Yesterday marked the end of my first week in Africa. Sometimes I catch myself looking around and thinking "is this even real?" Seeing as this has been something I have spent so many years dreaming about, it seems like a natural reaction. The fact that I am indeed really here, even as I begin adjusting to the routines of daily life, seems totally and completely surreal.
Above is a picture just down from our house... Just to the right of the blue building is where we live. And that green building at the top of the hill, that's the Onesimus chicken hatchery house. Over the past few days I have spent a little time in there cleaning eggs and collecting from the hatch.
Below is again, just down from our house. This will give you an idea of what Chencha is like. Currently it is the rainy season so the days are foggy and the nights are wet, but in a month or two I'm picturing blue skies and clear views.
A quick overview of the past week: After arriving on Wednesday morning around 7:00am (midnight your time) we began our day with some breakfast and a tour of Addis Ababa. After unloading my stuff at the guest house where we were staying, we went back into the city to meet the staff of Onesimus and check in on the girls at the half way home. I did not quite understand all that the girls were saying, but spending that time with them was a treat. After turning in early that night and catching up on a few days worth of sleep deprivation, I was able to welcome day two rested and ready to go. We spent the day stocking up on supplies and preparing to head south the next day. Out trip to Chencha began on Friday and was a two day endeavor with an overnight stop about six hours in. Saturday afternoon we arrived in Chencha, and after five or so days of traveling, I was at my new home!
Last night I was reading back over some of what I have journaled in the last week. I had to laugh as I read everything from "oh my goodness, I am so excited to be here" to "what on earth am I doing here?". Times when, in the same day, I was both overjoyed by the reality of what is happening in my life and yet totally overwhelmed by the newness. As my first week here draws to a close, I am so very content to call this place home. I have been blessed already in my time here: by the people, by my family, and by the beauty and simplicity of life. Please pray as the weeks tick by that I am able to be as much of a blessing as others have been to me thus far. God is going to do great things in this year. What an honor it is to be a part of His plan.
So there you have it. The long-awaited first post from Africa. In short.... I am here, I am happy, and I am home.
