No simple itinerary. A schedule of faith.

I am hesitant to put out our itinerary only because I completely expect to emerge myself in Africa time and the way of the biblical disciples, which to me means, entertaining less concern with being in specific places at specific times and accomplishing our “to do” list and more about following that still quiet voice of God guiding us each and every day.  That is not to say we have not planned.  We have planned and prayed and scheduled and emailed our peeps and changed the plan and prayed some more and repeated that process many times.  We have big dreams and ideas and hopes in our hearts for what God is going to do in us and through us while we are in Ethiopia.  HOWEVER…

We won’t allow our plan to keep us from stopping alongside the road.  We are ready to put the plan on pause at a moments notice when God directs us to stop.  We are in unity to be patient on Him and wait in his presence.  God Loves us so much and he Loves the beautiful people of Ethiopia and this trip will be an outpouring of His love, kindness, tenderness and generousness for all of us.  The anticipation in my soul is rising.

After landing on Thursday night we will be whisked away to the Baer family home.  Delighted to see these friends!  Friday we hope to gather and organize our thoughts, our 600 plus pounds and catch up with a few friends.  On Saturday we will journey to Alex’s hometown in the countryside where we helped the village put in the spring fed well.  This will take between 8 and 12 hours of driving on the very broken roads that are under construction.  It was reported to us that on our visit last year, it was the first time the village had ever had a foreigner or white people in their village.  The people were very gracious even though we looked a little scary to the children!

Sunday morning we hope to arrive at the church in the village, share with the people and pray blessing over their community.  We will venture the 1 hour hike down into the valley to see the well and complete a ceremony with the villagers.  Ashebir, Alex’s brother, managed the project and worked diligently for several months.  He dug by hand, brought in supplies on donkey back, rode the bus for 12 plus hours to get water samples tested numerous times and just poured out his heart and soul for his community.  Ashebir never gave up.  We get to congratulate him on a job well done and pray blessing over him. 

Armed with a potty, sleeping bags and camping rolled up mattresses, we are ready to sleep in “mama’s” home in the countryside.  Yes, our bags and clothing are sprayed with special repellents to make us less likely to get Malaria from the mosquitoes or so many of the other bug born diseases.  We are also taking the Malaria meds, have had the Yellow Fever shots and so many others.  I can only imagine what it will be like to sleep in the jungles of Africa.  Not so much the physical aspects that could be compared to a hike in the mountains and sleeping under the stars, but the spiritual aspects of breaking down barriers.  Traveling from one world to another yet being in unity because of our love for Jesus.  Of course, I am only imagining what it might be like….

Monday we will check out the sanitation, the school situation and the local clinic.  We will try to determine if there is a need that God would have us to partner with or if our work in the village is completed with the well.  Tuesday we will travel back to the city.  Wednesday and Thursday we will be in Addis and we have several stops and people we would like to see….waiting on the Lord for the specifics.

Friday we will be partnering with Six Baer Essentials and Sally as we will be delivering approximately 160 chickens and 10 baby sheep to begin a sustainable farm animal program.  Sally has been working with the local government to identify some of the poorest families who will agree to pass on the baby chicks and push the program forward.  This is an incredible beginning.  We have had many wonderful people give chickens and I can hardly wait to take these pictures and post them for the families giving and receiving!

Saturday we hope we will get to catch up with Kimberly and Aser Heye who have been serving as part of a two year committment.  They are from the Beaverton Oregon area which is so much fun for us!  Aser was extremely instrumental in helping with the integrity and governing of the funds being distributed for the well.  What an amazing blessing we could never have anticipated.  Kimberly and Aser, in addition to their “giving jobs” also volunteer with Children’s Heaven and we hope to see this lovely group.

Sunday and Monday we will be hanging out with Jerry and Christy Shannon of Embracing Hope.  They are living in Kore or Korah, the garbage dump of the city.  They are privileged to love on moms who are trying to make it and support them through a comprehensive day care for the sweet little children.  They have just been granted by the government permission to double the size of their program so we are bringing a portable crib, vitamins, cloth diapers and towels that will contribute to the start-up of the expanding program.  What an incredible privilege to peak into their lives and spend time with their family. 

One of the most heart pressing thoughts that God brought to me after our last trip was to acknowledge the families that are living in country and have volunteered to give up their American lifestyle for themselves and their children in serving some of the “least of these”.  I think it is SO important that we encourage, pray for and remember these children and their parents.  To get to visit them in just such an honor.

Tuesday will be our final day, rounding up the last moments, saying good-byes, walking in God’s plan and ultimately leaving the country.  We will be back in Portland on Friday for any of you would like to greet us as we return.

Butterflies, Treasures and Jesus

 Today is one of those where all of a sudden it hits me and I feel like I have forgotten to breathe.  Immediately I take a deep breath and steady myself.  I won’t say it’s panic.  It could almost be considered nervous, or excitement or absolute delight, but not exactly.  Most of all it is just that feeling of constant butterflies in my stomach and the anticipation of what is next.  As if the biggest event of the year is the stage in front of me and it’s almost time to take my place with the other participants. 

Clearly this trip is going to be different than all others.  God has given me strong friendships in Ethiopia, a beautiful friend who is extremely gifted to travel with, amazing friends cheering me on from home and abroad who have given sacrificially to represent and my rock solid family who loves me and sends me with their blessing.  I can hardly describe the gratitude I feel to so many.  I must thank God himself for aligning so many beautiful pieces of this puzzle.  My dear elderly neighbors who are taking the children to school each day, two grandmas who are helping with meals and transportation, a hubby who will be doing laundry and picking up so much slack.  For friends who have rocked my world with donations…over a half of a ton worth of donations to take in our totes on the plane and funds designated for all kinds of wonderful projects.  I am so anticipating the sheep and the chickens in Daley…delivering the diapers and towels in Korah, the beautiful blankets made for children from so many places in Ethiopia yet with a similar walk in life. 

So what about all of these treasures, what is the big deal?  This is what I have been asking myself.  Why is it so important to me?  Why do I get these butterflies when I think about the totes and bags that are so carefully packaged?  I guess to me, I believe they are treasures from the hand of Jesus delicately and preciously appointed for a person in Ethiopia.  They are not random or leftovers, they are intentional and purposeful packages of love with big intensions.  They are love gifts from Jesus. 

What are we without God’s love…nothing.  And to me, these gifts are God’s love with skin.  For many weeks I am the planner, organizer, helper, encourager and friend but for 2 weeks I get to be the skin.  The contact.  The person who acts in Jesus name.  With all my heart I want to be like the disciples of the bible, the ones who walked the dirty roads, simple men with trained eyes to see people the way Jesus would see them.  Yes, the disciples didn’t get it all right and they made lots of mistakes and so will I.  But, they gave of themselves, shared Jesus’ love.  Thus the butterflies…my weak legs and the anticipation of the stage, the opportunity and the beautiful people I am about to encounter.  Deep Breath….

$2 per day challenge

It is with a humble heart I submit my personal response to the postings by Levi Benkert, Lynda Steuer, Jerry Shannon and so many others.  I admire my friends daring to live on the $2 per day challenge.  My soul longs to embrace the endeavor they have spoken of and have really pondered the idea for days.  Levi has been bold in speaking the truth.  (I assure you Levi, it would be a lot harder than your challenge to shake me as your friend!)

I have been silent in a response until now, although it does not seem to be any easier to share my thoughts as they are so jumbled.  I am quite a logical person; I feel strength in systems, reasoning and order in that they help me find solutions to complex questions.  However the idea of feeding my family on $2 in one day,  using my logic, I have deemed impossible.  Although I would really like to participate, I feel dishonest in committing to such a high calling. 

Don’t get me wrong; I have listed below, the food that will feed my family for one day that costs merely $2.  I have played the game in a sense and feel so very shallow.  Even in my discovery of a $2 day food menu, it does not take into consideration the other luxuries that afforded me this possibility.  Let me explain.  The food I am preparing does not take into consideration so many other factors and that really leaves my guts churning, thus the reason I have not wanted to commit or comment.  I so want to be authentic.  For example, my $2 day does not include:

My own car that I drove at my leisure to the store, coupons that brought my pricing down from a friendly attendant that handed them to me at the door.  It does not include my gas or my insurance or the nice cozy socks and shoes that I wore with ease.  It does not include the electric heat I will use to cook my food that I don’t hesitate to use.  It doesn’t include my faucet to wash or the water I will need to boil with.  It does not include the bulk in which I can buy items at better prices or the weight I would not be able to carry home if I had to walk.  I have an array of spices in my cupboard in which to choose from without any effort what so ever.  It does not include the utensils, the plates, the beautiful table that I will sit at with my family, nor the carpet under my feet or the warmth from the furnace that will be blowing as we eat together as a family.  My $2 does not include my education that has taught me to read recipes or the computer and internet I used to do research. 

I hope you understand I am not trying to be difficult or intentionally push back.  I am only trying to say that while I desire to be a player, my heart is broken in that I am painfully aware of so many privileges that I have, that I am not taking into account as this game is played. I feel like a liar for even trying to pretend that I can participate at such a level that I might understand what the majority of the world feels like when they truly live on $2 per day.  I truly will never understand.

Feeling hopeless over a calling that seems completely unattainable is not an excuse not to try.  My last four years has been given to the desire to live on less.  In the beginning the decision was motivated by a declining economy and the recognition that too much was going out.  While we stabilized our income and expenses fairly quickly and cut nearly 90% of our spending, the last 18 months has brought a deeper conviction to live on less for the same reason so many want to attempt to live on $2 for one day.  In honesty, most people just think we are broke, or crazy or afraid.  I assure you, every day we live on purpose to live more honestly than the day before.  Even in this journey I feel failure. There is so much pressure from my culture that I still succumb to.  My own desires that I give into and rationalize give me grief.  I am so thankful for a gracious God who will be patient with me as I continue to grow in resistance to the lifestyle that is afforded to me in America. 

I guess if I could give or make a challenge in light of the $2 per day challenge, I would say to my friends, be aware, open your eyes, pay attention to the majority world and join me in having a desire to live on less, to give more and to be fulfilled with a relationship with Jesus.  Live a life that matters and ask God to show you how to do that for you and your family.

My projected $2 menu for a family of 5

Breakfast: 5 eggs $.50, 1.25 cups of oatmeal $.25

Lunch: pintos and 5 tortillas $.60

Dinner:  Bean soup: back beans, navy beans, pearl barley and black eyed peas.  1/3 lb.  $.45 (1/4 cup onion, 2 stalks of celery, 2 carrots, garlic and seasoning, 1T cornstarch) $.20

It still just feels wrong to even attempt to compare myself to a lifestyle that that affords less than $2 per day.

Completed Well Photos

Humbled…Only 9 months has passed since we met with Alex’s family in his village many hours outside of Addis Ababa Ethiopia. They have worked hard and used the resources wisely to build a three part well. Water for drinking, animals for watering and a third sanitation area. Please look and enjoy.
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I will be returning in January for another meeting with the village and hopefully a santiation project to start. Please pray with us and for the journey God has brought Embrace Compassion on.

Hanging out with Quiet Waters creating beautiful work!

What a wonderful and delightful time, sharing in our creativity and making thank you posters for a few of our favorite American families serving in Ethiopia…These families are on the front lines, acknowledging the famine, extreme poverty, sickness and the orphan crisis. Thank you Shannons, Heye Family, Steurs and Tom and Sally Baer. You guys are my hero! We thought about you and talked about your beautiful service as unto the Lord and unto the people.

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Send Jen a message if you would like to participate in the future. We would love to say thank you and be supportive to more families serving in Ethiopia.

A Bed and Breakfast with a Twist….

Delight.  Literally a little squeal and shivers of excitement.  Thinking creatively, outside of the box and discovering a gem, a treasure, an unexpected gift of joy ready to be shared.  That is what Embrace Compassion has found.

Treasured Guests at the Quiet Waters Bed and Breakfast

I have met two of the most wonderful people who are passionate for serving  those with disabilities and their families.  These treasured individuals with so much to give, are blessed by a visit at the Quiet Waters bed and breakfast.  www.quietwatersoutreach.org  In the meantime, families who might rarely get respite, if any at all, are able to relax knowing their beloved family member is being loved on, cared for and treasured. 

So what does Embrace Compassion have to do with this?  Well, ultimately we are all in this world together giving our best to make it a better place.  The delight and joy I spoke of at the beginning is when we came up with the idea  together for the treasured guests of the Bed and Breakfast to make cards, banners, art or whatever they would like to make, to send to some of our favorite Americans in Ethiopia!  They want to show their appreciation for our friends in Ethiopia as well!  How cool is that?  Quiet Waters and their treasured guests giving of themselves to bless our treasured friends in Ethiopia who are giving of their lives to serve. 

Shivers go up my spine as I am humbled by a partnership that goes deep.  A variety of diverse people, using their time talent and treasures to bless each other with the gifts God has given them, whether simple or complex.  A whole new expanded way of thinking, to give others the opportunity to get to know our friends in Ethiopia and one more way to tell them thank you and that we care.  It just doesn’t get much better than that….

Thank you Steve and Becky for your kindness to me, for your dedication to the treasured people you serve and for your partnership with Embrace Compassion to share even more love with those serving and giving of their lives in Ethiopia.

The BIG Race…an Iron Man

Can you imagine? 

Swimming 2.4 miles, followed by 112 miles of biking and then a 26.2 marathon to complete the race.  Absolutely unreal!  However, with Bryan Putnam it is absolutely real.  He has been training for months or you could say his whole life because training over the years builds on itself and he is no beginner to extreme sports.   

He is now, only a couple weeks away from the Iron Man race he is competing in for Embrace Compassion.  He has graciously agreed to share his spotlight with us for the purpose of raising funds for children who have not ever been able to attend school in a remote area of Ethiopia.  This village is where our dear friend Alemayehu is from and the children are his nieces and nephews.  We first met some of these children in December on our family trip.  We were the first white people ever seen by this village. 

Would you please pray for Bryan and his familys health and he finishes strong his final training?  A cold can be terrible at his point in the game.  Please pray for endurance, strenghth of body, soul and spirit.  If you happen to see Bryan, give him an encouraging word and tell him thank you for his dedication and his desire to help children, the least of these, in Ethiopia.

GO BRYAN!!!

QUICK UPDATE: partial well funds distributed!

A note from Alex!!!! 

Aser met my brother Ashebir in Addis and given to him the first money for pure water well project for my family and community.So Ashebir will be starts within three days and get pure water for the first time in their life.I want to say thank you so much to my sister Jen and her family, Aser and all champions of EC and others.  Bless you!

Our Heroes and Champions and Alemayehu’s family well

As I reflect on the journey over the past few short months, I am humbled by the friends and family who have taken up their piece of the action to partner with and be who Embrace Compassion has been called to be.  I just want to say THANK YOU to the hero’s and champions who have risen up to lend strength, expertise, wisdom and financial investment. 

Because of these beautiful people, the well has been officially funded in Alex’s village and now we are able to begin sponsoring some of the children and to help them receive an education with only a very small investment.

I have been so delighted and inspired by a few of these special friends giving in their own way….

Bryan Putnam, a master athlete, running, biking and swimming, beyond what seems even possible to man, in a race called the iron man, boggles our mind in and of itself.  To take it to the next level, he has given selflessly and offered to share in his victory and glory by completing the race on behalf of EC.  Bryan’s family and friends have begun to send in a stream of donations in honor of Bryan for the families in Ethiopia.  Embrace Compassion wants to say thank you Bryan for sharing your gifts, talents and most of all dedicated hard work for the betterment of the Ethiopian people and for the clean water that is being gifted to Alex’s family for the first time ever in history.  You are a true Champion.

Michael Schmidt has donated countless hours to use his God given ability to produce our beautiful website and blog.  His gift is one that cannot be mimicked by many and truly has brought exposure around the world where otherwise EC might not be known.  This gift is evidenced even as you read this posting, as it would not be possible without Michael.  Michael, you truly are a Champion and a one of a kind blessing.  Thank you.

Mike Byrd is an Embrace Compassion Champion.  Mike is glue, pulling the pieces together, volunteering his home, his time, his advice and support in almost every capacity.  Mike’s knowledge of water, statistics, the map of Ethiopia and the need is vast.  He shares everything without hesitation.  He doesn’t stop with helping run the organization but puts his pocket book where his mouth is and steps up to the plate.  Thank you Mike for being a champion and for blessing EC so very much.

Magan Byrd could have been lumped in with Mike but she really has her own Champion hero heart.  Magan is so very encouraging, walks alongside each and every step and is constantly sharing the story she believes so deeply.  Thank you Magan for sharing your experiences with us, for encouraging everyone, for loving Ethiopia in such a contagious way and for being a Hero.  Your sacrifices are beautiful.

Cyndi Groth is a Champion.  From the beginning, Cyndi advocated and found a special place in her heart for the children and specifically to bring together blankets.  We delivered so many blankets to the children in ET thanks to Cyndi, her friends and her mom.  Her love is contagious and her encouragement in irreplaceable.  Thank you Cyndi for being a Champion.

Amy Elder, my Hero,  is the reason this all began.  Okay, maybe God had it planned all along but she is the one who was willing to allow God to use her and allow me to go along on my first trip to Ethiopia with her family.  Not only did I get to know the Elder family in such a special way but my eyes were opened and my heart was wrecked and motivated by this first trip.  David has walked faithfully and supportively through this adventure.  He and the kids have helped redeem countless numbers of donated soda cans as well.  Sacrificially giving of themselves, their time and their treasures.  (not to mention those cinnamon rolls!) Thank you Amy and David for calling me your family and sharing the adventure that opened my eyes.  You are my Heroes.

Waneva and Cory are Champions.  On our very first trip to Ethiopia, they procured from Tursi’s soccer club, somewhere around $5000 in soccer jersey uniforms for the children.  This is one of the very best gifts we could have taken with us.  Such a high honor for the children to receive them.  Not only have they given in this way, but Waneva has graciously become the volunteer administrator for the organization.  EC would not exist without such generous volunteers.  Waneva and Cory, you are Champions, thank you.

Dan and Nicole are Heroes.  They have been “all in” and supportive on a deep level.  From the beginning they listened, allowed their hearts to be moved and jumped in on the opportunity to contribute.  From sacrificial contributions to Saturday morning package making, they have shown their love for us and for Ethiopia as only a Hero could do.  Thank you for being a Hero.

Karla my friend and a Champion.  Not many people have the gift of encouragement like Karla.  Quietly, consistently, sharing love and you can do it messages, Karla never lets us lose hope or give up.  Such a delight to have this wonderful friend who is a business woman of her own right, come and put together the simple envelopes and notes for our friends in Ethiopia.  Karla has been consistent with her gifts of time and resources and EC would not be who it is today without her.  My Champion, Karla, you are loved.  Thank you

Lynne V is a Champion.  While going about an ordinarily happy life, she has stretched to share the story and to bring awareness to the need for clean water in Ethiopia.  When it might be easier to be a successful busy business woman, and not mess with other distractions, she has consistently taken interest in and taken the time to participate and acknowledge the cause.  Thank you Lynne for your encouragement, your support and your belief in helping Alemayehu’s village.  You are a Champion.

Jill Dawes is a Hero.  The countless hours behind the scenes, the encouragement to say more cans have been redeemed, you are a blessing beyond measure.  Your quite and faithful way of participating and encouraging has not gone unnoticed.  You truly are a Hero.  Thank You.

Encouragement and gifts have come from so many, almost impossible to list them all.  You all know who you are.  I want you to know that I appreciate you so much and Embrace Compassion would not be who it is without you.  Claudia, Toni, Jessica B., Jacob and Kristi, Scott G., Wendy D., Erin J., Diane K., Sheri and Darin, Lisa, Phillis, Sandi, Brett and Chyrl, Tatiana, Marda and so many others in some small and large ways.  You truly are Champions on behalf of the children and people of Ethiopia.

Are you chasing plastic bottles?

While reading a blog post from either Christy and Jerry with Embracing Hope or Project 61, I really don’t remember, it stuck with me the vivid description that was given regarding the families in the garbage dump.  Many of them start out in the dump and no nothing different.  Some start with a future and some hope, such as the young woman who has one semester of her nursing degree completed or a young woman or man with a small business.  Usually, something changes, a baby is born, someone gets sick, a family member dies, they lose their place of business operation, are evicted from the shanty where they are sleeping and because of their total lack of margin in resources and support from others, they are completely derailed. 

Even if the path was less than glamorous, they had a plan, they were working to be successful, to provide for their family and to have a life.  Once that monumental moment occurs, they have to grasp at what they can get to survive and in this area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia know as Kore or Korah, and they go to the trash dump.  They hunt and gather plastic bottles to recycle for small amounts of cash, look for food that might sustain them temporarily or other possible items of value. Usually these sweet people get stuck.  They can never get barely what they need to get through a given day; much less earn what they need to get back on track toward a sustaining life. 

Then it kind of hit me.  What about me?  What are my soda bottles that I settle for?  What do I substitute for God’s best in my life?  What are the temporary fixes that I settle for?

Do we choose ordinary jobs that take too much time?  Do we accept friendships that bring us down, distract us from real truth, and drain our being rather than iron sharpening iron?  What about time wasted, maybe not on purpose but little by little on meaningless, insignificant and certainly not eternally lasting “stuff”?  Do we even substitute God in our lives altogether for instant gratification in life that brings long term pain rather than the sustaining life that comes from living with relationship with Jesus and the guidelines he gives us to meet our eternal goals?

I agree that there is such difference between some of us and from those in Ethiopia and the devastated poor society that even a missed breath or meal could mean literally the end of a life.  We have so much more opportunity but our laziness, selfishness and complacency will often keep us from being willing to dedicate ourselves to make the changes needed to make ourselves available for God’s best.  Yes, some of us have hard stuff that happens to us too.  But, is this really the only reason we haven’t bothered to go after God’s best? 

This was the challenge that God put before me today, to look at myself and to be aware of any “plastic bottles” that I am tempted by or chasing rather than staying strong with the margin God has blessed me with and trust him to work through the difficult times and go for his best, whatever that might look like.  And you?