Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

While I never imagined myself traveling to Ethiopia, I found it to be a very fascinating place. My trip was occasioned by my need to renew my visa. Kenya Immigration requires one to leave East Africa and then re-enter Kenya. So... I chose Ethiopia as my destination and decided to make the most of it.

Ethiopia is one of only two countries in Africa that was not colonized by a European country. It is one of the few African countries with it's own alphabet and they also use their own time system and a unique calendar. The 2nd most populous country on the continent, Ethiopia is believed to be one of the oldest sites of human existence known to scientists.

Its religious history is quite interesting - with a blend of Judaism, Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Islam. Ethiopian tradition states that a temple in Axum (in the northern part of the country) is the current location of the lost Ark of the Covenant. They further believe that the Queen of Sheba hailed from their land and that she and King Solomon had a child together.

Haile Sallasie is their revered former emperor, ruling from 1930-1974. He was an heir to a dynasty that traced its origin to the 13th century - and before that - all the way back to King Solomon.

I hope you will enjoy a sampling of the photos I took during my 4-day stay.

Addis Ababa has many beggars on its streets - far more than I see in Nairobi. These two guys were the lucky recipients of all my coins on my last day there. They were quite obviously thrilled with the gesture!

Structures near a church on Entoto Mountain

One of many Orthodox Churches that I saw

A man prays at the church

This young guy was selling hand-made caps; behind us is Addis Ababa

A deliciously thick, layered fresh fruit smoothie. From the top down - strawberry, mango, guava, and avocado. Yummy!

Addis has coffee shops all over the place. However, since I'm not a fan of coffee, I was thrilled to make the discovery of peanut "tea" - thick and filling! It simply consists of crushed peanuts and boiled water.

I'm told that no trip to Addis is complete without a visit to one of the many restaurants serving injera (their staple food) and with traditional dancers and music. I went to two different ones and thoroughly enjoyed myself! The fellow above was one of the musicians at Habesha.

Dancers at Yod Abyssinia

Washing my hands before eating

This is injera, Ethiopia's staple food

Holy Trinity is the highest ranking Orthodox cathedral in Addis Ababa and is the 2nd most important place of worship in all of Ethiopia. This gentleman has just finished his prayers.

Women arriving to pray at Holy Trinity

Statue of Halie Sallasie outside the cathedral

Behind the maroon curtains is the Holy of Holies

Men praying; the women are in a different area

Many shops had a row of mannequins with humorous poses like this

An art exhibit of Amharic characters at the National Museum

A sign written in Amharic; many Ethiopians do not speak English

A young man with his trained monkey

Washa Michael is a church carved from rock in the 4th century

I'm standing next to the baptistry

Our tour guide(s), Larry and Bernadette (an American couple), and Zerhiun 

School kids on their way home

At 7,700 feet in elevation (1,700 feet higher than where I live in Nairobi), I found Addis Ababa to be rather chilly in the evenings. I bought this wrap to help me stay warm. In this photo, I'm at Yod Abyssinia Restaurant.

Christmas 2010

"The next time you put on a dinner, don't just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll be - and experience - a blessing. They won't be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned - oh, how it will be returned! - at the resurrection of God's people."  (Luke 14:12-14, Message)

As a disciple of Jesus, my aim is to follow his actions and his words. And so... this year for Christmas, eight of my Sudanese-refugee friends plus my 91-year old neighbor, Anne, spent the day at my house.

We had great conversation as we enjoyed our meal. To be sure, just as Jesus said in the above quote, I experienced a blessing! Each one of us agreed that we would always cherish the memory of Christmas 2010! Anne said it was the best Christmas in her entire life!

Madut, Anne, Maju, Wek, Marial, Deng, Maluk, Mawien

Maluk, Wek, Madut

Anne and Maluk

The guys had never had lasagne before!

Eating a tossed salad for the 1st time ever!

I loved listening to the interaction between Anne and the guys! Priceless!

As they left my house, they borrowed some of my books and magazines.

What a memorable day it was!

A charming aspect of living in Kenya

One of the charming aspects of living in Kenya is interacting with folks that I randomly encounter. Most everyone has a natural curiosity about wazungu (whites). Additionally, I guess I tend to be rather accessible due to my mode of transportation - walking, cycling, and public means. And... the folks here also have the time to stop and chat with others.

Now, I do have to admit that this feature can also be annoying at times. Often I wish I could just blend in with the scenery instead of sticking out like such a sore thumb! But most days, I enjoy it.

As Jim and I cycled between Kiserian and Ngong town, I stopped to take yet another photo of the hills. As I did so, shouts of "mzungu, mzungu" rang out. Next thing I knew, several children had gathered around me. Since I had my camera in my hand, they asked me to take their pictures.

Such simple pleasures!

They were making crafts, perhaps for Christmas decorations.

"What about mzee? Can't you also take my photo?"

22-mile bike adventure

I absolutely love Ngong Hills! I love to gaze on them, hike on their peaks, and cycle on and around them! I've done all three of those activities numerous times and have yet to tire of them! The really cool thing is that I live in very close proximity to them.

They were somewhat made famous in the opening line of "Out of Africa" by Isak Dinesen (pen name for Karen Blixen):

"I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills..."

You may recall that Jim and I cycled up towards the four peaks in August. This time, we decided to cycle along a back road that meanders on the east side of them. We didn't really have a destination - other than fun and adventure!

We ended up doing an exhausting 22 miles. In spite of my three punctures and our tiredness... we had an absolutely splendid day!

One of many views of the hills throughout our ride

two more photos (of several that I took throughout our day)

We ate lunch under an acacia tree; I got a flat from the thorns!

My rubber cement was dry, so we got a ride on this matatu.

A bike fundi in Kiserian found three punctures!

After that we had a cold soda at this café

A young man with a zest for life!

To be sure, Jim is a young man with a zest and a zeal for life. It doesn't matter what he's doing... he does it with gusto and with all his heart! Basically, he enjoys life to the fullest!

We first met in May of 2003. You would never know it now, but he couldn't speak English back then. He learned quickly and ever since, we've thoroughly enjoyed spending time with each other - especially extended time during his holidays from school. We recently did just that, spending 6 days together.

It's hard for me to keep up with his energy, but I try to do my best! He's like the Energizer Bunny - he just keeps going and going!

New clothes for his Aunt Jacky's wedding

Jim's first time on an escalator!

The camel ride and the next 3 photos are from Mamba Village

Jim's first time on a trampoline!

Having fun with Sasha

One of Jim's passions is cooking! Here he is frying chapati.

More excerpts from Friendship at the Margins

There are few things less attractive than stingy Christians. We serve a generous, lavish God who delights in beauty and diversity, color and aromas. Choosing a simplified, modest lifestyle… means we are choosing creativity over extravagant waste and generosity over covetousness.

“The poorer a person is, old or sick, with a severe mental handicap or close to death, the more the cry is solely for communion and for friendship. The more the heart of the person who hears the cry, and responds to it, is awoken.”

- Jean Vanier, Community and Growth

When we allow ourselves to be disarmed, we become both vulnerable and strong. The only weapons then at our disposal are those of the Spirit. We choose the way of Jesus, laying aside all the earthly resources that give us power – in order to be present to those we love.

Ironically, local church congregations rarely offer the support and accountability needed by those who dwell or minister in the hard places. Most Christians want and expect success stories and clean categories

In friendship, the other person is not seen as a project or needy recipient, but as a fellow traveler. An emphasis on friendship in mission and ministry is closely related to cultivating mutual respect and valuing time spent together, not only because we are serving or helping the other person, but because all of us benefit.

An emphasis on friendship is, in a sense, an effort to round out understandings of love that focus exclusively on self-giving and self-sacrifice. Love certainly involves sacrifice - lots of sacrifice - but it also involves deep relationships, mutual appreciation and communion. An emphasis on friendship is an effort to move us beyond duty-driven views of ministry.

In drawing closer to Jesus, we discover that we cannot love him without loving others… As we love and live among those most likely to be overlooked – those who are poor, hungry, despised, imprisoned, or sick – we find ourselves in intimate relationship with Jesus.

There is no way our friendship with Jesus can remain dynamic and close, however, unless we take time to be with him in worship and reflection… Friendship with Jesus involves being in his presence, taking time to know him.

Love is not a scarce commodity we need to ration in case we run out. Friendship with the source of love guarantees that we will have ample supply.

When we love someone it is hard to hold on to what we have when we know it would meet a real need they face… If we hold onto our possessions tightly or define ourselves by them, it costs us deeply in freedom and friendship… All of us need to be careful of excess, and some of us, in order to live alongside those who have little, will choose a very simplified lifestyle.

If we live in comfortable circumstances, we need to make decisions to plant one foot in another world… Putting ourselves in places where people on the margins can find us involves slowing down, taking time to be where people can befriend us, and taking risks to be dependent on the kindness of strangers.

Sharing life with those who are grateful for the most basic things in the midst of their ongoing difficulties challenges us and our more comfortable communities to reflect deeply on what we often take for granted - God’s goodness and provision.

Live-giving ministry flows from lives that are full of gratitude to God, not with an expectation of gratitude from others.


And in conclusion…

At the heart of mission is friendship.

The book was written by Christopher L. Heuertz and Christine D. Pohl. I hope that the quotes will encourage and challenge you! I find that they fit exactly with what God has me doing here in Kenya. Perhaps you can use them as you pray for me in that regard. Thanks, by the way, for upholding me in prayer!

[Note - I quoted excerpts from the first half of the book in my October prayer letter, if you want to refresh your memory.]