The kids in Korah ate the same thing for lunch everyday. They were given injera (a type of bread with a spongy texture and appearance that is made out of teff flour) with some kind of tomatoe looking sauce poured over it. Our team raised enough money to purchase a goat so that the kids could have some meat and protein. We had no idea that donating a goat to these kids meant that we would be going to the market, picking out a goat, putting the goat in our van, and taking it back to the village where we would be slaughtering it. Luckily, I was not in the van with the goat!

 The next morning our team arrived in Korah and the men brought the goat out and handed one of the guys on our team a machete. It took a few others to hold the goat down so that it could be slaughtered. If you know anything about me, you know that I LOVE animals. The thought of killing an innocent animal made me a little nauseous. I kept reminding myself that this animal would feed an entire village; that these people were starving and needed this food. So the animal was slaughtered, cooked, and served to this village a few hours later. There is a video that I still haven't been able to watch. But, the kids were so happy when they found out that they got meat that day.

 Romans 8 is my daily multi vitamin. I try to recite this chapter, that is packed with so much good stuff, at the beginning of my day. As I was going through this the next morning, I came to the last part of Romans 8: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 This takes on a whole new meaning when you have just experienced a slaughtering! But then I started thinking about how the whole gospel had been summed up right before my eyes! That an innocent animal was sacrificed in order to bring life to a people in need. This death brought life! In this gory scene, a message of hope and love were splattered across our hearts. The suffering we witnessed had a purpose and God used it for good! The same will be true in our lives. We will experince suffering but we are "more than conquerers" in these trials. God is good and He turns everything, even suffering and death, into good. In verse 28, Paul says that for those who love God, "ALL THINGS work together for good." Jesus himself experienced suffering because He knew that we needed a way to know God. That is the kind of love Romans 8 is talking about.

 My roomate on the trip played this song in the mornings that I couldn't ever get out of my head. I think there's a reason why we get songs stuck in our heads and sing these truths to ourselves throughout the day. It was a cool moment to know that the little song that had been stuck in my head for a few days, was exactly what He just taught me in Korah. So I'll leave you with these lyrics from Kari Jobe's song, "What Love is This"

   "What love is this that you gave your life for me and made a way for me to Know you And I    confess, you're always enough for me You're all I need Jesus in your suffering, you were reaching, you thought of me Jesus in your suffering, you were reaching, you thought of me"

In one of my first blog entries, I wrote about how poverty becomes personal when you spend a week with the people in Korah. I watched another video about Korah the other day and it brought a smile to my face to see some of my friends on this video. These are some of the same children that offered me their food at lunch time, who I sang songs with, who I painted their fingernails, and who taught me so much about what gratitude looks like. How can a person who has so little be so grateful? I come back to America and I think the opposite, how can a person who has SO much be so ungrateful? I don't think as a child I ever thanked God for allowing me to go to school, but I watched these kids praise God for providing them with an education. They thank God for providing food and clothing and water. I think God is using this little village of Korah to show people what it looks like to "give thanks in all circumstances."

My teammate Amanda came up with great facts about each of the countries we visited. I am sharing these. Thanks Amanda!



Fun Facts about Ethiopia...
1. Power outages are random and can last for more than one day.
2. There 2 stop lights in the capital of Ethiopia that work when power is available
3.Livestock always has the right of way in traffic.
4. Toilet paper is never present. YOU MuST BRING YOUR OWN
5. $100 will get you 1788 Birr (Ethiopian money)
6. Over 25 children can fit in a minivan to get to school, book bags on the roof of the car.
7. You must put used toilet paper in trash can by toilet because drain pipes are small.... Ugh!
8. Fights are not done with fists or guns they use rocks.
9. Tree timbers are used for scaffolding around buildings.
10. Hannah Montanah and Justin Bieber are still cool.
11. It is ok for men to hold hands as they talk and walk.
12. Public transportation buses have no passenger limits basically people hanging out doors and windows.

One of our translators wore a shirt in Ethiopia that said "MAN UP". I asked him what his shirt was about and he replied, "It's about being a father to the fatherless. It's a really cool group that I got to work with." There is a documentary that will come out this summer about a group of men from the US who spent a few weeks in Africa! I can't wait to see it! It will follow these men in Korah and Uganda (many of the places where I was) and document what they all experienced in each country and when returning home to America. Here is the trailor for the movie:

The Village of Korah - A short documentary

this video allows you to see and hear a little more about Korah

Our time in Ethiopia was spent in a little community called Korah. Some teammates met a man on the flight over and he was asking where we would be visiting. When they told him that we would be going to Korah, he made a face and look confused. Korah is a community that is the home to the poorest of the poor. They are the outcast, the neglected. In fact, the entire community is located at the city's trash dump. The people in Korah make a living from selling things that they have found in the dump. They also eat whatever they can find here to survive. Thursdays are the "busy" or most popular days to go to the dump because they bring the trash from the airport which is usually full of good things. The need here is overwhelming. Each day we would drive up to the outskirts of the village where they would let us out of the car. Most people just stared at us, and we began our short walk to the Project 61 house. Project 61 is a ministry started by people here in Nashville that is working with the people in Korah. They have created sponsers for many of the children and that sponsership pays for the school, books, and meals for the child. Each day the children are dismissed from school around noon and they come to Project 61 for lunch. They are fed and loved on and then return to school for the afternoon. Because there is not really a good school for older children here, Project 61 has sent many children to boarding school to receive an education. We were able to visit with some of the families who had children in boarding school thru Project 61 and they all shared how grateful they were that someone cared enough to come there and help their families.

One day we were talking to one of the girls on staff and she was telling us that they found 4 children living in the dump. They had been abandoned by their parents and the oldest child was trying to take care of the younger siblings. Project 61 was able to rescue these children from the dump and find them a place to live and food to eat. Then one of our translators started telling us that he grew up in Korah and he just recently was able to move out. This young man has such a strong relationship with the Lord. It was really encouraging to think that God was and is raising up leaders from this little trash dump. It is such a beautiful picture of redemption. I hope one day those children are able to share their story about how they were rescued from a trash dump, given food and shelter, and were taught about Jesus. My life and upbringing seemed so completely different from these people!

But then God reminded me that we really aren't as different as I think. We have all been rescued from trash. Our trash in America looks a little different- materialism, greed, lust, envy etc- but it's still trash. And God, in His mercy, redeemed us from this trash in our lives and gave us a living hope in Christ. So a person brought up in a upper class, white society stands in a neglected community of Africa with a guy brought up in a trash dump who is now sharing the gospel in this very dump, and we give thanks to Jesus for who He is and what He has done in our lives. That is the beauty and the power of the gospel. It is far reaching and He says in Psalm 46, "I will be exalted amoung the nations."

There was a clinic bedside where we were staying in Uganda. One of the workers at Canaan's found out that I was a nurse and told me that she would give me a tour of this clinic. The clinic was more like a hospital. People spent the night there and they also had a labor and delivery room. The nicu nurse in me secretly hoped that I would get to attend a delivery. I wasn't called to any deliveries :), but I did get to know a patient there. When I asked her what her name was she said something that I could not understand. It sounded something like Hope, so I just called her Hope. She was 6 years old and was in the hospital receiving treatment for Malaria. Everyday she would come out of the hospital and sit with me on the stairs. I'm not sure where her parents were, but they were never with her. She sat and watched all the other kids run around and play, but she was not allowed to because she had an IV in her hand. One night I was sitting on the stairs with my phone in my hand and she started looking at my phone. I opened one of the games that some kids downloaded on my phone and let her play. It was the first time I had seen her smile. So for many nights, I sat on the stairs and let Hope play games. She also did Facetime with me a few times. She didn't speak English very well so there wasn't a lot of communication, just smiles when I would go see her in the hospital. By the time we were leaving, the nurses there told me that she would be able to go home in a few days. I hope she is at home and doing well now. I miss my little visits in the clinic with her!

this is labor and delivery :)

Juliette's Story: A Jewelry Maker from Masese

 if you would like to purchase a necklace from the Karamonjong click here

Since getting home, I have received many complements on a certain bracelet that I have been wearing. I usually reply, "Thanks- It has a really cool story behind it." The bracelet was made by a woman from the Karamonjong tribe who lives in a small area in Uganda known as Masese, sometimes referred to as the Masese slum. The Karamonjong tribe has been around for a while and are spread out over Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda. The tribes are ususally in conflict with each over herding cattle. In Uganda, the Karmonjong mainly live in the northern part of the country but some have come to Masesa as refugees. They are the poorest of the poor. Many of the kids here ran around naked because they didnt have clothes. Those that did have clothes were wearing things that were ripped, stained, and so dirty . Almost none of the kids had shoes.

Many of the mothers here were single mothers. Some had been married previously and their husbands left them. They were willing to do anything to provide for their children and because of this many of them became prostitutes. They would put their children to bed at night, sneak out of the house, and then try to return before their children woke up. They would sell themselves for one dollar or less a day, but that was enough to provide some food for their children. They hated what they were doing, but it was the only solution to caring for their family that they knew of.

When Amazima ministries found out about this, they began to help. They taught these women how to make jewelry from newspapers and magazines that they could as sell. While they are making these necklaces they have bible study and teach them about Jesus. When the necklaces are done, they sell them. A majority of the money goes back to the women and some goes into a fund to help the community of Masese. This fund provides breakfast and lunch for all their children when they attend school.

We got to spend a day with the Karamonjong. I was in charge of the children while some team members led bible study for all the women. After bible study, the women brought all their necklaces out and we were able to purchase their jewelry. So the bracelet that I wear now is a reminder of a woman who was rescued from prostitution and given a way to provide for her family. Its a reminder of someone who has been told she is worth so much more than one dollar a day- her life is worth the life of Jesus. Its a reminder of the power of the gospel that has given someone a new life in Christ.

God is at work in the Karamonjong people and I am so blessed that I got to see that first hand.

Meet Hellen. She is Marvin's sister. The first 2 days I did not even know Marvin had a sister who lived there with him. Then on day 3 this shy, little girl came up to me on the playground and said, "Thank you for being kind to my brother." She had such a sweet, soft voice. While Marvin was swinging, I sat down and she sat right beside me. I told her that I was so happy to meet her and to know that Marvin had a sister looking out for him there. She looked at me and smiled and then begin telling me her life story. Her mom died of AIDS, her dad drowned, and about a year ago her and Marvin were brought to Canaan's. She told me that she had other brothers and sisters, but they were older and could care for themselevs so they did not come to Canaan's. I have no idea what you say to an eleven year old who has already lost both parents and been split up from brothers and sisters. I think all I could say was, "Im so sorry for all you have been through." She just smiled and then put her head on my shoulder. Then she asked me if I wanted to see her dorm.

One day while I was swinging with Marvin, my shoe fell off. She picked it up and then tried it on. It fit her perfectly, so I gave her those shoes when I left. You would have thought I gave her a million dollars. I spent a lot of time with Hellen and fell in love with her too. She is very quiet and doesn't seem to fit in with all the other girls her age. But then I think about what she has been through in the past few years and how she is still grieving the loss of her parents. I am reminded to pray for her and I ask you all to join me!

It was really hard for me to tell her bye. The night before I left, we put Marvin to bed and then I walked her to her dorm. I told her that I was going to miss her a lot. She pulled out a piece of paper and asked me to write my name down so she knew how to spell it. She said that the piece of paper would remind her to pray for me. An 11 year old girl who lost both of her parents and was split up from her family wants to put up a reminder to pray for me?

The next morning when I walked out, she was waiting at the door for me. We had already said goodbye the night before. I looked at her and said, "Aren't you supposed to be at school?". She handed me a peice of paper folded up and then smiled and said, "Yes, I am going. I wanted to give this to you." It's a good thing I didn't read it then, because it made me cry so hard. This letter is now framed and sitting on my desk at home. It's my daily reminder to pray for Helen.

Trying to think of a way to help Damalie from this side of the world seemed overwhelming, but we were up for the challenge. About two days after we had been home, a teammate tried to google Damalie to see if by some chance there was a website for the baby home. She didn't find one, but her google search led her to a blog from a ministry called Voices 4 the Voiceless. The founder of this ministry had been on a trip a week or two before ours and her team had also visited Damalie. On her blog, the founder of Voices 4 the Voiceless was writing about how much Damalie meant to her and how God put Damalie in her life for a reason. As a result of her trip, Voices 4 the Voiceless has now partnered with Damalie and will be working to help her provide for these babies. The coolest thing about this story is that as our team was with Damalie praying that God would provide, He was already making a way for that provision through Voices 4 the Voiceless.

I emailed the founder of Voices 4 the Voiceless to let her know that my teammates and I met Damalie and wanted to help. She was so sweet and wrote me back quickly. She was excited that God put a burden on our hearts as well. Her team was able to cover the rent of Damalie's house for a year. Our team covered food. So Voices 4 the Voiceless is focusing on raising money for land that can be used for a house, raising and selling chickens as a source of income, and a clinic. Damalie has a dream of also having a clinic to provide healthcare to the community. So, Voices 4 the Voiceless has set everything up and have frequent contact with Damalie.

Last week, Brantley (the founder of Voices 4 the Voiceless) received some quotes back on land in Jinja. It will cost about 6,000 US dollars to purchase 4 acres of land. The fund raising has already started and hopefully this land can be purchased soon. Things have been happening so fast and it is really cool to see how God has provided. I think back to how Damalie was telling us that you just have to be obedient to what is asked of you and TRUST that God will provide. This story is a testament to His provision. He brought unexpected guests into her home who saw her needs, both immediate and future, and knew that something had to be done. This is the beauty of the body of Christ. This story isn't about me ,my team, or Voices 4 the Voiceless- it's a story about Jesus. It's a story about what it looks like to say "yes" to Jesus and the beauty that comes from that obedience. It started with Damalie saying "yes, I'll take in abandoned children."Brantley, the founder of Voices 4 the Voiceless, said "yes, I'll go serve in Uganda for 2 weeks. Each person on my team said "yes, Ill serve in Uganda ." And through those "yes's" came provision, community, and a story that only Jesus could weave together. And we will continue to trust in His provision as we fund raise in America.

If you would like to donate:

go to this link:

http://voices4thevoiceless.bigcartel.com/

From there, click on "Give a Voice" - Donate.

When you go to enter the amount to donate, you can click "one time" or
"monthly". Then below that, you can specify where you want the money to
be used. (i.e. sangaalo baby cottage)

You can read more about Voices 4 the Voiceless at http://www.voices4thevoiceless.org/ .

I think that we will meet people in Heaven from these small, African villages and realize that they had a massive impact on the kingdom of God while they were on earth. I was lucky enough to meet one of those people on this side of Heaven. Her name is Nahyuha Damalie (we call her Damalie) and she is the director and founder of Sangaalo Baby Home in Jinja, Uganda. She is also one of the most inspiring people I have ever met.

When we arrived in Jinja, Pastor Issac told us there was a lady from his church who had started a baby home and we should go and visit her. It wasn't something that had been planned for us to do, but obviously God had bigger plans. So our team set out to visit Damalie and drove up to a small house with a tin roof. We walked into what could be considered the living room and there were 2 matresses on the floor with about 3 babies sleeping on each mattress. I picked up a child who was trying to crawl out the door and she looked at me with big eyes and then started screaming. Damalie laughed and said, "She has never seen white people before." Most of the babies were scared of us, but some warmed up to us by the end of our visit.

We walked in and Damalie showed us around the house. There were 3 small rooms and one room full of chickens. She was telling us that she raises chickens and sells them to pay her rent. Her rent costs about 100 dollars a month. In one room there were 2 sets of bunk beds where 9 children slept. There was no running water in the house. The house was the home to 13 babies. She began telling us the story of how she received some of the children. There were twin girls whose mother died of AIDS after delivering them. There was no father involved. A great, grandmother was caring for them but she had no money and could only offer these babies black tea to drink. They were severely malnourished and when Damalie found out she went to help. The great grandmother explained that she could not take care of these babies and kindly gave them over to Damalie who restored them back to health. She started telling stories of the other children and all of us were blown away by her kindness and devastated by the tragedy that these babies had experienced.

Then she started talking about a little baby that she knew of that had been hospitalized and was abandoned and in need of a home. She looked around her house and said very emotionally, "We don't really have the means to fully take care of this child. But then I think about Jesus and how Jesus would take in a child in need of a family." She was planning on leaving the next day to take in another child.

Damalie has a huge heart. She also has great need in providing for these babies. She needs a house with running water. She can not afford formula because it is too expensive so the babies receive goats milk. She has sacrificed so much of her self and her own personal needs, to provide for these babies but there are times when she is not sure if she will be able to pay her rent or feed all the babies. But then she starts talking about how that's when faith comes in. She trusts that God will provide for her family. I realized that I have never prayed "Give us this day our daily bread" and meant that literally. I have never missed a meal because I simply don't have the money or because I have used what little money I had to feed 13 hungry babies. I have no idea what it means to trust Jesus to provide for basic needs because food, clothing, and shelter have always been available to me.

We had no idea what we were supposed to do when she finished talking. Some people were crying. I was staring at a wall trying to figure out how we could get formula to her. Another girl came up and said that we should go buy mattresses for these babies and deliver them to her. Another girl went out to the van and got a suitcase full of baby clothes that we had and gave them to her. Damalie started crying because she was so excited for these babies to have clothes. Some of the guys went back to the bedrooms and started knocking down wasp nests so none of the babies got stung. Then we all assembled in this small room with her and all the babies and prayed for her. We walked out of there and we didn't even have to use words, we all knew that we had to do something to help. Each person on the team will probably say that this was one of the highlights of our trip. My friend Amber said, "This is why we come on these short term trips. So we can go home and raise awareness about things like this."

Damalie called Pastor Issac that night crying because she was so thankful for our visit. Each person on the team could tell you a story about how God spoke to them through Damalie. We were able to pull together enough money to provide formula for these babies for the next 6 months and clean water to mix it with, cloth diapers, and mattresses. But we all want to do more. Since we have been back there has been more exciting things happening with Damalie's story and God has been providing in ways we couldn't imagine. In my next post, Ill share with you what has happened since we have been back in the US!! I hope there will be many more posts about Damalie and the Sangaalo babies on this blog!!

It's late and I am tired so rather than share a serious story, I want to tell you a funny story. Having been to Africa before, I thought I was prepared for this trip. I quickly found out that I was uninformed about squatty potties. I never saw them last time I was in Africa and thought they only had them in China. The definition of a squatty potty is a hole in the ground with a little tile or ceramic around it. To use a squatty potty one must squat and aim for the small hole. Then you can take the gasoline can that is really filled with water and wash any remaining contents down the hole. We laughed a lot about our first reactions to squatty potties. But, when you gotta go, you gotta go and I wanted to immerese myself in the culture as much as possible. So, I went for it. My first experience was not a good one- I got an F when it came to how to successfully use a squatty potty. Thank goodness for the lysol wipes in my bag. :)

That night we were still laughing at our reactions and I made a comment that I needed to watch a squatty potty tutorial. Our group leader broke out in an improptu squatty potty coach class for those of us who were unexperienced. She said the key to mastering the squatty potty was "getting low". We were also advised to hold onto the rope on the back of the door if there was one. So we all started practicing our stances and then one of the guys on our team walked in and had a very frightened and confused look on his face.We were all jet lagged and delirious at this point and I think we were all laughing so hard that we were crying.

The rest of the trip questions went something like this, "How was the bathroom? Is it a squatty?" Some chose to never use a squatty (a majority of the places had real potties) . The others of us took pride in the fact that we mastered the squatty potty in our two weeks in Africa. It is quite the leg workout! So we learned to be thankful for many things, including our toilets.

Meet Marvin. He is the little boy that I fell in love with. He is 4 years old and both of this parents are deceased. He lives at Canaan Children's Home in Jinja, Uganda. The first full day there he came running at me 90 mph and plopped himself in my lab. Less than a minute later he was sound asleep. I tried to wake him up after a few minutes and he wouldn't move. I thought he was unconscious or had some type of seizure disorder because he would not wake up. Finally he jumped up, smiled, and ran off. Later he did the same thing and I carried him to his bed where he took a 3 hour nap. The next day he found me at church, crawled in my lap and slept through the service in my lap. For the remainder of my time there he would run up to me so fast, crawl in my lap and go to sleep .Everyday when I would come out of the dorm, this little guy would see me and run so fast to me. It was so sweet. Through the many hours he spent sleeping on my lap, I fell in love with him. It was so hard to tell him goodbye. I don't know how I did it without crying, because I still have cried almost every day since getting back because I miss him so much. He is not able to be adopted or he would be mine! But, he was one of the children there who needed sponsership and now I am his sponser! The pastor who runs the orphanage prays that all these children would be raised up to be leaders and impact their country for the glory of God. I pray that for little Marvin too that God will use Him in mighty ways. He already used his little life to bring so much joy to mine! His picture now is everywhere I look- on my phone, my computer, the walls of my house. I can't wait to go back and visit him!

The orphanage where Elsie was brought up a lot of conversation about adoption. The orphanage was overcrowded. The room with babies had probably 20 to 30 babies in one small room. Some of the babies were outgrowing their beds. There was very little tummy time or playtime on a floor because there wasn't enough room. Bottles were propped up on blankets and put in a babies mouth that way rather than taking the baby out to feed him or her. A lot of babies were laying in spit up. Many babies were crying and there was no one to come and pick them up. There were 3 or 4 women who were trying to take care of all these babies. There was always more babies that needed to eat or needed their diaper changed than there were people working there.

I'm not saying this to say anything bad about the orphanage workers. The people there loved these babies and were sweet to them. Many of the nuns found these babies abandoned somewhere and brought them back to the orphanage to care for them. They had nursed many of these babies back to health. We realized that had it not been for these nuns and Ethiopian workers rescuing these babies, many of them would not be alive. They also take them in when people leave babies at the gate of the orphanage. They provide them with all their basic needs to survive. Some of the babies had TB or Malaria and they were caring for these babies who needed more attention and trying to care for the healthy babies as well. But because there are so many of these babies and children compared to workers, there is not time left over for much individual love and attention that they desire. One of the nuns told me she had been working there for 30 years and she loved what she got to do. She started talking about how precious all these babies were and it was a joy for her to care for God's children. So I don't want to give the impression that these children are neglected in unhealthy ways. They aren't. There are just not enough of those workers' hands compared to the overwhelming large number of children and babies that are in need of a place to live and food to eat.

Many of these children at this orphanage are able to be adopted. I looked at all of those babies in that room and thought about how much they would thrive in a family. They need a place to be able to crawl around. They need a place where they can have some tummy time or sit up. They need someone to hold them and love on them daily. They need more than just basic needs met. They are so cute and we all wanted so badly for them to have a forever family to be a part of. I spent a lot of time that night praying that God would stir up the need for adoption in people's hearts. Then I started seeing him do that in team members. I heard a girl on my team that night talking to her husband about adding two more children to their family of 6. I found out later that at least two more people on the team would be adopting. He stirred up adoption in all of us because we saw the great need. And then we read scripture and see that the bible is really a story about people in need of a Savior who, by His grace, were adopted into His family and loved and cared for and provided for in ways they had never imagined.

"You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba Father!". The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,.." Romans 8:15-17

I can't sleep (again) so it is time for another post. Day one- we arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after a very long flight from Washington DC. We checked into the Ethiopian guesthouse and then went to our first orphanage. I was told that upstairs there were babies- so I set off to find them. I walked into what looked like a little african NICU. Then I glanced over and saw a little girl laying on the floor with the worst case of hydrocephalus that I have ever seen. Her name was Elsie. She looked so uncomfortable and was just laying on the floor grimacing, She was so pale. One of the ladies on our team was laying on the floor bedside her. She started talking to her and massaging her head and arms. Her tears were falling on Elsie's face. The rest of us in the room are trying to hold back tears as we are watching Andrea'a heart break as she loves on this little girl. She was whispering things in her ear and at one point I heard her say "You are loved." Andrea's response to Elsie was such a powerful moment of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We were able to go back to the same orphanage another day. This time Elsie was laying in the bed. I suggested that we get her out and let Andrea hold her. She sat in Andrea's lap for most of the afternoon. She looked so comfortable. I don't think she is held much there. It was neat to see how she was so comforted by touch.

I think Jesus used Elsie to teach all of us something. It was hard for me to know that her condition could have been treated in America. There is no such thing as a VP shunt in Ethiopia according to the people there. We know God has a purpose for her life and we were thankful to be a part of it.

"How was Africa?". That is a question that many people have asked me over the past week. The short and easy answer is, "It was incredible". Then they reply, "Tell me about it"and I don't know where to start. So this is my beginning, a new blog that will serve as a way for me to kinda process everything and share stories. You can't go to Africa to spend time with orphans and come back the same person. You are forever changed in ways that you never expected. But, what do you do with that change?

Reverse culture shock is for real. I arrived in Ethiopia and I was shocked by the amount of poverty there. I have been a lot of places, but the poverty there was the worst I have ever seen. But after a short time you form relationships with these people and your life changes in ways you never expected. This poverty becomes personal because it involves the people that you love. You realize that the child you spent the morning playing with is one of 5 million orphans in the country. But that one takes on a whole new meaning when you know his or her name, age, birthday, what they want to be when they grow up etc. She isn't just a number in some statistic, she's a child who has a story that has touched your heart. More importantly, she's a child created in the image of God. You learn her story, how she barely survived living without consistent food, water, and a home for months. Then you hear her talk about Jesus and sing and dance and give thanks for all that God has given her. You come home a few weeks later and sit in your air conditioned house drinking clean water that came straight from a faucet. Reverse culture shock sets in. You think This just doesn't seem right. You attempt to enter back into your former life and realize that you live in so much excess. Then you think of the people who you now call your friends who you worshipped Jesus with. They had nothing but He was enough. They didn't have money to pay for certain things, but they trusted that God would be faithful to provide. You watched them give Him all the credit when He did provide. You know that they are so poor but yet there is something so rich about them that you know you need. It's not things- its faith in Jesus. You are now kinda shocked by the American way of life. Your shower head can be changed to a water pressure of your choosing. Your lamp has various levels of light to choose from depending on your need for light. For the first time in your life, those things seem crazy.

So this is where I am- still in culture shock. And asking, "now what?". I'm going to try to share at least one story a day. Im remembering how much I enjoy blogging :).