Reflections

Well, this is the post I have been putting off for the past two months. It is my “reflection” post. I was expecting to know how to move forward from my experience in Ethiopia before I wrote anything, but I am still trying to figure that out. I am hoping to say what is most important to share. I know that I want my reflections to encourage and inspire acts of love. I want to motivate people to give more – more time to God’s work, more love to the lonely, and more help to the poor.

First, let me say that every experience is unique and the quality of it depends on your attitude. If you enter with expectations you are bound to be disappointed. That may sound strange because doesn’t a positive attitude mean having high expectations? I used to think so until I realized that everything in this world is capable of disappointment. Expectations (high or low) set you up to miss the joy of the moment. When I got on the plane to head to Ethiopia I prayed that God would help me clear my head of my own expectations and reveal His plan. By laying my expectations on God (the one who will not disappoint) I went through this journey in constant prayer…asking God in the morning to give me a positive attitude, to show me the right course for the day, and seeking His grace when situations tried my patience. That ongoing conversation brought me closer to Him and simple things that would have been overlooked became matters of praise. I was more tuned in to others around me. Since I’ve returned I’ve watched myself slip from that trust. My expectations have been lowered because I’m back to my “normal” life. In the beginning of this I mention my expectation of moving forward. I’ve been relying on my own efforts to discover what I should do next and because of it I am restless and anxious. Already, I’m me-focused again.

There are two points here: 1. You don’t have to go to Ethiopia to have a life-changing experience (Although, if you do go you will.) 2. We are not equipped to go through this world on our own. We need God. We need each other.

To help process these reflections I came up with some questions. Hopefully, they will help me say what needs to be said about the desperate situation facing millions of people on our planet. (These are in no particular order)

Is there hope? Yes. Hope is found in the children…the ones who go to school hungry because they believe in a greater future. Hope is found in the volunteers who come from across the world, cross all borders, to show love to a stranger. Hope is in the congregations that send money to places they’ve never been. Hope is in the Addis Ababa SIM mission who is administering ARV medicine to AIDS patients – making life possible and turning death into a thing of the past. Hope is in Destiny Academy where one school of thirty is now a school of 200 and employer of 19. Hope is in the mothers who will do grueling construction labor to provide food for their children. Hope is in the countless stories of redemption when someone does something out of compassion and selflessness.

What can be done? Become aware. Be a servant. Think beyond yourself. Put your problems aside and do something about the loneliness and plight of people around you. Each one of us can start by showing more love to family and friends. We can start doing what we have expected others to do – giving food to the hungry, sheltering the homeless, caring for the elderly, supporting the missions of organizations that are already at work. Use your passions and gifts for the betterment of someone else’s day.

Isn’t it (the problem of poverty) overwhelming? Yes, if you try to do it all on your own. Fortunately, there is a network of NGOs, charities, public/private efforts around the world doing incredible things that save lives everyday. Those entities are made up of individuals like you and me. Through an act of faith Mother Teresa started as a mission of one. Hareg and Yonatan started Destiny Academy on their own. The acts of individuals have inspired others and the ripple effect brings us to hope in spite of the odds.

Why Africa? Because it is a continent that will grab hold of your heart and never let go. Because the poverty is worse than anywhere else in the world.

What works? Opinions differ on this, but however it is done, empowering people to live healthy, independent lives should be the mission. I think education and jobs are two of the most important things in breaking the cycle of poverty. But sick people can’t work or go to school. They need clean water and healthcare. Whether it’s through a micro-loan or donation I think the thing that matters is that people are receiving a fighting chance. Another component is the restoration of dignity – which comes when a father is able to provide for his family, when children can go to school, and mothers are not reduced to begging. A saying that Ethiopians adopted from a Chinese proverb is, “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.”

How can you go back to a normal life without guilt? Let the guilt be a reminder of your blessings and then do something about it. Those of us blessed with material possessions and security have a responsibility to be good stewards of our wealth. Don’t stop giving. Now that I am back I am volunteering at a local mission in Toledo, OH. It serves the homeless and vulnerable...turning lives around. For more than 60 years it has relied fully on private donations.

What is the situation? The situation is that there are children dying of hunger every few seconds. There are people dying from preventable diseases. War is turning children into soldiers and killing the innocent. In Ethiopia (pop. 72 mill) there are approximately 5 million orphans. Grandmothers are raising their grandchildren because the parents have died of AIDS. Only 22% of the country has access to clean water and electricity. 50% of the population is below the poverty line and lives on less than $1 a day. Only 3% of the nation’s 7 million 4 to 6 year-olds is in school.

What do I miss most? The people. The love and grace shown by the people of Ethiopia is second to none. They are also some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. They possess a heritage that dates to the beginning of humanity. They have endured hardships that most in this world cannot comprehend, but they always welcome a visitor as a guest in their home. I miss the delicious mangoes, the feeling that you get when you’ve taught a good school lesson, the humility of seeing people with nothing offer all they have, the crowded minibuses, the unpredictability, the traditions of a culture that treasures food, dance, and religion, the coffee, the hugs and kisses from the children, the beautiful landscape, the inspiring acts of kindness and triumph.

In conclusion, the basic truth is that people are resilient and capable of amazing things. The other truth is that human suffering is something we can’t ignore. Moving forward I will post opportunities to get involved with the effort in Ethiopia. One thing I ask that you pray for is a way to help Destiny Academy expand. Destiny is the school where I worked. It is already growing beyond its capacity, and we are exploring options to open a new compound. Thank you for joining me in this journey.