Unexpected Blessings

YaYa Village

As I reported in an earlier post, we had to cancel our trip to northern Ethiopia due to some instability in that part of the country. We have spent this week instead in and around Addis Ababa, two nights at the Equip Ministries guest house and two nights back at YaYa Village the resort in the mountains that has a decent running track.

What started as a disappointing turn of events has turned out to be a nice time of rest and respite. We had time to get caught up on communications (WiFi at last!), sleep and laundry. We also got to participate in some of the activities in and around Equip. One evening we attended a concert of Ethiopia’s most popular Christian music artist. We couldn’t understand a word, but the young people in the audience were going crazy, singing and dancing. (It reminded Isabel and Noel a bit of Hillsong concerts, for those who know them.) We also attended church with the Equip staff and joined them for lunch and gelato – our first ice cream since leaving the States. One morning, we sat in on a meeting of a former Muslim who was called into the Christian faith by a miraculous event. For the last 25 years, he has been reaching out to Muslims throughout Ethiopia to spread the gospel. He had some really profound thoughts on how this can be done in a peaceful and effective way.

Now we’re enjoying the lovely YaYa resort, including the cleaner air and all the amenities like a gym, swimming pool and beautiful grounds. Isabel and I are even getting massages today – at $9/person, who can resist?

All this to say that sometimes a change of plans is not what we want, but just what we need.

And now, we are leaving Ethiopia for Kenya. Before we go, I wanted to reflect on a few random things I’ve noticed in the 2 ½ weeks we’ve been here:

One of the obstacles on a typical
Ethiopian road.

*Driving is an art, not a science – Much of our time here has been spent in the car, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity to analyze the driving style here. First, it’s typical non-Western chaos, with traffic laws being largely ignored. Drivers drift across lanes at will, cut one another off constantly, double park, pass in dangerous places – one giant game of chicken. Yet I’ve witnessed zero accidents and zero accounts of road rage. The people here have a pretty patient approach and an overall perspective that we’ll get there when we get there. I especially enjoy the apparent pecking order that goes like this: faster cards and SUVs have priority on the road, with taxis, buses and trucks pulling aside to let them pass. At the top of the pecking order though, surprisingly, are the goats, cows and donkeys that wander into the streets at will. Drivers slow down or come to a complete stop if necessary to safely pass. I understand that’s because anyone who hits an animal has to pay up on the spot.

*You would never be lonely in Ethiopia. There are many things that need improvement in this developing country, but it’s undeniable that this culture places a high priority on community and cooperation. People gather in groups everywhere we look, having coffee at a sidewalk café (essentially plastic stools placed in a circle under a tarp), helping each other fix a car, walking arm in arm, playing soccer in the street. I now see why Africans who come to America are dismayed – even spooked—by the empty streets. Where are all the people? We live in our cars or living rooms or backyards. And many people are very, very lonely because of it. I don’t think you could get lonely here.

Always many people outside in Ethiopia.

Bereket made many little friends in Abaya.

*Free college here. As I've listened to the Democratic candidates for U.S. President advocate for free college, I have not been convinced it would be financially feasible. But Ethiopia has free college tuition, and I spoke to many young adults (including Godebo's and Bereket's brother Daniel) for whom this policy has been monumental. It also seems to offer promise for the nation as they are able to train and then maintain professionals such as road engineers, architects, teachers, environmental specialists, etc. What would free college do for the U.S. in lifting up the disadvantaged, advancing science and technology, even transforming our political culture? It's worth considering.

*Traveling in a developing country exposes my weaknesses. As I’ve waited…and waited…for meals at restaurants, fiddled with hotel lights or showers or TVs that do not work, sat in gridlock, endured countless power and water outages, been unable to communicate, I’ve realized something about myself: I’m not very resilient. My comfortable American life has left me feeling pretty pampered and entitled, and I don’t roll with the punches as much as I’d like to imagine. Ethiopians are resilient and adaptable. They are also very optimistic and generous. I have a lot to learn from them.

The family of one of our World Vision sponsor kids took time to create this
welcoming canopy decorated with fresh flowers.