"It's culture"

“It’s culture”.  For the most part, this statement annoys and frustrates me.  I think too many cultures in this world use this reasoning as an excuse to continue to do vile, hideous, and ungodly things to their people.  Sometimes the “it’s culture” statement is used in matters that in the grand scheme of the world don’t actually mean anything.  For example, Ethiopians primarily use “squatty potties”.  I, of course, prefer “western” toilets.  But is it really my place to tell people that they need to install “western” toilets in their homes, offices, or schools?  No.  Because after all “it’s culture” but more importantly, it isn’t hurting anyone (other than me, perhaps!).

Before I start in on my tirade let me just say: I love different cultures.  I love that different cultures have huge customs that are celebrated.  I love the different dress, colors, music, dances, food, and celebrations that each culture has to offer.  I wish I could travel all over the world (actually, Africa would be just fine. . .I would even start with just Ethiopia) and see how they all live.  I have heard of some pretty crazy (by my standards) things that different cultures in Ethiopia do but I would like to go and experience it.  

It makes me sad when countries lose their culture because another country (and it is usually somewhere from the Western world) moves in and takes over.  I love that Ethiopia has fought to keep their culture.  I have been to some other countries that try to look and act like America or whoever.  I think that you can learn things from different cultures and you can take something from them to enhance your own country but it just makes me sad when another country strives to become westernized and they lose themselves in the process.  This isn’t good for anyone.  It isn’t good for these particular countries and it isn’t good for the world.  

The amazing thing about this World is that there is so many different ways of doing things.  We can learn from each other.  Just because America or Canada or England does something a certain way doesn’t mean it is the right way.  Perhaps we are just the loudest?  I know America is guilty of pushing our culture on the rest of the world.  Seriously, how many big companies and aid organizations have to fail (sometimes at a huge embarrassment level) because an American shows up in some third-world country and tries to push “America” on them?  Maybe we need to take a step back and see why these countries are doing these things before we knock ‘em and try to push ourselves on them. 

Okay, I got off on a tangent.  Anyway, there are times when “it’s culture” doesn’t bother me, actually it makes me happy when different people groups fight for their culture.  However, it annoys and frustrates me when people use the “it’s culture” excuse to do things that are against God.

Beating your children, beating your wives, feeding your sons but not your daughters, not tithing, female genital mutilation, living in your posh life and ignoring the horrors of the rest of the world, “honor” killings, polygamy, and keeping up with the Joneses are a few examples of attitudes and actions around the world that people love to use the “it’s culture” statement to excuse their behavior.  I believe that it is culture but I believe it is culture of the devil-not necessarily culture of specific countries or tribes.  Sounds harsh, I know, but that is my opinion.

Let’s look at female genital mutilation (fgm): how did this start?  It doesn’t say to do it in the Bible, in the Torah, or in the Koran.  So we can hardly argue that it is religious.  From research I have read about it the sole purpose of fgm is to prevent women from enjoying sex and to prevent them from cheating on their husbands.  That sounds like a lie from the devil to me.  “If you mutilate little girls they will be good wives”.  Really?  The Bible says a good wife is to honor her husband.  Do you really think your wife will honor you if every time you have sex with her it is sheer torture for her?  Granted, the men are not the ones that are actually doing the mutilation but in these tribes the men will not marry women who have not been “cut”.  

Lest we as Americans are thinking right now “that is horrible, we don’t do anything that disgusting”.  Let’s take a look at our American culture of “more is better” or “we can never have enough”.  The Bible says in Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”  Greed is in the same list as sexual immorality and evil desires.  How many of us have thought “well, I am not perfect but at least I haven’t cheated on my husband like Suzy Q”?  We, as Christians, like to compare our sins to others.  But on judgement day we are not going to be compared to the person in front or behind us-we are going to be compared to Jesus.  

  

In Colossians 3:5 we also see that God considers greed as idolatry.  This greed could be in relation to money, food, or possessions just as an example.  Exodus 20:3 states “you shall have no other gods before me”.  We can see clearly in Colossians that greed is considered a god before God.  Some people may think “I may be sinning because of my greed but I am not hurting anyone”.  Actually yes you are.  Because if you live in a perpetual state of greed then you can not fulfill James 1:27.  It says:  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”.  If you are living in constant greed are you really helping orphans and widows?

We should not be so concerned about our own culture-we should be concerned about Kingdom Culture.  If something in our culture (or another) goes against Kingdom Culture then we should fight it.  After all, when you are standing in front of God accounting for your sins are you going to say “well that is the way we have always done it”?

What things in your culture do you need to stand up against?  I have a list of my own that I am working on.

Who to help?

Who to help?  That is a question I ask myself almost every day.  I have sponsors that support me living and serving in Ethiopia.  When I use that money, I feel a huge obligation to make sure that I use it wisely and in the way that God wants me to.  I feel pressure to honor God and the person that gave it.  I constantly worry that I will make a mistake and waste the money.  That I will bless someone with the money and they will take advantage of me and the money will be wasted. 

I use a lot of the money for food, milk, and rent for certain children and families.  I feel that this isn’t wasted as it makes the children stronger and makes sure they have a roof over their heads.  But when I feel led to spend “bigger” amounts. . . this is when I start to second guess my actions.  

Let’s face it, some people know how to use the system.  They know just what to say to get you to give them money.  They really know how to talk up their sorrows and also try to convince you that they will make good use of the money.  

But you have those select few that are already trying to help themselves and their families with what little they have.  They aren’t sitting around waiting for a hand-out.  These are the people that I want to help.  There is one woman in particular that I really, really want to help start a cafe.  Most of you already know of her.  You can read her story here:  http://jonngirlonamission.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-have-been-back-in-sc-for-4-days-now.html

Seble is one of those women who makes good use of everything that God gives her.  She has been buying things and saving up over time in preparation to open this cafe.  She hasn’t just been sitting around waiting for someone to knock on her door and say “I heard you wanted to open a cafe.  Here is some cash”.  

I met with her about a month ago to find out more about what she has in mind for this cafe.  I found out the things that she already has prepared and the things that she is still lacking.  

I went back this week with some friends of mine from Canada that have a mind for business so they could talk to her and see if I have missed anything.  I also wanted them to get a feel for her because I have had an attachment to Seble since I first met her so I didn’t want my judgement to be swayed by my love for her.

We discussed more business detailed things with her and asked her to write up a business plan.  She is more than willing to do this.  Please pray for me that the Lord would show me if, and in what capacity, He would have me to help her.

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping in Ethiopia is much different than how I shopped in America.  I was one of those people that HATED grocery shopping.  I mean, literally, hated.  So every two weeks when I got paid I would go to Bi-Lo or WalMart and stock up for two weeks.  During the middle of the month I would buy lots so at the beginning of the month I only had to buy a little.  There were some months that I bought enough during the middle of the month that I wouldn’t have to go at the beginning of the month (those months were my favorite).

Shopping here is a totally different experience.  First of all, I don’t have a car here so when I shop I either have to take taxi (which is a huge pain because then I am having to carry bags from shop to shop and struggle while getting in and out of the taxi.  Or I can take a bajaj (basically a personal, 3-wheeled taxi).  This is fine except for some reason I feel like I am taking too long for the bajaj driver and I am keeping him from something important (although, he gets paid by the amount of time I use him for) so I rush and sometimes forget things and then I feel bad for making them stop at so many different places.

So let me walk you through a typical “big” shopping day.  Debre Zeit basically has one huge main road that everything is off of so I go all the way to the end of town (approximately 4 miles) and hit up my favorite veggie shop.  In this shop I normally buy green beans, carrots, potatoes, beets, red onions, zucchini, eggplant, and garlic.  Sometimes they surprise me and have different items like, the other day I went absolutely crazy because they had cucumbers and white onions!!!

My fav veggie shop

Then I go to the next shop where I buy pasta, peanut butter, rice, mangos, condiments, and random stuff.  I go to the next shop where I buy a frozen chicken (if I am splurging that week ‘cause chicken is kinda expensive.  It’s about $6.50 for one small chicken).  Then I go to the next shop where I get cheese, butter, eggs, and yogurt.  Cheese is only purchased rarely because it is expensive (1lb is approximately $3.50).  I don’t buy cheese often but sometimes I give in.  

Then I go to the next vegetable shop where I buy red, yellow, and green bell peppers, green chili peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and strawberries if they have it.  Then I go to another shop to buy bread and milk.  Then the last stop is to buy sugar and flour.  

So that is 7 stops just to buy groceries!!  It is very tiring.  And I have to do it quite often because food here doesn’t have preservatives in it (which of course is a good thing) so food spoils easily.  Plus, the veggies here are already ripe when you buy them so you have to use them pretty much within 2-3 days or they go bad.

I, however, do have the luxury of having a freezer so I am able to freeze many things to aid in their shelf life but I spend a lot of time grocery shopping.  I really don’t know how people function without a fridge, stove, or freezer.  It amazes me to think they can feed their family without the aid of a fridge, freezer, and stove!!  

Oh, and the store’s offerings are very varied so I can never go into a shop and feel as if I “must” buy something because they may or may not have it.  Meal planning is difficult!

And of course there are some things that you can not get in Debre Zeit so you have to go to Addis (the capital city which is about an hour away).  There I buy beef (again, not often because it is pricey), canned whole tomatoes, and other random food and household items that are not found in my town.  Quality meat is VERY hard to get here so that is why I treat any and all canned meat that is sent to me like gold.  Canned tuna, tuna packets, canned roast beef and gravy, canned chicken, and canned salmon are huge blessings to me!!!

After a day of shopping I am so tired and dirty I just want to lay there but then I have to cook the food I just bought!!!  I will post another blog about cooking in Ethiopia because that is also a new experience for me!!

Healing Service

Every week pretty much every church in town holds a healing service.  People come from all over to attend these services.  People that have hardly anything pay to ride the taxi to come.  Very sick people leave their homes only once a week to attend these services.  People that can not walk are carried by their family or friends for miles so they can attend these services.  I always heard these stories but I experienced it for the first time last Wednesday.

I had never attended these services because, honestly, they made me nervous.  I don’t like big crowds of people (sometimes 600 people will cram into a little church), I don’t always enjoy church services here (that is a whole other blog in itself I will write later) so why would I want to attend a second service a week?

But Donna (a friend from the USA that is here serving with BCI for two weeks) was scheduled to preach and pray for people at Zion’s healing service.  So I went with a few other missionaries and I am very glad that I did.  Donna, Mussie, and I sat on the front row which means that when Donna went to preach Mussie went with her to translate I was sitting all alone on the front row.  Donna gave a very powerful message about God’s healing powers and then she started walking around the church laying hands on everyone and praying for them.

Shortly after she left the podium to walk around the room chaos erupted.  I believe that people can be demon-possessed but I have never seen it nor do I know anything about it.  I believed it was possible because the Bible says it is but now I believe it is possible because I have seen it.  I am not going to go into all the details of what I saw but basically by the end of the service there were about 6 people that came to the front that I believe to be demon-possessed.  I have never seen bodies move in that way.  I have never heard such loud or scary screams.  I have never seen a woman that can’t weigh more than 110lbs throw four big men off of her like they were rag dolls.

It was a very scary experience because I was sitting on the very front row about 10ft from these people.  But mainly it was scary because I didn’t know what was going on.  This is an area of darkness that I have never witnessed before.  Demon-possession is rarely talked about in the United States.  I am not sure why.  Why does it seem that some countries are more susceptible to demon-possession than others?  Do you think we have it in the USA but it is hidden?  I have decided that I need to read and study about this topic.  It is very prevalent here so I need to be educated.  If you have any resources that may help me I would greatly appreciate it.  

I would like to attend future healing services-not to witness more demon-possessed people, but because I want to see God’s miracles.  I was so caught up in the drama of what was unfolding in front of me that I didn’t pay attention to the people that were there needing other healing.  It was a very powerful experience.  It is hard to write this blog because my thoughts are so scattered and unsure.  I don’t really know how to end this so I will just post a few pictures.

Yebsira Girma

In one day Yebsira Girma’s life changed.  She just finished eating dinner with her family and then it happened.  She had a grand mal seizure.  Her mom, Yesunesh, didn’t know what to do.  She had never seen a seizure before.  Yebsira’s mom, brother, and sister were able to carry her to the clinic that is approximately one-half of a mile from her home.  The doctor gave Yebsira medicine to stop her seizure.  When she woke up and saw her mom’s worried face she started to cry.  She was just an eleven year old girl who had no idea what happened to her.  All she knew is she woke up to see her mother crying and praying over her.

Three years later, Yebsira is a very sweet, fun sixth-grader.  Yebsira has been through many struggles these past three years.  After her first grand mal seizure she went through many tests.  The doctors were not able to find a cause of her seizures but they did find something.  They found a heart condition.  Yebsira has a hole in her heart that causes the blood to back up in her heart before it flows through her arteries.  Other than making her tired, her heart condition does not cause her any problems right now so the doctors are only monitoring this condition for any change.

Yebsira’s mother was overwhelmed with not only one diagnosis for her young daughter, but two.  Yesunesh is unable to work because she cares for her father who is very old and can not do anything for himself.  Yesunesh moved her three small children into her parent’s home when her husband died ten years ago.  Yesunesh kept asking God “how can I provide the care for Yebsira that she needs?”.  Yesunesh’s situation may look bleak to some but she knows that God will not forsake her and her family.  Yebsira’s life is precious and Yesunesh believes that God will provide for all of their needs.

Yebsira has had to have specialized care over the past three years.  Her seizures were getting out of control and there seemed to be no end in sight.  Yebsira wasn’t just having one seizure here or there, she was having as many as six in one day.  The average number she would have in one day was four and then three or four days later she would have approximately four more seizures in the same day.  The seizures were beginning to take a toll on her young body.  She was having intense headaches, memory troubles, and muscle spasms.  

Yebsira’s mother was desperate to find help for her daughter.  Before her seizures started, Yebsira was admitted into the Blessing the Children (BCI) program in 2008.  After her seizures started missionaries began to ask how they could help Yebsira and her family.  Over the years, missionaries have helped to pay some of Yebsira’s medical and drug expenses.  But even with all the help from the doctors and missionaries Yebsira’s condition started to fail.  Yesunesh decided to step out in faith and take Yebsira to a specialist in Addis.  

Yesunesh was given some money from Blessing the Children Canada (BCC) but she still didn’t have enough.  She decided to borrow money from friends and family.  The medical tests were very expensive and even though the doctors still were unable to find a cause for her seizures they did change her medicine.  Yebsira was given the new medicine approximately three months ago and her life has been radically changed since then.

It has been three months since Yebsira has had a grand mal seizure.  Yesunesh never gave up on her child or God.  Even though she couldn’t afford it, she fought to find help for her child.  Recently, Yebsira was down to her last pill and the family didn’t know where the next supply would come from but they never doubted God.  After Yebsira took her last pill they got word that a long-term missionary in Debre Zeit had just sent Mussie (Missionary Team Coordinator and Assistant Director for BCI) to Addis to pick up a new supply for her.  

Yebsira is a wonderful girl that is strong in her faith.  She is a fighter.  She tries her best not to let her condition affect her quality of life.  When asked how much school she has missed due to her condition she said that she always goes to school.  Not only does she not want to miss school but she doesn’t want her other relatives to know about her condition.  

Yebsira, her mom, and two siblings live in Yebsira’s grandparent’s compound.  Yebsira’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are not believers in Jesus Christ.  She doesn’t want her family to know about her health issues because she doesn’t want them to doubt God.  She is afraid that they will say “if your God heals people, why won’t He heal you”.  God may choose not to heal Yebsira but Yebsira is now able to tell her family that God is providing for her medical care when it looked impossible.  She is now able to tell her relatives that her God does the impossible.

It is absolutely impossible for Yesunesh to purchase the medicine and laboratory tests that Yebsira needs.  Here are the medical costs that Yesunesh must find a way to provide for:

*Yebsira needs a checkup every three months.  Just to get in to see the doctor is 100 birr ($6).

*The doctor may order laboratory tests during these checkups.  The cost varies but the average is 280 birr ($16).

*Yebsira has to have a brain EEG every seven months.  This costs 500 birr ($30).

*Yebsira’s new medicine costs 1200 birr ($71) for a month and a half supply.

There is no possible way that Yesunesh can afford the above costs.  Even if Yesunesh had a job she still wouldn’t be able to afford it.  The average income of an unskilled woman in Ethiopia is approximately 500 birr a month ($30).  BCI is also unable to cover all of Yebsira’s medical costs.  We need to find someone who would like to help Yebsira by purchasing her medicine every month and a half.  If you would like to help Yebsira, either by giving a one-time gift or a monthly gift, please contact Melissa Strawn at melissa@blessingthechildren.org.

When asked how this condition makes her feel Yebsira said “I feel sad because it makes me different from everyone else”.  Yebsira is a young girl that has a lot of dreams and ambitions but she can not succeed if she is having four to six seizures a day.  Yebsira needs to stay on this new medicine, this is not an option.  When asked how her life has changed in the past three months she said:

“My life has changed a lot since receiving the new medicine.  I am able to play football with my friends.  I love football but I could not play before because of my seizures.  I am also able to learn now.  I always went to school before but I spent a lot of time sleeping in the nurse’s room.  I am now staying with my classmates and learning.  I enjoy school.  Civics and English are my favorite classes.  I want to be a doctor so I can help poor people.”

Yebsira is a determined girl that refuses to give up.  She is very thankful that people have helped her and she has faith in God that he will continue to provide for her.  She knows that even when the situation looks bleak, her God always shows up.

Care packages

Lately, I have had a few people ask what the kids and I need/want over here.  I thought I would post it publicly in case anyone else was wondering.  

Care packages are always welcome! Here are things that are always needed (for the kids):

*Children's chewable vitamins (this is a HUGE need)

*Dry-erase markers

*Arts and crafts supplies

*Underwear for kids (especially teenager-sized)

Here are things that are always wanted (by me):

*Canned meat (tuna, salmon, chicken-packaged in water)

*Tuna in the single-serving packets like Starkist or Bumble Bee

*Spices (garlic salt, garlic powder, minced garlic, onion salt, onion powder, minced onion, chili powder, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, etc)

*Nuts (almonds (plain and flavored), pistachios, walnuts)

*Starbucks VIA

Care packages can be mailed to:

Blessing the Children

c/o Jonnett Barrick

PO BOX 1465

Debre Zeit, East Shoa, Ethiopia

The best way to send packages is through the US Postal Service with their flat rate priority boxes.  I know shipping is costly but all care packages are greatly appreciated (probably more than you know!)!

Ineffectiveness

Do you ever feel ineffective?  Do you ever match your talents and skills to someone else’s and think “Why am I here trying to serve when there are others who are more talented?”.  That happens to me sometimes.  I don’t let these thoughts permeate my brain because I do know that they are lies from the devil but sometimes he is sneaky and he gets in my head.

It usually happens when I have a specific project to do or something important to work on.  When these thoughts happen I try to focus on the gifts that God has given me.  Sure, on the outside they may not look as “great” as other peoples gifts but I have to remind myself sometimes that God uses everyone and he doesn’t think some gifts are better (or worse) than others.  The Bible tells us in Romans 12:4 that the church is like the human body-all parts are necessary and one part can’t perform the function of the other part.  So whenever you think that you are not “good” enough to serve God just remember that He has called you for a specific purpose.  He has not called you for someone else’s purpose-He has called you for your own purpose.

These are just my random thoughts for a Sunday morning.  Let’s keep the devil and his lies out of our minds and focus on why God has placed us where He has.  Let’s open our eyes and view the world around us and find opportunities to serve God.  And maybe He wants you to serve in a capacity that you never dreamed possible.  If this happens just have faith that if God has called you, he will equip you.