April 13, 2009

Dear Friends,

Upon a cordial greeting of “Good morning! How are you?” in the local language of Amharic, a brief discussion often unfolds, more or less the same way, roughly translated as follows:
 
“I am well, God be praised, I am well. You speak Amharic?”

“A little,” I respond.

“Good. You are learning,” is the reply, with a smile and a laugh.

“Slowly by slowly,” I humbly caution, a subtle reminder that I am far from fluent.

This last phrase, “slowly by slowly,” is my most recent informal language acquisition, taught to me by Tsehay, the woman who comes to my small apartment twice a week to cook a traditional Ethiopian meal. When I used the phrase with Yissema, my Amharic teacher, the next day, the longer and fuller version of the phrase was disclosed: “Slowly by slowly the egg walks on its own two feet.”

A church just outside Metu in western Ethiopia. This church is participating in exciting and successful reforestation and income generation projects.

I have been reflecting on this proverbial phrase beyond the obvious application to my language learning. Venturing into a foreign culture is complex and it takes time to adjust. I have much to learn as I discover how to walk on my own two feet in this new environment. In a broader sense, it is also applicable to my work as a development consultant to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and, broader still, to development in general. It is easy to say that development does not happen overnight; it is harder to understand what exactly that means for the communities working towards and anticipating development. The processes of community development projects are many—whether related to health, education, or income-generation. They take time and are often complicated. Despite advanced training in development, I have much to learn from these projects and the communities undertaking them.

The pastor of the church pictured above. He and his congregation need our prayers as they take on the complexities of development projects. His church is an example of how God affects change in the world through communities working and sharing together in love.

As we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection, this phrase also has special meaning for each of us individually and the world collectively. The death and resurrection of our Savoir is the ultimate act of God in redeeming this fallen world. And while we wait for His return, slowly by slowly God is working through the body of Christ, the church and each of its members, us, to bring His love to all people. If we remember to open our eyes a little wider, stop and think about what we are seeing and hearing, perhaps we will catch a glimpse here and there of this redemptive work.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Christ, the ultimate example of love, has much to teach us through the communities we live in and individuals we meet and serve. He also has much to show us if we just look to Him.

As I embark on this new position here in Ethiopia, slowly by slowly I hope to learn more about Ethiopia and its people and about the many complex development processes, what they involve and the communities and individuals behind them. As I journey along and share this learning with you, I invite you to rejoice with me in their successes, mourn with me in their failures, and support the communities in prayer as, slowly by slowly, they begin to walk on their own two feet. During this journey together may our eyes be opened ever wider as we see with greater clarity the work of God in the world through his son Jesus Christ.