What A Difference 6 Months Can Make…
February 9, 2011
January 4
It’s a beautiful day here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, the breeze is blowing and the familiarity of the city is speaking loudly. It is so good to be back! So much of my heart was left behind 6 months ago as God broke me for this nation and its people.
Today is Day 1 of our time in Korah. Korah mean “cursed” in Amharic and this village of outcasts sits next to the city dump. Orphans, widows, lepers, prostitutes, you name it. All reside in this forsaken place but are not forgotten in God’s eyes. That is very evident.
The team eagerly ate breakfast and loaded up and headed out to a place that holds so much hope and promise. We drove down the streets close to where we were staying, Loveto, and turned down the road that leads to Korah. Where is that smell I remember? 6 months ago you were hit with a brick wall of foul, rotten, and wet funk. It was so distinct you knew you were in the right place. Now, it was barely there. Maybe it is because the city isn’t actively using the dump, or maybe because the rainy season has passed. 6 months ago the shock of it all was more than many of us could handle or process. Today, Korah was an altogether different place.
We pulled down the long, bumpy path down to where the church is located. What was muddy and littered with human waste was dry. The mobs and mobs of children that greeted us last time were narrowed down to around 65. We exited the bus and our hands were immediately filled with small, brown-toned, beautiful fingers. Sammy and Summer came and met us. It was so great to see their faces and squeeze them.
Since most had never experienced Korah, we were taken on a tour of the grounds which included visiting the hospital. The same little leper man who was weaving rugs was still there. This time he was sporting a New York Yankees hat. Tymm, our leader, was bewildered and demanded a photo be taken for proof. Even in Ethiopia people still have their teams (it was probably a gift but Tymm would accept no other explanation).
We stopped by the gift shop and gladly spent our newly acquired Birr to support the cause of the hospital. I came away with one of the woven rugs, a runner and placemat set and a handmade pillow case.
We loaded up in the vans again and headed back to the guest house for lunch. We came back to Korah and were led down the maze of roads that make up Korah and went on home visits. Tymm and his wife Laura (my teammate from the first trip) sponsor a child that goes to the boarding school. Tymm was able to visit that child’s family here at Korah. I think he may have walked away feeling more blessed but the family would beg to differ. It’s a beautiful toss up. A few more home visits came and went and we ended up back at the church.
Our time at Korah ended a bit early due to previous conflicts with another group the day before. The leadership was concerned for our safety and thought it best for us to just come back as planned the next day and let the dust settle. Thus we ended up with a free afternoon.
The team ended up accompanying Tymm to the gravesite of his first adopted child, Brighton. I had the amazing opportunity of experiencing Brighton’s grave back in June with Laura. We had planned that I would go with Tymm to show him the grave.
Tymm and I headed down to the grave first and the team came down a bit later to give him some time. I cannot begin to understand the depth of sorrow Tymm and Laura feel but I am grateful I could lend support to Tymm as he came face to face with his own history. Brighton was only 76 days old when he died. I saw Brighton’s picture standing with Tymm at the grave. Such a beautiful boy… Check out their unbelievable story here and here.
It was an experience I cannot put into words. To see this come full circle with the Hoffman family is something I will always remember. The rest of the team helped clear the surrounding areas around the grave and laid some fresh flowers.
Back to the guesthouse we went to eat dinner. Summer came by and shared her heart of how Project 61 came to be and to pow-wow with us about the next day’s events.
Emotions are flying high tonight. Korah is nothing like it was before. It’s a God thing. The hope that I knew was in store is now here and God is doing something incredible. 250 kids are out of the dump and in school where promising futures are held for them. From the smells to the familiar faces, Korah is rising above.
