Adventures in Cairo

Most of you know that we spent our Christmas vacation in Egypt.
After a few weeks back in Ethiopia, we've reflected enough to finally
tell a little about our time in Egypt. However, if you've been there,
you'll agree that writing about Egypt is futile—words fail to capture
the magnificence, history, and beauty of Egypt.

We went to Egypt planning to be awed by the Great Pyramids of Giza.
With the largest Pyramid standing fifty stories tall, we certainly
were awed. While riding horses through the desert around the
pyramids, we were stunned by the size, perfection, and workmanship on
display. Nearly 5000 years ago, how was man able to do such a thing?
Not just how, but why?

Despite the incredible pyramids, they represent only a fraction of the
splendor of Egypt. In south Egypt (upper, as they say), Luxor was one
of the highlights of our trip. Just as striking as the Pyramids,
Karnak Temple in Luxor is still nearly 4000 years old and just as
impressive. We were most impressed by Hypostyle Hall, one of its many
halls. Inside the Hypostyle Hall are 116 massive columns, some 20
meters high and 15 meters around. 116! All are carved with 360
degree hieroglyphics, once in bright colors. The hall feel endless,
with light and shadows cutting around the columns as if walking
through an ancient and perfect forest. While we were there I tried
taking countless pictures, bending down to the ground in homes of
getting a full column in the frame. But it never quite worked. Even
video failed to capture the place. And while Karnak is the most
impressive of the ancient temples, we saw five others, all amazing and
ancient.

Also in Luxor is the Valley of the Kings, home of the tombs of the
Pharaohs of Egypt…some of them. Imagine this: cut down and into the
side of a rock mountain, a hallway (hallway fails…more like large
driveway) leads over 100 meters down into the rock. Every surface is
perfectly flat, squared, smooth, and covered in brightly colored and
raised hieroglyphics. After over 350 feet, you enter into a massive
room, at the center of which is a sarcophagus the size of a truck,
carved from a single piece of granite. Imagine building this over
3000 years ago, the effort and skill required to do it, and then
imagine closing it up in hopes that nobody will ever find it. That is
the Valley of the Kings, or rather one of 62 tombs found there.
Clearly I could spend pages describing what we saw in Egypt. Even
after pages, I would feel frustrated that my words don't adequately
convey what awesome treasures are there. In order to grasp the scope
of human history and ability, everyone should see Egypt once. As an
American, it helped put into perspective the newness of our society
and nation.

Egypt was full of other highlights for us. We took a wonderful and
relaxing cruise down the Nile, watching the most important river in
history flow slowly by. We enjoyed some taste of modernism and
technology—high speed Internet, air conditioning, and even the taste
of home at McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, and even On the Border. All of
this spoiled us and made for a memorable vacation and escape from life
in Ethiopia.

Nobody warned us about how hard it would be to come back. When you go
on vacation, you always go home at the end. I think our minds were
expecting home…really home. Instead we came back to Ethiopia, only
partially home, and so vastly removed from even the amenities of
Egypt. At first we were bitter, annoyed by everything from loud
churches to beggars. Other expats tell us this is normal, which is
comforting considering the guilt I later feel after shooing away a
starving child. Now after a little more time, we're finding a
healthier balance with life in Ethiopia and our calling for being
here. Overall, our vacation helped provide needed rest, time
together, and some wonderful memories to share.

Opportunities to Help

Dear Friends and Family,

We apologize for not posting an update or prayer email in quite a long
time! We've written a few posts but due to internet access have not
been able to upload them to the web. So we'll play catch up with some
posts later. We decided to put the most important post/prayer email
up first.

Our most recent post is something very dear and close to our hearts
for many reasons. Primarily three reasons… Adoption, Ethiopia and
Close Friends. We have some close friends, Doug and Danielle Banker
from Colorado Springs, who are in the process of adopting siblings
from Ethiopia! They have completed all their paperwork and homestudy
and are now in the waiting process. Like I said this is very close to
our hearts.

First, because of Adoption. As many of you know I was adopted along
with my younger brother, Gideon. We think it is wonderful that Doug
and Danielle are willing to bring not just one child but TWO into
their home. They are truly providing life to these children. These
children will have opportunities that they would never have. And more
importantly they will experience love and belonging. Adopting is one
of the most selfless things that a family can do. My whole life is a
testimony to the change and impact that can happen when parents decide
to adopt!

Second, Ethiopia. We've now been in Ethiopia for over 4 months. We
love the country, culture and especially the people. We plan to share
with you more and more as time goes, but the poverty is reality for
millions of people in this country. They need our help. They need
your help. Doug and Danielle are responding to this need; they are
tremendously changing the lives of two children.
Third, they are our close friends. We've known Doug and Danielle
since 2004, when they participated in a young married bible study we
helped lead. Doug and Danielle have been impactful in our lives in
many ways. They have been examples to us by living their faith with
width (knowledge) but more importantly depth (living). Specifically
they are inspirational in their marriage, finances and community
building. Personally, they have provided us with true accountability
and fellowship. We could write more and more about them, but the most
important thing we can say is that they WILL be amazing godly parents.
We've already seen them in many ways trust God through their adoption
journey up until now.

You might be asking why we're telling you all this? Before we left
the US, many of you knew that we were not fundraising while we served
in Africa. But many of you did ask us to let you know about any
financial needs or opportunities where you could help Ethiopia. So,
here is the first opportunity for those who are interested and able.
We know the timing isn't best, with the financial crisis and with
Christmas, this might not the ideal time to ask. Nonetheless, what
better time to give a gift that really does GIVE LIFE, than Christmas.
Our prayers and dreams are that those in our "community of support"
would bless Doug and Danielle as they step out in faith and trust God
to provide for them and their soon to be children. We'd encourage you
to send ANYTHING to show that you too believe in what they're doing.
Maybe that is only $5 right now or maybe for some of you it is $1000.
Whatever amount it is…I know that the encouragement and the support is
more important than the dollar amount to them. I'm sure if there are
other resources or ways that you can help (outside of monetary),
they'd love to talk with you. You'll find this address on our blog.
We want to thank you for reading and if you are able… giving! Most
importantly, please pray for Doug and Danielle. They'll have many
special memories as well as many challenges ahead! We'll be providing
updates about Doug and Danielle as time goes on!

Many Blessings,
Anne & Keegan

A Great Way to Help

Yes, friends and family, we are still very much alive! We've gotten very busy lately and have not made time for updates. Whenever we did prepare an update, it also coincided with lousy internet. So, we'll be posting some more, real updates soon. As for now, let us tell you about a way you can help Ethiopia.

As we prayed and considered moving to Africa, a great many friends encouraged us along the way. Doug and Danielle Banker were one couple particularly involved in the process. While Doug and Danielle were encouraging God's plan for us, they were considering a significant step in their own lives. Around the same time we decided to move toEthiopia, Doug and Danielle decided to adopt children from Ethiopia. As we walk the streets of Addis and see countless orphans, we realize what an amazing thing the Bankers are doing. Below is a letter from the Bankers. Please read it over and consider joining them in this Christmas season.

Dear fellow brothers and sisters,

The Bible tells us in James 1:27 that "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world". Isaiah1:17 says "Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow." This is the calling my wife and I have humbly and graciously answered.

Our journey began shortly after Danielle and I met when we both shared our interest in adoption and how we'd be open to it in the future. This past winter, after being married almost 3 years, we decided it would be the right time for us to pursue this dream of ours. Since that first conversation we have had a heart for the continent of Africa and the struggles that many of the people there face daily. More recently, our hearts have steered in the direction of Ethiopia.This direction took place around the same time MarlAnne and Keegan Combs found out they'd be taking their calling and ministry to Ethiopia.

One of the most blessed relationships the Lord has brought Danielle and I is MarlAnne and Keegan Combs. Watching their journey come to fruition with their going to Ethiopia has been inspiring and praiseful (though we miss them like crazy!). Since their arrival several months ago Danielle and I have started the adoption process, completed all of the paperwork, have gone through many hours of training required by the agencies and are getting ready to submit our dossier to Ethiopia awaiting our referral. Words cannot even express the excitement we both currently share as our "paper pregnancy" is about to begin! After long consideration we have decided to submit a request for 2 children under the ages of 36 months, most likely blood siblings. Due to this request our wait will likely be longer than usual. Therefore,we're hoping to receive our referral in late 2009 or early 2010. Once this happens, we'll go over to Ethiopia soon thereafter to meet our children!

As many of you may already know with adoption comes many challenges. Issues with the child's heath, language barriers, attachment disorders, high financial requirements and many others are very likely to occur. Thankfully, we have many great resources at our hands to take advantage of to help us through each of these trials/tribulations. Danielle and I have been saving up for this process knowing we would want to pursue adoption. Due to this we initially chose not to pursue raising support financially. The Lord has changed our hearts to be open to others who may want to in some way, shape, or form assist us in His heart for the orphans of this world. If you would be interested in helping us we would wholeheartedly welcome any form of generosity. We thank you for your prayerful consideration in taking part in our journey.

In His Loving Name,
Doug & Danielle Banker
930 N. Logan Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
719-268-0866
daniellebanker@yahoo.com

Our Home: Part 2

Of our nearly three months now in Ethiopia, we have spent the majorityof the time in our bedroom. While we have a living room with couchesand a TV, the couches are so low to the floor and unlike our formercouches that we're only in the room to watch TV or eat. Our bedroom,on the other hand, is warm and comfortable. So for this over-dueupdate, we'll focus on the simple setting of our bedroom.

The bedroom is, of course, dominated by our bed. But it's so muchmore than a bed. Because we have the bed pushed up against a wall, weoften sit and lean against the wall with our legs stretched out beforeus. So it is also a couch or chair. When we have to work at home, weusually do so sitting there on the bed, so it also serves as our desk.We occasionally eat while sitting on the bed, making it our table.The bed itself isn't really a "mattress," but really a large foam pad,but it's surprisingly comfortable. Well maybe that is anexaggeration, let's say we've gotten used it and it is still the placewe sleep, can we really hate it! The pillows that came with the houseare also foam, nearly two feet thick, and nothing close to soft.Thankfully we brought our own pillows with us. While not quite ourbeloved down comforter, we do have a nice, flowery comforter thatKeegan constantly kicks off the bed in the night.

In addition to the bed, we now have some furniture in our room! Thisis very exciting for us considering the first month or so we only hadour bed to comfort us. But now we have splurged and have a shelf weuse for our books, Anne's makeup, shoes, various electrical chords andadaptors, and clean clothes waiting to be put away. A coffee tableserves as our night-stand, which is usually full of books, medicinebottles (Yes, Mom, we're both taking our vitamins!), our tiny alarmclock, and whatever Keegan happens to bring home in his pockets.

One wall of our bedroom is dominated by three ceiling-high closetsthat are more like cabinets. One for Keegan's clothes, one forAnne's, and one for random items. Because there are no drawers orshelves, we are technically still living out of our suitcases, whichwe use as a "drawer" to organize the clothes in the bottom ourclosets. We have limited hangers so our clothes are double or tripledon the few hangers we have!

The best part of our bedroom is that along one wall is a series ofwindows and a glass door that opens out to a small patio overlookingour courtyard. On lazy days we'll often open the curtains all the wayand lay on our bed basking in the sunlight. We're thankful that ourroom can become such a sunny, warm, and relaxing place. So that's our bedroom. While it is not fancy, the bedroom makes ourhome truly feel like a home. Having it as our sanctuary significantlyeased our transition to Africa. Lately, though, we are spending lessand less time in the bedroom. Between our recently added Amharicclasses, business at work for both of us, and more and moreopportunities to get together with friends, our schedule is startingto become very much like it used to be…busy!

Yeni Bate Yenci Bateno

*Bisoftu lakes*

*Hiking at Menegasha*

*Eating breakfast at campsite in Menegasha*

*Our compound*

*Our garden in our compound*

*Our side of the compound*

Mi casa es su casa. My house is your house. Yeni Bate Yenci Bateno in Amharic. Most people living in Addis (at least those with homes) live in a compound. All houses have walls around them and a large gate as an entrance. Our house is very much like a town-house in the US. We are on a street corner, so we have a wall in the front with a gate and a wall along one side. Along the back of our house is an alley. The other side shares a wall with the neighboring house and compound.

Inside our compound there are essentially two homes, each two stories. Zena, another teacher at AIS, lives in the front house. At the back of our compound is our house, with the living room on the bottom floor and outside steps leading up to our bedroom. There is a shared kitchen that connects the houses. Since we do not have a car, the driveway serves as a very nice patio. When it isn't raining and the sun isn't too scorching, we eat on the patio. Finally, in the front there is a small, grassy garden that is surrounded by large bushes, making it not very useful. Nonetheless it is pretty and we can say that we have a "yard". Our house does have an extra room…if any of you are interested in visiting! (Oh yeah…BYOB: Bring Your Own Bed)

Living in a compound does have its pros and cons. Pros include protection and safety (for ourselves and our stuff), the gate keeps out beggars and kids constantly asking to play Frisbee, and it makes us feel that we at least have a safe, private space to escape to. On the other hand, the wall system isn't always welcoming. Often outer walls have broken glass bottles embedded along the top or barbed wire along the top. You also frequently hear the sound of slamming gates, and determining if it is our gate or someone else's can be difficult. Instead of listening for a doorbell (we don't have one), we run outside, bend over, and try to see we can see feet through the small gap between the gate and the ground. Considering how the rest of technology has worked…we'll take the bending over!

While we do spend lots of time in our Compound, we've been able to get out and about much more lately. In the past two weeks we've visited two orphanages to volunteer (We'll tell you more about these later). We also have several friends with cars, and they have generously invited us to join any trips out of town. Two weeks ago we went to Bishoftu, a small town with five crater lakes surrounding it. And this past weekend we went camping in Menagesha, where we earlier went hiking. We were again energized by the air, but disappointed that the troop of baboons that went through our camp at night did not wake us up. Despite many promises, we still haven't actually seen one!

Overall, we are settling into typical routines. While we are adjusting and enjoying it, work does take more time than we anticipated. Teaching looks different than before. While the kids speak English well, Keegan is spending much more time on reading comprehension and writing. Anne is learning to be a writer, which is a good challenge and an area she has wanted to grow in. Unfortunately, the last two times she has eaten the local food, Anne's gotten sick. So, while we've adjusted a lot and this is beginning to feel like home, there are always challenges and areas things that need a bit more adjusting to.

Any Reason to Celebrate!

*Photos are of Meskel. 1- A choir swaying with sticks (very technical description we know…sorry) 2 – the massive "tree" for the bonfire. 3 –Us in front of the burning bonfire.*

Ethiopia does not lack an excuse for a celebration. The population is mostly split between Ethiopian Orthodox and Muslim. Between the two, there are many celebrations, traditions, fasting times, and feasting times. (Not to mention the constant sounds of a Mosque or Church around every corner!) This week the Ethiopian Orthodox Church had their biggest celebration of the year, Meskel. Meskel, which means "Cross" in Amharic, is a huge national celebration of "the finding of the true cross." On Friday afternoon and evening, thousands upon thousands of people gather in the large Meskel Square in downtown Addis for this very religious ceremony. As a result, the entire city is virtually shutdown for the celebration.
While sitting among the throngs of people in the square would have been interesting, we were lucky to sit in a "VIP" section reserved for guests of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Sitting a floor above us were both the President of Ethiopia and the Abuna, or Pope, of the Orthodox Church. When they drove up, Keegan became the paparazzi, zooming in with his camera to take pictures.
The celebration included several massive choir groups, two marching bands, and a float of a traditional church. The choir groups were quite impressive, with perhaps 500 people dressed in matching robes and performing choreographed dances, often times with colored flags or shawls waving in the air. While we couldn't understand a word, the devotion and commitment was quite powerful.
The Abuna lit a massive, three-story high bonfire at the end of the ceremony. Before this, everyone was given traditional candles to burn, creating a spectacle of thousands of candle flames filling the night. As soon as the bonfire was lit, fireworks and yells from the crowd made for an exciting celebration. We were impressed by how completely filled the square was, but we were more awed upon entering the streets. They were just as packed with people, many burning candles and following the "Cross" float inching its way through the crowds. Words cannot describe the number of people that were at this celebration. It was a celebration of faith and unity.
We had other smaller celebrations this week: Our first unguided trip to Merkato, the largest market in Africa, where we purchased Ethiopian art to finally have something on our walls; Our first paycheck; The best homemade ice-cream we have ever tasted; and having Cherry Cokes after discovering Vimto, which is so close to grenadine. Despite the new things, we mostly celebrated a pretty normal week because, well, shouldn't home seem normal?

A Bit of Fresh Air

*Photo 1 - our hike to the waterfall in Menegasha. Photo 2 - rural transportation, Photo 3 - Rural home on the road to Menegasha*

Close your eyes and envision Africa. You probably pictured something quite different from Addis Ababa. It's not dry desert, lush rainforest, or rolling savannah. There aren't wild and exotic animals, other than the herds of sheep, goats, donkeys and homeless dogs. There is nothing rural, natural, or country-like about Addis. It is instead a huge, bustling, and relatively modern city. The streets are both beautiful and stressful due to the chaos of people, cars, and constant movement. No vehicle here would ever pass an emissions test. The black clouds of smoke are constant and every walk down a main street is escorted by a mist of smog. (We'd have a photo for you but it is quite difficult to capture with a camera!)
Of course Africa is a huge continent with a variety of landscapes. One image you may have pictured was something more like Menegasha forest, which we had the pleasure to visit this past Sunday. For the first time we really felt in what we view as Africa – natural, undeveloped, tribal, and rural. The drive to Menegasha was the most interesting part. We drove out of the city, but barely left it. The road leading into the country is lined with endless shops, houses, and a never-ending stream of walkers. Eventually the blue and white minibuses of Addis were replaced with little smart-car type Taxis and then two-wheeled carts pulled by horses. The main (meaning surfaced) road was lined completely with people. We eventually turned onto a rough, stony road that went into the country. Even still there were tons of people, most standing around, watching animals, or working in a field. Half the children waved at us with friendly smiles. The other half held out their hands with an expectant expression on their faces, asking for money. Many of the adults waved; just as many motioned to their lips with 2 fingers, hoping for a cigarette.
As the people thinned out, the countryside became more and more beautiful. It is nearing the end of the rainy season, so the land was all lush and green fields. There are few trees, so you can see for miles once you are out of the dirty city air. You pass by traditional thatch houses and simple farms. As we drove the hustle of city-life faded away and was replaced by the simple beauty of the country. At least for me, this is closer to what I see when I close my eyes and think of Africa.
The forest itself was also beautiful. It is the closest to a rain-forest that we have seen, with an endless variety of trees and plants. It did rain while we were there; the sound of rain drops splashing and plopping onto countless types of leaves was an amazing chorus. With our large group of friends, we hiked a few miles through the forest to a small waterfall. While we unfortunately saw no wildlife, the experience was incredible for its striking contrast to life in Addis Ababa. For the first time in over a month the air felt truly clean and wonderful. After a meal and fellowship, we headed home just before dusk. Somehow it seemed even greener, and we could see even further as we went down the hills. Though we got lost once we entered Addis (whole 'nother story!), the day was a memorable blessing.
Breathing the fresh air and experiencing a bit of rural Africa energized us and encouraged us, which almost made up for our aching muscles throughout the rest of the week. We returned to a normal week—dinners with friends, computer viruses, "Africa Time", the language barrier and how it is impossible to communicate frustration with Africa Time, and our busy, everyday lives.