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