AXUM 2008

I'M HOME!

After 4 days, 6 flights, and lots of airplane food, I have finally made it home to the US. I have to say that this trip was the most amazing experience. I went into this trip thinking it was going to go one way, when in the end it went in a completely different direction. Knowing that Ethiopia is a peaceful country, we had no reservations about going in to share Gods word. But what we did not know was that Axum, Ethiopia is considered a Holy City for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Sort of a second Jeruselem. So we were not quite so welcome. On top of this, the week we went was their "holy week" of the year. Not great planning on the part of our leadership group whom we went with. We had been given approval to be there by the Mayor of the city, but found out when we got there that he has no power and that it is the High Priest who holds all the power in town. He's in charge of the police, Mayors' office, etc.

But regardless, we were there and were there for a reason. We started out our week as planned, one group working at the local medical clinic, one group testing people for eyeglasses at another clinic, a group doing construction, one doing painting, and one working with the kids at vacation bible school. I was suppose to be doing vacation bible school at the orphange but they pulled me away to help with painting. At 1st I was a bit dissapointed, but ended up enjoying the project. The kids were everywhere so I still got to connect with many of them. In the afternoon we went into the center of town to do a VBS for the children of the town. On day one this was really fun because we got to know tonz of kids in town. They were all so eager to hold your hand or for you just to look them in the eyes and say hello. Some begged but many just wanted to be near you. After this we went back to the orphanage and split up into work groups. My group went into town to buy grain, mattresses, paint, etc. We had 4 translators with our group that we all became very good friends with. They were vital in our negotiations in town. We could not have done what we did without without them.

One day 2, we started out as usual, we spent the morning at the orphanage then the early afternoon began VBS in the center of town. But, as some of our group began a skit they had prepared, this local man jumped up on stage and demanded that we stop. He said we are not allowed to be there and that we must stop. We were all taken aback and some of our group thought it was joke. We were a little un-nerved because our busses had left to take people to run errands. There were about 40 of us and 300 townspeople. Some of the men were gathering closer and closer and it was very intimidating. Some women were walking up to the kids whose hand we were holding and hitting them and yelling at them for associating with us. Our leaders were hollering for us to get on the busses as soon as they showed up. We all got on (there were 2 busses) and were pretty much stuck there surrounded by locals with a big group yelling and arguing with our translators. Then the police showed up and loaded our translators onto their truck and led all of us to the police station. When we arrived they all of us in the busses out front and brought our translators and leaders into the station. We sat out there for about an hour and many people were breaking down. We were all very nervous having no idea what was going to happen. Even some of our translators that were outside with us were shaken up. We asked if they were "ok" and they just looked at the ground with tears in their eyes. They were fearing for their lives because some of them lived there in Axum. Finally our leaders came out and said we are ok to go, but that we can not do anymore VBS in the streets. That is when we found out that the high priest is in charge of the town. We went back to the orphanage afterwards and did some more work but things seemed very unsettled. Meanwhile the police/church pulled in our translators, the head of the orphanage, and anyone who had been associated with us and interrogated them. Some of the kids that had been running around with us were beaten by the police. One of our translators fathers disowned him. And eventually, at the end of the week, the Director of the Oprhanange was fired and all our supplies we left with them were taken by the church.

On day 3 we were told by the church that we could NOT leave our hotel. We were quaretined until noon. Our leaders wanted to get us out of there so they sent one of our translators to the airport to see if they could get us on a plane out asap. We all went back to our rooms to pack and then a girl from our group came around knocking on all our doors telling us that the High Priest wanted to meet with us on his compound in 10 minutes. We had to grab our backpack and go. We had NO IDEA what this meant. His compound was surrouded by a huge gate and armed guards. We all filed in and were told to sit on these benches. Then he came out and sat with our leader on his left and our translator on his right. He proceeded to apologize for how we were treated and that we are ok to visit his town, tour his sites, and continue the repairs on the orphanage. But that we were not allowed to preach the Gospel in his town, that that is his duty. We were all extremely relieved that we safe at this point and that we were ok to go. We spent another few days working at the oprhange, were able to get mattresses and blankets for the kids, and paint their bedrooms and school room. The construction team built a huge woodrack for the cooks and a stone path that lead through the entire orphanage to keep the kids out of the mud. The photo at the top of this was from the day we had the mattresses delivered. The kids were SO excited.

What saddens us the most of the trip is what will happen to those associated with us in the wake of our visit. We have no idea the fate of our translators or some of the children that spent the most time with us. We also made some very dear friends with some local teenagers there, Solomon, 16 yrs and Tedros, 19 years. They both spoke English a bit and spent lots of time with us taking Celeste, Mr. Nevil and I on walks through the country side, showing us around town, etc. I even spent my birthday at Solomon's home. His mother made us coffee, popcorn and Injira, which is a local flatbread with a chili sauce and greens on it. Their "coffee ceremony" is a tradition in their culture and was amazing. They would roast their coffee beans from their raw, green state, then brew them with a little pot over a small camp type stove. They would also burn incence and lay green leaves on the floor. They gave me a beautiful scarf as a gift that I just love! Suprisingly, many of the kids in Axum have email addresses. They have access to computers at school and at internet cafes in town. We've already been in contact with many of those who we met. Gotta love that internet:) We also got to watch the opening cermonies of the Olympics while playing cards one night with our translators and Solomon. We saw Ethiopia parade around the stadium and everyone there cheered. Oh, on our way to Ethiopia, we ran into the Ethiopian Womens Sycronized Swimming Team at the airport on their way to Bejing. Very cool

It was very difficult on the last day to leave. We knew we would most likely never see these kids again and just hope that our influence and love toward them would be remembered.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened". But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for our sins once and for all, the righteous for the un righteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:13-17