This morning brought changes! Dan and I repacked our bags and managed to get all of them and ourselves into Getachew’s small car (after a breakfast of “porridge” [oatmeal] and toast). Paul will stay at the hotel for the rest of his 3 weeks because all of his work here is planned to be at the Field office compound. Our bags went with us to the library, where we were grateful to continue catching up on the Internet. Around 1 pm, we got word that Anbessu was at home and expected us to be delivered there.
Anbessu leads FAYYAA, the organization here that works like Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. He and his wife Saneit (sah-NITE) insisted on hosting us in a guest room in their home for our time here. After greeting us and sharing coffee, Anbessu says we are going to the office – so we go! The FAYAA office is a beautiful building with many offices. We were introduced to the accounting staff and told a little about what they do, then Anbessu stated that Janet could start working right away. They gave me their best office chair and a desk, so I began to ask with what can I help. John, a thin and gentle man with white hair has thought it through and has a list so, after our discussion, I got to work on the payroll set-up situation on Peachtree (a program I’m very familiar with). I had to continue to ask questions, especially since their tax set-up is very different than ours in the U.S. I’ve brought back the program on a CD to continue to sort out what I can on the weekend. Dan has been asked to work on their website…
Back at Anbessu and Saneit’s home, we watch some soccer on TV before dinner. They have 5 children; 2 boys (ages 5 and 10) are their biological children, 2 young ladies (18 and 21) are adopted nieces and one young man (14) was adopted from the street. Dinner with the adults was served family style: rice, onion and tomato salad, lamb stew, salad with more thinly wedged tomato, boiled vegetables (carrots, potatoes, beets) with an orange or banana for dessert. After a little more Ethiopian news on TV, Anbessu says we can go to bed now. We did just that, after a talk with Terry Barker on the phone and a tour of the bathroom we’ll share with the rest of the family. This wonderful family is doing much more than sharing their home; they are inviting us to be a part of their family for the next 6 weeks.
If you saw these words on a sign, it might appear to represent an established street or pathway. Our desire, however, is to share the path of our lives as we respond to God’s direction in these days, to present a work-in-progress to our family and friends (known and yet unknown). Our lives have been shaped and molded separately and then together by God’s hand. Here, however, we will specifically address our steps through this time of life called “retirement.”
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