Christmas Present

Walter brought us a Christmas Present, even on Christmas Eve, and even right to the house.........

Thanks for thinking of us Walt! 

Yuletide

For the first time, my family and I experienced the Yuletide Celebration with  the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. We turned that Sunday into a day long Holiday celebration - we started at church, stopped for pies at Cracker Barrell, enjoyed the smells and tastes of Long's donuts, dropped donations off at Riley, listened to Tuba Christmas at Circle Center Mall, had dinner at Weber Grill, got to pet a reindeer, and ended at the Hilbert Circle Theatre for the amazing Yuletide!

In its 28th year on the Hilbert Circle Theatre stage, Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration is still considered Indiana's greatest holiday tradition. Five-time Grammy Award-winner and Indiana favorite Sandi Patty returned to take the stage with Jack Everly, the ISO, and a cast of Broadway's best singers and dancers. 

The von Trapp Family Singers, the great-grandchildren of Captain von Trapp - Sound of Music, were special guests! 

Not Just A Rock

We made it home - safe and sound! Thanks for all the prayers sent our way! 

What an amazing trip. There are so many words that come to mind when I'm asked, "How was your trip?"

- awesome

- humbling

- heartbreaking

- emotional

- a blessing

- adventurous

- memorable

- life changing

Stepping out of my normal comfort zone at work, home, and normal daily life, and walking into the poverty stricken villages of Ethiopia and Uganda opened my eyes to a world in need of love, faith, and God. I was overwhelmed with the need in both of these countries, but was overcome with love for the African men, women, and children and their quiet, kind, and generous spirit.  This trip allowed me to focus on others without the distractions of American life, and gave me the chance to serve God with the blessings He provided. This trip reiterated James 1:27 - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 

It was easy to see the differences in both the world I live in and the world I was visiting.  One visible difference: the soil. The soil, rocks, dust, bricks..... are red. My shoes will forever hold a piece of Uganda with them - red dirt stain!

I began to pick up rocks. 

Small rocks.

Red rocks. 

Rocks from our daily path to see the kids.

Rocks from a neighbor's rock pile who was eager to share.

Rocks to symbolize my time in Africa.

Rocks to remind me to pray. 

To pray for those that touched my heart. 

To pray for the homeless, the orphans, the hungry, the disabled, the lost, the widowed, the ones who are shunned........to pray for ALL of them and their country. 

  I would like to thank everyone who helped make this trip possible. I can not tell you how much it means to me and to those whose lives were touched! Thanks to all of you, and thanks to those who have following the blog and prayed along the way! I ended up gathering quite a few "prayer" rocks, and I would love to share them! If you would like one, please let me know!!

Psalms18:2 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

Final flight

What a wonderful 2 weeks it has been: memories made and hearts changed! 

We just safely touched down in Indianapolis after about 35 hours of travel time. All I can think of now is this song:

Back home again in Indiana oh it seems Back home again in Indiana oh it seems that I can see

That gleaming candlelight still burning bright
Through the sycamores for me
That new mown hay sends all it's fragrance
From the fields I used to roam
Oh I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
Then I long for my Indiana home

Back home again in Indiana oh it seems that I can see
That gleaming candlelight still flickering bright
Through the sycamores for me
Lotsa mown hay sends all it's fragrance
From the fields I used to roam
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
And I long for my Indiana home

 I can see
That gleaming candlelight still burning bright
Through the sycamores for me
That new mown hay sends all it's fragrance
From the fields I used to roam
Oh I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
Then I long for my Indiana home

Back home again in Indiana oh it seems that I can see
That gleaming candlelight still flickering bright
Through the sycamores for me
Lotsa mown hay sends all it's fragrance
From the fields I used to roam
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash
And I long for my Indiana home

What Can Brown Do For You?

I found an Ethiopian UPS truck on our last day.

Today I start the journey home to my UPS man!! 

Alert Hospital

ALERT is a medical facility on the edge of Addis Ababa, specializing in Hansen’s disease, also known as “leprosy”. It was originally the All Africa Leprosy Rehabilitation and Training Center (hence the acronym), but the official name is now expanded to include tuberculosis: All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training Center.

Men and women affected by tuberculosis raise money by sewing, making rugs, weaving, looming, and embroidery. We were able to watch them make their products which was so so amazing. What special people they are! We also were able to purchase some of their merchandise that they have made. What a great last trip before we head to the airport! 

It was such an honor to sit by this lady after she asked me if I wanted to try of myself! 

She will probably have to redo this once I leave!!

Such intricate work! 

 This man is making rugs. It was amazing to watch him! 

One Stich at a Time

This one is for you Louise!!!

While walking the streets of Ethiopia, we would occasionally come across men and women sewing. I loved watching them! Shoes or no shoes, they make their living sewing. 

Early Monday morning, Anna and I walked to a fabric store that we had passed a few days earlier. When we got there, we saw that it was closed, but the two older men were inside sewing. They saw us outside the window and allowed us in. It was beautiful inside with all of their different colors and types of fabric. Anna picked out what she wanted, and the guys had to get the lady from the back of the store since they did not speak English. We had a wonderful time visiting with them!! 

Roadside markets and shops

Instead of Wal-mart, Kroger, and Marsh stores every 30miles, there are small roadside stores almost on each street as well as market areas for produce. The small stores may carry anything from soda and candy to soap and playing cards. I enjoyed checking out these little stores just to see the different Ethiopian items! The store workers spoke just a little English so it was entertaining to try and point to what we needed! 

Van Ride Views

We have taken many van rides in Ethiopia to get to each of the different orphanages. Throughout our journeys, we have seen a lot of what daily life is like on the streets. The traffic here is crazy as well. There are very few stop lights, lines on the road are ignored, and it's common to be in a traffic jam of 6-8 cars trying to go different directions! We almost hit someone on their motorbike who crossed lanes in front of us - thank God he had no major injuries and got up with a smile. Here are some of the things we see as we drive: 

Meat stores look like this. There is a grinder sitting on the counter if needed, and the carcasses just hang until bought. 

Here is an ambulance. 

We have seen a few of these horse drawn "carriages" 

Children are adorable and wave at us all the time!! 

Goats, rams, and sheep are herded through the streets and frequently stop traffic.

Homes like this one are seen on about every street we turn on. It's hard to even imagine that someone lives there, sleep there, and calls this home. 

Donkeys walk the streets as they carry building materials, wood, food, and just about anything for their owner. 

Large, open areas are turned into futbol fields - some have goals made of sticks, some do not.

The use for eucalyptus tree logs is immeasurable - for building, scaffolding, cooking, as a incence, fuel for a fire, futbol goals, fences, and so much more. We have see many businesses selling the logs. 

Vehicles with flowers on the front symbolize a wedding. We saw a lot of these wedding parties drive through town on Saturday and Sunday. The bride and groom are usually in the front car with the party behind is other vehicles. Sometime the wedding party sit on the outside of the car and they honk all the way through town. 

Cobblestone roads are very popular throughout the city.

There was a huge line of people along a sidewalk. When we finally turned, I saw that they were in line for the theater!! 

Vegetables, fruit, and other produce are frequently transportd in wheelbarrows. 

Meals in Ethiopia

Okay........for all of those who have worried about what we are eating, here you go! We have had almost all of our meals prepared at the Ethiopian Guest House, and they have been delicious! Our cook had done a fabulous job In trying to make as many American-like meals as possible! It has been fun listening to how they pronounce our American dishes! It was hard for them to say fajita, spaghetti, lasagna, and macaroni!!! 

Our dinner table, our cook, omelets for breakfast one morning, and French fries with a rice dish

French toast with scrambled eggs, pasta dish, pizza with fries, and lasagna with salad

Chicken fajitas (and yes, these would be easy to eat on the road!), Ethiopian pancakes, and the awesome popcorn that we had on our traditional night.

Needless to say, they have fed us very well and there usually isn't anything left on the table when we are done! 

Kaldi's Coffee

We decided to be as American as we could for one meal! We ate at Kaldi's coffee. For those on our team who like coffee, they had a variety of drinks to choose from! We had french fries, burgers, and sambusas (like the ones we had in Uganda.) It was all very delicious! 

Here is the front and back of the menu. The prices are in birr. $1 US = 18 birr. My entire meal with a Fanta orange (which I love since there is no diet coke) was only a little over $3! Can't beat that! 

Posted by Deanne

17NOV2013

Today is a good day

posted by Deanne

Today is the day we get the see the young man we consider to be our son.

B.

Fikirte and Konjit’s biological brother.

A boy we began processing to bring home in June of 2012.

A boy that we can visit today but can’t bring home.

Today has the possibility to be sad. Ryan and I know that there are no guarantees at this point that Ethiopia will let us be a family.

But we already know that through God we are a family.

Today we get to speak to our son.

Today we get to pray with our son.

We ask that you join us in prayer.

Will we be with him at 2:00pm here which is 5:00am in Illinois.

Please ask that God will make today encouraging, joyful, informative, restorative, refreshing, hopeful, and anything else that B needs to hear.

We will turn our time over to God and ask Him to direct it. He knows B’s every need. We want to be His voice of truth today to this boy.

God will continue to care for our son in our absence. We have no doubt.

Background info: Ryan and Deanne adopted Fikirte and Konjit (two sisters from Ethiopia) in 2010. They are meeting their brother today. Please join us and them in prayer for this family. 

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St. Raguel and Elias

We visited St. Raguel and Elias Historical Churches that are situated on top of the Entoto Mountain Range. We first walked into the large, round, and "younger" of the two churches that has white arched architecture and stands at least 25 metres high. We were asked to remove our shoes prior to entering. This church was built by Emperor Menelik II and is around 150 years old. Inside the church are painting from ceiling to floor hand painted by 1 man. He made his own paint from flowers, and he painted for 3 years until it was completed. Very large intricate curtains covered the paintings to protect them. Our guide would pull them back and talk about each of the painting. Each one described  different stories in the Bible. 

The shape of Orthodox churches in Ethiopia is round. Just inside, is a corridor that runs all the way around the structure. This inner chamber is divided into three parts, one for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. In the center of the building is the "Holy of Holies," where only the priests are allowed. Candles are burnt while the priests are praying, and these prayers can be anywhere from two to six hours. 

After experiencing the beauty and artistic talent of this church, we walked a short distance across the yard to the ancient rock hewn church. It is around 700 years old. The rock hewn church itself is more than just a cave where worship took place. We could see chisel marks on the church’s walls and ceilings, the rooms of the church have a circular floor plan sort of like a flower, and the ceilings were black from the years of candle burning. There were a few rooms that made up the entire church, and one was used for preparing communion. Outside support structures have been built over the years to help sustain the inside cave. We also saw a few burial places of ancient priests of the church.  It was an indescribable feeling to stand in a place that has so much history, and has had so many brothers and sisters in Christ worship as we do today. 

Fascinating history + awesome adventures + a wonderful team!

Only because of our Great God!