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42 days to go…the world is shrinking

Nov 10, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  1 Comment

One of the fantastic experiences of being exposed to Ethiopia and gaining a renewed passion for helping, is all of the connections that keep popping in my path. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence. It began with the whole house garage/Craig’s List sale. It seemed like almost everyone who came to purchase something, people who knew nothing of my passions, had some connection with Africa. Many with Ethiopia.

Today is no exception. Shane has been a wonderful support to me and is very excited about our family trip coming up. I mean come on, he was willing to move our family into an “Ethiopian Mansion” when he didn’t have to. No elaborate trip to Cancun or Maui, but a trip across the world to Ethiopia and the dump with the proceeds from selling most all of our personal belongings. Whatever didn’t fit in the apartment, had to go! BUT, he certainly doesn’t live and breathe it like I do. I had him drive me around in NE Portland one night just to see if we could see any signs of Ethiopian culture. We did find a wonderful market where I can by injera and spices.

So back to my experience of today. I met a man named Alex who is Shane’s most recent new hire. Guess where Alex is from? Addis Abab Ethiopia. Can you believe it? He won the US lottery, which I didn’t know even existed, for a 10 year long term Visa. I just got to meet him today for the first time so I have not grilled him yet on all of the questions I want to ask him! Shane tells me I have to be professional and offer restraint! Okay…so I am trying to be professional as possible but I am so excited I can’t hardly stand it. Alex has been here about 8 months and told me he would go with us on our next trip to be our translator! Next trip meaning after the December trip, after all he was just hired and can’t ask for time off yet. What are the odds???? Certainly God is smiling down on us. He must have a great sense of humor! This story is TBC (to be continued!).

Montessori part 2, my heart is full

Nov 10, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  No Comments
What an absolute blast today! If I could skip out of work for an hour everyday to share it with such delightful children, I totally would! We shared together so much. They are like little packages waiting to be opened. You never know the potential of each one of them and the gift they will be to the world. What a privilege to spend time with them and get the opportunity to make an impression on them that could possibly stick with them forever! When I was getting ready to leave, one of the little girls graciously asked for a hug and then told me…”this hug will last with me forever!” Talk about an esteem builder.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION…THE BUS STATION

So what did I share?

Tabatha had help me put together a beautiful power point presentation with pictures from my July trip. I discussed with them where Ethiopia is, how I got there and why I went in July in the first place. (Mental note, good idea for a future blog!) I showed them pictures of the transportation, the houses, traditional food, and shopping.

ETHIOPIAN GROCERY STORE

Next we talked about why Ethiopia is so difficult to live and thrive in. We talked about HIV and how many people are so sick. We talked about the dirty water, I even had some in a bottle and asked if anyone wanted a drink! I had 3 of the 24 students stand and tell them they got to go to school and the rest of them had to be workers so their mom could feed the family tonight. The statistic probably isn’t accurate but it gives them an idea of how few kids get to go to school. It certainly isn’t a given. The lack of education influences the lack of doctors which then ties back into all of the sickness. The poverty and lack of work is also a result of sickness and lack of education. They really paid close attention.

ETHIOPIAN HOUSE
I used the cookie example with them as well. I brought a package of Oreos and had 3 children stand up. I told them they were the USA and the rest of the students were the majority world or Africa. I told them that the three USA kids got the package to share except for 1 cookie which the rest of the students could share. They were all shocked! I seemed nice enough, that wasnt very fair! I explained to them that the USA kids could share but they didn’t have to. After all there was plenty to go around, as long as the students shared. It was interesting seeing the response from the kids representing Africa and the kids representing Ethiopia. I asked the USA kids what would happen if they kept the cookies, two said they would get sick. One said he could save them for later. I suggested that sometimes that is what we do as Americans. Eventually the USA kids agreed to share with everyone later at the snack station, where they also got to sample ingera.

After the PP the kids broke into four groups and then they rotated stations. One group colored pictures of Ethiopia and monkeys. Another went to the snack table to sample the ingera and the cookies, a third station had many items I brought back from ET and they tried on the neckaces, looked at paintings and hand woven items. They took turns and I even tied a baby doll on their back with a scarf and commissioned them to walk 5 miles to get dirty water. The final station was my favorite. Remember, I told them that most of them would not have the priviledge of going to school so they would have to go to work today in the class. I set up a shoe shine station and the kids took turns practicing cleaning each others shoes with a little brush and a milk jug.

My favorite Shoe Shine Boy who should have been in School

I was so blessed by their teacher, Kathy Fisher. She was great and capturing their attention and reiterating the points I was trying to make. I could tell she was so excited for us to be there and worked hard to make us feel welcome.

Finally we finished by reading the first chapter of “Take Your Best Shot”. It is written from a 9 year old boys perspective. He watched a World Vision video about a little girl Maggie and decided he was going to make a difference. The first chapter is about his “Maggie Moment”. I commissioned the children to let this be there Maggie Moment and to really decide to make a difference in the world.

I am hoping to stay in touch with the class…to check back in with them once more before my trip and then again after. I am so thankful that a friend of mine, Claudia, connected me with Cathy and helped to make this happen. More to come…

Montesorri School Tomorrow! Ethiopia Fact of the Day

Nov 9, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  2 Comments

10:15AM tomorrow morning I will be speaking to my first group of students regarding Ethiopia. Twenty-four 2nd graders have no idea what they are in for! The best of marketing and Jr. High youth leader meets passionate business girl with props and walla…a fabulous presentation! I will give you the “rest of the story” tomorow as to the reality of this fabulous presentation! Tabatha used my pictures from the July trip and produced a fabulous power point presentation. I have lots of words to share-I love words. After the power point we have planned stations of ethiopian food/Ingera, shoe shining work experience, hand made items to touch and coloring pictures. Then a little story time from the book Lisa shared with my kids called “Take your Best Shot”. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share with the students and their parents. Something exciting is in the air!
My favorite fact of the day to share about Ethiopia vs. the USA is:
Ethiopia has less than one third the population of the United States but Ehtiopia represents at least 7 languages. No single language represents more than one third of what the Ethiopian population speaks. Quite a bit of diversity by dialect and language. None of these languages are common to us such as Spanish or French, etc.
Source:The World Fact Book 2010

A teaspoon VS. the Horder’s House

Nov 9, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  No Comments

I was trying to describe to a friend how overwhelming it feels when you think about the need, my desire to help and the gravity of the circumstances in Ethiopia. Imagine the worst Hoarders TV show edition you have seen. Then, picture yourself standing in front of the house with a teaspoon as your only tool, the crew has graciously allowed you to help out, the only catch is you get only 10 minutes! Holy cow, what could you do in a Horders house in 10 minutes? As noted in previous post, I would probably just start gagging…Seriously, it is overwhelming. Would be so much easier to bow out, to pass by the house, to watch someone else try, to give my condolences etc. Despite all of that, I feel compelled to give the best 10 minutes I can possibly give. I have chosen to go in with eyes wide open and to Embrace Compassion for the city. I am choosing to allow my heart to be vulnerable. The people are by far to valuable. What they have to offer me in relationship, in love, in learning from their strength and their heart it too much to pass up. I will take my 10 minutes and LOVE and be LOVED. Kind of takes the pressure off. I mean, really all I can do is make myself available and then see what God does with it. Then I get to thinking…what if I had 100 friend, 500 friends who all gave 10 minutes. If we had a plan, went as a team, worked in groups, used our unique tools no matter how big or how small…then we might even make a dent on that Horders house…or the poverty and sickness in Ethiopia. Consider it.

so bummed…Love in a Ziplock bag

Nov 9, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  No Comments

Just found out the package that I thought was being sent overnight on Friday wont be arriving until Tuesday. Tuesday is too late. Sweet Ashli will already be on her flight and in the air. I know I should have gotten it out earlier. It is just that there are so many details going on every day and I thought I was in the clear. I dropped the ball. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I’m beginning to love our Ethiopian boys as if they are our own children. Yes it is different, but at the same time it isn’t. They are our sponsored boys from the Project 61 ministry. We think of them as adopted, just staying at the boarding school in their own country. I just wanted them to have cards from Kaytlynn and Harrison. Some gum, pencils and new school pictures. Nothing that will save a life. Just LOVE sent in a Ziploc bag. I just want them to know we love them, that we are praying for them, that they are on our mind and…I want them to know that we will be with them for Christmas! It is a bit like sending a message in a bottle. Just bummed…my heart is sad.

Flea Obliteration Drama

Nov 8, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  1 Comment

So in case anyone was curious on the outcome…the flea killer showed up today. It took about 2 hours to prep, get everything that we could off the ground, out from under the beds and then vacuum thoroughly. We now will vacuum everyday for 10 days and continue to clean out the vacuum. We also have some other natural remedies that have been generously shared by friends and some special spray shared by Jessica. So I am having faith despite the comment on the card that was left that it will probably fail because we didn’t take everything out of our closets. Seriously? Everything out of the closets too? Where do you put everything from under the beds and out of the closets in a tiny little apartment? By faith…no more fleas please!

Toughen up, dont be afraid to Gag! 52 days to go

Nov 5, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  2 Comments

I keep thinking preparation…How do I prepare myself for the unpreparable?

I am so excited to see and love on the people. The women and the children grab my heart like nothing I can explain. The food is kind of weird sometimes and good others, I could take it or leave it but it doesn’t stress me. I generally am not afraid of getting sick. I am not worried about crime or something happening to me. The travel is long but it isn’t worse than a marathon.

My only fear, at least for the time being is, loosing it. Full on smell or site induced chucking your lunch without any control. Not motion sick, not sick sick but the waive of nausea that comes from sights and sounds that are just over the top.

I feel very drawn to Korah, the trash dump outside of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. We will be spending days there if at all possible. I can barely take my own trash out or wipe out the can. I can not even help with my own kids getting sick or barely left over food. Not that I’m not tough or too princess like, I just begin to uncontrollably loose myself.

Is there a way to toughen up? I’m trying. I keep sniffing nasty stuff to see if I can mentally control my heaving. Why would I have such an intense desire to be with people in such a terrible place but not even be able to control my own body? I heart Korah.

My Life is a Science Experiment.

Nov 4, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  No Comments

My 11 year old, Kaytlynn, has been working feverishly on a fabulous experiment. It seemed natural because she likes to bake to do something in the kitchen. She chose to make from scratch two yellow cakes with all of the ingredients controlled as well as the baking conditions. She made only one slight change to the recipe. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda was omitted in the second cake. As a good scientist would, she observed each step.

  1. the ingredients looked the same
  2. the batter looked, smelled, tasted the same
  3. not surprisingly the difference was in the baking

There was a big bubble on one side, the cake was difficult to get out of the pan, it crumbled on one side and was like a rubber solid chunk instead of a fluffy cake.

    I began to compare the experiment to my own life. Maybe on the surface I might look the same to my peeps. I smile, I’m kind, I say nice things. No one may suspect until I’m baked…under pressure. What if that little ingredient that is missing is love… the perfect love of Jesus. The secret is to put the love in ahead of time. One you are under pressure, there isn’t time to throw in the missing ingredient.

    unwanted guests-the unperks

    Nov 4, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  4 Comments

    Today is the day of admission. The black jumping specks on my arms, my bed and my books are not pepper. The visitors have moved in to stay and today is the day their eviction notice is to be served. Maybe they are guests from the previous tenants. Maybe friends of the 4 cats upstairs. I’m not sure but being the unfriendly person that I am, today is the day of their doom. I have agreed for the nasty infusion to be imparted in our home. 10 days of vacuum clean up. Really, 10 days of bodies and eggs? The thought makes me shutter. The green natural girl that I aspire to be is wreathing in agony over the thought. Did we really sign up to live here on purpose?

    Non Material Poverty

    Nov 2, 2010   //   by Jennifer Bridges   //   Blog, Uncategorized  //  1 Comment
    Non Material Poverty is an interesting concept for our Western Culture. Isn’t poverty all about having material wealth? While reading “When Helping Hurts” by Brian Fikkert, I have really been considering My Own Poverty.
    Poverty of meaningful moments. It isn’t on purpose, or for lack of trying, but it often seems as if the days go by so quickly: racing out the door to school, then to the office, back to school, snack time, soccer practices words, what about the reading tonight? Are the teeth brushed, why didn’t anyone tell me we were out of laundry soap, a quick trip to the store for poster board? You get the point. Margin In Life. Blank space seems to be in short supply.
    How do we give our children the best, stay connected with those we love, work hard and give our best but keep from being drawn up by life? Creating margin and blank space in our day leads to wealth of spirit.
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