that just came out or going on a fun vacation that's finally here or getting a new pet. It's more like a trepidation excitement/borderline terror. So anyway, as I was enjoying a nice walk in Amy Mo's beautiful neighborhood today, I started brainstorming some things I am looking forward to (and yes, sometimes excited about!):

•  Definitely my teammates. Being with them all weekend got me really pumped to get to be with them for two years. It did feel a little surreal- like my mind was catching up to my new identity as someone working and living in Ethiopia, but it was a lot of fun.
• Finally getting to know all the Ethiopian staff which I've heard such amazingly great things about
• All of the randomness that goes into living in East Africa. I have only ever been to Kenya & Ethiopia, but both times I realized some of the best parts is just driving or walking around and watching what's going on. You literally never know what you might see- for better or worse. But a lot of times it can be quite funny (like the bobo train bus in Nairobi with all the strobe lights and TV's).
• Getting to learn another language and actually using it
• Growing spiritually in new ways and being challenged in my faith
• Not having to clean my bathroom
• Having a routine and getting back to work
• Being with the summer interns and working with other interns yet to come
• Getting my new apartment set up and doing things like putting the Christmas card pictures on my refrigerator
• Living a simpler life
• Being able to learn how to really help the poor & do mercy ministry well & how to be an inter-cultural team (we did a lot of discussing this during the weekend and I realized I really have no clue how to do this)
• Getting to meet other missionaries and expatriates from all over the world
• Figuring out how to get around and how to buy groceries and do laundry, etc
• Seeing a new part of the world
• Having family and friends come visit and showing them what I'm doing in Addis Ababa
• Drinking really good coffee and eating spicy food
• Being able to finally experience what full-time ministry life is like

This guy I know named Tom

Almost 11 years ago I finished up my time at Berry College and prepared to move to Atlanta to start my life as a real adult. I remember my first job at MTW and getting that first paycheck thinking I was making a truckload of money and 'joyfully' learning that I couldn't spend it all in the first few days but instead it had to go to rent and gas and such.

One thing I was so grateful for in that time of transition was that I found a great local church, Intown Community, and got involved rather quickly. The church had a thriving singles group which was mainly for adults typically around 22-35 years old or so, but we didn't kick anyone out if you didn't fit that parameter. Most of the close friends I have today came from that group, so I've known them for quite a while. The main reason why the group was so awesome was because of the leadership offered up first by a great pastor on staff, but then after he left it was done by elders in the church who had a passion for discipling and mentoring adults in this stage of life when you're trying to figure out where you belong and how to apply your Christian life in the "real" world. One of these adults was a guy named Tom Maiwald. He and his wife alongside several other families invested in people like me. I didn't know him all that well, but I remember when he called me up in the summer of 2004, after I had been involved in singles for about three years, and asked if I would want to be a part of the servant leadership team which helped planned events and do other things to bring people into our fold and ultimately allow them to hear about Jesus and grow spiritually. I was so humbled he would ask! Even though I didn't end up enjoying planning socials all that much (right, Nathan?), it was really fun to get to know the Maiwald's and be a part of this experience.

Something that we knew about Tom because he was so transparent about it was that he had colon cancer, and that he had already beaten the odds several times and it was a miracle he was even still alive to be with us then. I think he was diagnosed in 1996 when he was only 29, if I remember correctly from hearing his testimony. Anyway, he and his wife have two beautiful kids too who were just in elementary school when I knew them. About halfway through my time on the singles leadership team, Tom's health worsened so he had to step down from being the mentor of this team. Eventually for several important family reasons they left Intown for another church, and I lost track of them. They did have a CaringBridge website, which brings me to the point of why I'm writing this blog.

So the CaringBridge site allows you to get email updates of when someone posts a new journal entry, and we had started to get emails about how Tom's health was deteriorating and he moved to hospice. This started a few weeks ago. Since he's been through so many ups and downs with this battle, I guess a big part of me thought God would provide another miracle and he would continue to be here with us. Anyway, about two weeks ago some friends of mine and I took a trip to Puerto Rico to spend time together before I went to Ethiopia. We've all met somehow through the church and the group I mentioned above. While we were there, Tom's presence and influence in our lives came up several times. I also ended up reading his journal written from April 1, which I can't seem to shake from my mind. At this point, Tom was aware that the end of his journey here was coming to a close. If you have a chance to read it, please do. For me, the take away was just a sincere desire to never stop evaluating my life in light of what God has called me to do. Also, I was so convicted in reading it because I know I spend way too much time thinking about what I haven't done in my life yet, compared to all the things I have gotten to do. It made me want to make a list like Tom did, so I can reflect on all the ways God has blessed me. Maybe that will be another post, but more likely for my own personal journal. I'm not yet as brave as Tom!

I share this because I know that I have been affected by Tom's life and his willingness to share it online through his journal, and I keep coming across so many others who have, and I think there are even more out there. How could so many of us be so impacted, and I haven't even seen him for probably about five years or so? What a true example of a man living to fulfill God's calling in His life. I was not able to attend his visitation or funeral, however, a friend gave me a copy of the bulletin they printed out. On one side of the page there was a list of adjectives describing him; things like "father, mentor, cyclist." At the very bottom it said "finisher." I know that is true of him as he is in heaven now, in perfect joy. 

Attempting to Savor

This past weekend I went to see the Hunger Games movie with some friends, and as we were waiting in line for seats my brain went to where it so often goes which is the "I don't think I will be doing this in Ethiopia so I need to savor each moment" thought pattern. It happened again as I went running today along Midvale Road, looking at all of the beautiful Georgia flowers and bushes in bloom this spring. I think there is a movie theatre in Addis Ababa, but I don't know what movies they get or if it's in English or how it works. You can exercise somehow in Addis, but from what I've heard, running outside is likely not going to be an option for me.

I'm realizing that I can't really fully savor everything, just like I can't fully prepare for what living in Ethiopia is going to be like. I think so much of life is really just being grateful for what we have now and trying to make the most of it, and trusting that God will provide for our needs in the future. It's likely I'm going to get a big dose of the realities of what I really need in life once I move overseas, but I think there can be an advantage to that. I don't think electronics or entertainment or stuff ultimately brings us happiness. Sure I love to watch TV and look forward to getting in my car and driving somewhere to do a quick errand or see a friend. But I can also learn how to get back to writing letters and making new friends and using skype and taking life at a slower, unplugged, pace.

In light of trying to be present for all that God has in store for me these last two months in the states, I had a wonderful visit recently to Minnesota, which was primarily to spend time with my dad (he drove up from Nebraska) and my brother and sister-in-law. I am blessed with a HUGE extended family, but unfortunately it's not always possible to get to see everyone. One afternoon though I was able to visit with my Ringsmuth grandparents and also a cousin and his family who I don't normally get to see, which was awesome. The rest of the time was spent with my immediate family, attending a baby shower for my sister-in-law who is expecting her first baby around May 20, and then also spending time with my mom's side of the family whom I invited to partake in Ethiopian food with me. We had 18 adults and 4 kids at Fasika Restaurant in St. Paul, and it was quite the adventure for me getting things ordered and making sure everyone had at least a little bit of a clue what they were eating. A couple of folks had had it before and one family even looked up the menu ahead of time so they were ready! Everyone tried at least some of it, using the "spongy" injera bread and trying not to think about the food similarities to a particularly disturbing scene from the the movie Bridesmaids at the same time :). It was one of the most encouraging things ever to feel how everyone wanted to try it to have a little taste of what my new life is going to be like.

It was weird thinking that some of these people I will not see for two years. How did you really say goodbye with that thought? I do think we will stay in touch obviously even though it will look different, and God will take care of them just like he does me.

We're constantly berating my dad for his love of taking pictures of everything we do, but then we also have plenty of reminders of treasured memories! Here we are at Matt's bar in Minneapolis enjoying their famous "Jucy Lucy" as featured on the Food Network.

Loved being there for Shannon's baby shower

The Rausch's tackled Ethiopian food for the first time!

And seemingly survived

Best mail day ever!

My last two documents I needed to apply for my work permit for Ethiopia finally came in the mail yesterday!! I had to send off an original copy of my counseling degree diploma and my counseling license to get authenticated by the State Department & the Ethiopian embassy in Washington, DC. I had no idea what authenticated meant, but here's what they looked like when I got them back:

My diploma looked like it had been through a dishwasher

This letter was attached to each document with a gold string and gold seal 

And each was signed by Hillary Rodham Clinton herself! (it wasn't a stamp- so I have to assume she really signed it?!?! I asked Jamie & Nathan and they agreed, so there's that)

I combined these two documents along with an original transcript from counseling school, 12 passport photos, a copy of the picture page from my newly renewed passport which came in the mail the same day as this stuff, my chest x-ray report showing I don't have TB, my blood work, a paper saying I'm in good physical health from my doctor, and a recommendation letter from my former employer, into an envelope and is on it's way to a teammate of mine who is going to bring it all to Ethiopia next week when she goes. Then Teddy, our project manager, will take to the Ethiopian government and hopefully come away with a work permit so I can legally work in Ethiopia and finally buy a plane ticket to leave! Let's pray to that end :)

You guys want to do more?!?!?

Several folks have asked how else they can help support what I'm going to be doing in Ethiopia besides directly giving to my support account now that I'm at 100% of my financial support, which is so humbling to me! So there are some items I will hopefully be purchasing that will add some fun or make life a little easier hopefully to live in East Africa. Here are some ideas if you are interested. The goal for electronic items is to get some that either operate by battery or have dual voltage as much as possible just so that it's easier to use if the power is out for a while. Also, the best place for obtaining and watching shows/movies seems to be ITunes, because you can download what you buy and keep it on your hard drive. I will not be able to watch TV shows or movies online while I am there.

I may add more to this as I think of more things. It's going to be an adventure learning to live in Ethiopia!

• DVD series of TV shows like Bones, Psych, The Office, 30 Rock, Burn Notice, The Good Wife or Friday Night Lights or something else that's either funny or a good story
• Spare battery for my computer (MacBook Pro)
• External Hard Drive for computer
• Oven Thermometer
• Double/full sized sheets
• Dishtowels/oven mit
• Rags that I can use instead of paper towels
• ITunes, REI, Amazon, or Target gift cards
• Crystal Light
• Cliff bars
• Powdered Gatorade
• Extra ink pads for my card making hobby
• Extra Tylenol and extra-strength Advil
• Clothespins
• Travel hair dryer

In addition to these items, I have two teammates who are also still raising financial support. If you're interested in supporting them, please email me and I can get you in touch with them. You can view their websites on my blog list to the right (see Jason & Liz or Michael & Emily).

Also, the ACT project I will be working with can provide their services in part due to their family sponsorship program. Individuals and/or families in the U.S. can support a whole family in this project which will provide such things as school fees, uniforms, clothing, food, medicine, rent, etc. Please see the ACT project website or more information on how to do this. It's $55/month to support a family.

Treasuring this time

The time before I leave for Ethiopia is certainly going by fast, which I think I knew would happen but now I'm living that reality. I've now been back from Belgium for a little over a month, and I have about two months to go before I officially leave, which will probably be around May 20th-ish. Please be in prayer for the last documents I need to come in so I can turn in my paperwork to get my Ethiopian government work permit which will allow me to work with the project for two years in Ethiopia legally. I need to have that before I can book my ticket to leave. Thank you!

God has really given me a sweet attitude about this time I have to rest before Ethiopia. When else in my life can I have concentrated time to visit friends and family and do anything I need to do before I go without having to work full-time? Probably never again. It's awesome. Basically, what this equates to is using my daytime hours to study/learn Amharic with my Ethiopian friend Nadia, helping do a girls bible study with my church, driving up to the MTW office for a conferences or other things (Living in Grace last week, ACT team meeting next month), driving to get my chest x-ray and shots, babysitting for friends, visiting with Alice who is mentoring me in overseas counseling dynamics, working for OM in February to help do their missionary psych interviews, writing thank you notes, visiting supporters, meeting people for lunch, taking people to Ethiopian food, talking to my new teammates, exercising, spending time with the awesome family I'm living with, you catch my drift. I'm not bored.

I've also been grateful to get to schedule a few trips before Ethiopia to visit family and friends for the last time. At the end of February I went to Keizer (outside of Salem), Oregon with my friend Melissa to visit Jennifer, who moved out there from Atlanta last September. The three of us have been really good friends since college and it was hard to see Jennifer go (I call her Gates still which is what we called her in college- old habits die hard). Gates's birthday was February 26, so we decided a while back to go that weekend for a visit, my first time to this state. I think what was so awesome for me with this trip was just getting to see Gates's new life and how she is flourishing in Oregon. I got to meet two families that Gates and Melissa are close to that live just three miles from Gates that really just love on her and support her and I'm sure she does the same for them. I was so blessed to get to spend even just a few days with them! Oregon also is the home to everything outdoors, so I was able to score some sweet Merrill shoes for cheap for Africa that I think will do quite awesomely. There also was the highlight of flying Frontier Airlines which offers you a free warm chocolate chip cookie on each flight, not to mention giving me the privilege of sitting next to "Eric" who was from Minnesota. Since I really believe I have an invisible neon sign on my forehead that says "please tell me your life story" Eric immediately launched into his and it did not disappoint. Eric was on his way to Hawaii (seemingly by the least direct way possible) because he was "tired of the social situation here in the states." If that didn't pan out, his plan B was to move in with a commune in southern Idaho where they take scrap parts and make them into buses. Based on how he smelled, I do not think he believed in deodorant. I was really tired by this point in our flight and felt like he was mainly trying to engage me in an argument, so with everything he said my replies were limited to "that's interesting, sounds good, well...good luck to you!" Seriously, what people do in real life is always better than fiction.

This weekend I am going to Minnesota to spend time with my immediate family (my dad is driving up from Nebraska), attend a baby shower for my sister-in-law, and potentially see as many family members as possible in four days time. I'm also taking my mom's side of the family to have Ethiopian food in St. Paul on Tuesday night, so I'm excited about that. They are up for the adventure!

I really am trying to treasure each remaining day in the states!!

Melissa and I bought these shirts at Mountain Day last fall and got Gates the pink one to surprise her with on the trip! Aren't we like super cute?!?

My first encounter with Oregon Coast roaring Sea Foam (this thing cracks me up every time)

This is really all we saw of the Oregon Trail but I had my eyes peeled for it the whole time

If a tsunami came, we were ready

Maybe I am capable of creative pictures!!! (reflection off the top of a lighthouse on the Oregon coast)