Cracked Pot
The sermon at church yesterday was written directly for me I believe. The pastor talked about heroes having clay feet and how Elijah’s life fell apart for a little while. He used the illustration of a clay pot. Right now my pot is cracking right down the middle – my life here in Ethiopia is falling apart.

Same
I thought he was different but it turns out that he is the same as her. He warned the nannies to watch me pack incase I stole anything. He told them that when the auditor comes if anything is missing from the house that it will come out of their paychecks. When I found out about this I was so angry. So angry in fact that I took everything that I bought. I was going to leave some stuff that the house needs but out of anger I took everything. I feel bad because I did buy that stuff for the nannies and children but he can replace everything. I have cried more these last two months then I have in all my life combined.

Projects
I moved to the projects. I rented an apartment near Tesfanesh’s brother. It is actually considered ‘the projects’ but it is a really nice apartment. Most of the people living here are families with lots of children. There is no middle class in Ethiopia – you are either poor or rich. Most of the people who live here would be considered mid-lower class.

Mesmore
This means music in Amharic. All of the Christian music sounds the same to me. You could interchange the musicians and their words but never change the melody and music and no one would ever know the difference. Tesfanesh told me that another white person had told her the same thing.

10…9…8…7…
I am counting down the days until I am home – 6 days until I leave and 7 until I am in San Diego. I am looking forward to a time of rest.

One Man’s Trash…
Is another’s treasures. I was invited to visit a neighbor’s house yesterday. When I went inside the mom was sowing (on an ancient machine) strips of fabric together making a shirt for her youngest child. I looked around and noticed that they have 7 people living in a one-bedroom apartment. It reminded me of my childhood. Then I had a brilliant idea. I got all of my clothes that I don’t wear and the twin sheets that I brought that don’t fit and I let them go through and pick stuff out that they wanted. I also went through the clothes that are Elias’ (sorry Autumn) and gave some of them to the little boy. He had been wearing clothes that were too small and for little girls. One of the daughters took a pair of jeans and two shirts as well as two of the sheets. I told her to make a shirt for her dad because he only has one dress shirt. The housemaid took the rest of the clothes. Oh man did it make their day. I had her try everything on and do a fashion show. She was giddy with happiness. It made my day too – now I don’t have to worry about what to do with all the clothes I don’t wear.

Packed
Today I went through all of my stuff and decided what I want to take home and what I want to keep here in Ethiopia. It took me longer than I thought but I rearranged everything how I want it. Now all I have to do is wash my clothes and buy souvenirs.

Conjoe Bet – Beautiful House
I bought a small sofa set today for the living room. After much searching and driving around we found one that wasn’t a fortune and that was actually a decent color. The couches here are very different from in America. They are huge over-stuffed things that are usually an ugly color. I will post pictures of our apartment soon.

Genesis Farms
Today Tesfanesh, her brother’s wife, Mesfin, Hiwot #2 and I went to Debre Zyet and visited this amazing farm. An American and an Ethiopian run the farm and it employs many local people. It has cows, chickens, different vegetables and flowers. I bought a ficus tree for two dollars and other plants for about the same price. We joined a school on the tour around the place and when it was finished I asked the tour guide if he would take us to visit the place where they make cheese. He was hesitant at first but Tesfanesh talked him into it. I learned a lot about how to run a farm – it takes a lot of manpower and hard work. When we got home Tesfanesh’s brother had bought his wife and myself some roses. Since roses are Ethiopia’s third largest export they are everywhere, but most Ethiopians don’t buy them. This family has been so nice to me and treated me so well this is just icing on the cake.

Rules
For having no rules while driving there are rules but only when the police are round. Today I got a ticket. I was nearing one of the few intersections that has traffic lights and none of them were lit – so of course I went through. There was a policeman right there, I didn’t see him until he whistled for me to stop. So I pulled over and I told him in Amharic that I didn’t see any lights on. He told me that the far one on the other side of the street was on. You’ve got to be kidding me. So the two lights that were right in front of me are off but the one all the way to left on the other side of traffic was on. How could anyone see that? Anyways he took my driver’s license and now I have to go tomorrow and pay a $114 birr fine to get it back. I was in a very busy area and everyone was giving me sympathetic looks. One guy yelled to me, “Izosh,” which means, “It will be ok.” I just laughed and drove away.

Things I will Miss
Kenasa – I will miss him coming up and hugging my leg right when I come to the house.
Melkamu – I will miss the way he jokes around and says that his rather fat tummy is because of pasta.
Sentayhu – I will miss the way she loves to help everyone.
Habtamu – I will miss the way he makes funny faces all the time.
Eyob – I will miss the way he preaches to the other kids.
Ebowa – I will miss the way she grabs my face and kisses my cheek for as long as I will allow at bedtime.
Sitota – I will miss the way he smiles whenever I kiss him goodnight.
Halle – I will miss the way she pretends to give you her nose and when you pretend to give her yours she eats it.
Lily – I will miss her laugh when she is tickled.
Yeabsira – I will miss her smile.
Ammanuel – I will miss the way he loves to be held and talked to.
Melaku – I will miss the way he smiles and laughs when I talk to him.
Damenu – I will miss the way she jumps up and down when I talk to her.
Henok – I will miss the way he laughs when tickled.
Ruth – I will miss her laugh when Hiwot talks to her.
Missaye – I will miss her so much. She was my movie buddy. We would stay up late every night and watch either a movie or The Office.
Bellatu – I will miss her gentleness and wisdom.
Tesfanesh – I will miss her friendship.
Hiwot – I will miss her willingness to learn and improve.
Senaidt – I will miss her and her desire to serve everyone.
Meseret – I will miss the way she dances.
Selam – I will miss the way she says my name “Elme.” (L-me)
Reading to the kids at night before bed.
Listening to the kids pray and sing.

Saying Goodbye
I said goodbye to everyone the other day. It was so hard to say goodbye to the kids because I know that many of them will be in America when I get back. They didn't really understand what was going on but I knew exactly what saying goodbye meant. Missaye cried so hard when I hugged her goodbye. Although I will see her when I get back two months seems like a long time to be away from them. My friend G-me (he is a driver that lives in Bethel - same area that I live) said that Addis without Emily is not good. That warmed my heart. My new neighbors had this beautiful coffee ceremony for my at their house. I also threw myself a going away party and there were so many people there. It was hard saying goodbye to my Ethiopia family but I am so excited to see my family that I can't be sad too long.