June 23rd Update

Unfortunately internet is not the best here. The power is often out and once I finally get to an internet café, it takes FOREVER to even upload my e-mail page. Also it looks like my blog website doesn't work here. I don't know why...anyways I just wanted to e-mail you all and let you know that I am safe. I am living with an amazing, loving family who has accepted me as their own. Unfortunately I have been experiencing EXTREME culture shock...and my body has been having a hard time adjusting to the altitude, food, water, lack of normal hygiene routine...etc. It seems it will just take my body a couple of weeks to fully adjust. But I have also been experiencing some emotional culture shock as well. I've been crying a lot...and I've been feeling really lonely. Even though I have a loving family, they keep me pretty sheltered, so I still have not made ANY friends my age. My host brother and sister are fun, but you can only hang out with 6 and 10 year olds for so long...ya know? So those are my two main prayer requests...that my body and emotions will adjust...and that I'll be able to find a friend my age. Also my class work is quite overwhelming...so until I've adjusted I'm trying to put it on the back burner...but for a perfectionist/over achiever like myself...I still get overwhelmed by it. On a good note...I have been learning to completely surrender to God and even others in new ways. I wish I didn't have to learn it this way, but oh well. Upon entering Ethiopia I have reverted back into a child-like-state. I know that sounds silly...but not being able to communicate...and really not being in control of ANYTHING I do...has turned me into a child. It's been hard because I'm so used to having my own schedule, communicating with whoever I need to, making my own food, cleaning my own place, hanging out with all of my friends whenever I want, doing my hw when I want...and so much more. All of that freedom has been taken away from me...and I'm realizing that I'll have to gain my independence very very slowly as I learn the language and adjust to my surroundings. But I'm finally realizing that I need to just completely surrender each day to the Lord, not worrying about the next day, but believing that God has everything under control. Also I have to let go of my ego and depend fully on God and others...phew! It's easier said then done. Just to give you guys an idea of Ethiopia! It seriously is such a special place. Since it has never been colonized, it really has a culture of it's own. The center of the city is very BUSY. Lots of people, beggars, street children, venders, hotels...everywhere. Ethiopia is a very poor country, there are shacks...houses made of mud...people living on the streets. As most places there is a disparity between the rich and the poor. I'm learning more and more about the poor..many of the street children and beggars have come from the rural areas...thinking that city life would be better in the city, but when they come, they realize it isn't. Of course, I've heard many different opinions about the poor, for the most part I am told not to give money to street children, but old people and crippled are ok...some think that the beggars make such good money begging that they just do that instead of working...that's hard for me to believe, but as I do more research and ask more questions I'll get more insight into that. For now, I'm just observing.Transportation sucks. Taxi's or mini buses are the way to go...but I still haven't been able to do a mini bus by myself yet...it's hard when I don't know the language!! I still don't know how to get around, and unfortunately my home is FAR from the city...I sort of live in the suburbs of Addis, in a fenced community. I wish I wasn't so far away...the community I live in is pretty wealthy too. Oh well, this is where God has lead me. Even where I am its pretty amazing. I do have a potential internship through my host dad that seems amazing. I'll hopefully start it in a month...its an organization that does holistic community development among the poor. I'll tell ya about it once I cross that boat. Street life is pretty much amazing....sheep/goats (I can't seem to tell the difference very well!!) and cows everywhere. A couple times my taxi has gotten stopped in the middle of the street to let sheep or cows pass...oh ya and donkeys! Uh...they eat raw meet here too, I went into a "restaurant" (with dead caucus's hanging in the front window) with my family and noticed everyone was eating raw meet! My family ordered some to eat but luckily they ordered me cooked meet. I would have tried it if my stomach would handle it...haha. Uh what else...power and water go on and off all the time....I shower (when I get a chance...) with a bucket...flies are everywhere...um...and not very many people speak English! But everyone seems to be super nice. The people are BEAUTIFUL ( I feel very pasty white....and not so attractive here haha). The coffee (boona in Amharic) is AMAZING!! I have coffee maybe once a day....oh its good. Its interesting to see how they do it. Maybe I'll explain it in another e-mail. I do like the food...it's spicy but my mouth is learning. I've even been able to bite into a jalapeño pepper! I ate one on accident at first and started crying...but now I'm getting used to it. Wowow it's an amazing culture. With my culture shock, surprisingly I have not become frustrated or angry at the culture. I LOVE it, it will just take awhile to get used to. I feel like I've been here for a month already...theres more stories I could tell, but I'll leave it at that. I am starting to pick up a little language...it's a fun language but hard!! I'm sorry if this e-mail is random...this is how my thought process is lately. I think about you all often, and love you guys a ton. I appreciate your prayers...I am still struggling a lot! If there is anyone else that is interested in hearing how things are...or who would be willing to pray...pass this on. I wish my blog would work....Mom could you pass this on to family/friends? Thanks!! Love you all,In Christ,Dana