What we learned in Ethiopia....

*Plan on the plans changing.
*NEVER flush the toilet paper (if you are lucky enough to have any).
*An umbrella is a necessity in Addis, rain or shine.
*"Five minutes" in Africa does not mean five minutes.
*saying "no thank you" to curious monkeys does not keep them at bay.
*In the words of our dear friend, Debelle, "It is possible."
*Ehtiopian traffic "laws" are a bit different than what we're used to at home (i.e. there are none).
*We have A LOT to learn from our friends in Ethiopia.
*You do not need much materially to be rich spiritually.
*God is doing incredible things all around us, if we will just take the time to notice and get involved.
*a lot of "things" that seem important to us here really don't matter at all.
*hope in and through Jesus Christ can stand up to any and all challenges.
*Ethiopians are very gentle and soft spoken people, until you get them in church - whoa!
*God's glory is being shown all over the earth, and where there is darkness his light shines even brighter.
*what is looks like to really humble yourself before God and submit to his will.
*A mother's heart in Ethiopia is the same as a mother's heart here in the States.
*Prayer is more powerful and effective than we often choose to acknowledge.
*As long as you keep drinking the coffee, our Ethiopian friends will keep filing it back up.
*A delicious macchiato in Addis is only $0.30.
*kids can have fun playing with sticks and rocks, and no one gets hurt!
*you can live a full life with out a lot of "stuff".
*An Ethiopian's idea of a "large, big man" is different than ours.
*We are all seven years younger in Ethiopia - really!
*African spiders are much larger than spiders in the U.S.
*Everything in Ethiopia can be repurposed, and usually is!
*No amount or quality of pictures can capture the beauty of Ethiopia (but we all tried anyways).
*Where "the joy of the Lord" is your strength, you can smile through the most desperate circumstances.
*When you encounter someone who doesn't speak English, talking LOUDER does not really help.
*Learning does happen even when the teacher/child ratio is 1:35, the floor is made of dirt, and there are 8-10 children squeezed on one bench - and the teachers are in total control.
*Real mean hold hands.
*A "call to prayer" has a whole new meaning for us.
*Don't let Lana hold your camera.
*If Amber laughs...you'll laugh too!
*It is possible to become a "medical expert" in Ethiopia - ask Bonnie!!
*The saying "ants in my pants" has a whole new meaning - ask Allyson!!
*If you need a spider killed, ask Julie!
*Hooked on phonics works, even for Amheric (right, Dustin??)
*Holly has the patience of a SAINT!!
*Leprosy will eat the flesh, but it doesn't have any power over the spirit.
*work brings dignity.
*Africa is not the only place Jesus wants us to see people like he does.