Well, we leave in 8 hours, at 3:30 am. Yikes.
I feel that we have been under spiritual attack today - Daniel woke up at 2:00 am crying and I got him back in bed and back to sleep and was back in my bed by 3:30. Didn't fall back asleep myself until 5:30 (probably a combination of nerves and malarial medication). Daniel woke up at 7am crying with another earache. He had a tough day until a 3 hour nap restored him to his normal self. I remembered a last minute thing I had to do and felt quite panicky until I got it done and the final packing. Then we had a really bad storm. The dog, who got shocked last week during a really bad storm, panicked when he heard the thunder, broke a large metal chain (his dog fence was fried in the last storm and isn't working yet) and ran away to Don and Suzy's next door, got in a fight with their dog, was rescued and dragged back by Sally Anne, who helped us locked him in the garage where he subsequently tried to tear a hole in the wall to hide in. And, Blake, who thankfully got home early, discovered the dog had, in his frenzy, killed the cat, Fluffy, whom we've had for close to seven years.
However, I see God's blessing in that Blake found the dead cat and not our kids, Sally Anne (now called dog whisperer) saved Tramp and her dog and returned Tramp to the garage just before the really bad lightning, wind and hail struck, and managed not to get electrocuted herself, and that I am in fact, packed and car is loaded and we didn't lose power or water (yet) which is great since the house was once again struck by lightning. And, I am surrounded by friends and family who love me. SO, there you go. Please keep me in your prayers, that I will calm down and remember to breathe.
OH! Please do not mention the cat to either Anna Kate or Daniel! We are not going to tell them yet with everything else that is going on.
Goodnight friends!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Newer Schedule
New and Updated Schedule!
May 31, 2010
Morning: Drop in center - Hope for the Hopeless
http://www.hope4hopeless.org/home
Afternoon: CFI orphanage (Compassion Family International)
http://www.cyministry.org/
June 1, 2010
Kind Hearts (HC) school/drop in center
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SJCS-Water-Well-Project-Kind-Hearts-School-Ethiopia/315986988324
June 2 – 4, 2010
VBS at local Drop in center/orphanage
June 5, 2010
Soccer Ministry or HIV Camp with the other team
June 6, 2010
Church in the morning, shopping and/or hang out at Hilton the rest of the day
June 7, 2010
Morning: free morning; shopping, coffee store, etc
Afternoon: packing, etc at the hotel; Ethiopian Guest Home
http://www.ethiopiaguesthome.com/
June 8, 2010
Morning: CFI orphanage
Afternoon: Debriefing and final packing
Leave Guest House around 6 or 7pm for group check in at airport
May 31, 2010
Morning: Drop in center - Hope for the Hopeless
http://www.hope4hopeless.org/home
Afternoon: CFI orphanage (Compassion Family International)
http://www.cyministry.org/
June 1, 2010
Kind Hearts (HC) school/drop in center
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SJCS-Water-Well-Project-Kind-Hearts-School-Ethiopia/315986988324
June 2 – 4, 2010
VBS at local Drop in center/orphanage
June 5, 2010
Soccer Ministry or HIV Camp with the other team
June 6, 2010
Church in the morning, shopping and/or hang out at Hilton the rest of the day
June 7, 2010
Morning: free morning; shopping, coffee store, etc
Afternoon: packing, etc at the hotel; Ethiopian Guest Home
http://www.ethiopiaguesthome.com/
June 8, 2010
Morning: CFI orphanage
Afternoon: Debriefing and final packing
Leave Guest House around 6 or 7pm for group check in at airport
Tentative Itinerary
May 29th - 4 am leave for Atlanta
May 30th - 9 pm arrive in Addis Ababa and get settled in
May 31st - Morning - work at a drop in center called Hope for the Hopeless
Afternoon - Work at CFI orphanage
June 1st - 3rd - Part of the group will be going 9 hours north of Addis Ababa to a village and work in the orphanage there. We will be staying in Addis with a few others to continue at the CFI orphanage and go to a village to work. We've been told that it is the poorest place we will go on the trip. This village is apparently known for collecting and selling animal feces and combing through a garbage dump.
June 4th - Ministry at the leper colony
June 5th - Ministry at the HIV camp
June 6th - church and sight-seeing/relax
June 7th - Going to the market for 1/2 the day and not sure what we will do the other half
June 8th - Morning - work in the CFI orphanage
Afternoon - debrief and pack up for our flight back
June 9th - Arrive back in Cleveland around 6 pm
May 30th - 9 pm arrive in Addis Ababa and get settled in
May 31st - Morning - work at a drop in center called Hope for the Hopeless
Afternoon - Work at CFI orphanage
June 1st - 3rd - Part of the group will be going 9 hours north of Addis Ababa to a village and work in the orphanage there. We will be staying in Addis with a few others to continue at the CFI orphanage and go to a village to work. We've been told that it is the poorest place we will go on the trip. This village is apparently known for collecting and selling animal feces and combing through a garbage dump.
June 4th - Ministry at the leper colony
June 5th - Ministry at the HIV camp
June 6th - church and sight-seeing/relax
June 7th - Going to the market for 1/2 the day and not sure what we will do the other half
June 8th - Morning - work in the CFI orphanage
Afternoon - debrief and pack up for our flight back
June 9th - Arrive back in Cleveland around 6 pm
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Nine Days
Nine days until we leave. Last night Anna Kate and I took the first dose of our anti-malarial medication and so far we've not had hallucinations, so that's good. We found out recently that we will be visiting a village where the chief method of income is collecting animal feces to sell. Jake says this will be the poorest of the poor that we will see. I just can't imagine what that will be like.
Please be in prayer for us. In our missions study we learned about how much more effective (and safe) we can be if people are praying for us back home. Please be in prayer for the people we will meet and how we can best minister to them and love on them. Please also pray that we will be protected against any spiritual warfare the enemy is throwing our way. And that we as a team will be adaptable, flexible, patient, calm, healthy, willing, loving, discerning, practical, selfless, and seeking God with every step. And for United and Ethiopian Air not to lose any of our luggage. OH, and please pray for the safety of my son as he hangs out with Blake and then goes hiking and camping with my Mom and Dad. And for Blake. OK, I'll stop now.
Depending on internet access I will be updating this blog during the trip and adding pictures. Thanks to you all for you partnering with me on this!!
Love,
Heather
Friday, May 14, 2010
/>Tuesday, May 11, 2010
18 Days
That's it - only 18 days until we leave. I am excited and nervous and have been packed for a week already. We will be staying at a place called the Ethiopian Guest House, which is a not-profit place for couples adopting children and people on short-term mission trips like us. It sounds wonderful. I think they will take good care of us. You can google it and see all about it.
I still can't believe I am going to Ethiopia and taking my daughter. Such an out-of-character thing for me to do, right? But here goes! And by the way, did I mention we will be visiting a leper colony and AIDS camp as well as the orphanages? Me and my hand sanitizing neuroses. I think this trip will stretch me in a big way.
So, I would really like to ask you to pray for us. I have a long list, but here are the highlights in random order:
1. safety. (duh.)
2. travel mercies - for things to go smoothly the whole long trip.
3. for us to have good attitudes no matter what
4. for God to use us however He pleases and that our faith and trust to be multiplied
5. health!!! no sicknesses or issues or physical problems
6. to be guided by God so we can minister to, talk to, pray with whomever however He directs
7. to relax and understand God really is the boss and I am not
8. for satan to be given the forearm shiver. That he is not allowed anywhere near us or our families back home
9. protection for our families we leave behind
10. all our luggage to get there safely and when we do
11. a spirit of unity and love throughout the whole team. for us all to get along and be patient and helpful to/with each other.
OK, that is it for now. Thanks!!
I still can't believe I am going to Ethiopia and taking my daughter. Such an out-of-character thing for me to do, right? But here goes! And by the way, did I mention we will be visiting a leper colony and AIDS camp as well as the orphanages? Me and my hand sanitizing neuroses. I think this trip will stretch me in a big way.
So, I would really like to ask you to pray for us. I have a long list, but here are the highlights in random order:
1. safety. (duh.)
2. travel mercies - for things to go smoothly the whole long trip.
3. for us to have good attitudes no matter what
4. for God to use us however He pleases and that our faith and trust to be multiplied
5. health!!! no sicknesses or issues or physical problems
6. to be guided by God so we can minister to, talk to, pray with whomever however He directs
7. to relax and understand God really is the boss and I am not
8. for satan to be given the forearm shiver. That he is not allowed anywhere near us or our families back home
9. protection for our families we leave behind
10. all our luggage to get there safely and when we do
11. a spirit of unity and love throughout the whole team. for us all to get along and be patient and helpful to/with each other.
OK, that is it for now. Thanks!!
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