Ethiopian Traditions

Traditions are thick in Ethiopia where people usually greet each other by bowing heads. A greeting in Ethiopia can be a long and lively process- the longer the greeting, the closer the friends. Another custom is to kiss the cheek of your friend three times when you greet them. The coffee ceremony is a sacred tradition in Ethiopia, where the beverage originated and is an integral part of the Ethiopian lifestyle. Performing the ceremony is almost a requirement when you have a visitor at any time of the day.

The people of Ethiopia wear many different types of clothing. The traditional dress of the Christian highland peasantry has traditionally been of white cotton cloth. Since the time of Emperor Tewodros 11 (mid-1800s), men have worn long, jodhpur-like trousers, a tight-fitting shirt and a shamma (loose wrap).

The Muslims of Harar, by contrast, wear very colorful dress, the men in shorts trousers and a colored wrap and the women in fine dresses of red, purple and black. The lowland Somali and Afar wear long, brightly colored cotton wraps, and the Oromo and Bale people are to be seen in the bead-decorated leather garments that reflect their economy, which is based on livestock. Costumes to some extent reflect the climates where the different groups live - highlanders, for instance, -use heavy cloth capes and wraparound blankets to combat the night chill. In the heat of the lowland plains, light cotton cloths are all that is required by men and women alike.

Ethiopians are justifiably proud of the range of their traditional costumes. The most obvious identification of the different groups is in the jeweler, the hairstyles and the embroidery of the dresses. The women of Amhara and Tigray wear dozens of plaits (sheruba) tightly braided to the head and billowing out at the shoulders. The women of Harar part their hair in the middle and make a bun behind each ear. Hamer, Geleb, Bume and Karo men form a ridge of plaited hair and clay to hold their feathered headwear in place. Arsi women have fringes and short, bobbed hair. Bale girls have the same, but cover it with a black head cloth, while young children often have their heads shaved.

Both Muslims and Christians wear jewellery in silver and gold, often with amber or glass beads incorporated. Heavy brass, copper and ivory bracelets and anklets are also worn.

"Ethiopia ‘has ensured that its culture has remained remarkably intact, unpolluted and undiluted by outside influence. The country retains its own particular language and script, its own food and drink, its own church and saints, even its own calendar and clock. Endlessly fascinating, it defies any categorization and generalization; Ethiopia is like no other country in Africa". Frances Linzee Gordon - a Scottish author

We are now...

#8, YES #8 ! for a baby girl between the ages of newborn through 12 months old


AND WE ARE # 4,  IN LINE FOR A BABY GIRL 10 to12 MONTHS OLD!

Our paperwork has been in Ethiopia for

 5 months, 1 week, and 3 days.

 

There has been a lull in referrals coming in from Ethiopia, but this past week 5 families received their referrals (7 week old baby boy, 4.5 month old baby boy, 4 month old baby boy, 4 year old girl, and 2 year old boy)

ADOPTION, GOD’s MISSION

Adoption- The act of taking the child of other parents to be one’s own child.  Paul used the term to show privilege of sonship bestowed by God upon those who accept Jesus as Lord.

Adoption by God the Father:

 But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  John 1

Jesus said to her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go tell my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your father, and to my God and your God.   John 20

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Romans 8

And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty.  Cor.6

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.  Eph.1

Sons of God

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.  Galatians 3: 26-29

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time is set by his father.  So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights as sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out “Abba, Father”.  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.  Galatians 4: 1-7  

Our paperwork has been in Ethiopia for 5 months today!

What makes today more special is that today is Timkat, Ethiopia's most celebrated holiday!  The celebration of Jesus' Christs baptism. 

We are now on the baby girl "unofficial" list with our adoption agency!

So what have we been up to lately?  We have been collecting and asking others to collect orphanage supplies for us to either send with other traveling families or for us to stockpile to take with us when we eventually get to go to Ethiopia.  This bin was collected by Kidz Depot in Brownsburg, IN by my sweet friend Summer Thomas.

Want to know how you can help with donations? 

 It is simple... the orphanages need supplies, pretty much anything we need for our kids here, they need there.  The most needed items we would like to collect are:  Diapers (cloth & disposable), diaper rash cream, A&D ointment, diaper pins, powdered baby formula, and wet wipes.  If everyone could donate just one of these items we could collectively make a HUGE impact!   

Love you all,   Angi, Tim, and Baby Aerie 

Update on Davids(Lativa 16 yr old)- An orphan no more!

Praise God for this AWESOME gift to this boy for his birthday! Life, a home, security, no more Latvia orphanage, no street abandonment for his 16th birthday, and the knowledge of Jesus Christs love for him! Words just can't express the JOY that God provided a family in LESS THAN 24 HOURS! How could we ever question God's hand in our lives?


See Davids Mom's post below...


Don't miss the 2nd picture of Davids and his JOY! God's over-the-top LOVE amazes me! (by the way... Davids birthday is 01/23/11)
On Monday, January 17, 2011

Blessed!

Today.....God blessed our lives beyond belief! He gave a smile to a little boy's face and restored hope in his heart. I am overwhelmed with joy......and I stand in awe of His glory once again! I know that my Redeemer lives and still works miracles. Today, Davids social worker spent time with him and shared the story of the thousands of prayer warriors across the United States. James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I KNOW that your prayers called out for Davids and brought him to our family. I wish that I could tell each of you how much I appreciate your prayers, offerings and unconditional love for "the least of these."

Ines, his social worker gave him a photo of our family and told him how much we already love him. I will share the pictures of his precious face when he found out that he will have a forever family. GOD IS GOOD! I cannot wait to talk with Peter and share with him the news of his brother. My heart is so full and I love my precious Savior. What a friend we have in Jesus. Now we wait for all the final arrangements to be made for travel. Psalm 130:5 " I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." Please pray as we wait for the day we can be together as a family.

Love, Angi

Ethiopia Guest Home, Addis Ababa

Ethiopia Guest Home - More Than a Place to Stay from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

Happy Timkat (Ethiopian celebration of Christs baptism) Jan.19

Timkat Festival


when: 19 Jan 2011 (annual)
where: Ethiopia

While Epiphany is not widely celebrated in most Christian nations, John the Baptist's blessing of Christ in the River Jordan is cause for grand commemoration in Ethiopia. Timkat, Ethiopian Epiphany, is the most important festival in the country's calendar.



The festivities provide a rare glimpse of a church tradition dating back over 1000 years. On the eve of Timkat, ketera (priests), debteras (deacons) and the congregation remove the tabot (symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant) from each church, and take it to a pool of water or river, which is blessed for the next day's celebration.

The keteras wear splendid ceremonial robes and are shaded by elaborately sequinned velvet umbrellas. They shake sistras (religious bells) and swing bronze censers from which great wisps of incense smoke escape into the air. The Tabot, carried on the head of one of the priests, is cloaked in layers of rich cloth to protect it from the gaze of the impious. When the procession reaches the water, the Tabots are placed in special ceremonial tents, and the priests pray throughout the long night. Crowds of people camp out, dressed in white, praying, eating and drinking by the light of flickering fires.

Towards dawn the crowds amass again to gather around the blessed water. Weather-beaten monks and nuns pray silently as the most senior priest dips a golden cross and extinguishes a consecrated candle in the water. Then the focal point of the entire festival arrives as the priest takes water from the pool and sprinkles it on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ's baptism.

Following the baptism, the Tabots return to their respective churches, with feasting, singing and dancing continuing and gathering pace. The best places to be for the celebrations are either Gondar, Lalibela or Addis Ababa.