February Newsletter

Setting up the solar cooker at the SIM guesthouse

February 2011

Update - Vol#2



Solar cooking demo a success!

We decided to host a solar oven cooking demo here at the SIM Guesthouse last week. Many people were curious about the whole procedure. Even the head cook came out to give it a look. He was amazed that the roast, potatoes and carrots were done in 3 hours and cooked entirely by the sunlight from above. We had approx. 30 people sampling it and everyone was very complimentary. They asked where they could buy one. What an opportunity for someone to set up a business here in Addis-manufacturing them locally employing local people and mass producing the ovens at a price the Ethiopians could afford. What an opportunity to help the environment-clean, solar energy! Most people can’t afford electricity and are so desperate for cooking fuel, that they cut down all the trees and then burn them just to make charcoal.

Dinner is served!

What a difference these ovens would make in the lives of women here. Every day women shoulder heavy loads of firewood for cooking the meals. They are constantly inhaling smoke from the cooking fires, as are the small children. These ovens would not only save them time and back-breaking effort, but would also help to save the dwindling forests and reduce pollution in the air from hundreds of daily cook fires. If any of you are interested in getting a solar oven, go to http://www.sunoven.com/ and talk to Paul. You will enjoy the delicious meals and the ease of solar cooking. Have fun!

One of the most interesting things we have observed here is the traffic. There are several types of public transportation: bus, taxi, mini bus, and weyet. This is a picture of a typical weyet (means "conversation" in Amharic) so-named because in the back of these small pickups there are two bench seats across from each other and the people all crowd in knees-to-knees and face-to-face so conversation is a must. There are usually 12-15 people crowded inside, and the only limit to what can fit on top is the packing creativity of the 'backdoor' man.


Typical Weyet

  Another type of transport is the mini bus. What is unique about them is that they each have a 'yeller' (I don't know what their official title is but that's what we call them). They hang out the door or window and yell out the destinations to the people on the sidewalk. Whoever is needing to go in that direction gets on board. Usually 15-18 people on-board. For some reason, Ethiopians think if the wind is blowing on them they will catch a cold so if you want to open a window to get a breeze, forget it!

A 'yeller'

Of course, if you want to really live on the edge, you can get your own driver's license! It was quite the bureaucratic ordeal to get them. We first had to authenticate our Texas driver's license, then go to a different government agency to get our authentication authenticated, and then go to another to get the new license with our photo laminated and, you guessed it, get it authenticated once more!



Tom & Teresa are 'authentic'

 So, now we are authentic habesha drivers if we have the nerve to try and drive in Addis! Driving in this city is a white-knuckle experience, for sure. There are no traffic lights and seemingly no rules on the road. There is no such thing as a pedestrian right of way. Rather it is whoever is bravest goes first. We have been so amazed at the boldness of these pedestrians who walk right into lanes of busy traffic. They have no idea if the car hurtling toward them will stop or not. I suppose it depends on the mood of the driver. Horns are used often and loudly. The lane markers are merely suggestions that no one really follows and quite often they make a 3-lane-road into a 4 or 5-lane road. There are several traffic circles in the city and the way they work is whoever spots an opening scoots in as fast as they can, honking and accelerating all the way! It is not for the timid or faint of heart, but somehow, in the midst of all this chaos, it seems to work. However, we will wait until we are countryside with the cattle and goats before we try out our newly authenticated Ethiopian licenses.



Who needs a U-Haul trailer when you have an Ethiopian taxi driver? Yes, you are seeing this correctly. There are already three big, stuffed chairs on top of the taxi with a fourth one about to be added on top. Where were these men when we were packing to come over here?!



No words to describe this scene



We have seen incredible loads piled on top of trucks and vans. It makes us laugh with wonder and amazement.

Another type of vehicle we see often are the Isuzu trucks. They are cheaply made and are notorious for breaking down on the sides of the road. They are usually seen piled high with produce or wood and who else knows what. The drivers are unsafe as well believing that the road was made for them....and them only. The locals actually call these drivers "Al Queda" because they kill so many pedestrians on the road.



Well, that's all for this month. We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about this wonderful (and sometimes confusing) country.

In His joyful service,
Teresa and Tom Rieder


Prayer Request:
Please pray for discernment with our decision to purchase a truck. As noted in our previous entry and newsletter we sent out via email, we are still in need of a truck and, yet, we are a bit uneasy about spending the (outrageous) amount of money to purchase one. We ask for your prayers in regards to our pending decision. Thank you all for your continued support.

January Newsletter - Arrival in Ethiopia

January 2011
Update - Vol#1

After a year of preparations, we arrive in Addis!

So, at last, here we are! During the previous year we took a Health and Hygiene class to learn simple ways to teach tribes about sanitation techniques that will greatly improve their quality of life and health. We also attended and participated in a Well-drilling class to learn the basics of drilling for water. Beyond that we also attended a Pump Repair class so that we would be empowered to repair the broken wells that are scattered around the Southern Omo region of Ethiopia, specifically the village of Turmi. Teresa, a true city girl, even took a Basic Poultry class. Eggs will become a large portion of our diet. However, she has drawn the line on wringing their necks for fried chicken dinners! (Sorry, Tom.) We prepared as best as we knew how and left the rest to God. Let the adventure(s) begin!

Tenayestellegn! (Hello in Amharic, but you can say "ten aspirin" and the locals will understand you. haha) We have been in the capital city of Addis Ababa for almost four weeks. It is a BIG city and full of surprises and contrasts. In some parts of the city there are new, tall buildings going up, while all around those buildings are mud-walled shanty houses and street people sleeping under a tarp on the sidewalk. It tugs at your heart to see so many of them.

Although there are many cars clogging the busy streets, it is not uncommon to see a herd of goats or donkeys walking down the road. I am amazed that they are not killed by the crazy drivers. The dotted lines dividing the roads are not lane markers, they are merely suggestions that no one seems to follow except the newcomers (or "farenjis" as foreigners are referred to here). Horns are heavily relied upon and pedestrians are fearless in that they step out in front of oncoming traffic. I am only now starting to keep my eyes open in the back seat where I am clutching both of the armrests in fear! haha There is no such thing as 'pedestrian right of way'; when you cross a street you are never sure if the car if the car that it is hurtling toward you will stop or not. It depends on the driver's mood, I guess. (If you have been watching us on Facebook then you already know of our adventures in obtaining our new Ethiopian driver's license.)

The noise of the city is constant and unending. We are temporarily staying at the SIM Guesthouse - kind of an old boarding school built by a wonderful mission group SIM (Serving in Mission). It is a place where missionaries working in Ethiopia (from all over the world) can come to sleep in a bed, have a shower (when there is water), and get refreshed spiritually as well as physically. The one snag in this "refreshing sea of tranquility" is the disco that has opened up right behind the guesthouse. The throbbing beat of the bass thunders on until 1:00am. At that time we finally fall asleep only to be awakened at 3:00am to the chanting over the loudspeakers by the nearby mosque. Needless to say, I am sooooo glad I brought my earplugs.

Meal times are family-style around big rectangular tables. The food served is Ethiopian-style Western cuisine. The head cook, Chafamo, has worked at the guesthouse for over 40 years! Most of the recipes are not written down, but are recorded only by memory. He makes a wonderful chicken pot pie but his interpretation of bean tacos leaves something behind in the translation. Meal times are a wonderful time of laughter and chatter and exchanging of ideas and helpful tips - especially for us "rookies."

Every day is laundry day at SIM Guesthouse

Living room where we share our meals.

SIM Guesthouse where we have been staying

We were anxious to leave the city and travel "down country" as they say and get started with our mission. But we were advised to not be too quick in leaving Addis and now we know why. The Lord is opening doors for us and preparing a way. We have met critically important people who will be able to help us in obtaining visas, work permits, among other things. We have met new friends, Habesha and ex-pats, that without their kindness and generosity, we would still be walking in circles.
It can be overwhelming coming to a different culture. For instance, one way of how I (or maybe you) may look at something can be looked at from a completely opposite point of view here. And we have to constantly remind ourselves that just because it is different from our view does not make it wrong; just different.
Frustrations can abound, but we are here to rise above those frustrations in order to share the love of Jesus with our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. When you do not have the comforts of home and all the distractions of a busy lifestyle it is easier I think to listen to the promptings of Jesus in our hearts. We are praying for all of you at home that you will be able to hear the quiet voice of God as He talks to you. We are frequently moved to tears as we feel the overwhelming love of Jesus in our hearts.
Life is about to get much harder for us. Around February 21 we will begin our journey south to a more remote region. This is where we will be physically challenged as never before. Although it sounds (kind of) crazy with no water, no electricity, (and no pizza!) we are excited and can hardly wait! We will always try to keep you informed with periodic updates (as long as the spotty internet connection will allow). Thanks so much for your faithful prayers.

In His joyful service,
Teresa and Tom Rieder

Prayer Requests:
• A truck. We need one desperately. Vehicles are very expensive and hard to come by, even used ones. We need approximately $48,000.00 to purchase a heavy-duty, rugged truck and the proper paperwork so we can avoid the high duty tax.

Answers to Prayer:
• All of our luggage and totes arrived safely!
• Tom's Mac laptop was beginning to "crash". We asked around and there are no Apple repair shops in Addis. (Not many people use Apple products to date.) We heard a story about a missionary taking his Toshiba laptop to an authorized technician to be repaired, but when he got the computer back it was thicker than it had been before it was brought in.