Ruthie’s Blog

OAXACA!!!

Friday, March 12th, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Me at one of the beautiful beaches in Puerto Escondido

Heather, Me, Melissa and Alba (our gracious hostesses!)

Two newlyweds we went out to dinner with in Puerto on their motorcycle

Dancers at a parade in the city (These people know how to have fun!)

Hangin out with a cute baby (She has the best cheeks ever!)

Monte Alban

Heather and I in front of Santo Domingo Church

I have been saving my own personal money for the last few years so I could take a nice vacation, and I really felt like God lead me to visit my friend Heather in Oaxaca.  I’m so glad He did!  It was a wonderful time and just the kind of relaxation I needed before heading back to Ethiopia!

Ever since I met my good friend Heather when we were roommates in San Diego, I’ve been hearing about Oaxaca, Mexico and how much she loves it.  Heather lived in Oaxaca City for one year and had been trying to get back ever since.  This year she’s a missionary with Manos de Vida, teaching art classes to impoverished children, and helping with community development projects.  Heather and I have a lot in common.  We both love Jesus, studied some art form (she studied visual arts and I studied music), teach kids, and we’re both missionaries!   

This vacation was really the perfect combination of tourist attractions, fun times with friends, and hanging out with the locals!  When I first came I told Heather I just wanted to hang out with her and see what she does, got to the beach, and climb a pyramid.  I got to do it all!!  First Heather and I went to Puerto Escondido for four days and relaxed at the beach.  Then we came back to Oaxaca City and I got to see what Manos de Vida does through community development projects working alongside local churches.  It kind of felt like a mini missions conference, because we got to see missions in action and talk with other missionaries about what they do, how they live their lives, struggles they’ve had, etc.  I also got to visit tourist attractions with Heather like the Zocolo (the main plaza in town), Monte Alban (a huge Zapotec ruin), and Santo Domingo (a very ornate Catholic church).  All in all, it was a great trip and I’m so glad that I got to see my friend Heather in her Oaxaca!!

Good Times in Colorado

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

One of the ways that God has blessed me in my life is by bringing me good friends that I have been able to keep in touch with.  These people shown to the right are some of those wonderful friends!!!  Although we keep up via email and phone calls, I hadn’t seen any of them in at least 2 years.  But even after all that time, we can spend time together and it doesn’t feel like that much time has past.  We’re still friends.  We still share our lives with each other.  It’s awesome.  I hope to keep in touch with these friends as the seasons of our lives change and I’m really looking forward to spending eternity with them too!!  Love you guys!!!

Hangin’ Out in California

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

One weekend in January in Santa Cruz, my parents and I had the distinct privilege of playing in driftwood forts with our little friends (aka Mom and Dad’s adopted grandchildren : ), Charlotte and Charlie!!  We had fun playing, creating, laughing, and talking.  A major storm had just hit Santa Cruz a few days before and that meant that there was lots of driftwood that the rivers had carried to the shore for us to play with.  It was a good day!!

Volunteering at the Center For Women—FINALLY!!!

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Me with the staff

after school tutoring

 After over a year of living in Ethiopia, God has finally given me the go-ahead to volunteer at the center for women.  YAY!!!  It’s been a long wait, but God has definitely been showing me how His Timing is the best.  God definitely wanted me to work at a school in Ethiopia last year and make an impact there.  And God definitely wanted me to learn more of the language of Amharic before I volunteered at the Center for Women.  He’s using both of these experiences to benefit my volunteering at the center!  More on that later!!

So, for now, it feels GREAT to be volunteering.  I love working with like-minded people who share my same passions.  I love seing how what I’m doing makes an impact and helps the people around me.  It is such a joy, and actually kind of addicting.  The more I help, the more my passion for helping is fed and I just don’t want to stop.

The staff at the center for women have given me the task of helping to put programs for the children of the women in place.  There are many needs and dreams in this area of the organization.  They could take years to actually implement and the needs are great.  Some of these needs are a better day care and more affordable day care throughout the city, increased funding for basic needs, improved after school tutoring program, improved Saturday program, summer camps, a school intervention program, foster homes for vulnerable teenage girls, mother/infant care program, etc.  Right now my teammate S. and I are tackling the day care program.  We just have to take it one step at a time as we seek to make improvements.

I actually originally thought that God would have me do more with the women than the children, but God has definitely given me a huge heart for children and He is using it for His Glory.  Teaching last year has truly prepared me for implementing programs for children at the center.  And my Amharic tutor from last year could be a key provider in offering a day care facility for us to use.  So, God has been showing me that nothing He ever calls me to is in vain and it always serves a purpose, even if I don’t see it right away.  God is so good!!

The Best Christmas Present Ever!!!!

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

This is my good friend N.  We’ve known each other for over a year now.  We may come from different countries, racial groups, and religions but we truly have a lot in common as far as values, dreams for the future, and personalities go.  N. has taught me a lot about Islam and I have taught her a lot about Christianity.  I have learned so much from her.  There is so much value in having friendships with people who are different from you and being open to what it is that they can teach you about life, love, and acceptance.

Thursday Lunch Group

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

This is The Thursday Lunch Group.  We’re a group of ladies (plus one guest Caleb in the photo) who are living in Addis as missionaries.  We all met in language school.  We are Finnish, Swedish, Romanian and American.  Most of us are learning Amharic, and a few of us are learning Oromifa, another common language in Addis.  Two of them are midwives who will eventually leave Addis to go to more rural areas and learn yet another tribal language (I seriously admire these women).  Every Thursday, we get together to have lunch, laugh, pray, and share life together.  I have found from living in Addis, that I really depend on my habesha (Ethiopian) friends as well as my farengi (foreign) friends in different ways for different things since I have no family there.  It has been great to meet with a group of women that I share so much in common with and support each other in Jesus.

My Students–All 2 of Them!!

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

This year has definitely been different because the number of students I have has gone from the 180 I had last year to 2!!!  Here is my one and only piano student in the picture above.  She is a delightful 7th grader who I’ve really enjoyed teaching.  I also have been tutoring another 7th grade student from China.  This is his first year of learning in English so he has needed lots of extra assistance with his homework, adapting to being in an English speaking school, etc.  He has greatly improved over the last few months and it has been really exciting to watch him grow.  It has truly been a gift to teach these students.  And these two jobs have allowed me to have enough funding and time to do the other things in Addis that God has called me to do!

My Wonderful Maid Mulu

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

So far, the two maids I have had in Addis–Mulu (in the pic) and Konjit (from last year) have become like second mothers to me.  They always ask me how I am, what I’m doing, where I’m going, etc.  They also wash my clothes, do my dishes, and clean my home.  WHAT A GIFT and HOW SPOILED AM I!!!  Mulu has been my maid these past three and a half months.  Her cheerfulness has been such a light at home.  She’s a Christian and I can definitely see how that effects our house.  She has also become one of my best Amharic teachers as I am constantly trying to speak Amharc with her.  Thanks for everything Mulu!!  See you when I get back!!

Housemates, Etc.

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

For the past three and a half months I have been living in a part of Addis near Mexico Square (The Grand Central Station of Addis Ababa as far as public transportation is concerned).  It has been wonderful to live in a home and share life with my housemates, talk about God, life in Addis-the good and the bad, etc.  It has also been conveniently located to my language school, tutoring job, good grocery stores, other friends, etc.  I certainly thought I would have moved to a different part of the city by now, but somehow God knew that this would be a nice place to hang out for a while and it has definitely been that.  Thanks God and thank you housemates for a great time!

More Cute Baby Pics–I Miss Living With a Baby!!!

Monday, December 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Ready to go for a walk Smiling In the Johnny-Jump-Up!! (Sorry it's out of focus, but he still looks cute!)

So Sweeeeettt!!!

 

In the Johnny Jump Up. Sorry it's out of focus, but he still looks cute!