The Difference a Year Can Make

I can hardly believe it, but a year ago I came to Ethiopia for the first time.  I remember looking out the plane and seeing Addis pop out of what seemed like the middle of nowhere, after many miles of dry landscape.  I remember my first few sights, smells, and tastes.  I remember what surprised me and what scared me.  I remember how welcoming and gracious everyone I met was.  I remember the love I felt from the Change boys just after one short week.  I remember how strongly I felt that God was calling me to sell my things, quit my job and move 7,153 miles (11,512 km or 6212 nautical miles for those interested!) away from everyone and everything that felt comfortable. 

A year later, I can confirm that this was exactly His plan.  In the past six months, nothing has felt more like home than this past Sunday when my roommate Eden and I got to open up our home and have four of the Change boys over for dinner and a sleepover (which included watching the original Karate Kid!).  We plan on hosting dinner three more times to small groups of the boys.  This first group was so grateful, for the Ethiopian specialities of kitfo (raw ground beef) and doro wat (spicy chicken dish), but also for the time that we got to spend together as a family.  It is just one of the many memories I will cherish during my time here!

Mickey, Sintayu, Girum, Eden, Lisa and Alex at our home