What a wonderful experience this was to be able to come out to Ethiopia and see God's hand at work at Project Mercy. Austin and I were on our first mission type trip, and we were blown away as soon as we arrived. I was touched by how lively and exuberant the Ethiopians were at Project Mercy. I was told before we left that a trip like this was not necessarily about sweeping changes for the folks at Project Mercy because we would only be there for 7 days. Now that we have been home for a week, I am certain that I received far more than I gave.
Chuck and Austin in front of the Orthodox Church, a short hike up the mountain from Project Mercy
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| Chuck and Ashenafi read together |
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| Austin reads with his new friend |
One of the stories that I will never forget involved 2 little girls who are about 5 years old. They are both little firecrackers. One of them fell on the ground and sat up and looked at me with her hands out saying, "Up!" So I pulled her up by her hand and lifted her off the ground as high as I could with outstretched arms. She thought this was the funniest thing, so she would fake falling down again and yell at me, "Up!" So I would repeat this process again and again. After awhile, I decided I would grab her feet and pull her up by her ankles. That was even more exciting to her than swinging her by the hands. Once I did this, the squeals emanating from the little girl hit some frequency that attracted another little girl who also insisted I do the same thing to her. After a few times of lifting and twirling the girls by their feet I was worn out. ;-) They began to negotiate for more. I told them, "Last time." The first girl looks and thinks about it and says, "2 times her, 2 times me." I knew right then and there that some things are universal and are not culturally based…in this case, the art of a child negotiating for "more" from a trusted adult.
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| Wengel is all smiles…she has quite the exuberant personality! |
The young ladies have recruited Mr. Ivan in the "swing me" game, too!
There is another story that I want to share. Ashenafi, a 12 year old boy, broke his leg a few years back and nearly died from the ensuing infection that developed in his foot. In fact, the infection was so severe that the doctors debated amputating his foot in order to save his life. Several surgeries later and what I’m sure was a long and intense rehab, the boy was able to walk despite a noticeable limp. He played soccer with me endlessly and without complaint, mastering skills with his other foot. He hiked with us up a mountain in “Crocs” never complaining and offering help to all the visitors who were clearly not accustomed to the altitude.
No one would ever guess that Ashenafi was once crippled by an infection in his foot.
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| Ashenafi at play |
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| And reading with Coach Chuck |
One incident in particular stuck with me. We stopped along a stream to rest and take pictures. Some had taken their shoes off in order to wade through the water. When it was time to go, I watched this boy gather the children to get their shoes on and even help tie the shoes of one of the adults from our group. The adult was more than capable of tying his own shoe; but that wasn’t the point, was it? I am reminded of 1 Peter 4:10: "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."
Hike to the Orthodox Church, led by PM student guides
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