I Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Me

“I Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Me”

If someone had told me a year ago I would utter the above sentence and believe it with all my heart, well, I probably would have called them slightly crazy. I would have thought something along the lines of, “What? I need Africa more than it needs ME? You have to be kidding me. I live in America. What more could I want? I have so much to give. What about those starving children? What about all those wars and conflicts? How can I need Africa more than it needs me? Doesn’t it need my help? Are you crazy?!?”

And yes, I am slightly crazy. Crazy in love with Africa. I went to Ethiopia this summer and tried my hardest to go without expectations, without feeling self-righteous about the whole affair. But I did go with expectations. I expected to give the little orphans my donations and see their eyes light up and know I had just made their entire year.

But what actually happened what something I never expected. I fell in love. My heart broke into a million little pieces and only those breathtakingly loving and beautiful Africans knew how to put it back together. Yes, I saw some hard things. I encountered unthinkable and heartbreaking situations. And while those images and situations stay in my mind and often keep me awake at night, they are not the first thing that I think of when I hear someone say “Africa.”

I first think of joy. I think of the joy on the children’s face as they sat under a tin roof, while the rain absolutely POURED outside, and sang and danced with all the foreingees (Amharic word for foreigners/whites). Those kids were being “just kids” more than any kid I have ever seen in the US.

I think of calmness and peace. I think of how complete I felt sitting on the roof of our guesthouse late at night, breathing in the African air, and reflecting on the day and anticipating the next. I think of those children that stole my heart and how content I would be to just sit with them again all day, playing games and holding their hands.

Yes, Africa needs our help. The little $7 a month I give to Mocha Club goes such a long way. I’ve seen the school it’s building in Ambo. I’ve held the hands of two boys who are students there. I still feel their hands in mine. But, when it comes down to it, I need Africa more than it could ever imagine needing me. I need Africa to know what love and joy is. I need Africa to feel at home with myself. To understand what a blessing truly is. I need Africa to truly understand HOPE and JOY and LOVE.

I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN IT NEEDS ME

But, what about you?

Mocha Club, an organization that asks you to donate a small $7 a month (the equivalent of about two mochas...so like giving up mochas for Africa, get the name?), has just launched a new campaign on the topic. Check it out. Start a convo. Buy a t-shirt and support a cause of your choice: https://www.mochaclub.org/mochaclub/i_need_africa

And, if you want to take the extra step, then join Mocha Club. Start your own team and get your friends to join in. Or, join my team: https://www.mochaclub.org/joinme/mkohne

Thank you so much for reading this!
I hope it sparks a thought and that you start a dialogue about it.


I know I have posted this before, but I am going to leave you with a song that I only truly began to understand while falling asleep to it each night in Africa:

10,000 Children
By Dave Barnes

“10,000 children and all I can do is just talk,
When my house is full of possessions that negligence bought,
Everyone tells me that I’m not to blame,
Why do I still feel the same?

Only love can save us all.
Only love can save us all.
Save us all.

10,000 children are my invitation to change.
To continue in excess now suddenly feels oh so strange.
Prayers and money should not be confused,
But I pray that both still are used.

Only love can save us all.
Only love can save us all.

What will become of me?
Hands tied by history?

10,000 children and all I can do is just talk.”

The Team I Love So Much

I have been missing my team members lately. I miss their hearts and their kindness. I miss how well we all meshed together. How much we laughed. Oh, and laugh we did.

Here's a video of Elizabeth. This girl makes me laugh. Lots:

She doesn't like to be confrontational or angry. She laughs continually. Geoff thought having her say "I'm so angry" would help her. Well...it did help for an entertaining bus ride.

Geoff and Elizabeth and I had a fun experience in downtown London our last night:

A Downtown Chicago Experience

This past weekend I had an interesting experience that keeps getting played over and over in my brain. I was sitting in downtown Chicago on a bench waiting for my bus to come to bring me back home. I had just come off a great weekend that involved very little homework, so I pulled out my book to read, put in my iPod and starting getting in the groove. All of a sudden I heard a guy walking up to me. He called out before approaching me and didn't want to scare me at all. I think the first thing he told me, and repeated numerous times, was that he wasn't a street person, that he had a $34/hr job as a plumber, and that he needed help. His truck tire had a hole in it, he needed to run to the nearest BP to buy the right stuff to patch the hole, and he didn't have any cash on him or his card to get cash from the nearby ATM. He asked if I wouldn't mind borrowing him some cash and if I gave him an address, he would send it back to me.

I ended up taking $60 out of the ATM and refusing to get paid back. Instead I gave him my Mocha Club url and told him to give the money back to Mocha Club. To join my team if he wanted. That Mocha Club and my trip was the reason I would ever do something like this. I sincerly hope he does it.

I know many hearing/reading this will think I am stupid. Giving a complete stranger $60? Would you think I was more stupid if that stranger was homeless and couldn't afford to give anything back? Probably. It doesn't bother me that he may never return the favor to me. It doesn't bother me that I will never see that money again.

What haunts me a little bit about the whole experience is how he felt the need to assure me over and over that he wasn't homeless. That he had a good job. That he was trustworthy. Isn't it sad that the first thing he said to me was that he wasn't homeless and had a job so I wouldn't be afraid for him to approach me? What kind of country do we live in that the meer fact that someone doesn't have a roof over their head means they are dangerous? That we are more willing to help out someone who has an 8-5 job than someone who doesn't and who needs our help more? When did we all get so freaking cautious and judgemental that we don't help those in need of it?

In all honesty, I have been waiting to give back to the community. I know that fella thinks I helped him out a lot. But I felt so grateful to be in the position to help someone out, to make an impact no matter how small, and to genuinely care about a stranger. That was who I was in Ethiopia. I'm not allowed to be that very often here at home. I am judged for it. I am thought to be unsafe and stupid if I talk to a homeless person. If I smile at someone. When did we forget that the other humans walking next to us are humans as well? That they have names and stories and deserve to be recognized.

I'm sorry if this post came off as harsh or condenscending. I don't mean it to be at all. This is not how I think everyone else should feel but how I personally feel. I only write it to share my feelings.

Some Video Inspiration

Yes, I'm a child on the "technology century" and rely on technology and video to help me articulate life. These videos speak for themselves.

First, a Dave Barnes song "10,000 Children." I listened to it every night before falling asleep in Ethiopia. I could finally put faces to those children. Wow. "10,000 children and all I can do is just talk." Take a listen for yourself:


Second, a video of Barrett Ward explaining the Mocha Club school project in Ambo. I recognize so many of these faces. And am SO excited that if people join my mocha club team (www.mochaclub.org/joinme/mkohne), the money goes towards finishing this exact school!


That's all for now...more videos coming soon that I took myself on the trip!

Things I give up

When my team met in Dallas for training (pictured above), we spent some time reading in the bible and reflecting on it. The particular passage we read focuses on not complaining. As we discussed this passage and our expectations for the trip, our training leaders suggested we all create a list. We were to create a list of things we were "giving up." The things we were surrendering and not longer having the right to. I dug through some stuff and finally found my list that I wrote out on that day, July 1st, in Dallas; here, I'll try to translate it to typed text as best as I can:

I'm giving up my right to:

- complain about the weather or other uncontrollable, insignificant things

- get enough sleep every single night

- be stagnant & ignore my journey of faith

- pick & choose who I think I should/would be friends with or get along with & instead be open to everyone

- talk about myself before listening to others

- worry about things after the trip (wedding, zoo, boys) that I can't control

- be picky about my food (spicy, coffee, etc...)

- plan and be on schedule - know what's ahead

- hot shower

- to stay dry & comfortable

I look back at that list and think about how I had to give up those things, surrender my right to be picky or to worry, to be able to fully experience Ethiopia. Without worrying or giving in to these trivial things, I was able to be completely present in the moment as possible - to let it all sink in and to give of myself, my attention, to these people as fully as I could. I look back at the list and realize how many of those things I did give up.

"get enough sleep every single night"

My mind wanders back to a night spent in the guest house (pictured above). I was downstairs journaling in the living room, as Keith journaled in a chair across from me and Geoff sat engrossed in his book. It was probably well past midnight already and I was in desperate need of sleep. The two soon finished their tasks and headed up to bed, but I stayed for what I thought would only be a bit longer. Another team member, Sarah, soon came down and we found ourselves talking until almost 2am (knowing we had to get up by 7:30 or so). That time together really was the start of our friendship though and was needed. We needed to be present and caring towards one another. Sleep could wait."be picky about my food"

Well, I was in Ethiopia where coffee was discovered. Nevermind I had probably only drank 3 cups of coffee in my whole life, I decided to embrace the culture and had coffee every time it was offered. You know what? I didn't absolutely love it, but I did enjoy it. It was all part of experiencing the country and was worth it. We even had the privelage of experiencing two coffee cermonies. The one pictured above was in our guest house, put on for us by Tigis, one of the guest staff, on our very last night in the country.

"to stay dry & comfortable"

On our last day of ministry, we went back to Hannah's Orphanage. This was our third day at the location and we went to help the children with their chores. The "chores" at one point entailed our eleven person team helping to wash dozens of children's clothes. We had probably six basins of soapy water that team members would scrub the clothes in, then another 4 basins of rinse water, and then lines upon lines of clothes. It was raining and dreary out. At the end of the endeavor, my back hurt and my sweatshirt, shoes, and shirt were completely soaked through. I was neither dry nor comfortable. What I was instead was content. I had been able to do something that I knew was a service to these people...a small token of thanks for sharing their lives with me.
"hot shower"

I specifically remember taking a shower in the Ambo hotel (view from our balcony posted above). The water was absolutely freezing. Sooo, very cold. I could barely handle the water. I found myself complain in my head about how cold it was. And then I stopped. I realized how incredibly selfish I was. Here, I had just spent the day with people who didn't even have running water in their homes most likely and I was complaining that I had to endure a cold shower, one day out of how many days? That's when the tears starting falling.

Now that I'm back home and have gotten back into the "flow of things," I have noticed myself falling back into habits. Habits like complaining about the weather or traffic. Why? There is no need. I have no control over the situation. I have to continually remind myself that the list of things I "gave up" before going to Africa doesn't need to be reclaimed again. I can be that person I hoped to be on my trip while I am back home. I hope and pray that I can always strive to be that person.

Making Sense of it All

I know I haven't written much since my return. I apologize. I could blame it on being busy, but that is not entirely the case. It is more because I am at a loss of words. I'm scared of not doing justice to the wonderful and beautiful souls I met. I'm scared you'll get bored reading it. There is so much bottled up inside of me concerning this trip that I'm at a loss at where to begin. So I'll just begin somewhere easy:

Meet my friend, a precious little girl I met at Kachene Study Center. Her name escapes me at the moment; even if I could remember it I wouldn't be able to spell it correctly. My team spent a total of three days at the Kachene Study Center in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The center is for kids who are orphaned but still live with extended family, whether that be an aunt, uncle, grandma, etc... It provides a safe haven for the kids and allows the family members to have time to work without worrying about the kids. Think of a Boy's and Girl's Club in the U.S.

The first day of ministering in Ethiopia we visited Kachene and just spent some time with the kids. Then we left the capital (Addis Ababa) for a few days. Upon our return to Addis we returned to Kachene for two more days. This little girl caught my eye right as I hopped off the bus on that second day. She instantly jumped into my open arms. I got asked by Sister Amoss (the founder and lady in charge) to help take some pictures of the kids so I had to set the little one down. She just stayed nearby and watched as I worked with Sister Amoss for at least 40 minutes. When finished I looked over and waved her over and she came running to me. She didn't leave me for the entire day.

The next day we visited Kachene's again. This time the girl saw me probably before I saw her and again came to hold my hand and hangout for the day. This girl had so much attitude and sass and giggles in her. She was a riot to be around and made me smile so much. Her hugs were precious and her giggle made you start laughing instantly.

She stands out in my mind for her tremondous amount of joy and laughter. You'd forget she had gone through a hard life of losing her parents and lives in poverty. Yet, that's the way the people of Ethiopia are: so incredibly joyful and loving despite the hardship. If I learned anything while in the country, that was it.

Back From Africa

No - I didn't get stuck in Africa (i wish!). I'm back.

First of all, thank you so much (whoever actually reads this) for your prayers, thoughts, encouragement, and support. I appreciate more than you can ever imagine. It means the world to me and I hope to attempt, although unadequately, to "pay you back" by sharing with you what this journey entailed and what happened.

Second of all, sorry for the delayed post. I thought I would be able to post a blog or two while in country, but my attempts failed due to the extremely slow dial-up internet. I will have to gather some pictures and refer back to the journal I kept to help relate how things were at that time.

I got back in the U.S.A last Tuesday (the 15th), but then proceeded to drive up home for my sister's wedding and then drive to Chicago to meet up with friends and see a concert (a friend drove up from Nashville, and I'm friends with one of the bands that played so it was all around a great trip). Then work started up on Monday after a 3 week "vacation." Basically, life has been hectic and makes me miss the slow African pace of life (we joked that one city in Africa that we visited, Ambo, had 26 hours in the day because they took everything at such a slow pace).

Everyone keeps asking me "HOW WAS AFRICA?!?!" Well, the response to that is more of a feeling than words. When I think about it, a sense of warmth rushes over me and a longing to go back. If I didn't have a plane ride back to the US, I'm not quite sure I would be here right now. Not that I never wanted to come home...I just didn't want to come home quite yet. There is so much that my trip entailed it is hard to sum it up in a few words, but I'll try. Here are some that come to mind:
*Amazing
*Life Changing
*Unreal...yet more real than anything I have ever seen
*Beautiful
*Blessed
*Heartbreaking...but heartwarming at the same time
*Breathtaking
*Laughter
*Bonding
*Joy, Joy, Joy

I'm trying to adjust back to life here. It seems to be harder than trying to adjust to African life. Strange to understand unless you have experienced it. For me, the journey is not over. I'm still processing. I'm still searching. I'm still trying to understand why I was on thetrip and what I'm suppose to do with it all.

Life calls though...so more later.

Until next time...

Packing

Wow. Packing was probably a 6 hour ordeal today. I'm exhausted from it. I jammed everything possible into those bags...I honestly can't believe it all fit. I spent so much time taking everything out of its bulky packaging and sucking all the air out as humanly possible.

I leave for Dallas in about 9 hours. AHHH!

Here are some pictures to show the packing adventure for the day:

taking over the living room:


Packing 1 of 3 suitcases... layer one:


Layer two:


Layer three:


Weight:
suitcase one: 46 pounds
suitcase two: 49 pounds
suitcase three: 46 pounds
carryon: JAMMED

Morale of blog: Melissa is going to FALL OVER trying to haul this through the Dallas and Mpls Int'l airports.

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to update this while on the trip. So keep me and the team in your thoughts and prayers. Team members: Geoffrey, Daina, Danielle, Sarah, Jenny, Elizabeth, Geof, Keith, Jessica, Missy, and myself.

Until next time...

Preparing for Heartbreak

I keep on thinking that I am traveling all the way to Africa to get my heart broken. Sound strange? Yes. Let me attempt to explain. I don't know how anyone can go into this sort of situation...to see some 200 orphans in one orphanage who have seen more terror and hardships than ever imaginable. These kids who will be so, so incredibly happy to recieve the simplest things like stickers or school supplies - maybe some of the first times ever seeing these things. I'm not fooled to believe that little me, the little white girl from MN who somehow is affording international airfare and who definately wears her heart on her sleeve will not be affected by these kids. How can I witness these kids...open my heart to them...and NOT get my heart broken in the process? And in way, yes, I do want my heart to break. I want to know that I am capable of that compassion...that I can give these kids that sort of love and care. I've said this before, but I want this trip to change me in some fundamental way. I just think my heart getting broken is part of the process. That my friends is not something that is easy to prepare for. It's not like remembering your passport or gathering donations...it's so much more. It's trying to mentally and emotionally prepare. *sigh* I just really feel like the "leap" into the unknown is here. Bring it on.

Until next time...

3 Days and Counting

Considering it's past midnight and officially Saturday morning I only have 3 days until I leave for Africa. 3 DAYS! When did this happen? Why am I not completely ready? There is so much to do but I know it'll get done. My goal is to purchase my malaria medication tomorrow and to pack my bags of donations.

First though, let me say how incredibly grateful I am for the people I have in my life. They are so generous and thoughtful and amazing. I really do lead a blessed life. My favorite part of this whole process so far has been collecting the donations. People have volunteered their money and posessions to help. It honestly takes my breath away. Thank you friends. You are my inspiration. You are the reason I believe in the good of this world. You are amazing.

I'm SO excited to meet the team in Dallas. I've never flown alone either...that just occured to me. I guess it'll be an interesting adventure down to Dallas all alone. Who will I tell "I love airports! I love airplanes!" to (on spring break I'm pretty sure Tori heard those two sentences half a dozen times on the trip out to VA). I'll be able to bring a 3rd suitcase on our international flight. I hope my domestic flight doesn't make me pay too much money to bring it along. Yuck. I guess you do what you must do though.

It felt a little more real this past week. I talked to Elizabeth (she's going on the trip) and that made it sink in a bit more. Then today at work I walked around saying goodbye to my co-workers since I'll be MIA for three weeks from work. Can I just say how lucky I am to be an intern and have a job that allows for 3 full weeks off in the middle of the summer? And that they want me to continue on into the fall.

Just a little side note...I'm co-leading a street team for the band the Alternate Routes. Their EP is being released while I'm away in Africa. I'm going to see them after I get back home and excitement can barely be contained.

My sister is also getting married RIGHT after my return. It's going to be a crazy, crazy welcome back to the U.S.A. I'm actually more scared about the return and jumping back into "real life" after such a huge experience.

More to come this weekend as I really start to digest my Tuesday departure. Right now...sleep!

Until next time...

Housing and Donations Collection

I never thought that I'd be living in such a place in Africa! Our team is going to be staying in the guest house pictured above. It's used to house families who adopting children from Addis. It was started by a man named Dave and his wife. You should definately check out their websites:
http://ethiopiaguesthome.com/index.php?id=5
http://daveandrae.blogspot.com/
Such a cool organization and idea. If you are traveling to Africa to adopt a child, imagine what a blessing a safe and lovely guest home would be.

Right now I'm trying to get all my donations and personal clothing and supplies in order. It's quite a task. I feel so incredibly blessed though. After sending out the email to my friends and family I have recieved responses from over a dozen people who want to help. I have two digital cameras being donated as well - maybe three if my parents allow me to use their camera and doante my own. My prayer is that I end up with too many donations! I just found out that some of us can bring an extra suitcase on the trip through British Airways (since it's a missionary trip). Hopefully I get enough to fill that extra suitcase. I have a professor who is collecting donations at her office, a church who is collecting physical and monetary donations, and too many other people to name.

I've been so busy lately with my new internship that the trip has not been my focus lately. It took me a long time to get around to asking for donations. And now I'm trying to get all my clothing and medication and things in order. But, I have two weeks. And God is good. He's making this happen. I get a little teary-eyed when I think about leaving. I'm trying to prepare for the heartbreak...the heartbreak of meeting these children, who I can feel a love for already, and seeing their endurance and hearing their stories. I hope my heart is open enough to soak all that in and give love back in return. I'm so excited to bring the kids all these fun things. It's seem so small...a coloring book or stickers. But to these children, it's a miracle that an odd pale girl from way across the ocean knows of their heartache and cares enough to bring presents.

More updates to come soon. Until next time...

Donations Please!

Hello dear friends,

I'll be updating this site soon. I can't believe I leave in less than a month. Right now I'm in the process of collecting donations. Please read the note I sent out by email below. I'd really, really appreciate the help collecting donations. You can contact me with questions (makohne@gmail.com):

As most of you know, I'm going to Ethiopia is less than a month! I'll be visiting two different orphanages in Ethiopia that desperately need some supplies (each orphange has over 200 kids). I've complied a list of welcomed donations below (the first half of the list is specific requests from the orphange, and the second half is supplies our team needs to do special activities with the kids!) Please take a look at it and let me know if your heart tugs at you to donate. I will be bringing two 50 lb. suitcases along and will pack as little clothes as possible to fit in all the donations.

I leave for Africa on July 1st and will be collecting donations up until that point. Please, please let me know if you'd like to add to the pile. Ask your friends and family if they'd like to help as well! I'll be down in Minneapolis for the majority of the time before my trip, but will be visiting Duluth on the weekend of June 20-22nd. So let me know if you'd like to meet up!

I can't urge you enough to please donate. It will mean the world to these kids that people all away across the world have heard of their hardships and care enough to send presents.

Donations needed:

Technology - no need to buy! simply if you have one you no longer need, there was a special request for both.
- 1 pc laptop
- 1 digital camera
Personal Effects
- Clothes (2 yrs old to teen)
- Shoes (Elementary up to High School)
- Toothbrushes/toothpaste
- Bumbo seats (5 needed – 1 per trip?)
- Bouncy Seats (5 needed – 1 per trip?)
- Vitamins
- Diapers & formula
- Hand sanitizer
- School Supplies
- Pens/Pencils
- Blank Composition Books
- School Books
- Math
- Physics
- Dictionaries
- English books
- Flash Cards
- Crayons/coloring books
- Back Packs
Games / Toys
- Black Baby Dolls
- Soccer balls
- Small Pumps and needles
- Games (Simple ones!)
- Jenga
- Lincoln Logs
- Legos (simply blocks, not the spaceship one)
- Puzzles
- Jump ropes
Activities/Crafts (they LOVE this stuff – every team should go get this stuff b/c it’s a great way to spend time with the kids)
- Crafts - Go to Michaels!
- Bead Necklaces
- Little wedding bubbles packs
- Stickers
- Foam Bookmarks
- Face paint
- Polaroid camera
- Tote bags to decorate with: Paint pens/jewels
- Nail polish – they love to be pampered by you!

Carnival Day
Team members will set up different stations with activities such as face painting, jigsaw puzzles, arts and crafts, and balloon animals
Supplies Necessary:
- Face-paints
- Children’s puzzles
- balloons (both round and long)
- Arts and Crafts Supplies
- glue, scrapbooking paper, and children’s scissors
- TONS AND TONS of stickers
- children’s magazines
- any sort of school supplies
- tape, hand paints, coloring books
Holiday Day:
Team members will spend time acting out and describing different American holidays and the meaning behind them. This is a great means to present Biblical truth and the Gospel through the process.
Supplies Necessary
Any decorations or fun things associated with:
- Christmas
- Easter
- St. Valentine’s Day

Last Conference Call

So an update. Last night we had our last conference call before our trip to Africa. It is somewhat crazy to think about since we don't leave for several weeks. Our leader, Geoffrey, though is leading the other groups to and will be in Africa all summer. That makes it a little hard to have conference calls into the summer. Our last call went well. I learned a few things:
1) My balloon making skillz need some fine tuning. Apparently we are going to be putting on some carnival days for different kids. Since I all went and got a kit, I should hopefully be good at this. I should dig out that dvd this weekend and practice...
2) I forgot about the weather. It's only going to be around 50-70 degrees when we are there.
3) It is the cultural thing for man to be attracted to women by their thighs in Africa (maybe like men are to breasts in the US? Not sure if it's the same or not...) Apparently, if a woman shows off her thighs by tight fitting pants (or shorts) it most definately reflects her character. I will be shopping for long skirts (are those even made in the USA anymore?!?)

On a side note...sometimes I tend to ramble and instead of bogging down my friends with all my repetitive worries or ramblings I sometimes instead type them. I found this sentence from a recent Melissa rambling session, and although it's kinda sad, I guess it just sticks out a little bit and I really have no clue where that sort of writing came from. It's not typical for a Mel Rambling:
"Where silent confidence paired with giddiness and anticipation once stood, now stands doubt"

Alright. That is all for now. Until next time...

Thoughts

Two posts in one night...I know, it's a lot. But this one probably won't be too long. I just wanted to get down a few thoughts.

First of all, we just had a conference call with our team. We haven't had one in forever it seems. It was so nice to reconnect and feel as a team once more. Not everyone speaks up during the phone calls and seems to want to share. I hope it's only because it's a conference call and sometimes awkward to speak up and not because people are uncomfortable with the team. I'm hoping we'll all be more chatty in person!

I'm still struggling money wise. Technically, my trip is all paid off in the eyes of 963Missions and African Leadership. But, my Dad chipped in a lot of money to help me meet the deadlines. I'm going to try to sell coffee in person these next few weeks and see if I can gain some of the money to pay my dad back. At this point every little bit counts. It's just been so hard for me to come to terms with. I feel like this trip is what I'm called to do, and I've been trusting that God will provide. Yet, it's hard to not get discouraged when it doesn't work out exactly as I had hoped it would. Not that I'm discouraged, just ready for this financial burden to finally be lifted. Please!

My life will hopefully calm down soon and get into a pattern (my fingers are crossed). I just finished up with my finals and have a few days at school, then at home, and then moving into my summer location and starting my job. I'm excited to start preparing more for Africa within the upcoming weeks. I can even start thinking about what to bring!

Now I'm off to sleep. See...not too long tonight. =)

Until next time...

Invite to Join

I just sent out this email, but for all of you whose email I don't have, please considering joining:

Hey dear friend,

Hopefully I've already shared the news with you, but I am traveling to Ethiopia this summer for two weeks with this awesome organization called the Mocha Club. I realize not everyone can give of their time to fly all the way over to Africa to serve, but I wanted to share how you can be a part of the Mocha Club right from home!

Mocha Club functions as a website, where you give up $7 a month (the cost of 2 mochas) to help Africa. Can you believe that the cost of 2 mochas ($7) gives clean water to 7 Africans for a whole year?! It's only $7 but it's changing so many lives. Mocha Club also supports projects like orphan care, relief for the victims of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan and many more. I wanted you to join me! I'd love for you to join my team and make a difference. Mocha Club is giving away TWO FREE EXCLUSIVE DAVE BARNES MP3s if you sign up. ("Someday" and "On A Night Like This" acoustic versions recorded especially for Mocha Club!)

Personally, I've felt convicted to move from just thinking about it, to actually doing something. And I thought it'd be fun to do this with family and friends. The more of us that join, the greater impact we'll make, so once you join, you can invite friends too. Mocha Club updates us through blogs, videos, and podcasts every month so we know exactly where that money is going and can stay connected to our project in Africa.

Please consider joining the team. It's something that can even happen on a broke college budget (trust me, I'm there!)

As always, please keep myself and my team in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to prepare for our trip.

Much love,
Melissa

Click on this link to check it out:https://www.mochaclub.org/mochaclub/invitation/f01416dd5c81331e2604eb0079d57001/7

Mocha Clubbing

I should definately be falling asleep right now, but I just have to say: Tonight, I felt so, so, alive, so in my element, my comfort zone, my right spot. I worked the Mocha Club table for the Dave Barnes Concert (or went Mocha Clubbing as I like to call it). I can't begin to describe how much I love telling people about the Mocha Club and getting them to sign up and join the cause. Then, to hear Dave talk about it from the stage just is the icing to the cake.

He has a new CD out called Me & You & The World (definately check it out if you haven't). I know I've said this in a previous post, but whenever I listen to it I feel like it was written for me and my group going to Africa. It has been the soundtrack to my life for the past month. Whenever I get stressed our freaked out about this incredible journey ahead of me (which happens more than I'd like to admit), I can put on Dave's CD and feel my soul quiet down and be at peace. One song, Carry Me Through, in particular hits me everytime.

Well, I really felt the need to tell Dave this. I was nervous about it a bit because it's hard to tell someone something that personal amongst the random, "hey nice job tonight" banter they get bombarded with. The outcome of sharing this with the Mr. Dave Barnes?

1) We had a little heart-to-heart moment and a connection. It's hard to explain and I'm not going to try, but it was there. And...

2) I found out I need to bring stickers to Africa. Apparently the kids love them, they are easy to pack, and you can bring enough for everyone to have some.

I hope you all had a wonderful night as well. Only a month or so and I will be back at Varisty Theater Mocha Clubbing it once again (for Matt Wertz's concert). Also, two months from now, my feet with be on Ethiopian soil (feel the goosebumps run down my arms as I say that!)

Until next time...

Quotes

I'm a big quote person. You know those books that are all colorful and have lovely, mostly cheesy, hopefully inspirational quotes all through them? Well, I'm one of those people who love them. I've also gotten into underlining sentences in books as I read them that stand out to me. Not that I ever really go back and ponder them, but I like to believe it someone makes them more prophetic and meaningful.

Anyway, the reason for all this insight? I was looking through my phone today at my "notes" section. I rarely use it. I've only used it to record the set lists for concerts (actually, only for Alternate Routes concerts, but now I just decide I'll get the set list from them afterwards instead, haha), but I also found that I had recorded some random quotes. I must have thought these meaningful enough to find that hidden function in my phone to record them:

"History is more terrifying and more beautiful than we know"
This was said by Minnijean Brown-Trickey. If you don't know who she is, you should google her. Seriously. She's amazing. She was one of the Little Rock Nine and she spoke at Saint Thomas this spring. The quote is actually by someone else, but the name escapes me. Anyway, I remember when she said it. I had just had my first conference call with the team to go to Ethiopia with, and my mind was constantly thinking about Africa. She said those words, and I immediately thought about my upcoming journey. These Ethiopians - their stories - are going to be more terrifying and more beautiful than I can ever know. I can't pretend to have the first clue in knowing their history and their stories. But I can listen and learn and love them for it.

"She is willing to try any endeavor that affords her the opportunity to shake up the etch and sketch of everything she supposes is true, a chance to question all her secret opinions: that this thing is good, that one bad; that this person is better, that one worse."
I distinctly remember quoting this from a magazine and laughing to myself that I was such a dork for doing so. One, I like the wording "shake up the etch and sketch" and wish that I could use it in everyday sentences more often. Two, I strive to be that person. I want to push my limits of my own secret opinioins. I want to be "willing to try." I hope this trip does that for me a little bit.

Finally, dear Christine from Mocha Club left this as a comment on one of my previous blogs. It definately warrants an actual entry:
"Lord, I have said the eternal ‘Yes.’ Let me never, having put my hand to the plough, look back. Make straight the way of the cross before me. Give me love, that there may be no room for a wayward step." - Elisabeth Elliott
I was talking to Elizabeth, who I'm going to Africa with, about different ways we try to keep Africa in our minds throughout the day. She suggested printing up a map of Africa and putting it somewhere that I'd see it regularly. I finally printed one up the other day and put that quote on the bottom of it. It now is above my bed so I can see it before falling asleep and after waking up.

This is definately a lengthy post, and I have homework to still finish! Good night all.

Ethiopian Lutheran Church

Wow. So today I ventured over to Augsburg college campus to go to church. There is a Lutheran church, Trinity, that offers both an American Lutheran and an Ethiopian Lutheran worship service. I got there in time around 12:15 for the Ethiopian service that was suppose to start at 12:30. I walked in and there were all these people sitting around eating food. You know that feeling of walking in somewhere and knowing absolutely no one? Well, a pastor saw me and introduced himself. I told him I was new and was there for the service at 12:30. He looked at me a little strangely and said there was worship already at 11. I told him I knew, but I was there for the Ethiopian service. I explained that I was going to Ethiopia this summer. I bet that's not the answer he was expecting from a really pale Minnesotan girl, huh?

Well, much to my suprise, it was Easter today (because they celebrate the Eastern church's day of Easter) There was tons of Ethiopian food to celebrate. How cool is that! Not something I was expecting, but very cool indeed. The people there were really nice and interested in why I was there.

The service started a little late because of the Easter celebration. There had been quite a few people at the Easter lunch who had went to the morning service, so only about 7 people stayed for the Ethiopian service - all of whom were Africans (not sure if all Ethiopians, but I think so). The entire service was in Amharic so I basically had no idea what was being said the entire time. I had a nice fella sitting next to me though who helped me along a bit. The singing was absolutely gorgeous. And the praying - wow, I have never heard so much emotion being put into a prayer before. It felt almost like they were pleading. Like they felt it in the bottom part of their heart...the part that aches.

During the sermon, the pastor came down and sat next to me while another man went up to give the sermon. I'm not sure who he was, but he may have been the intern pastor. Anyways, the main pastor sat next to me and translated the sermon for me. It was such a cool experience to be looking up ahead and hearing this man speak in his native language, with such gusto, and also hear the sermon soflty interrupted in my ear. Very, very cool.

My favorite part of it all was at the end. The pastor announced in English (most likely for my sake) that we were going to say the Lord's prayer. I whispered it along in English and we all ended at exactly the same time. It was one of those "wow" moments. Just to know that we were saying the exact same thing and pausing at the exact same times.

I'll definately be going back. I think next time I'll go to the earlier service. It's mostly in English but has parts of the service in the African languages. The people were incredibly nice and so understanding. I am so excited to have found this church - and one so close! I have two months before I leave to go there, but I wish I had found it even earlier so I could go more.

Well, I will stop the rambling for the night.

Until next time...

"Brothers and Sisters" by Dave Barnes

Dave Barnes' new CD is more than amazing. It feels like it was written just for me to prepare for this journey. I know that isn't true, but he did write it after his own trip to Africa. Enjoy!

Falling into place...

As you can probably tell from my last blog, trust has been the big issue for me. I know that I trust it to all work out, but sometimes it's hard to remember in my day-to-day life. Anyways, today was one of those days when you take a big sigh and know it's all going to be alright. I found housing for the summer (with wonderful Beth and her family) and therefore can take the internship that was offered to me. They offered to pay me even more if I'd stay down here for the summer, so it makes me really excited that they are so confident that I'll be a good fit with the company. My summer plans have been such a big stress in my life for the past month or so, and to finally have them figured out is an enourmous relief! It makes me remember that I'm not the one in control and things will truly work out the way they are suppose to. Plus, I'm all registered for classes in the fall and found off-campus housing. Things seem to really be falling into place lately!

Now, on an African note, I'll be attending an Ethiopian Lutheran service on Sunday if all goes well. It's really close to campus and is late enough in the afternoon where I know I'll be able to make it. I'll be attending the Mekane Yesus service (Mekane Yesus is the Lutheran church in Ethiopia.) Part of the liturgy will even be in different languages (Amharic and Tigrigna). I'm really excited and may even have a friend venture along with me.

I talked to dear Elizabeth today. She'll be on the trip with me in July. It's always so nice to have those conversations with team members because it leaves you in such a peaceful state. Yes, someone else does know what it feels like to be going through this. I can't believe I'll get to meet her, and the rest of the team, in just two months!

I should get going on my homework for the evening though...

Until next time...

Where I'm At...

Well for starters, I don't really know where I'm at with this trip.  Some days I'm really excited. Other days I almost forget it is even happening.  And other days I'm scared out of my mind.  I find myself having a little "script' memorized to tell people what I'm doing and why.  But in all honestly, it is hard to describe. No, scratch that. Impossible to describe.  How can I accurately describe the emotions that fill my mind on each given day - fear, excitement, nerves, peace, anxiety, worry, and so many more?  How can I describe how I am traveling halfway across the world, incurring debt, going with people I have never met, to serve people who don't even know I exist, all because I "feel" that I am suppose to?

All I know is that in less than 80 days my feet will be on the ground of Ethiopia.  I hope and pray that I'm mentally, physically, and spiritually ready for this. I hope it changes my life and the way I view things.  I hope it brings about good and joy for the life of the Ethiopians I am to serve.  I hope I will walk away with a new-found sense of worldly knowledge and with new friendships that will span not only state boundaries (as with my team) but international boundaries (as with the Ethiopians) as well. 

Trust is the number one issue with me.  All the things above I trust will happen if I am open and willing.  I am working each day to build on that trust and to stop questioning.  To simply ask "how high?" when I'm told to "jump."  Foolish? Maybe. But that is what trust and faith is all about. 

Until next time,

Melissa/Mel/MK/MAK/Whatever...

Inner Pilgrimages

Jess gave me a labyrinth necklace at TEC.  It was a total "skish" moment (skish = super cute and touching, fyi).  She said that she had bought the necklace a while ago and had been wearing it a lot.  But, somehow it just didn't seem right.  Then she heard my give a talk at TEC and I talked a lot about my trip to Africa.  She said when she heard my talk she thought to herself, "This is why I bought it, because it's Melissa's necklace." 

It looks like this:

She passed along what the card said about it:

"The Labyrinth is a symbol of the spiritual journey to the center. It's the outward sign of the inner pilgrimage. It is a feminine symbol used by the vanished matriarchal civilization of ancient Crete. It is believed to have been one of their symbols of feminine mystery."

I haven't been able to stop wearing it since.  I always rub my finder in the back grove of the necklace and when I do, I try to have Africa in my mind.  I also hang it above my head before I go to sleep.  In Jess' words, "Yay inner pilgrimages!"

Balloon Fun

So I bought a balloon making kit. I hope to have some creative balloon skills by the time we travel to Africa so I can make these:



Until next time...

Ethiopia Research

As a team we have begun doing some individual research on Ethiopia. Probably a good idea since we are traveling to the country, huh? I found a great site with lots of information that I thought I'd share:

http://www.selamta.net/index.htm

Just thought I'd share some little tidbits I've learned thus far:
- 83 languages are spoken in Ethiopia
- They have a cereal called Tef that is made from a cereal grain called Ingera. It's a staple food in the Ethiopian diet
- There is an 85% illiteracy rate
- Ethiopia is the orginial home of the coffee plant (all the more reason to buy coffee ;) http://963coffee.com/default.aspx?affiliateID=10154)


Okay, that is all for now. It's not much but is a little bit of an insight. I'll share more as I find it!

All Will Be Well

This song by the Gabe Dixon Band has been so reassuring these past weeks. Please take a listen!

Lyrics:

The new day dawns

And I am practicing my purpose once again

It is fresh and it is fruitful if I win

but if I lose, ooh, I don't know

I'll be tired but I will turn and I will go

Only guessing 'til I get there then I'll know

Ohh, I will know

And all the children walking home past the factories

Can see the light that's shining in my window

As I write this song to you

And all the cars running fast along the interstate

Can feel the love that radiates

Illuminating what I know is true

And all will be well

Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself

All will be well

You can ask me how but only time will tell

The winter's cold

But the snow still lightly settles on the trees

And a mess is still a moment I can seize until I know

That all will be well

Even though sometimes this is hard to tell

And the fight is just as frustrating as hell

All will be well

And all the children walking home past the factories

Can see the light that's shining in my window

As I write this song to you

And all the cars running fast along the interstate

Can feel the love that radiates

Illuminating what I know is true

And all will be well

Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself

All will be well

You can ask me how but only time will tell

You got to keep it up

And don't give up

And chase your dreams

And you will find

All in time

And all the children walking home past the factories

Can see the light that's shining in my window

As I write this song to you

And all the cars running fast along the interstateCan feel the love that radiatesIlluminating what I know is true

And all will be well

Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself

All will be well

You can ask me how but only time will tell

All will be well

Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself

All will be well

You can ask me how but only time will tell

You can ask me how but only time will tell

Movie Time!

I'm taking this trip to Africa with the Mocha Club. Matt Wertz (a fabulous musician) is the person who I first heard talking about the Mocha Club. Thanks Matt!

This video helps explain the kinds of things the Mocha Club does. Plus, it explains better than I ever could and it has fun music!

Enjoy =)

What This is All About

This summer I have the awesome opportunity to travel to Ethiopia, Africa for two weeks with a nonprofit called the Mocha Club. I have been part of the Mocha Club for almost a year now. But you are probably asking, what does that mean?!? Well that means that I donate $7 each month (the equivalent to two mochas or two favorite whatevers from Starbucks - Chai in my case!) to go towards various projects in Africa. The Mocha Club supports various causes such as helping with the HIV/Aids epidemic, orphan care, and job development. Please check out http://www.mochaclub.org/ to learn more. And if you fall in love with the organization like I did...join my team! (http://mochaclub.org/join/3268)

But back to now, and why I am going to Africa. Well, I recieved an email in December saying that the Mocha Club was sending groups to Africa this summer. I knew at once I wanted to go, but after looking at the financial aspect, felt I should give up the idea. I went home for Christmas/winter break and still couldn't get the idea out of my head. It was like I was meant to go.

So, simply enough, I applied, got accepted, and am on my way to soon setting foot in Ethiopia. I am on a team with people from across the USA. Most are on the East Coast so I'm getting use to being the "one with the accent." Our team has conference calls every two weeks. The prayer and hope is that by the time we fly out to Ethiopia we are a cohesive and spiritually close group. So far it has been so much fun getting to know my team!

The biggest concern right now for me is trust. Trust that God will provide for the financial aspect of this trip. With my domestic airfare factored in, the trip costs around $3,600. By April 1st, I need to have raised $2362.50 of that. As of now, I'm at the $850 mark. If you'd like to help there are two different ways:

1) Buy Cocoa or Coffee!!!! Part of the proceeds goes directly toward my trip. It's Arabic coffee that is organic and Fair Wage. You can find it by following this link:
http://963coffee.com/default.aspx?affiliateID=10154

2) Donate directly toward my trip. Checks can be made out to "African Leadership", the organization hosting and leading the trip. Please include a note saying the money is to go towards my trip. (Also, they are tax deductable so just make sure not to put my name in the memo line. It might void the tax deduction) Checks can be sent to:
963 Missions, Attn: Mocha Club
10440 N. Central Expwy., Suite 122
Dallas, Texas 75231

But, more than anything, please keep myself and my team in your thoughts and prayers. And check back often! I'll be posting informational items to better explain my trip as well as things I come upon that help me prepare for the upcoming journey.

Coming Soon

Some fun things will be posted soon.

Thank you for supporting me in this journey!!!

=)