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!"