A Fresh Start in Ethiopia

Dear Friends and Family!!

I am so so sorry it has taken me so long to write you! LOTS has happened in the past
couple of weeks. First of all, I have gotten a fresh start here in Ethiopia. My new
family is amazing. God knew what I needed. Thank you all for your prayers and your
e-mails. I seriously love hearing from you guys. Know that you are in my prayers. I'll
break up my e-mail in sections to make it easier to read…

Family: My host mom has become my “mom” (don’t be jealous mom, no one will ever replace
you!), my boss, and one of my closet friends. I love her so much. Our personalities
really connect. : ) I have two younger sisters- a 7 year old and a 4 year old. They are
still fascinated with me so every time I come home I usually find them both in my lap or
tugging at my arm to come play with them. My host “dad” is great as well. He seems to
be a wealth of knowledge and I love sitting with him after dinner, drinking chai or
coffee and talking with him. The electricity issue in the city is starting to get better
(the city is run by hydro-electricity and this year there has been a shortage of water so
they have been turning off the electricity at different times throughout the city. When
I first got here it was every other day…now it’s maybe once a week) so that’s nice. They
also usually have running water…although we lost water for about 5 days…it’s back now and
I’m ready to take a shower! My home is my haven. I love it. Oh also living in the house
is “mama” who is my host dad’s mom. She’s in her 70’s (which is rare here considering
the life expectancy is 43!). Also we have a girl in her mid twenties living at the home.
She was born in the country and came to Addis a while ago. We are becoming good
friends. We laugh and joke constantly. And there is a maid (which is very normal here),
she just arrived and is super sweet!

Internship: So most mornings I wake up around 6:30 am, have breakfast of dabo (bread) and
boona (coffe) around 7, then leave around 7:30 for the school ( I usually stay there
until 5)! My host mom runs a primary school. So like I said…I wasn’t planning on it, but
in the past two weeks I have become a computer teacher! I teach grade 3-6 on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. I LOVE the community at Destiny Academy. The teachers (Ethiopian teachers)
have become good friends of mine. There are a couple of foreigners working there…but I
keep my distance. Haha just kidding…but I do find myself connecting and growing closer
with the Ethiopians. Today one of them said that soon I will become a Habisha
(Ethiopian). : ) Anyways, I am supposed to do an internship at that other place that I
originally started with…but I don’t wanna work there anymore. I feel sooooo needed at
Destiny! I love feeling needed. People need to feel needed. Anyways, everyone at
Destiny wants me to stay full time. So on Friday I am going to go talk to my other
boss…I’m bringing Amber so maybe she can take over for me….we’ll see. If I’ve learned
anything this trip it is to trust God. He has guided me thus far…so I’m praying and
trusting that my internship will work out. Pray for me about that!

Daily Life: So I finally have a cell phone that works. Which is nice. I have been able
to make friends and connect with people. I’m starting to really feel at home here. I’ve
learned to take the mini buses by myself and I am finally learning the city. Although
Lofto (where I live) is not right in the center of the city, it is MUCH closer. The mini
Bus system is great. One guy hangs his head out of the side door and yells the
destination like- “PIAZZA, PIAZZA, PIAZZA” and…if I’m going to Piazza, I get on that
mini bus. They are also really cheep…only 2-4 bir…which is 20 to 40 cents. There are no
street signs anywhere, so I just have to learn how the city looks…which has been a little
nervousing at times….but so far it’s worked out. People are SUPER friendly here.
Seriously, I feel like everywhere I go people help me, or want to go to coffee…(which is
a common daily activity). Just now actually a guy sitting next to me wants to go to
coffee (haha don’t worry…I’m being safe!). Honestly, Ethiopians are known for their
friendliness. They are not violent people. I asked my friend why that was and she said
because if they do anything violent…the government will just out right shoot them.
Seriously…the military just walks around with machine guns…So no one wants to take that
risk. The only risk I really have is for my stuff to be stolen…but even that…especially
where I live…isn’t too much of a concern. Anyways, I’m starting to feel more
independent, which is SUPER nice. I’m making friends, I love my internship, I’ve been
able to see Amber more (which has been a huge BLESSING….we are good support for
eachother), I love my family, I’m adjusting to life. Things are good. I’m loving
Ethiopian culture sooooooooo much! One thing I love a lot is...every morning I wake up
and have NO IDEA what the day is going to be like. I feel like every day is SOOO
different. I was talking to my host mom about it and she said that is definitely
Ethiopian culture. It's hard to plan anything...I just "go with the flow" most
days. I didn't think my personality would like that...but actually I LOVE it. I think
because I love surprises so much...each day is a surprise for me...who am I going to
meet? where am i going to go? who am i going to talk to? It's always a surprise. : )

Food: I forgot to tell you guys last time…but I did try a piece of raw meet. It was
ok. It didn’t make me want to eat anymore….haha. I love the cooked meet though. Goat
is one of my favorites!

Health: I haven’t been very healthy, which is a bummer. So pray about that. When I
was with my other family, they fed me fish and I got BAD food poisoning. I threw up a lot
and I was in bed for a whole day. And now it seems about once a week or more I have
diarrhea. : ( If I get it again soon, I may go to a doctor. But we’ll see. It seems
like getting sick is common around here. Luckily my mother packed me with an ample
supply of meds. I am very thankful for that!!!

Money: So just to give you a perspective on money from a U.S. stand point- I can get a
plate of spaghetti, yummy bread, vegetables, a coke, and a macchiato (which are amazing
here) for 15 bir…which is $1.50!! : ) But for the people living here, the economy is not
doing well. Prices of everything continue to rise. MANY people are out of work. It’s
sort of a joke that Ethiopians just “sit around.” For instance, Amber doesn’t have an
internship yet so she hangs out with friends and practices her Amharic (she’s better then
me for sure!), and her friends tease her that she is becoming a “true” Ethiopian. But
it’s really not a laughing matter. It’s serious, people are struggling a lot. The
beggars and street children are overwhelming. Also the other night some friends and I
went to an area in the city where the prostitutes are. We walked down the street and saw
many girls standing around waiting to be picked up. Wow, it hit me hard. Many of the
girls are 14…15…many of them come from the country hoping that they can find a job in the
city…but realize that they can’t. Thus their option is to sell themselves…pray for the
people.

PRAYER Requests: So pray for my internship…if I should work full time at the school or if I
should also work at that other place. Also as my mom has reminded me…since I am starting
to settle in and get “comfortable”….and I am kept VERY busy at the school, it’s easy to
just set aside my school work (which I have a lot of)…so pray that I keep on top of
things, and that God will continue to open doors for me. I am learning the language but
I am STILL looking for a consistent language partner. So pray about that. Also pray for
my health!!!
I feel like there is so much more I could tell you!! But I’ll wrap it up. Thank you so so
much for your prayers. God is soooo good. I have experienced him and felt him in such
powerful ways here. He’s got my back for sure. : ) I miss you all a lot. Know that you
are in my thoughts and prayers! Keep me updated on your lives!!

In Christ,
Dana

New homestay

I have moved into my new homestay and I love it here! My new host family's names are Hareg and Yonatin. They are 30 something and have two small children. They own and operate a school for poor city children and take in US and European students to suppliment their income. They speak excellent English so communication should be easier! Yeah!

We went to the country side today. It's BEAUTIFUL!! And the air is so fresh...especially compared to the city!!! Anyways I took a lot of pictures. : ) Now I'm back at the school just chillin. I love Hareg. She's so thoughtful and kind and a really good communicator. I feel like we are going to be good friends. Thank you for your prayers. I am still praying that I'll make some more friends...and to figure out language and the internship. Hareg asked me today if I would help her teach computer class while I'm waiting for my internship! I said YES! It starts on Monday!! I think it'll be a fun experience. haha I'll be Mrs. Parker! It'll be interesting to help her out since the class will probably be in Amharic. haha I'll have to have a crash course on computer words.
It is such a different experience that I am having being here by myself...opposed to living with other Americans. Sometimes I feel the benefits of being alone and other times I feel like I'd rather live with a bunch of Americans! haha I was thinking today...this will probably be the only time that I ever am living overseas by myself, so I just have to make the most of it!! I feel myself slowly healing from my past three week emotional low....so that's good. I'm so happy to be in my new homestay and to feel like there is hope for me to feel adjusted and maybe even at home here.

Selam Friends and Family

Selam Friends and Family!!
It has been hard for me to get to the internet this past week. Power has been on and off and the internet I normally go to is always closed! So today I ventured out and found a new one. : ) There is so much to update you guys on! Honestly I wish I could write to you each a personal e-mail. But even though I can't, I want you to know that I think about each of you, and each of your e-mails brings me so so much joy. I feel the love from you all and it means so much more to me then I can even express in words. It is hard to be alone so far far away from home. But even so God has encouraged me and shown me the importance of receiving love from strangers. Although often I feel like a burden on every one. It is a humbling experience that's for sure. Lets see, I'll try and break this up in headings so you can read it easier.

God Moments: When I said in my first letter to everyone that I would learn to depend on God in new ways....God took that very seriously! I have been lonely...confused...sick...unhappy....and in my times of joy and peace...God has met me in new ways. God brought me a friend last week! I woke up one morning praying and praying for a friend and God placed a girl named Jalalee that I had met in the internet café the other day, on my mind. And so my family let me go and walk around. So I went to the internet café to see if I could find Jalalee, but it was closed. So I just decided to walk....I walked and walked not know where I was going...and all of a sudden I heard "Selam, Dana!" I turned around and it was Jalalee!! I knew at that second that it was a moment arranged by God. It was so random, it had to be! So Jalalee and I went and sat in a coffee shop and talked for more than an hour. I don't have a cell phone yet, so I haven't been able to see her for a week, but even so, it gave me peace and hope and reassurance that God really is guiding me and taking care of me. Also, the first week I was in Ethiopia, I was thrown into a crazy experience with my internship...I didn't know what they wanted me to do...they had me interview a pastor and a group of poor women, and honestly I just threw together questions and bs-ed my way through it....so after that I was sitting in an office feeling very lost and confused and I looked on the wall...and in ENGLISH (which is rare) it said "If God brought you to it, He will bring you through it." WOW! God is good. I took a break from my internship to get oriented, but I am going to start it again this week. They want me to do some research and write some proposals for them. I'm still not quite sure..but I'll let you know once I get into it! Pray that God will give me clarity and knowledge to know how to best serve them. They are a Community Development organization that works with a holistic approach towards the poor...so basically they help them help themselves...instead of just being a charity. So far it seems like an amazing organization, I just don't feel very qualified to do what they want me to do!! Only with God's strength. : ) Also the other night when the power was out, I sat by candle light...drinking tea and talking to my host dad. It was an amazing experience! He has an amazing story. His family was taken and he was put in Jail at the age of 8 by Somalians...he stayed in jail for 11 years! It's a long story so I'll tell you about it when I get home.

Food Moments: So everything I eat seems to be HOT! And for those of you who know me and my family...we don't really eat hot foods. So my goal has been to kill my taste buds and get used to eating spicy things. The other day I was eating my normal...injera with some sort of meat mush....and my family offered me a jalapeño pepper stuffed with some sort of tomato mush. I decided to eat it...my personal goal was to finish the whole thing and to not cry!! I accomplished only one of my goals. I finished it, but tears came! Haha I also drank a lot of water. But that was just the first step. By the time I come home I'll be able to eat jalapeno peppers- Minum Idelem (no problem!)! : ) haha

Street Life: So unfortunately I still have not gotten used to all of the stares and comments from people. I've never been overseas by myself...usually I'm in a group of foreigners so I can distract myself from all of the stares. But not this time!! I am constantly made aware that I am a ferenji (foreigner) and that I look and talk different then everyone! The other day I took my little host brother out to eat some cake at a local coffee shop (coffee shops are everywhere...just like Seattle!! ) and since he only six...he commented the WHOLE way there and back about how many people were staring at us. Haha I've gotten some funny comments, "sister, sister I love you" or "hellohowareyouwhatisyourname?" It interesting...it seems that many little little kids...like 2 or 3 years old have an impulse to stick their hand out to me and have me shake it. I've done that I couple of times now. : ) It's still hard for me because when people see me they immediately associate me with whatever they think about foreigners....rich is a common one...mean...greedy....doesn't know any Amharic...who knows!! I guess I shouldn't worry about it, but I hope that I can make a positive influence on people about how they view foreigners. On my route to my house there is a field...it is my favorite field to pass by because it always has different animals. Sometimes it's goats...horses....cows....donkeys....sheep....dogs....it's always a surprise!! : ) I'm still getting used to all of the sounds I hear...my favorite sound is a donkey naaaying. Haha I don't know why, but I like hearing it.

Language Moments: So I still haven't found a language helper. My host brother and sister speak English and they have been helping me. Also my host mom speaks A LITTLE English, so she's been helping me. I already know more Amharic then I do Spanish...and I've had Spanish classes!! Basically anyone who is willing to help me, I try to learn. It's been fun, but its hard!

Homestay: My family is going to Seattle so I have been on a search for a homestay. Amber helped me find a nice family who lives inbetween her and my internship!! The pasrents speak English so they can help me with things. And they can help me with learning more Amharic! I'm moving there tomorrow night! Wow. I'm going to miss my family so so much, but it's fun to know that I will see them in Seattle when I go home! Yay! Anyways, I'll let you know about my new family!

Prayer Requests: Pray that the transition to a new family goes well. Pray that I will find a friend there!! Pray that I will understand my internship!! I love you all. Thank you so much for your prayers and love. They are felt. You are in my prayers as well. I'll write more when I can!In Christ, Dana

Update from Addis June 26th

I don't have too much time, so I will keep it short. I just wanted to thank you for your prayers. They are definitely felt. Emotionally I am doing better! Praise the Lord. My culture shock is starting to wear off and I am starting to feel more adjusted here. My physical state is still up and down, but it's not too bad either. I think once I fully decided to surrender everything to God, I started to see things in a whole new light. I realized that I have no control, but God is completely in control. I also realized that I was worrying too much and looking too far ahead in the future...wanting my GLT to be EXACTLY as I had thought it would be...which made me stressed and anxious because it's NOT what I thought it would be. But now I am surrendering each day to the Lord and trying hard not to worry about tomorrow. : ) I recognize that my family situation is not ideal to what a GLT asks me to do....we live too far from the city and they don't let me do anything by myself...so I'm having a hard time meeting people and doing what I need to do for my GLT. Buuuttt I'm figuring things out. My host dad is trying to find me a language tutor, so maybe that will get me out of the house more. PRAY for me on that one. I do LOVE my family so so much. They really have made me one of their own. I owe them a lot, they have done so much for me and I am truly, truly thankful for them. I believe that God placed me here for a reason. It looks like they are moving to Seattle July 17th. I will miss them dearly, but it will also give me an opportunity to maybe be placed in a home closer to the city. We will see....pray for that too!!! Just a fun thing- Today my host mom and her brother came home with a goat! Then we sat down for lunch and the next thing I know, they brought a tub of skinned goat into the living room! It was amazing. I took pictures....they showed me the liver, the stomach...etc. Then they started eating some of it. I was SO CLOSE to eating a piece...but I didn't. Since I'm still trying to get my body adjusted, I don't know what raw meet will do to me....maybe in a couple of months. ; ) Even though I'm with my family 24/7 I'm still getting around....they take me on their errands, so I get to see and experience the area. I'm really loving this place, and each day I wake up...not knowing at ALL what I'm going to do or what is going to happen to me....I'm not used to that because I'm such a planner...but I'm learning to LOVE it. : ) Oh ya, real quick- the WEATHER! It's similar to Seattle summer actually. Although when it rains...it rains HARD, and then it stops. Out where I live things get muddy. It feels like its in the mid 70's most of the time...maybe low 70s. Everyone here thinks it's cold, but I think it's perfect!! In the night time is gets a little chilly, but not too bad. Its been a big blessing because it hasn't been difficult for me to get used to the weather. Thank you for you prayers. Much much love,In Christ,Dana

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

Blog update

Dana is safely in Ethiopia, but internet service is not the best and she cannot access her blog. Her family will be posting e-mails so you can stay in touch, but if you want to contact her, you will have to e-mail her as she cannot respond to you on the blog site itself.

Embark with me on a new journey to Ethiopia…

Dear Friends and Family,

As June quickly approaches, I am finishing up my final plans to head off on a new adventure to Ethiopia! As a part of my Global Studies major at Azusa Pacific University, I am required to do an independent study in a 3rd world country. After much research and a lot of prayer, I decided upon Addis Ababa, which is the capitol of Ethiopia. I am leaving June 12th and will return home November 5th. I am traveling with one other girl from APU who will also live in Ethiopia, but we will be doing independent work. My assignment was to find a country, a home stay, an internship, a place to learn the language, and then go! With the Lords help and guidance, I met an Ethiopian pastor in Seattle through some family friends. His wife and children are living in Addis Ababa and he offered his home to me. When I arrive there I will live with them and start right away on learning Amharic, one of the main languages of Ethiopia. After about a month, I will volunteer at an indigenous organization that works with urban poor.
Ethiopia caught my attention because it is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Along with most African countries, it is a huge victim of the AIDs epidemic. Thousands of people are affected and die every year. Because of that, along with poverty and other economic and cultural factors, Ethiopia has thousands upon thousands of street children. For the past year and a half I have been working with homeless and poverty stricken children in Los Angeles. They have captured my heart and sparked my curiosity as I have sought to understand their world and what different factors go into poverty here in the U.S. Thus, I am planning on studying urban poor, specifically focusing on street children, in Ethiopia in order to compare and contrast poverty in the U.S. with poverty in a third world country. The whole time I am in Ethiopia I will be studying their culture and how they live. Along with learning the language and volunteering at a local organization, I will write an extensive report on Ethiopian family life. I will also do a “Global Study Project” where I will research and write about a topic of my choice, which will have something to do with urban poor.
It is going to be a lot of work, but I am so excited to go, step out of my comfort zone, depend on God in new ways, and learn about the beautiful people of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is surrounded by unstable countries, but Ethiopia itself is stable and open to foreigners. I am confident that this is where the Lord wants me to be. I would love for you to participate with me as I embark on this journey by supporting me with your prayers. As I have traveled in the past, I have really felt people’s prayers with me. Also ,I am going to try and write as much as I can on this blog. I will also be using my e-mail and would love to hear from you- Danalaube@apu.edu.

Thank you so much for your love and support,
In Christ,
Dana Laube