Baboons, Blenders, and Birthdays
Our stop in Arba Minch on the way back to the capital from Soddo, October 2024
Whew! It’s been a minute since our last post. We hope that you all were able to have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We’ll get to ours in a minute…
Soddo
Life is rarely dull when you’re living in transition, and our recent travels proved just how eventful it can be. From catching a glimpse of baboons on a winding Ethiopian road to blending new memories in Dubai, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of adventure, reflection, and celebration.
Fall Break, mid-October, was marked by a trip from Addis Ababa to Soddo, a rural town South of the capitol that will become our home in June. Along the way, as we navigated the lush, rolling hills, a group of baboons made an unexpected appearance. Seeing them gathered by the roadside felt like stepping into a nature documentary—a moment that captivated the kids and reminded us of the beauty and surprises of this country.
Our destination, Soddo and the hospital, was more than just a visit; it was a glimpse into our future. For the kids, it was a chance to imagine what life will look like when we move here after the school year ends. They explored the grounds, asked endless questions, and started envisioning themselves in this new chapter of our lives with new friends. For Rachel and me, it was a reminder of the calling that brought us here and the work waiting to be done as we had construction meetings, rounds with the patients and residents, and a small glimpse into what our future workdays could look like.
Dubai
Two weeks later we were on the road (well in the air) again—this time, out of Ethiopia. With our tourist visas nearing expiration, we had to leave the country temporarily. The timing turned out to be perfect as it coincided with two of our children’s birthdays. But where could we go??
Looking at the map of available (and cheapest!) destinations we could get to with Ethiopian Airlines, Dubai made a lot of sense for several reasons. Dubai also allowed us to visit one of Rachel’s oldest friends, Varsha, who, if you remember from our March update, we last saw in London when we attended her and Paul’s wedding.
Dubai offered a stark contrast to the simple life we’re adjusting to in Ethiopia. Towering skyscrapers, glittering malls, and bustling streets greeted us, providing a unique blend of a Western-feeling country in a different context. It wasn’t just a birthday destination but also a practical stop. We took the opportunity to stock up on items that are either hard to find or prohibitively expensive in Ethiopia—a blender, among other essentials, made its way into our bags.
The birthday celebrations were a highlight of our trip. From enjoying family dinners to marveling at the spectacle of Dubai’s beaches and architecture, the kids were all smiles. It was a reminder that even in seasons of transition, there’s always room for joy and celebration.
As we returned to Ethiopia, blending the memories of baboons, Soddo, and birthdays, we felt both the weight and the wonder of this season. It’s a time of preparing for what’s ahead while savoring the moments that make the journey worthwhile.
Thanksgiving
“Look how many of my friends are here! I see two over there and two classmates over there.”
As she stood on her chair during church worship, she looked all around the congregation and counted friends and classmates with a huge smile and wide-eyed wonder. While perhaps not quite in the spirit of the worship songs, this brought enormous gratitude to our hearts.
There have been lots of adjustments in this process of transplanting our family to a new continent. One of our big concerns was how our kids would react to a new continent/environment/culture. We hoped that they would be able to find friends that could help them adjust to life in Africa. Seeing the joy and wonder on Isabelle’s face was a huge answer to prayer. Daniel, Emma, and Isabelle have been blessed to be invited for playdates and birthday parties in the last few weeks. Joshua is part of a sweet cohort for a weekly preschool. Another blessing is that Daniel has been able to video chat with his close friends from the States (thankful for technology).
Those were the things that we were reflecting on as we prepared for our first Thanksgiving celebration in Ethiopia. Now, preparations for this Thanksgiving required a lot more foreplanning. The week before, we made chicken and beef stock. We baked loaves and loaves of sourdough, first of all to provide for kids' breakfasts and lunches and also to make our dressing/stuffing.
We were also blessed by the friendships we have made in our time here. We hosted 24 total people (11 adults and 13 children) for Thanksgiving. To have family (Rachel’s parents) and friends and neighbors join after being in country less than 4 months brought so much joy to us. Some of the food looked different (no turkey, but lots of chickens), but we even managed to make a cranberry sauce from craisins that one of our friends had brought back from the states. So thankful for all of our friends and family stateside for your prayers and support. We have definitely felt and seen the power of those prayers.
Praises
We got the kids birth certificates and our marriage certificate certified!! A visitor who is coming to the hospital mid-December will be couriering our papers with them. Please pray for safe passage to the hands of those that will then work on the process of getting them processed so we won’t have to make trips out of country every three months
Friendships for the kids and for our family
Things to Pray for:
Rachel’s parents' visa: Please continue to pray for a long-term visa option. They are a huge blessing to our family, and I believe God has a plan for them to reach and serve the people of Ethiopia.
The language learning process is humbling and exciting at the same time. It is humbling to feel like a young child as we stumble through speaking, and it is exciting as we slowly understand more and more of what is being said.
Rachel may have an opportunity to work at some local orphanages while we are in the capital city. There is a lot of need, so wisdom where she can serve the best.
We hope that everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you have any prayer requests, we would love to hear from you. If you would like to set up a video chat, send us a message! You can contact us on WhatsApp or email us at LCRC@cobosethiopia.org.
If you want to learn more about how to help us on this journey, please click the link below!
