more than 100 birr

Hey all.

As of tomorrow we will have been back in the United States for a total of 3 weeks. Though this doesn't seem long, it seems like our time in Ethiopia was forever ago. A girl on our team phrased it perfectly- she said Ethiopia seemed like just a really good dream she had. And thats how I feel after coming back home and transitioning back into the busy constant motion of the life in America. However, there are moments when there is something that triggers my senses and I'm brought back to Ethiopia. I still feel like it was yesterday, and that some mornings I should open my eyes to my room in the Red Cross.

I apologize for not being consistent with this blog. Halfway through the trip it became more difficult to find internet that was fast enough to update my blog and even check email. It was then that I made the decision that I wasn't going to waste my time trying to update people on what was happening in Ethiopia when I could be taking that time to experience even more of it. And that is exactly what I did. The last two weeks of the trip were some of the best. It was then that I began to see the country through different eyes and began to love it more. I was able to see past the corruption, disease and poverty that covered the streets and begin to see the love, joy, restoration and hope that was beyond all of it. God was present and Jesus love was weaved in everywhere in the people, the shops, businesses and streets. There was something going on past all that we could see with our human eyes. I continue to tell people that at first I was very overwhelmed with everything on the streets; there were so many people that were living in such great poverty and you wanted to be able to help each and every one of them but you honestly just can't. There are too many people, you help one in front of you and then there is another one right next to them, one 5 ft down the street, and a handful across the street. I then began to shut down, not knowing what I was going to be able to bring to this country and its people. But something inside of me changed halfway through the trip. I left the country of Ethiopia with a heart full for its people and its places. I saw more of what I had to offer, or more of what I had in me to be able to share. I didn't see the country as all the bad stuff that was apart of it, instead I saw the country as what it was and where it was going. I was able to see the restoration that was occurring from deep within.

It was a trip of a life time and I promise to take more time soon to tell some specific stories. I met people that have changed my life and the way I see things and I have experienced things that have melted my heart. It was a trip that was worth much more than 100 birr (the currency in Ethiopia), it was a priceless. I know you are all probably hoping to hear all of it right now, and I wish I could tell you every little detail but there just isn't enough time to tell you all the great things that happened in those short 5 weeks. Plus, now that school has started and I am officially a pharmacy student there isn't much time to devote to sharing with you all that has happened. I do promise though to continue to add stories throughout the next week or so. I would really like to share with you the big stories that I continue to go back to now that I am home.

Thank you all for following me and for all of your support. Its been an honor to be able to partner with you on this trip and to share bits and pieces of it with you.

Can't wait to tell you more. so stay tuned, much more good to come!

Love and blessings,

Court

break my heart for what breaks yours

hey all.

So here it is the next quick update on what is occurring overseas here in Ethiopia. Excuse the spelling and grammatical mistakes, I am not taking the time to proof read. :)

We have officially been gone now for 11 days which is crazy! I can't believe its been that long already. The time here is going very fast and very slow at the same time. We do so much in one day it amazes me, so it makes the day seem longer but then when you think about the whole time we have been here its gone too fast. We only have two more full weeks at our worksites and then a day. Thats 9 days of our worksites left. That is so weird to think about. Yes we have a lot of time left here but its already the 17th and we come back on the 8th.

Our first week of worksites went pretty well. I am at a home with young women ages 14-19 who used to be homeless street kids. I am there with just one other ethiopian, her name is Calcidan. Everyone elses groups have from 3 people to 6. I got placed at this worksite with one other girl because they needed someone mature enough to handle it and that could be creative and entertain older girls. Most other girls on our team are at orphanages so they are playing with kids and teaching classes. For my worksite we don't really need to teach them much, most speak english they are just not very comfortable doing it yet; by the end i hope to have to open up more and start speaking to me, even in their broken english. We are doing bible study with them, which is really fun and interesting. I am teaching them how to do manuscript bible study and they are taking to it pretty well. They all have such good questions and dig into the word so much, it brings tears to my eyes to sit at the table with them and watch them absorb what they are reading and apply it to their lives. Its truly a blessing to be able to share this time with them. Other than that I am not so sure what I am doing at my worksite. I have not found what my purpose it other than bible study. There are 12 girls and so they are already surrounded by love and have a great community. Most of them have been living at the house for 4 years so much of the street lives have become part of the past. When you see them, it is easy to forget that they were every like the little children we see begging everyday on our way to our worksites and out to eat. We have spent a lot of time just sitting around in the afternoons 'talking'. Its more of me just sitting there waiting for Calci to translate. Its very different for both of us, she is not used to have to stop all the time and I'm not used to sitting in a room full of women who are speaking another language. I think its just an adjustment we have to get used to; I have to be okay with the fact that Calci will probably become closer to the girls since she speaks their language.

So, if you could pray for my worksite and for peace I would greatly appreciate it. I am focusing too much on the negative things and forgetting to see the good God is providing around me. I am being blinded by the fog and I am not choosing to wipe it away, instead I try and squint through it. I know God has plans for me and he is already teaching me a lot at my worksite about myself and then things I need to work on and change in my own life. If I can do nothing else but to teach them to read into the word more than they already are by just reading the bible on their own I will be extremely please. I want them to see that Calci and I do not need to be at their house for them to study the bible the way that we are together. There is 12 girls, if one has a question their is 11 others who could have an idea or thought on what they think the answer should be. They have the resources, background and knowledge to dig deeper into discovering God and his kingdom together. I know with all my heart God will provide for me and these women, so please remember to keep us in your prayers.

As for how i'm doing, I am loving Ethiopia! Its such an amazing place, so different for America, I wish I could find words to explain to you what its like but I cant. I don't think I could ever live here but I love it for now. As for the food, we have started going out to eat so I've began to eat more American style food which is really nice. My stomach was enjoying it very much, until I got the stomach flu on Thursday. It wasn't a fun day at all, but I'm feeling better now. I'm trying to take it easy and watch what I eat and get more rest. I stayed home that day and just slept while everyone went to worksites. It broke my heart to not be able to go have bible study with the girls but I knew I could not go and get them sick. I am just praying it doesn't occur again while I am here.

I think thats all I've got for you. I am loving our ethiopian teammates and we are all becoming very close in such a short time. We truly are finding unity and its such a blessing. i love teaching them english worship and i love learning amharic worship. This trip amazes me already the ways God is working in and through us! He is sending healing for us and for those we work with and encounter. As the title says I continue to pray for God to break my heart for what breaks His here in Ethiopia. There is so much going on that at times its overwhelming and you just don't know what you can do or say, and so its then I ask God for more guidance. I want to see the furious love of Christ here in Ethiopia, even in the poverty that is surrounding us. I know he is there and so I continue to ask for eyes to see and a heart to feel.

Until next time.

So much love and blessing being sent your way.

Courtney

first update.

hey all.

Okay, this may be short since I'm at a very busy internet cafe and we dont have a ton of time to write. But I've made it to Ethiopia! Crazy, I can't believe I am here. It still hits me now and then.

The trip over went well. It was a very long time traveling and many plane rides. It was just weird. We saw the sun set twice in the 24 hours we were traveling and we ate like 6 meals. It seemed like every plane was feeding us food. And then we were hungry on layovers since there was nothing left to do. It was a lot of fun and we had some good times. We met a little boy Omar in London that just talked to us forever, he was four and told us to shake our booty.

It was a long time on the plane but when we first got here we all exchanged our money for burr, and man do we have a lot of it. The exchange rate is 13 burr for every dollar. I've been out on the town twice now riding taxis and such andIm just up to spending $2!

We met our roommates our first day. They all are very sweet, they don't speak a ton of English, so that is a challenge but for the most part we figure things out. My roommates name is Parasim, she is very cute and nice. She is from addis so that is helpful getting around and she speaks more english then most of the girls, so thank God.

We've done a lot in the 3 days we have been here. We went out on the town the other day for the first time and it was pretty overwhelming. I was just following and trying to take in my surroundings. I wish I could find words to explain Ethiopia to you all but I just can't at this moment. Its just very different from the US, but I don't feel unsafe at all. We have had lot of time with our roommates and we've traveled to the mountain range around ethiopia. It was a long hard walk up the hill as our leader would say but i was a mountain for sure. Lets just say I am sore today.

The food here is interesting. You should all look up traditional Ethiopian cuisine to get a better understanding of it. I'm not sure I like it that much but I am trying it and slowly getting used to it. My stomach has been a little upset with me the last couple of days, but I think thats just how its going to be for the rest of the trip. I will hopefully by the end enjoy the food and be able to stomach it all. That is my hope and prayer.

I can't wait to find out our worksites and get into our normal routine, I've adjusted to to time so now thats the next step.

I'm still searching for God here in places I wouldn't expect him to show up, and he continues to amaze me with his love. I'm a little lost being in this foreign place but I know in my heart he has great plans for me here, and that i need to put all trust in him and all will be fine.

He works all things together for my good.

waiting in expectation,


love and prayers until next time.
Courtney

::Fail us not:: 1000 Generations

I know I said that earlier would be my last post. But this really isn't a post. I came across this song about a week ago and fell in love with it. It has such a powerful message and I really feel like this is the song for our trip. He will not fail us even in the number of things we will encounter. So I wanted to share the lyrics with all of you. This is the song in my heart as I go about preparing for this trip and it will be in my heart as I walk the streets of Ethiopia spreading the good news of Jesus and loving the natives. I believe all this song says is true for our team and what we will encounter. so enjoy:

Failure doesn’t phase You, worry doesn’t win,

Loss doesn’t leave You afraid to start again,
Our sin doesn’t shock You,
Our shame doesn’t shame You at all

Mistakes do not move You, terror doesn’t tame,
Death doesn’t doom You to life in the grave,
Our suffering doesn’t scare You,
Our secrets won’t surprise You at all

There is nothing above You,
There is nothing beyond You,
There is nothing that You can’t do…
There is no one beside You,
There is no one that’s like You,
There is nothing that You can’t do…

Whatever will come, we’ll rise above,
You fail us not, You fail us not,
No matter the war, our hope is secure,
You fail us not, You fail us not,
You fail us not…

Hatred doesn’t hide You, evil doesn’t ail,
Despair can’t disguise You and tell You that You’ve failed,
Our doubt doesn’t daunt You,
Our darkness won’t defeat You at all

You’re bigger than the battle,
You are bigger than the battle
You are bigger than the battle has ever been

Here is the link for the youtube video of it, I encourage you to watch it and listen to the actual song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY2xkSCK7MI

Thats all for now, until Ethiopia!

Blessings,

Courtney

the last bit of life as we know it

hey all.

There is only 2 days left until we depart from the US to Ethiopia... yep, thats right 2 day 2 hours and 52 mins until our plane takes of the ground. We will be flying from Des Moines to Chicago, Chicago to London, and London to Ethiopia. Thats a whole total of more than 18 hours on the plane and thats not including layovers and fuel stops. Its going to be a very long trip but its going to be worth it when we land and see the Kingdom of God in the country, our roommates, the people, our work sites and in each other.

Preparing for this trip has been challenging and the best thing to ever happen to me. I've been pushed to limits and had to learn to trust in ways I never thought I'd have to. I've been shown ways God moves in places I never thought this trip would bring. I've been doubtful, worried, nervous, scared and unsure at time while preparing, but through these all I've learned and have grown so much already. I can't imagine what this trip will bring if I've already gone through so much here at home just in preparation. I have also been amazed and blown away many times over the way God has moved in me and through my teammates as we all count down the day till our departure and continue to raise more financial support. I have received many blessing through my experience of asking for people to support me as I travel to share the Kingdom to a country that I know so little about. I can't even begin to explain my gratitude towards people who have helped me to get to this point and the blessing I feel through receiving everyones gifts of money, prayers, hopes and wishes for my trip.

I am pretty much packed now. I think I have all the necessary things that will help me to survive in my new environment. Its just the last minute things that need to be place in my suitcase. One load of laundry left and packing of my carry on and I should be ready to go. Wow. I just said I was ready to go. I haven't really felt I am actually going or that I'm prepared for a very long time now. I have just been telling people the number of days that I have left until I leave and all about my trip, but I haven't really felt in my heart that I am actually leaving. It was really this morning that I finally felt the weight of this trip finally rest on me. I woke up with a stomach ache worried about all the last minute things I need to finish before I leave. I still can't believe we leave in 2 days but its happening, and there is no turning back now, no matter how nervous or frightened I am about what I am doing.

Our team has had many blessing for the trip and many people have felt the strong feelings for this trip and the people we are going to encounter. I have not felt such strong emotions and I think thats messed with my mind and I got caught up on it, taking it as not being ready. Its then that I think of all you who have supported me and provided me with multiple ways to get to Ethiopia. I know then in my heart that if I were not mean to go on this trip that I would not have raised any money or had so many people praying for me. This also has shown me how much I need to get out of my ordinary settings and see that God is working through me, even if it doesn't seem as strong as others around me. I need to be in a place where all I have is God to trust to provide and take care of me. I've gotten to caught up on my physical earthly comforts and have lost my faith and connection with God to be my rock and protector. This trip may seem like its coming at the most inconvenient time for me when I think about all the that is happening in my life, but really its the best things for me right now. As difficult as it is for me to admit it and believe, it's exactly what I need.

For those of you who are praying for me and this trip I just have a few request for you. For those of you that do not feel comfortable praying I ask for you to just keep me, this trip and these concerns in your minds as I am out of the country. My team needs your prayers, being an all girls trip we will run into conflict and difficult situations with each other, so I am asking for your prayer for these situations to be dealt with in the most loving ways. We also need your prayers to stay strong through the difficult 5 weeks. Many of us will have a hard time adjusting to our work sites, our roommates, the culture, the food and being away from home among other things. Our trip leader needs your prayers as well. She is prepared to go and has a very excited heart but I know there are things she is concerned about, so I ask for you to pray for her to stay strong as well and to know that she has God on her side. Also, that she would be able to put aside her worry and be able to experience the presence of the kingdom as well. I ask for you to pray for our roommates. That they would have open hearts to get to know us and be patient with us as we learn how to live in their country in their culture. I ask for you to also pray for the people that we will encounter at our work sites that we would be able to connect with them and share the love of Jesus with them. Pray also for the country of Ethiopia as a whole, since it is a place that God is obviously calling people to, and wanting his power to change the country. Of course, I ask for you to pray for me. that I would be able to put aside all the things I've been carrying and fully experience the complete presence of God in my life and be able to share it with the others I will encounter. I need your prayer to keep me strong as I deal wit underlying issues that will come to the surface during this life changing experience. Pray for my nerves as well as I count down the hours and minutes until this whole trip really takes off and begins to really affect my life more than it even has to this point. I just ask for you to keep me, my teammates, our roommates, the country and the people of Ethiopia in your hearts,minds,thoughts, and prayers over the next 36days.

I still need help raising funds. I am just a couple dollars short of $3000 so that leaves me with around $1000 left to raise. There is still 2 days before we leave so there is still time to give. But if you can't give before I leave you can always still give while I am gone online. I am able to continue to raise funds until the 15th of September. So please pray and consider helping me to finish paying off my trip. This last amount of money I need to raise is actually going to paying for my Ethiopian roommate to participate in this exchange. If you are willing to give you can give specifically to me at this website: http://tiny.cc/fwfv0

Okay I promise this is the last thing I have left to say. This blog post has gotten much longer than I have expected. This will be my way of keeping everyone updated on my trip while I am gone. We will be able to go to the internet cafe around once a week and for a limited time. For this reason, I will be using this as the main form of communication with you all. I can't wait to keep you updated on all the is happening and what I am experience. I know with all my heart that something great is going to come with this trip. So stay tuned for what is to come.

Much love and prayers,

Courtney

Times of change

hey all

Its time for another update, and another good story.

This week has truly been a blessing. I've raised almost $1000 in a week... which is crazy! Just the other day I was sitting at only around $1200 and I've made it $100 over my halfway point of $2000 dollars! This means I am able to buy my plane ticket and actually go. I will have to continue to fundraise the rest of my trip while I am gone and when we return. We will have till the 15th of September to raise the rest of the $4000. So even though I have made it halfway I still need all the help I can get to make the rest of my funds for the trip. To help give towards this amazing opportunity you can give online directly to me at: http://tiny.cc/fwfv0

We are now at only 19 days left until our departure, so just under 3 weeks. I'm starting to get nervous and excited all at the same time. I've now received all of my vaccines necessary, all 4 total, and all the prescriptions needed. I think I've also finished getting all the things I need for my wardrobe, it now just time to get all the little last minute things, like bug spray, an umbrella, sunscreen and other such things. I've now decided to actually start a physical list for these things since I'm constantly talking to myself about different things I need to get and not writing them down, which isn't helpful. But no worries, I will have everything I need before we leave.

Okay, on to my story, and the point behind my title for this blog. This trip has truly been a blessing as well as a pain in certain instances. My parents have always been a little uneasy about the whole trip and everything it entitles. They have asked very little on how the trip was going or how my fundraising has been coming. All they really wanted to know was specifics on safety and such about the trip. I didn't expect much from them support wise, I'd even been afraid to ask since I knew what their answer would be and I didn't want to face that whole situation. So it came to a huge surprise when a couple weeks ago my dad purchased some glass jars for me to put out at businesses to try and raise funds. That was the first point of change, change in his interest and understanding of how much this trip meant to mean, and change in the physical change of people giving their spare change to my jars. But the story doesn't end there... there was more change to come... much more. It was just the other night when I was sitting in the living room and my dad came and told me he had placed something on my bed, it was his contribution towards my trip. Eventually when I made it down the hall to my bedroom, I found a shoe box and small plastic tupperware full to the rim with coins. My dad has been placing his spare change in these boxes for years. I stood there staring at the change and all I could do was cry. It may seem weird but this meant a lot for my dad to give up what he had been saving for years towards this trip that he still isn't 100% sure about. After thanking him, I went and weighed the change, it came to 31 pounds! The next morning I brought it in to cash it and it came to a total of $314!!! Which is crazy because at that time I needed right around $300 to make it to $2000. So in a way this was meant to be. It was yet another form a change. A large amount of change, emotionally and physically. It was a huge blessing!

I hope this story has blessed you as well. I can't believe how little time we have left and how much we have left to do and raise. I am so thankful for all the help I have had thus far and can't image what I would be doing without all of the support and amazing people that have been helping and praying for me and this trip. I can't thank you all enough.

Until next time,

Much love and prayers

Courtney

wow. thats about all i can say.

hey all.

i figured today would be a good day to blog. i've been dreading bloggin for the last couple days since i couldn't think of much positive to say. so i'd come to the blog, stare at it a bit and just get frustrated that all the information was the same as when i last blogged. i was in a rut, a not good, no faith rut. but... it all changed very quickly today with one simple letter. so, this is the blog you should read.

i have been the negative nancy for much of this fundraising experience. i've been doubtful and fearful and for the most part just not super positive and when i am its forced. so when i sat down to pray the other day i finally was like ok God do you really want me to go? i had to email our team coordinate just last night where we were financially and if we would be able to make it half way and then also pay off the rest of the $4000 somehow by the 15th of september. i with a heavy heart, emailed her back informing her that i was still sitting at $1200 roughly and didn't think i'd even really make it half way in fundraising but that i'd have to figure it out somehow. i felt lost and sad that i couldn't even raise $2000, and started doubting that i was even meant to go. i went to bed feeling guilty thinking that maybe i wasn't able to raise this money since i'd been so negative all along. maybe it was God's way of punishing me. maybe if i had a little faith that people on my list would actually give they would have. lets say it wasn't a good nights sleep, and it wasn't a good prayer night. but all would soon change, i'd be blown off my feet literally.

today, i got a call from one of my roommates who had picked up the mail and she told me she thought i'd gotten money. she told me the address of some insulation place that id never heard of and instantly i assumed it was a bill. she quickly stopped me and was like 'no, i think its money since it ways InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and then your name'. so, i gave her permission to open it up. and the reaction i got over the phone was priceless. i wish i could have recorded it. all of a sudden my roommate was screaming into the phone. i had received $500 from whoever the letter was from.... yeah you read that right $500!! i was speechless. i just sat for a minute before i responded in excitement, close to the level of my roommate. that was the biggest donation i'd received so far, and from a mysterious person as well! i quickly called my team director and blurted out my excitement. she cried with joy. it was a blessing beyond my imagination. yes it was only $500 a small amount of the total, but thats not the point, the point is that its the generosity of others and the ways in which God provides that is soo amazing about this story. $500 is huge!

today was an amazing day, and i soon learned through a text from my team director that another girl had received $500 anonymously today as well. she has now made it halfway and i am stilling at about $1700 so only $300 left to raise in the next 25 days. and unlike the last month to two months when i was doubtful i'm sure that i will make it. i know it wont be the way i expect and so i have no expectations. i'm just going to wait and be amazed. no longer will i be the negative nancy or the doubting doris... i am not going to be the positive patty from here on out.

all of you who are inspired by this testimony which you should be and would like to join in on the miracles of what God is doing in this group... you support would be greatly appreciated it. i am still in need of financial support. its the only thing holding me back from getting to my halfway point and actually going. so, if you are interested and willing to give a little of your spare change towards my trip you can give to me online at:

https://my.intervarsity.org/93552364180bf59c686f7554d3c9a5ab/designate.php?_qf_chooseAmount_directLink=true&acct_id=14168

or you can give through a check [ just email me at courtney.mccarthy@drake.edu and i will give you the information on how to give]. i also need your prayer support. for my team. for our directors. for our roommates. for our travels. for our financial needs. and for anything else that we might face (food issues, language barriers) and most importantly for God's power to be brought through us on this trip. If you have given already and/or are praying I can't thank you enough, it is you that is showing me how powerful God is. if you have given already but wish to contribute more your donations would bless me more than you can imagine. i hope this story has blessed you as much as it has me today.

i can't wait for what the next 25 days hold and for what the trip will bring. only a few more things to purchase and one more vaccination to get before i'm all set. i'll try and keep you updated more before we leave.

God is good. all the time.

much love and prayers

Court