Just Six Days More

Hard to believe that we have just a little more than six days before we leave for Ethiopia. We have gotten all Roscoe's shots and exams done. He now has his official Puppy Passport, just a pile of forms really, for United, Lufthansa, Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian Government, etc. He's healthy, rested and ready. In fact he's in Doggie Daycare because of all the moving out that went on yesterday.
     We had all the stuff we're keeping in storage moved out. Not much really, just the basics for whenever we return and need to set up housekeeping in the states again. The rest is going in a big sale on February 17-18. To be honest, we're glad to see it go. After a while the stuff you own begins to own you. You can't make decisions quickly because of all that stuff. I think we like traveling lighter a lot more now that we've finally done it.
     We're getting the final packing for Ethiopia done today and tomorrow and will take it to the freight carrier then. A favorite coffee maker and grinder, some books and clothes--that's about it.
     Eyasu, our employer, has told us he's seen our house and it's very nice. We're eager to see what very nice means in Ethiopian. But whatever we find, I'm sure it's more than adequate for two senior citizens and a very small Yorkie.
     The first full day we spend in Addis Ababa is Timket, the church holiday celebrating Christ's baptism and God's statement of affirmation on his behalf. Apparently in all Ethiopian Orthodox churches, it's the one day that the replica Ark of the Covenant is removed from the church and paraded around the outside of the church. It's wrapped in fine fabrics for this event, so I'm not sure you see what it looks like. In the evening it's returned to the sanctuary for another year.
     Since our hotel is just one block from the biggest cathedral in Addis, I expect we're get a chance to see things up close. Stay tuned for an update.
     Lots to do today, so I'll sign off to get some of it done.

Like Being at Your Own Funeral

With just 15 days to go before we leave for Ethiopia, Jane and I are having some unique things happen to us. Since we plan to be away at least two years, we need to put our affairs in order: bank accounts, insurance bills, selling the cars, etc. This has forced us to have some conversations we might never otherwise had with friends and family. I'll mention some of these from time to time in the future.
We have both had the chance to check in with old friends who, because of distance, business, or just the stuff of day to day living, we get out of touch with. You know what I mean, you know they're alive, you hear about them through mutual friends, but you just don't make contact. Harry is one of those friends for me.
A couple weeks ago, I made the long trek (about an hour away) to Gurnee, Illinois, to see Harry before I left. We've been friends for much more than 20 years, one of those friendships that has always been up front, honest, and personal. In fact, I had a small part in getting a men's group started in his church and am pleased to say they're still going strong.
Harry's older, I noticed. He's been through some tough times personally and it shows. He's grown and become wiser. Tough times do that, if you let them.
Anyway, Harry reminded me of all the opportunities I've had to meet really great people in my lifetime. And even after some years of not keeping up, the friendships are still there, still strong, waiting for a phone call, email, letter. It's sort of like going to your own funeral. Since you're going away for a time, it's a loss and people like to say good things, assuming you're worth saying good things about. And they're true, the things they say about you. Maybe I've been a better friend than it sometimes feels. It's good to know.
I want to say two things more today:
1. If we (Jane and I) haven't kept in touch with you and you're reading this, we want to change that. Leave a comment here, find us on FaceBook and give me a poke, I don't care how. We want to reestablish contact while we can still hear you, before the funeral. Don't wait too long!
2. Got a friend out there you haven't been in touch with lately? Change it today, now. Pick up the phone, drop a note, send a message. Who knows, you may be attending your own funeral one of these days. It's better than the alternative!

52 Days and Counting

What to take, what to leave, what to sell, what to give away. These have been the abiding questions for us as we get ready to leave for Tigrai, Ethiopia. The cost of shipping makes some decisions easy for us. What's light enough and valuable enough to pay to send? What do we have to take to do our jobs correctly, regardless of the cost?
    Most of the trimming down has been surprisingly enjoyable. With every perceived treasure we decide to part with, we discover the people and memories attached to it are still with us. The stuff itself is not what carries the value. So we look forward to traveling light. We'll ship one cubic meter of stuff by sea, take two 44 pound suitcases, one carry-on and Roscoe the Yorkie. We'll rent one container that will stay here to store basic kitchen stuff, some simple furnishings, and the things that sustain day to day housekeeping. Everything else goes!
    We plan to purchase another laptop for Jane and some curriculum we think will work well in Mekele. Since I will spend much time teaching American English, I'm purchasing some really good teaching material that come in print and on DVD.
    The purpose of this blog is to keep in touch with friends and family while we spend our time in Mekele. However, some of you have asked if you can help out financially. The answer is yes! The Timothy Project has agreed to allow us to raise support through their organization. They are a 501c3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible. Their mailing address is:

The Timothy Project, PO Box 193, Wheaton, IL 60189-0193

    Please mark your check, payable to the Timothy Project,  for support of Ted and Jane Scheuermann. Currently we could use some help with shipping to Ethiopia. That will cost $650.00 or more and that's by ocean shipping, the cheapest option. We also need to purchase that second laptop computer.

Scholarship Students at Simret Learning Center

    Now for the fun part. We have finally gotten pictures from Simret Learning Center in Mekele. I'll include some here for you to see. Please note the number of scholarship students. They are usually children who have been orphaned and are living with extended family such as aunts, uncles, older siblings, and grandparents. They need and want education, but their families cannot afford the tuition of 300 Ethiopian Birr per month (about $18.00 US). If we get contributions for scholarships, we can add more students. I understand there is a limitless supply.


The 2010 Kindergarten Class

    Finally, take a look at the Kindergarten graduating class from last year. One picture says it all. We'll be filing our visa applications next week and having our estate sale sometime during the next two weeks. Of course we want everything to go smoothly, but we'll settle for things going exactly the way the Lord wants them to go.

Where Is Ethiopia Anyway?

As we tell people about moving to Ethiopia, we realize that most folks don't know where it is. The typical response is "Is that in Africa?" Anything past that, for the most part, is beyond most folks' awareness. So I thought I'd include a link to the CIA's page on Ethiopia: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html  And if your curious about the city of Mekele where we will work, here's another link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mek'ele  Now you know where we'll be, but we'll continue to tell you how we are and what this little spot on the globe means to us.

We've mentioned the super-puppy Roscoe, our two year old Yorkshire Terrier. He's six pounds of fighting fury and unrestrained ambition. While pets are a luxury in Ethiopia, we're hoping his small size and dynamic personality will be a hit with the kids at Simret School and in the neighborhood. But he really represents a living link to our home and family. He's one of the crew.
We leave exactly two months from today and really can't wait. The tediousness of getting things settled here and the sorting, packing, etc. is taking its toll. C'mon Mekele! Let's get it on.

We're Going to Ethiopia

Well, it's really going to happen! After months of talking (and talking and talking) and praying and thinking, Jane and I are really going to Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
It wasn't a hard decision, really. I think the Lord has been getting us ready for this for a long time, we just didn't know it yet.
It all began with our friend Tesfai, an Ethiopian American who has represented to us all the positive things about Ethiopian culture and the people of Ethiopia. I remember him bringing a calendar to show me once, years ago, showing all the tribal areas that make up his country. I was thinking, "Why is he showing me this? Does it mean anything to me?
Well, it does now. For some reason we don't really understand, we love Ethiopians. So when Tesfai said to me some six months ago, "Why don't you guys retire to Ethiopia? I know someone who has a school in Mekelle and he needs some American people to go over and help teach educational methods and American English. He has been praying for someone just like you two." (For those of you who know me well, imaging anyone praying to have me come and help. Go figure!)
We plan to leave around January 15, 2011. And we have an organization, the Timothy Project, that is willing to help us raise support for our time there. I'll post all the specifics later.
Pray for us, please! We have a lot of stuff to get done here before we leave.