Ruthie’s Blog

The Schedule For Now (every schedule in Ethiopia is subject to change)

Saturday, August 30th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

So, right now in Ethiopia it is rainy season time!   Every afternoon it rains at least once, usually in a really nice down pour and often with thunder and lightning (my favorite!).  I’ve been told that this rainy season will end sometime in October.  Someone else told me that it would definitely be sunny on the Ethopian New Year (Sept. 11).  I don’t know how they made this prediction, but it made me smile!

So, on Tuesday I start orientation for my English teaching job, then we have four or five days off for the Ethiopian New Year and then school starts on Sept. 15.   I know it will all be quite the experience!  Flexibility and patience are the two most important virtues to posess at this point.

Some facts about Ethiopia’s calendar:  Ethiopia has 13 months in their calendar.  12 months are each 30 days long and the 13th month is only about 7 days long (you can do the math if you want).  The rainy season is during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer time.  Ethiopia’s New Year is on Sept. 11 and this will technically be considered 2001according to their calendar, as last year was the celebration of the millenium.

God—The Best Husband Ever!

Saturday, August 30th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Now this is not to say that I don’t want to marry a wonderful man of God sometime before I die, but in the meantime it is so good to know that God can be the husband that I want and so much more.  It’s good to remember that no man can ever top God (since He’s perfect!), and I don’t think any man would ever want that responsibility or there’d be something wrong.  

I was just listening to a sermon (so glad I can do that here) about how marriage is a symbol of Christ’s love for His Church.  I think I am experiencing a taste of that marriage.  God’s constant presence and love of me is precious.  He is the one who knows me best in Ethiopia.  He is showing Himself to be my helper, my comfort and joy in times of adjustment.  I’m so thankful for Him and I know that without Him I would not cope nearly as well with all of the ch-changes.

Thoughts From God (about life here)

Saturday, August 30th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

These are things that I have sensed God saying to me and they have been confirmed so I’ll share some with all of you….

“You’ll Love It”—In reference to Ethiopia….Yeah, there are many things that I have grown to love about this place.  People are really friendly here.  My neighborhood is safe and quaint.  The food is delicious.  I am starting to feel like I belong.  There are so many wonderful people that I’m getting to know.

“It’s Going to be Hard”—That’s true too!  Seeing a homeless child sleeping on the side of the road in a dirty blanket is difficult.  Having people stare at you when you just want to fit into the crowd (yeah, I don’t know if that ever happens for white people in an African country) takes some getting used to.  Getting sick from food is not fun. 

So, in conclusion (this sounds like an essay), it’s good to hear the voice of reality from God and to know that this is culture shock.  Somethings you absolutely love and somethings are difficult to deal with and that’s just the way it goes!

A Much Needed Day OFF!!

Saturday, August 30th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Today, due to having intestinal issues (yeah, that’s P.C. for something else that I’m sure you could guess), I stayed home, read books, spent time with my heavenly husband God, watched a very badly dubbed tele novela, and talked to my new roommate.  I was going to go into the city today, but my body let me know that it was time take a break and I really needed it! 

I also got to fall asleep to the sound of rain and thunder as I took a nap.  I’m so glad God called me to a country where there’s so many lightning and thunder storms because they are so exciting!  He knew how much I would like these storms (for the most part : )!

Connecting!!! (First time at center for women, prayer meeting, etc.)

Saturday, August 30th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

I had a much better week connecting with new friends in Ethiopia this week.  On Wednesday I went to the center for women.  I heard all about how it works and how women’s lives are changed.  I’m still praying about how best to be involved but something tells me that the best way to do that is to first learn AMHARIC, since that’s the main language that is spoken there.  I was able to help the women a little bit with their English though, play Uno, and smile at them (pretty important when you don’t have verbal communication : )!  At the center I met another women who is here with her husband as a missionary.  She introduced me to a new person from the U.K. who I immediately clicked with.  Yay God!  We ended up having dinner together and talking about how God has lead us to Ethiopia!  That was also the same day that I went to a prayer meeting that has been meeting for over 80 years here.  It was great to connect with other people this week.  I know I will be meeting more wonderful people that God has in store for me soon!

There’s No Such Person As An Ugly Ethiopian!

Monday, August 25th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 4 Comments

I’ve been told not stare back when people stare at me, but gosh is that hard because every single person here is drop dead gorgeous!!  I am hoping to post some pictures of some of the many beautiful Ethiopian people, but I haven’t figured that out yet.

They stare at me because I’m white, and I stare at them because they’re black AND BEAUTIFUL.  But, I can’t do that for too long because I don’t want to attract the wrong kind of attention!!

“In God We Trust”/I Still Can’t Believe I’m Here For A Year

Monday, August 25th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Since I arrived first at my new house, I got to pick whichever room I wanted.  I chose the biggest one with the balcony.  I moved all of my things in, unpacked, got organized and the next day I noticed something.  On the inside of my door it says “In God We Trust.”  I checked the back of all of the other doors of the bedrooms and realized that mine is the only one that has anything written on it and it happens to have this written on it.  That is no accident!

I find myself amazed that God has called me here to Ethiopia.  He has called me to step out of my comfort zone all of the time.  He has called me to miss every single one of you back home.  He has called me to not focus on myself all the time (that will be an act of God).  He has called me to humble myself and make mistakes everyday with learning a new language.  He has called me to love people in Ethiopia.  He has called me to teach beautiful children who need to learn English.

Sometimes it feels like a lot.  Sometimes I feel like God has given me more than I can handle.  But I think He somehow trusts me with all this, as long as I know that I HAVE to trust Him if I’m going to survive and thrive in my new life here.  If I don’t depend on Him, I will be so much more lost, afraid, and confused.  So, as I look at the words written on the back of my bedroom door, I am reminded that the whole reason that I even came is because somehow, though definitely not perfectly, I trust God that He wants me here, not matter how difficult or easy it might be.  Thanks God for that visual reminder!

Meet Cindy…

Monday, August 25th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Cindy is my new roommate, and she’s really really cool!  She happens to be the same age as me, and she’s from the Netherlands.  Since my last name is also from the Netherlands we might actually be related which wouldn’t surprise me because we get along really well!

Cindy came in just at the right time…when I was feeling lonely living in my house all by myself.  She speaks English really well, which means that we can communicate.  This is a huge gift because I can’t communicate well with most people in Ethiopia since I don’t know Amharic yet.  It’s so nice to have someone that I can express myself with, and journey together with in this whole process of moving to Ethiopia.  She will also be teaching at the same school as me and she’s been to Ethiopia before and knows her way around a bit better than I.  Thanks God for such a cool new roommate!

CULTURE SHOCK: “Baby Steps”

Monday, August 25th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

A dear Ethiopian friend of mine told me before I left, “Remember to give yourself grace, because it may take a while to get used to Ethiopia.”  Boy, was she right!!!  I’m still figuring out what is safe here, where to get all of the groceries I need, where the best internet cafes are, what to say to beggers, how to find things, etc.  Every moment of every day practically, I am completely out of my comfort zone. 

One big thing to get used to is constantly getting stared at because I’m white.  Being white is a bit of a novelty here and I feel myself being very much in the MINORITY.  My personality it definitely not to stick out wherever I go so that is taking some getting used to.  I keep saying that phrase “getting used to” but that really is the name of the game at this point.

About Life Here in Ethiopia…..

Monday, August 25th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

The view from my window

The outside of the house

There’s so much to say but I’ll try to give you a picture of it….

First of all, Ethiopia has a very distinct smell.  It’s a combination of car exhaust, campfire smoke, and spices!  You have to take a cab, minibus or walk to wherever you want to go.  OH, especially important for you all to know since this is my main form of communication….THE INTERNET CONNECTION CAN BE VERY SLOW!!  Walking on the streets here, you are surrounded by people who are begging, sick, trying to sell things, etc.  And of course, being white and sticking out means that I can have many people coming up to me, asking me to buy things or give money.  I’m not used to that yet but I’m getting there. 

I live in a house in a pretty nice neighborhood.  I have two security guards named Alamaiyo and Abi and a maid named Konjit (Konjo means beautiful in Amharic and she is definitely that!).  Security guards and maids are normal for people to have here but again, I’m not quite used to it yet.  I guess I won’t be doing nearly as many dishes and definitely no laundry for the next year!  Weird!  I also am gradually learning Amharic (Amesegenelu means Thank you, Salameno means hello, etc.) from the people who work at my house.  Our house has three bedrooms, one bathroom and all the other amenities.  Also, VERY IMPORTANT, we live near an internet cafe, super market and GELATO SHOP!! Mmmm…  So, that’s the latest on my living situation, except for Cindy my roommate, but she deserves her own post…