"NACHOOOOOOOOO"

Hello again friends and family!

I continue to be healthy and happy here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

This week has been great and time here goes by really fast. Usually by 10:00 I am ready to go to bed. I continued teaching English this week and am really enjoying it. It is a great way to get to know people and learn more about Ethiopia, as well as share our culture as well. I have now taught them some sweet Michael Jackson dance moves, and what a 'wet-willy' is. Very important business I know. On Tuesday (The day I have no classes), myself and four others (My Ethiopian friends and the Swede) went to the pool I had mentioned earlier. It was about an hour taxi ride but it was great relaxation bro time. The best part was there was a waterfall close by which we hiked to. It was only about five-minutes away. It was a beautiful walk and we hung out there a bit. Johaness (I think I spelled his name wrong in the last blog) actually brought some Head and Shoulders so we washed up in the waterfall. It was probably one of the coolest things ever. That counted for our shower this week. That actually isn't a joke. You don't shower as much here, mainly because the weather is so nice you never sweat. Johaness and I got a pretty major sunburn out there so we had to buy some aloe and have been using that pretty heavily.

I had a concern I wasn't as busy as I could be so I brought that up with Melaku and we looked at my schedule and pretty much re-did the whole thing, except for the English classes. Some of the things we had intended to do didn't work out but work has been provided so I am very happy right now staying quite a bit busier. We are just in the planning stages here of starting a children's education support ministry. There are thousands of kids here who can't afford to go to school because of many different reasons. I am really excited about this and things are already beginning to fall in place. We wrote a rough-draft proposal for it and have been having meetings with possible future personell. The ultimate goal is to start a school here. Mainly because many of the school's here do not provide a good education and through this the ministry could be self-sustaining and able to take in more kids. It is very cheap (for Americans) to pay for schooling here because of the income and inflation here. It only costs about 4 or 5 American dollars per month. Pretty crazy. Anyways prayers for that are greatly appreciated!

Yesterday (Saturday) we went to Meki, a town about 130 km North of Addis. CrossWay International (The organization I came here through) has built a clinic there that still has some minor work to be done on it. They have electricity and running water through a well CrossWay dug. We are trying to raise awareness and get it furnished so it can open. There are also plans to build a guest-house for the doctors and a school on the grounds. This would be the first clinic in that town and be an incredible way to keep people of the surrounding area healthy and to spread the word of God. I wish I could just get a big group of friends and bring them out here for a work week! We could get so much done! (If you want to come, feel free, I still have over three weeks baby!)

Melaku asked me to lead the lesson in church today so I did that. I was nervous, which is foolish, but God provided. I think it went really well. I taught on our mission in life/the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). It was my first time to teach like that in a church and Melaku wants me to more now, so we'll see! I had an interpreter for those that aren't so good at English but most people can understand pretty well.

I am so slow at updating my blog because we ran out of internet minutes at the house so I have to make my way over to an internet cafe. Me and some of the fellas are hanging out the rest of the day. We will probably watch a movie and have our usual sunday Bible study. We are wasting time here because it is pouring right now. It rains 6 out of the 7 days of the week here (it is the rainy season). I really like it though, because it is only in the afternoon and usually for a short while.

This next week should be good. I am busy with English school and our meetings. I am teaching someone English privately all week so we will see how that goes. I can be self-sufficient here now if I need to, at least Melaku trusts me. I have gone to our school and various places by myself now so that's good. I can speak just enough Amharic to get a taxi and tell them where I need to go. I can also conversate somewhat with the kids that come stare at my white skin. Sometimes they run away though.

It is hard to summarize my entire week in this but I try! Oh also, Melaku loves the movie Nacho Libre with Jack Black so we watched that the other day (Thanks Trevor!). I forgot that that movie is incredibly hilarious!

"GET THAT CORN OUTTA MY FACE!"

Sometimes in between class at the English school we watch football (soccer). They love it here and I actually watched USA the other day and got really into it.

I miss all of you a ton and a continued thanks for all the prayers! I usually re-read these and check for typos but don't feel like it now so if it isn't perfect I am so very sorry.

I can't wait to come back and see all of you and to sweat everyday in the hot Texas heat!

Anyways I hope this finds everyone doing well and having an awesome summer! If you are taking classes (lame), well..... BUMMER FOR YOU! haha. Just kidding. I am sorry you are suffering. Also, for those that emailed me thanks a ton for the encouragement.

I love you all!

Grace and Peace!