November 20, 2005
We give thanks to God and our Lord Jesus Christ for those who have faithfully supported God’s mission to Ethiopia through their giving and prayers. I try not to twist arms, though we may warn of consequences out of love. Therefore we thank God for the thoughtfulness of those who come forth voluntarily. May God bless you at home, at work, in everything, and everywhere!!!
We give thanks for the wonderful things God has done since He called us into the mission field 6 years ago and during the last 5 years since we first set foot on African soil! We thank God for the 3 notable African countries He has taken us to and for allowing us to touch the lives of our African brothers and sisters.
We thank God for Rick and Jane McKinney of Our Heart Ministries who plan to walk across America starting January 1st from Los Angles, California, to “draw attention to the nation’s need for a spiritual awakening”. You can catch up with them on old Route 66 and then on the I. – 40 corridor. We thank God for them, and for the other people and ministries God is raising up to call God’s people and the nation back to its rich spiritual heritage and place of God’s sovereign blessing. Spirits should cry for joy at what is taking place.
We thank God that Texas has become the 19th state (oh where, oh where is Illinois?) to proclaim marriage according to rational, moral standards which have served humanity so well for centuries.
We thank God that out of Texas He raised up a godly man to be our President. We thank God that he has gotten rid of the terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and is confronting al Qaeda in Iraq while giving MILLIONS of people freedom from abusive, tyrannical regimes. We thank God that freedom has been promoted in the Ukraine and Georgia, and that the U.S. government helped to broker peace in Southern Sudan. We thank God that the U.S. government has helped to persuade Libya to forego its WMD program and to confront Syria on its harmful polices in the Middle East. We thank God that President Bush has publicly stood up to defend Taiwan and to challenge China to free its people – including giving their people the freedom to worship! (Look up “Tai Shi” on the internet to find the blog of Hong Kong man who wrote about how a community in China was dealt with by the police when they tried to hold elections according to the Chinese constitution!). Even China’s national police chief recently commented that 3.5 MILLION CHINESE “had joined in 74,000 PROTESTS in 2004. So when he promotes freedom he is speaking right to millions of people suffering under ungodly, totalitarian regimes. Some of those people applauded him when he walked into a Chinese church. The poor and the suffering understand. We thank God that he defends the sanctify of life – including the unborn - against those who would harm and abuse that life and that he supports faith-based initiatives in their efforts to reach out to the poor.
We thank God that a new documentary “Weapon of Mass Destruction: The Murderous Reign of Saddam Hussein”, has cited “interview after interview of people who say they saw truckloads of something going out through Syria and into the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon”. We thank God that U.S. officials have discovered that more than one-third of the WMD’s turned over by Libyan dictator Moammor Gadhafi came from Iraq! This means that Iraq DID HAVE THOSE WEAPONS, and that it is just a matter of finding out what happened to them. Now why won’t the Democratic snipers think about this? What is their agenda? We thank God for what He is exposing, shedding His Light so that the forces of evil cannot hide and continue to harm innocent people.
Recently, Kim Clement’s prophecy was shared with you. Quoting from the Bible he mentioned how the water took Noah’s Ark to the top of the mountains. It was elevated in the midst of tragedy. So also he said we are being elevated to a greater place – “in perception, in knowledge, in the miraculous, in EVERYTHING”. On Sunday, November 27th, the 10K Ethiopian Great Run is scheduled to take place. It is advertised as the Africa’s biggest road race. I asked the Lord if I should run in it. He said no. That’s fine. I enjoy jogging in the countryside where there’s less traffic and a lot of fresh air. I like the hills.
On November 2nd the Lord hurried me to get outside. Little did I know that He had prepared a “Great Ethiopian Run”! After a long arduous climb to the road I headed towards a manmade lake called Gefersa. About 1½ - 2 kilometers into my jogging pace, a young Ethiopia runner pulled up behind me. Ethiopia has great runners. I opened my pace and we were off. He had to be faster than me. After a while I realized that something stunning was happening – this young runner was pacing himself BEHIND me! Anyone, who knows about running, knows that pacing yourself behind the leader is easier. I was stunned at what was taking place. We glanced over the dirt, gravel, and uneven ground alongside the road. Indeed he did pass me after a while. I tried to stay within a reasonable distance.
Then surprise #2 happened. This other runner stopped and turned back! I kept going and got to the top of a hill in the countryside. Fresh air and sunshine, it was glorious. I continued for about another ½ kilometer and someone else began to run with me! It was like I was running against an Ethiopian relay team! Such is life. I opened my stride and AGAIN the other runner paced himself behind me! Stride for stride, meter by meter we ran – one kilometer, going on two. Physically, my body was saying slow down, but my spirit said no.
We were coming to on arduous hill. With all my pain I determined to climb it. Then, at that instant – like a trailing fighter jet, the other runner veered off. I climbed the hill. And I still had the distance to go back home. I was flabbergasted at what had taken place. I am 56, running at 7,830 feet on a knee that was miraculously healed last year, and on a right ankle bone that is about twice the size of my other ankle bone. IN the natural I witnessed something that never should have happened.
The Bible says:
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;…”
God is good. Praise Him. To God be the glory! I know how some may think, and so I strongly caution anyone rushing to duplicate what happened. As Kim Clement said, “there’s a preparation”. I think David said something like God teaching his hands to war and his fingers to fight. And before he fought the giant, he fought the lion and the bear! The Lord tells me when to run and how far. He tells me when to rest even when I don’t want to. He miraculously moved in to heal my right knee when it was getting more and more crippled. Some time ago, a woman here remarked, “Are there runners in Chicago?” I don’t thin her statement contained the best of intentions. It does not matter what others say. People, filled with haughtiness, will attack, detract, criticize and put down. But it is God WHO LIFTS UP! He gives strength. There’s a time of patient preparation and then there’s a time to “press in”. I don’t expect to have another run like that. It was an once-in-a-lifetime moment. The other people can run this Sunday.
Evelyn will learn of this for the 1st time when she reads this. (She was pleasantly surprised. She marveled because she understands. Praise God.)
Thus, this Thanksgiving we “enter with Thanksgiving” and we hope that you do also, thanking God not only for what He has done, but also for all the good things He wants to do in your life. So, while you prepare and enjoy sumptuous food this holiday, don’t forget the BEST on the menu ------ “TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD”.
God bless. God bless America. Happy Thanksgiving.
Paul and Evelyn
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Arrival From Djibouti
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:12,13
I write this in green ink. Although it is the middle of July, there is a sense of Christmas in the air. For one, the skies are gray and there is a humid chill in the air. Though not cold enough to snow, there has been a steady on and off rain since last night and it is a finger-numbing 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
We are in the midst of our 3rd long rainy season in Ethiopia. I say long in that it can last for 4 months, from June to October. And it is rainy – tending to rain at least once a day, if not more. Sometimes we get hail.
Also, it is a bit like Christmas in that there is also a sense of celebration in the air. We have now been in Ethiopia for 2 years now! “We walk by faith, and not by sight”. We have just returned from a long 58 ½ hours round trip train ride to Djibouti on July 15th and now have new 6-month Ethiopian visas!!
Though the organization which invited us here attempted to defraud us, they failed by God’s grace. When they then attempted to railroad us out of the country within 4 months of our arrival in their anger, they failed once again. Without any organizational support, God has shown Himself to be “ABLE to do exceeding abundantly ABOVE all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us, Unto Him glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20,21)
God is superlative. He has taught me “how to be abased” and “how to abound” and that “He is ABLE”! Therefore, “I can do all things through Christ.” We have gone through thick and thin, confronting obstacles and hardships, reaching out to help the poor, and teaching others. We have survived 2 years in Ethiopia – over 3 years now total in 4 African countries. It is quite an accomplishment. To God be the glory!!! We rejoice. There’s a sense of Christmas in the air.
Even shortly before the Djibouti trip, I foolishly looked sideways while jogging and severely sprained my right ankle, as the ground does not tend to be even. The ankle bent severely and I thought I heard something “snap.” I prayed for healing and did not tell Evelyn until we were well into the trip.
The trip was hard enough. The train is quite old. Originally we were told that the trip or first leg from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa was about 10 hours, which the train people later adjusted to between 13 and 15 hours. It took us about 19 hours. We tried our best to sleep on the train. The train whistled and stopped along the way. People talked and smoked. A door flapped open and close. Evelyn changed seats. At times the rails would squeak. There appeared to be no rhyme or reason as to why the train would make delayed stops at some places. Customs was a particular ordeal, having to make stops at both sides of the border. Armed security soldiers indicated the threat of danger. We traveled from the rainy, chilly air thousands of feet above sea level right down to the dry, scorched, sweltering foot of the sea, sleep deprived, hungry, uncomfortable, and thirsty. Had Human Rights Watch been aboard, they would probably qualify the trip as human rights abuse, if not torture. Yet this goes on all the time. Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay appear to get more attention and sympathy than the poor. The poor-targeted by terrorists and abusive people, heavily forgotten by the elite. On all 4-train trips, we appeared to be the only Westerners on board. Maybe the trip is too difficult for even backpackers. What the Lord does is truly remarkable – taking us from all (or predominantly) African-American or African churches in Chicago to parts of Africa itself, which are totally absent of any European or Puerto Rican heritage, even to the very town we live in. It is mind-boggling how He continually guides us to places that are completely off of most peoples’ maps – even though right under their noses.
Thus we end up in places that often do not receive a lot of fanfare. But also, in that way I perceive we get closer to the real story. Nothing is staged. Nobody on the train expected us!
When not traveling at night I tried to take in the sights and sounds along the path of the train: the shanty houses that lined the tracks heading out of Addis, along with small “businesses” and women spreading their produce out on plastic sacks or sheets; the garbage along the tracks and people going to the bathroom; parallel tracks long neglected and partially covered with vegetation, soil, building material and even boulders; and children jumping, smiling, and waving all along the way. Some towns appeared to have a “train economy” with the train delivering supplies for the stores and taking traders back and forth. Even in the middle of the night, people, like vendors, appeared to wait for the train to sell tea, soda pop, fruits, and even meat either to passengers outside the train’s windows or on board.
As the train moved east, the vegetation and terrain changed. The tall eucalyptus trees of the Addis environs gave way to shorter, scrubby trees, and scrubby bush and cactus. At times trees disappeared to the horizon or beyond. Rolling hills gave way to remarkably flat expanses of arid, sandy or gravelly stretches of land almost devoid of vegetation. I thought what great playing fields. Camels romped, but animals were few. A few rabbits or jack rabbits. A few animals that looked liked miniature antelopes. A few that looked like antelopes. And a couple of wild boars. Of course there was the ubiquitous donkey – which probably should be a symbol of Ethiopia they are used so much – as well as some small herds of goats, sheep, and cattle. At some points the terrain became quite rocky, as though someone had tossed small boulders, like marbles, across the land. Over all, there were just enormous amounts of scarcely- inhabited or uninhabited land that stretched as far as the eye could see. One wondered how small towns or villages could survive in such a wilderness except for the train and a well. Only saw a few rivers with just some little water in them, and some “water holes”. Saw quite a few of what appeared to be dry riverbeds. Wondered about whether anyone ministered to these people so far and so remote in the wilderness. School and universities in neighboring towns and cities are so important because that is where the villages will send their children who show promise. I met one such student who was working along the tracks on his vacation. In such a dry land the people could use some “living water”.
One major lesson in our travels throughout Africa is that there is a lot going on below the surface. From the outside one mainly discerns only the outside, or the appearance, and not the real substance – or the issues actually going on on the inside. It is wholly necessary to understand and discern the issues and what is going on IN a community to effectively deal with it. An issue neglected will become a biting problem. We’d have a hard time dealing with witchcraft in Burayu Mariam if we didn’t know about it and effectively pray about it.
Even on the train to Djibouti I was talking to an Ethiopian man who has a pretty good job. We were talking about the problems of Ethiopia, including the economy and low wages. And he blurted out at one point, “You know where all the problems come from? They come from all the fighting. Two people fight. Two organizations fight. Two communities fight. Two ethnic groups fight. Two countries fight.” Yes, he said a mouthful. One of the major problems in Africa are all the rivalries, tensions, conflicts, and wars across the continent, which continually destroy families, communities, and set countries back on a horrible scale. During the recent Ethiopian-Eritrea border war over a dusty town, which is barely arable, about 70,000 lives were lost. Children lost their dads, and women were raped by their own soldiers in displaced persons camps. Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, was spending about $1 million dollars a day on the war. A man told me he saw precious cargo of Ethiopia’s valuable coffee being loaded onto ships (I think during the conflict-riddled days of the despotic Derg regime) to pay for Soviet armaments, including tanks that did not work very well. What a shame. What a waste of one’s precious resources to further destroy one’s own country!
So while the G8 and others talk of aid to Africa, who is talking about all the human rights abuses, discrimination, witchcraft, ethnic tension and “racism”, etc., in Africa which continue to accelerate Africa on a downward spiral???? So ironically, I think one of the performers at the Live 8 concert, or someone behind the microphone, said that anyone who is cynical about foreign aid is “stupid”. This person did not even know that he was insulting the very people he is purporting to help! So often, those behind the propaganda, you will notice, hide behind hype and insults. Instead of reasoned, informed dialogue they utilize inflamed rhetoric. What an insult to the real needs of the African people…
Thus, we are happy that God uses us to reach out to people, person-to-person, to help meet their needs. We need to understand them individually and work with them to long term solutions, as 1 Corinthians 13, Philippians 2:4, Isaiah 58 and James 2 indicate. We are blessed. As mentioned earlier, sometimes this involves endurance.
The train trip to Djibouti in order for us to get a new Visa to continue in Ethiopia was a test of endurance. It was really hard for Evelyn. When we got to Dire Dawa and found out that the train to Djibouti had already left, we had to shift gears. We checked out a possible bus leg to Djibouti, then checked into a budget hotel. Freshening up would have been nice after a 19-hour train ride. But there was no water in the hotel! Also could have used a good meal. The hotel restaurant had spaghetti. After 2 nights we were once again on a rain to Djibouti. We arrived at about 7 p.m. By a Godsend a man indicated to me about the necessity of bottled water for the trip, just before we left. Djibouti is sweltering at this time of year. One day while there a man told me that the previous day’s high was 430 c and the low 330 c. I calculate that to be 109.40 F and 91.40 F respectively! Even with a ceiling fan going at night one is sweating? Hard to eat and hard to keep oneself hydrated. Now Evelyn is really not feeling well. Again, by God’s grace we find a budget hotel (the name of the hotel we had obtained from the Djibouti Embassy in Addis is not even in business anymore!). We look for soup for Evelyn. We find a pizzeria. Having been a French colony for 99 years, Djibouti is a little like Paris compared to Ethiopia. The soup costs over $8. I think. The prices of Djibouti are also like Paris compared to Ethiopia!
In Dire Dawa we found a hotel, Gereny Hotel, in the Ashoa area for 55 Birr a night – or about $6.40 a night. In Djibouti we found a hotel – Banadir or something - for 5,000 Djibouti franc a night, or about $28.57 a night. It was a street lined with small shops. Many of the things in Djibouti – being a port - are imported. Even fresh produce is shipped in once a week by cargo train from Ethiopia. We found the vendors very aggressive – a couple would even follow us. Maybe the high cost of living and all the competition put an edge on their aggessivity. But even their aggression succumbed to the scorching heat. Shops would begin to close at noon to 12:30 p.m. They would not re-open until 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Water became room temperature quite quickly, and quite difficult to drink. People would pop ice into our drinks, and we would have to pop the ice right back out as we were told that the water was not good. We were also told that it was dangerous to swim near the shore since raw sewerage is pumped into the water. I still went into the water to cool down, just not to swim. Again, we appeared to be the only Westerner on the beach. Even a Djiboutian in Dire Dawa had told me that we probably would not want to go to the “Somali beach”. Most people in Djibouti have Ethiopian and/or Somali backgrounds. They speak French and Somali. Not much we could do to communicate. So occasionally I threw in some Oromifa or Amharic!! Then maybe I’d either get a stunned look or a puzzled look depending on whether the people understood it or not! They had some great imported watermelon, which we really relished. Bananas almost had to be eaten the same day or they would tend to get warm and soft. 200 grams of Philadelphia cream cheese cost 990 francs or about $5.50 at the supermarket! We just kind of looked at the food, realizing we couldn’t buy a lot of it. We did get some bottled water, pork pate for Evelyn, “flan” which I think was on sale, a loaf of bread, and a can of apple sauce which was about $2 - the same for a loaf of bread which became soggy in the heat.
I’ve jogged in the Ethiopian highlands – on a crippling knee before God miraculously healed it last year. So, temperature soaring into the 100’s, shops closing, traffic getting lighter, sprained ankle – sounds like a good time to go jogging! What fun! It was really nice on the beach because I could get more “air” and cool off in the water.
Our stay ended in Djibouti by us arising at about 2 a. m. to catch a 4 a. m. train. It was difficult to sleep anyway, as we would turn during the night to find a piece of bed sheet that was not soaked with sweat.
Evelyn did not look forward to the train trip – but that is history now. God is to be exalted. Whether because of the sleep deprivation, lack of food, and/or the altitude, we were both exhausted and light-headed when we completed the last leg of our epic 58 ½ hour train trip. We got a meal, bought a few things, and lugged our luggage to advise the mother of Maaza who had been watching the house and Blondie during the trip of our arrival so that Maaza would not have to come that evening. Little did we know that Maaza was already at our house and that her mom would call to advise her. When we arrived in Burayu Mariam, we were shocked to find Maaza, her sister, and Genet waiting for us on the street! They helped carry our luggage. When we got home we found out that Maaza had done much more than we had asked of her – washing the clothes, my muddy jogging shoes and boots, and even the flowerpots. Genet had embroidered a piece of cloth to welcome us. And Maaza had decorated the house – complete with a welcoming message, Christmas lights and Christmas wreath on the door!!! Yes, it’s a little bit like Christmas. To top it off, she had baked some lasagna before heading off for class that day and had some delicious cinnamon buns that she had baked the other day! Such a wonderful surprise! It was a hard, arduous trip – but God is so good and His blessing far exceeds whatever sacrifices we go through. May He be praised.
Paul
Looking from train station - (Legahar) down Churchill Rd (dips) all the way to the municipality of Addis Ababa at the end. Do you see it? July 6, 2005
On the way to the train station - Legahar, Addis Ababa
Train station to Dire Dawa and Djibouti
Boarding on train
Evelyn on the very old train. Lo' behold we didn't know what to expect from this ride.
1st leg of train trip from Addis Ababa to Djibouti scene
More scene
Many train stops along train route - outside from our windows many vendors sells teas, soda pop, water, fruits, and even meats.
More scene 
As we are moving east, the land get more barren - vegetation & scrubby trees, bushes and cactus. Along this long ride, I got tired of looking, and finally after many hours, we approach villages in the desert ....
One of few village ...
Village homes - on the way to Dire Dawa to Djibouti
By the time, we got to Dire Dawa train station, we found out the train to Djibouti had already left. So we had to change plan. We board on blue taxi to take us to hotel, Gerery Hotel in Ashoa area.
 Ashoa market area - close to the hotel - to buy foods. |
Dire Dawa countryside
Dire Dawa town areas.
After two nights, we head to Dire Dawa train station
Can you find Paul in this crowd as we had waited to board on the train to Djibouti from Dire Dawa train station?
Djibouti!! After arriving about 7 pm evening, it was difficult getting some sleep without sweating through the 1st night... By morning, from our windows, Paul took picture of small shops which lines street, as we learn they open after 4 pm.
Tourism office draped with Djibouti flag
Market areas
Market on street
Taken from chicken rotisserie restaurant
Old building in Djibouti - probably from French colonial days. Portion of roof is missing on the building which also has some major cracks. King Menelik leased land called Djibouti to French for 99 years and the French built the railroad to Addis for Ethiopia. Then Djibouti became independent.
Seaside
Trotting on the beach July 11, 2005
Maaza & her sister –
complete with a welcoming message. Home Sweet Home.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Djibouti and the Ethiopia protests...
June 9, 2005
Nope, we didn’t give up, just a lot of things happened and some delays… Ok, folks forget about our profile, but you can always ask about us and/or about the mission.
Currently living about 4 km from Addis Ababa the main capital of Ethiopia, Africa for 23 months now and our visa expires July 9th, just 4 weeks, in order to stay another 6 months, which our work is not quite done. We have to leave Ethiopia to reenter again and how to go about getting our extension. However, we’d decided to go to Djibouti, instead of Kenya. The flight to Kenya’s expensive, with restriction and is far. Djibouti is closer and the flight is less expensive. So far we had made contacted as to where the Djibouti Embassy to get our visa and photo done before we go there. . Also we need to know how much it will cost for getting Ethiopia re-extension. But we have to wait… because there is no transportation and the University students are protecting… Plus, before we go to Djibouti we also need to obtain Djibouti visa for both of us and get photo done that is $30.00 per couple. Did you get it?
When we do get to Djibouti we hope to find the right connection (Immigration, & US Embassy of Djibouti), a decent cheap hotel and food that doesn’t make our stomach sick. Who need it?
Why causes the delays?
Have you heard? They had the election last month, May 15th, for reelection of current Prime Minister or is it President M. against the “Opposition Party”. Or say the “Opposition Party” against the Pres. Pretty heavy I’ll say…. There is a lot of people here don’t like what Prime Minsiter. M. doing or even like him… however, that is a long story. The gov’t here had ban any demonstration and something else. If you want more detail of about this let us know.
Monday, June 6th, we had gone into Addis Ababa to celebrate our anniversary, even though our anniversary is this Sunday. First went to the P.O. before we even step out of the door – we saw people running in one direction…. What’s going on? University students protecting… quickly all the shop’s closed up … as the people are running… we heard they’re throwing stones … I hope at the police…. Why the demonstration, after we heard the gov’t ban the demonstration. But than why not? I just hope nobody get hurt…or killed. Just as Paul, my husband said, “Something is wrong here”?
To get to our celebration some taxi was pretty full and some were not heading our ways to our destination. So, we had to walk away from the commotion’s from Piazza area. I kept thinking and hoping nobody got hurt. And we got home all right.
Wednesday, June 8th, This is the day we and the people of Ethiopia suppose to hear who had won the election. We heard and read that the “Opposition Party” won, but than, we are not sure. Again Paul said, “Something is wrong here”???
Not knowing what ahead… we got ready to go to Addis Ababa to do some work… as we arrived up to the road to catch a taxi’s. An Ethiopian man said something in Oromo language. I did not know the language, but I did notice no sign of taxi running in both directions. Hmmm! I guess that what the Ethiopian man was trying to tell me. While a young man told Paul while I was observing that there was no taxi running. Why is it that we are the lasts to know? Taxi was on strike! meaning, “protecting against the President M.” Wow! This is good, but no transportation to get to our destinations. Duh! My gosh what we’re going to do. We need to use the Internet… I have messages to send out and I didn’t want to stay home. Than a city bus arrived and we took that. Saw a friend road with us and he had a radio and the only thing he could tell us that no result and it reports… the gov’t just keep everyone dragging.
Again, Paul said, “Something is wrong here?” Here is what Paul wrote to some people back home:
June 8th, Today we tried to get to Addis Ababa. But we were told last night by a friend not to go. We still tried this morning, but we were told that the ubiquitous minibus taxis which we usually take are on strike – due to the election problem. The elections were last month – results were supposed to be released today, but apparently they will not be. Something is wrong. The American Embassy writes to us about Bolivia, but sends us nothing about what is happening here so far! The Jimmy Carter organization came for the election to whitewash everything for the government. Either he is naïve, or not very honest. Even before the election it was obvious that the gov’t was “setting the table”. He ended up being used. The opposition claimed fraud and there was a report that in spite of the harassment they received that they won many parliamentary seats in the capital. The gov has banned all public demonstrations. But the other day when we were in the capital there was a protest by the university students. One of the young ladies we are trying to help, Genet, was hit in the back by a projectile which was probably intended for a policeman. Shops closed in the Piazza area and we had to walk a good distance before we were able to find transportation and avoid the commotion.
The Lord taught us to be flexible and spontaneous in preparing us for the mission field years ago. So this morning we tried to take one of the big city buses, which we usually try to avoid since they are commonly very crowded (giving more opportunity to thievery) and people do not like to let some fresh air in. We found one and indeed it got crowded as the other minibuses were not running. We got maybe half way to the Piazza area, when something obviously disturbed the other passengers who had a glimpse of a bus going the opposite direction. Phoom! Bus doors opened and they began to file out. Apparently what they saw was that the other bus had been stoned and maybe even attacked in such a way as to burn it. We tried to board a bus going the opposite direction, but the driver said he was going to the garage and that indeed the problem was that people had attacked a bus, trying to burn it. Fortunately we were not on that bus! I think that today Evelyn will not be upset with me for taking my time as I usually do before leaving the house. The Lord comes first. She tries to be patient with me.
So now we found an email place close to where we have alighted and are writing to you. We don’t know where this is all going and just how serious it will get, but obviously we may not be able to get to the capital until it is resolved. Thus we do not know when we will be able to write to you again. This is all very interesting as our visa is up in about a month and we had been considering getting a visa to Djibouti and plane tickets so that we can come back into Ethiopia to get a new visa. Now that may have to wait indefinitely. Now I understand why the Lord told me not to get visa photos today!!!
The gov must know the results as I think the election was about 24 days ago. Thus there must be a reason, or reasons, why the results are not being released. The longer the delay lasts, the greater the possibility that uneasiness among the populace will grow, some of which is spilling over already. People are very well aware of the corruption and of the willingness of the gov to manipulate. So delays would only basically admit that there is a problem. Interestingly, at a “town hall” meeting held by the embassy here some time ago I brought up the possibility that there could be problems come election time due to what I was already seeing. The officials kind of played it down I think and basically said that they would monitor things running up to the election. Apparently this current problem blew right past them, and if they do know anything they certainly are not informing the American public (at least those not in the inner circle) of what is going on. As usual, it’s all ‘pc’ in control and any information that is released is to cover one’s backside. We are in Ethiopia, but for probably the aforementioned reason we are informed by the embassy here about Bolivia!! Do they realize that that is on another continent?! Interestingly, though, when I had informed them of the problems we had run into here with the intention that they would warn other American citizens who may also be lured here under false pretenses they declined to do so! All the information one could ask for, except what is relevant! We don’t meet for the 4th of July either – they blame it on the rainy season. In that case why go to work? Hey, maybe the gov here could use that same lame reason and wait for the dry season to release the results of the election. George Bush is right – bureaucracies do not work very well. As he says, they are pretty much incapable of love.
Can tell you more, but maybe another day. There is word of big trouble and they are closing up this place. Chou. God bless.
From Ethiopia,
Paul and Evelyn
We got some work done at the Internet…. Still no transportation in either direction… so we had to walk home. I kept hoping somebody we know get us home away from Addis… glad that it wasn’t hot … but we kept walking until we finally got halfway to Osco area – were we normally buy our fruit and vegetables. Ask where a good restaurant. the soup was good and rested our feet. Again, we had to walk another _____ … than a funny looking bus pulled over to pick up some people including us…. Drop off…. Walk again…. 15 minute passed … and our neighbor friend, friend gave us a ride home. Whew! We got home all right. And Blondie, our dog had wondered “Wow! You got home so soon and what did you bring. ” We couldn't. Normally, we get home around 5pm.
Still don’t know what happened with the University students, our neighbor gives us the same reports that Nobody got hurt. Well we don’t believe it…
It’s difficult not to know what going, on when you don’t have an English radio station in Ethiopia, except on TV at night. We don’t have TV! We try to make phone contact – either the line was busy, and not busy… Did the gov’t shut down the phone line? Still unable to make contact… We have to cancel our appointment with the school, there more delay, and I have Update report to gives about our mission, we need to extend our visa to reenter Ethiopia for another 6 months. Boy do we needs prayer….
That evening, we got news reports from BBC radio station that 20 student had died and 100 injured. And it was our hope that nobody got hurt….. Boy, this is bad.
6/10/05 8:08 PM – We got a news reports from BBC radio station that Prime Minister said “the killing of 25 people was necessary!” My gosh I want to throw up! BBC claimed that Pres. M. “Has no sign of regret either”. The “Opposition Party” did win the entire seat and Pres. will not announce the election result until another 4 weeks! This is not goooood… gov’t police are continuing harassing the supporters and putting them in jail. This is not good. Earlier we heard that some protecters attacked the city bus. People had no way getting to work or getting back home and almost all school children had to stay home.
6/11/05 7:11:08 PM – we got a news report from BBC that the “Opposition Party” is under house arrest. And was told that they were a “threat”. This is not good. And 5 more people had died from the injured. Now, we wonder if they’re going to be more trouble…. Early this evening our neighbor across from us after doing some gardening work…to keep our minds focus on other work… told us that they’re some taxis are running. Our phone was working was working this morning, but than later this evening no dial tones. Still no dial tone... Did the gov’t turns off everybody phone lines?? What about the Internet?
In our opinion the University students have a right to demonstrate against the Prime Minister if he is not right about running the government. I feel bad that the students had to die to fight for their country. We notice that some people we know don’t have no remorse that they died… and fighting for their country. Also, we disagreed about the killing – the police should have shot in the air to scare them away. The killing was unnecessary!
Don’t worry folks, we are fine. Keep you posted… hope to bring a better news.
Evelyn
Nope, we didn’t give up, just a lot of things happened and some delays… Ok, folks forget about our profile, but you can always ask about us and/or about the mission.
Currently living about 4 km from Addis Ababa the main capital of Ethiopia, Africa for 23 months now and our visa expires July 9th, just 4 weeks, in order to stay another 6 months, which our work is not quite done. We have to leave Ethiopia to reenter again and how to go about getting our extension. However, we’d decided to go to Djibouti, instead of Kenya. The flight to Kenya’s expensive, with restriction and is far. Djibouti is closer and the flight is less expensive. So far we had made contacted as to where the Djibouti Embassy to get our visa and photo done before we go there. . Also we need to know how much it will cost for getting Ethiopia re-extension. But we have to wait… because there is no transportation and the University students are protecting… Plus, before we go to Djibouti we also need to obtain Djibouti visa for both of us and get photo done that is $30.00 per couple. Did you get it?
When we do get to Djibouti we hope to find the right connection (Immigration, & US Embassy of Djibouti), a decent cheap hotel and food that doesn’t make our stomach sick. Who need it?
Why causes the delays?
Have you heard? They had the election last month, May 15th, for reelection of current Prime Minister or is it President M. against the “Opposition Party”. Or say the “Opposition Party” against the Pres. Pretty heavy I’ll say…. There is a lot of people here don’t like what Prime Minsiter. M. doing or even like him… however, that is a long story. The gov’t here had ban any demonstration and something else. If you want more detail of about this let us know.
Monday, June 6th, we had gone into Addis Ababa to celebrate our anniversary, even though our anniversary is this Sunday. First went to the P.O. before we even step out of the door – we saw people running in one direction…. What’s going on? University students protecting… quickly all the shop’s closed up … as the people are running… we heard they’re throwing stones … I hope at the police…. Why the demonstration, after we heard the gov’t ban the demonstration. But than why not? I just hope nobody get hurt…or killed. Just as Paul, my husband said, “Something is wrong here”?
To get to our celebration some taxi was pretty full and some were not heading our ways to our destination. So, we had to walk away from the commotion’s from Piazza area. I kept thinking and hoping nobody got hurt. And we got home all right.
Wednesday, June 8th, This is the day we and the people of Ethiopia suppose to hear who had won the election. We heard and read that the “Opposition Party” won, but than, we are not sure. Again Paul said, “Something is wrong here”???
Not knowing what ahead… we got ready to go to Addis Ababa to do some work… as we arrived up to the road to catch a taxi’s. An Ethiopian man said something in Oromo language. I did not know the language, but I did notice no sign of taxi running in both directions. Hmmm! I guess that what the Ethiopian man was trying to tell me. While a young man told Paul while I was observing that there was no taxi running. Why is it that we are the lasts to know? Taxi was on strike! meaning, “protecting against the President M.” Wow! This is good, but no transportation to get to our destinations. Duh! My gosh what we’re going to do. We need to use the Internet… I have messages to send out and I didn’t want to stay home. Than a city bus arrived and we took that. Saw a friend road with us and he had a radio and the only thing he could tell us that no result and it reports… the gov’t just keep everyone dragging.
Again, Paul said, “Something is wrong here?” Here is what Paul wrote to some people back home:
June 8th, Today we tried to get to Addis Ababa. But we were told last night by a friend not to go. We still tried this morning, but we were told that the ubiquitous minibus taxis which we usually take are on strike – due to the election problem. The elections were last month – results were supposed to be released today, but apparently they will not be. Something is wrong. The American Embassy writes to us about Bolivia, but sends us nothing about what is happening here so far! The Jimmy Carter organization came for the election to whitewash everything for the government. Either he is naïve, or not very honest. Even before the election it was obvious that the gov’t was “setting the table”. He ended up being used. The opposition claimed fraud and there was a report that in spite of the harassment they received that they won many parliamentary seats in the capital. The gov has banned all public demonstrations. But the other day when we were in the capital there was a protest by the university students. One of the young ladies we are trying to help, Genet, was hit in the back by a projectile which was probably intended for a policeman. Shops closed in the Piazza area and we had to walk a good distance before we were able to find transportation and avoid the commotion.
The Lord taught us to be flexible and spontaneous in preparing us for the mission field years ago. So this morning we tried to take one of the big city buses, which we usually try to avoid since they are commonly very crowded (giving more opportunity to thievery) and people do not like to let some fresh air in. We found one and indeed it got crowded as the other minibuses were not running. We got maybe half way to the Piazza area, when something obviously disturbed the other passengers who had a glimpse of a bus going the opposite direction. Phoom! Bus doors opened and they began to file out. Apparently what they saw was that the other bus had been stoned and maybe even attacked in such a way as to burn it. We tried to board a bus going the opposite direction, but the driver said he was going to the garage and that indeed the problem was that people had attacked a bus, trying to burn it. Fortunately we were not on that bus! I think that today Evelyn will not be upset with me for taking my time as I usually do before leaving the house. The Lord comes first. She tries to be patient with me.
So now we found an email place close to where we have alighted and are writing to you. We don’t know where this is all going and just how serious it will get, but obviously we may not be able to get to the capital until it is resolved. Thus we do not know when we will be able to write to you again. This is all very interesting as our visa is up in about a month and we had been considering getting a visa to Djibouti and plane tickets so that we can come back into Ethiopia to get a new visa. Now that may have to wait indefinitely. Now I understand why the Lord told me not to get visa photos today!!!
The gov must know the results as I think the election was about 24 days ago. Thus there must be a reason, or reasons, why the results are not being released. The longer the delay lasts, the greater the possibility that uneasiness among the populace will grow, some of which is spilling over already. People are very well aware of the corruption and of the willingness of the gov to manipulate. So delays would only basically admit that there is a problem. Interestingly, at a “town hall” meeting held by the embassy here some time ago I brought up the possibility that there could be problems come election time due to what I was already seeing. The officials kind of played it down I think and basically said that they would monitor things running up to the election. Apparently this current problem blew right past them, and if they do know anything they certainly are not informing the American public (at least those not in the inner circle) of what is going on. As usual, it’s all ‘pc’ in control and any information that is released is to cover one’s backside. We are in Ethiopia, but for probably the aforementioned reason we are informed by the embassy here about Bolivia!! Do they realize that that is on another continent?! Interestingly, though, when I had informed them of the problems we had run into here with the intention that they would warn other American citizens who may also be lured here under false pretenses they declined to do so! All the information one could ask for, except what is relevant! We don’t meet for the 4th of July either – they blame it on the rainy season. In that case why go to work? Hey, maybe the gov here could use that same lame reason and wait for the dry season to release the results of the election. George Bush is right – bureaucracies do not work very well. As he says, they are pretty much incapable of love.
Can tell you more, but maybe another day. There is word of big trouble and they are closing up this place. Chou. God bless.
From Ethiopia,
Paul and Evelyn
We got some work done at the Internet…. Still no transportation in either direction… so we had to walk home. I kept hoping somebody we know get us home away from Addis… glad that it wasn’t hot … but we kept walking until we finally got halfway to Osco area – were we normally buy our fruit and vegetables. Ask where a good restaurant. the soup was good and rested our feet. Again, we had to walk another _____ … than a funny looking bus pulled over to pick up some people including us…. Drop off…. Walk again…. 15 minute passed … and our neighbor friend, friend gave us a ride home. Whew! We got home all right. And Blondie, our dog had wondered “Wow! You got home so soon and what did you bring. ” We couldn't. Normally, we get home around 5pm.
Still don’t know what happened with the University students, our neighbor gives us the same reports that Nobody got hurt. Well we don’t believe it…
It’s difficult not to know what going, on when you don’t have an English radio station in Ethiopia, except on TV at night. We don’t have TV! We try to make phone contact – either the line was busy, and not busy… Did the gov’t shut down the phone line? Still unable to make contact… We have to cancel our appointment with the school, there more delay, and I have Update report to gives about our mission, we need to extend our visa to reenter Ethiopia for another 6 months. Boy do we needs prayer….
That evening, we got news reports from BBC radio station that 20 student had died and 100 injured. And it was our hope that nobody got hurt….. Boy, this is bad.
6/10/05 8:08 PM – We got a news reports from BBC radio station that Prime Minister said “the killing of 25 people was necessary!” My gosh I want to throw up! BBC claimed that Pres. M. “Has no sign of regret either”. The “Opposition Party” did win the entire seat and Pres. will not announce the election result until another 4 weeks! This is not goooood… gov’t police are continuing harassing the supporters and putting them in jail. This is not good. Earlier we heard that some protecters attacked the city bus. People had no way getting to work or getting back home and almost all school children had to stay home.
6/11/05 7:11:08 PM – we got a news report from BBC that the “Opposition Party” is under house arrest. And was told that they were a “threat”. This is not good. And 5 more people had died from the injured. Now, we wonder if they’re going to be more trouble…. Early this evening our neighbor across from us after doing some gardening work…to keep our minds focus on other work… told us that they’re some taxis are running. Our phone was working was working this morning, but than later this evening no dial tones. Still no dial tone... Did the gov’t turns off everybody phone lines?? What about the Internet?
In our opinion the University students have a right to demonstrate against the Prime Minister if he is not right about running the government. I feel bad that the students had to die to fight for their country. We notice that some people we know don’t have no remorse that they died… and fighting for their country. Also, we disagreed about the killing – the police should have shot in the air to scare them away. The killing was unnecessary!
Don’t worry folks, we are fine. Keep you posted… hope to bring a better news.
Evelyn
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