Ethiopia Update Number 2.

Hello all!
My stay in Ethiopia continues to go well. I am safe and having a great time! Thanks again for the continued prayers.
Well it only took me one week here to get on tv. One of my close friends here, Mohammed, whom I mentioned before, and I went to the zoo today and ended up getting interviewed for ETV (Ethiopian Television). They asked us what we thought of the zoo itself, traffic, etc. and asked me what I thought of Ethiopia and where I was from. It was pretty hilarious. Mohammed said they probably picked us because I was white, which is probably true. Anyways, I am really famous. More on being a minority... Just to give a reference I have maybe seen 20 or so white people (we are called "Firinjees") since I have arrived... Anyways I think it's great most of the time and it leads to some pretty hilarious meetings. People definitely look and watch, especially little kids. So I will always wave at them and they will usually laugh and run off. It is really cute. Also people will usually yell out any English word they know to me. It is usually 'hi', 'how do you do', or 'yes'. At the zoo today a couple kids came up and shook my hand and ran off. It was awesome. The best was when we were driving two days ago and someone about my age said 'I love you'. It was great. Also whenever we take the taxi's here they charge foreigners more. We call it a 'skin tax'. Also the beggers make a bee-line for white people because they think we are all rich.
Earlier this week I had a meeting with Melaku and we talked about my duties while I am here. I have three guys I have personal meetings with (Mohammed is one of them) and we get to know each other and kind of just hang out. It is great intentional time. We are starting a bible study this weekend and after the first week or two we are going to start some outreach and evangelize to other men. So please pray for that. I am also teaching four days a week in the English school Melaku started. This is a good time for me to meet others and possibly invite them to church or to our bible study. Melaku said this is the ultimate purpose of his English school which is awesome. There is no evangelizing in the school itself out of respect for various religions, but it develops relationships. I will also be teaching twice at their local church, June 19 and 27. On these days we will be going to Meki, a town 140 km North of Addis. On the 19th people will be baptized and we will assess how the new clinic is doing there that they built and are still working on staffing. So between all that my days are usually relatively full, but my personal time with the other guys is really relaxing and great (hence going to the zoo).
More on the zoo.... It was pretty awesome. They don't have many animals but they have over twenty lions. The safety standards are nowhere near as stringent as America so you could easily stick your hands through the bars. It is great to have pictures without the cage! Yesterday before I taught I spent time with another of my friends here, his name is Aberra, and we went to the museum. It was cool too. If you remember hearing about 'Lucy', the oldest ever found remains of a human/"missing link"/upright walking ape, she was discovered in Ethiopia and it was there.
Everything continues to go well here and I am very appreciative of all your prayers! I am excited for the chances I am getting to disciple, evangelize, and teach. It is definitely helping me grow and presenting me with various challenges, which I am very thankful for. Well I will leave you with some interesting Ethiopia facts:
-Most toilets don't have seats.
-All soft drinks are still served in glass bottles, which we all know makes them taste better.
-Melaku said this is one of the only countries where Christians and Muslims get along very well. Everyone here is very respectful of other's religion (Mostly Christian, Orthodox, and Muslim) and not afraid to proclaim what they believe (people here aren't overly-sensetive/easily offended... which is awesome).
-People here love America, especially Obama. I have actually seen multiple Obama '08 stickers. Which I think is funny.
-Most people here really like to watch swimming, but can't swim.
Anyways thanks again for everything. I miss you all and pray America is ok without me. I miss Mexican food.
Grace and Peace!