This Christmas is new for our family. Warm weather (70’s F/ 20’s C), blue skies and sunshine every day and low humidity. So low that skin dries and hands get chapped. But we’ll try this kind of Christmas for 4 years.
One year ago we were deliberating on MCC’s offer to be the Country Representatives in Ethiopia. We were looking at the opportunity through a keyhole. Was this what we were supposed to do? Leave family and friends to be strangers in a strange land? Was this how we were to live out God’s call in our lives?
The short answer has been, “yes." So one can split our year into two halves: the first half was preparing to leave and saying good-bye, the second half was arriving
and getting adjusted to a very different world than we were used to.
The First Half: Amani, Abby and Sophia were active in school and activities. They successfully completed swimming lessons up to the 3rd level. Glad to know that they have confidence in the water now and we don’t have to watch them every second. They also completed another level of piano lessons and can find their way around the keyboard. We would love to see them continue such lessons here in Addis but need to find a piano and a teacher. The girls also did quite well in school, we heard nothing but praise for their academic achievements and attitudes, that felt good. They were also getting accustomed to sitting by themselves in church on Sunday morning, being as their parents were always busy. They were growing up into young ladies and we were proud of them.
Wanda and I were trying to tie up loose ends in those last couple of months. Selling the house was the biggest concern; the price and the timing. Selling our possessions was another because of our limited storage space between the two families. We did have a successful yard sale in early May and were grateful to Mary Kaufman for coming up from Scottdale to help us. I can see why people don’t move much. To clean up stuff that has accumulated over years, to organize what’s left of what you will store, to pack things into boxes and finally to move it all. It’s making me tired just thinking about it. Special thanks to all the troopers who helped us in those final chaotic days; you know who you are. We couldn’t have done it without you . . .
The Second Half: Amani, Abby and Sophia have been adjusting well considering their world has been turned upside down. First were all the rainy days when we first arrived. But there also has been the arrival of all these pets; Coca the dog was waiting for us here, Cindy the rabbit was chosen by Abby at the IEC (International Evangelical Church) Bazaar, Peanut the puppy was chosen by Sophia from Yeshi’s dog’s family and soon Amani will be choosing a kitten as promised (more details soon on that). The girls started school in late August to everyone’s relief. They were ready to do something. But school wasn’t quite as easy for them as it was at Port Weller Elementary, for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless they are hanging in there, making adjustments. They are spending hours on homework now each night and Wanda & I are their tutors. Everyone has made friends. Friends who come from Denmark, England, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa. Amani and Abby tried gymnastics after school and Sophia tried Tae Kwon Do, all of which lasted about 2 months.
As for Wanda and myself; we have worked to make the house a home. Wanda oversaw some minor remodeling of the MCC house, mostly of the kitchen. But then nothing is minor when one is working on it here. We are grateful to have a good staff of workers in the compound, the guards and the housekeepers. We are also fortunate to have a great staff of MCC office staff workers. Mekonnen is our program manager and Yeshi is our bookkeeper/ secretary. She has been on vacation in the States for the past month and a half and we now know how much we miss her! We couldn’t do the work without either of them.
What do we miss? Family for sure, friends as well. The girls miss their friends very much. Wanda and I miss calling up our pastor peers and going out for lunch or just for coffee (or to play tennis, I miss that Troy!). We miss our favorite foods like all the North American dairy products like ice cream, cheese and milk. We miss our favorite cereals, junk foods and good meals we made in our kitchen or out on the grill. We eat a lot less meat and junk foods. The good news is that the adults have lost weight! In some ways we’re eating much healthier. We miss the weather and the lengthening, and shortening, of days. We miss the 4 seasons, yes even the cold weather. Of course, come February and March (the ugliest months of the year in my opinion), I may change my tune . . .
We miss watching TV. Our favorite sports and entertainment shows. Just two channels here, both government channels that, even to Ethiopians, are surely boring most of the time. I do check on my Ohio teams on the internet but it’s not the same. But I am anticipating one game; watching OSU vs. LSU in the BCS championship in January. We have made friends with many folks in our new church and one couple has AFN and invited us to watch the game. I can’t wait!
What do we enjoy? The weather . . . now. That rainy season was hard for starters. But now every day is the same. Sun rises around 6 a.m. and sets around 6 p.m. Cool in the morning, pleasant during the day. We also enjoy new challenges and coming to Ethiopia gives us that. We enjoy working with people and programs, knowing that these programs are helping those who are struggling with life. We have seen how children who are orphans because of HIV/AIDS have received love and care thanks to MCC and MKC RDA (that would be our partner Meserete Kristos Church, Relief and Development Agency). We have seen how a Cash-For-Work project in the south, where the land erosion was so bad and the local people were chronically hungry, has given people work, food and hope, thanks to MCC, MKC RDA and CFGB (Canadian Food Grains Bank). We are watching in joy how even in our neighbourhood local NGO’s (non-government organizations) are helping people who have spent their life in the Addis Garbage City and are trying to get out. Help equals hope. That is what we see when we administer MCC programs and projects and we feel good to be a part of this.
How have we celebrated Christmas? By finding the plastic Christmas tree in the guest container and setting it up and decorating it. By getting out my CD collection (all contained in our computer) and playing our Christmas collection of songs and hymns (the girls like Amy Grant, Wanda likes Bruce Cockburn, I like “Old World Christmas” and we play them all). By making a new batch of Christmas cookies weekly; so far we’ve made Molasses Crinkles, Gingerbread/Syrup, Thumbprints, Sugar, Buckeyes, No-Bake Chocolate. By wrapping all the gifts from the 2 families and putting them under the tree. By going to Christmas parties at our friends the Knudsens, the Fords “Cookies & Carols” tradition, and attending the Mennogroup Christmas today. By going out and buying gifts for stockings at the last minute. By buying extra wrapping paper at Bambi’s Supermarket (where all the ‘Ferenji’/ foreigners shop for their familiar western goods). And of course, by worshiping at our church through Advent and Christmas, offering glory and honor to God through Jesus Christ.
May you have a blessed Christmas.
Season’s Greetings,
The Roth Amstutz family Doug, Wanda, Amani, Abby, Sophia
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