While vision casting with the team for this month, we each felt called to step further into our gifts. I’ve been honing in on creativity and this month felt like I was drinking from the fire hydrant. I suppose you can’t pray for the rain and not expect to get wet, so here is a glimpse of what our month in Addis Ababa looked like through the lens of my Canon.
We stayed in Yeka, just north of Addis in a beautiful home overlooking the city. Although we had stunning views and a plethora of space (a rarity for Racers), we didn’t stay too long. When we didn’t have water for six consecutive days, we were left wanting more. When we were grabbed by the arms and pulled by the hair on the streets, we were left needing more.
Due to safety concerns, we had a newly established curfew of sundown, so we spent more time than desired (for an enneagram 7) indoors. One huge benefit: I grew callouses on my fingers and am essentially a ukulele star. Proof, you may ask? I led worship for the first time here in Addis!
With all the troubles we were having, the Lord graciously opened up an opportunity for us to move to Jemo, which was closer to Korah, the trash area where we were serving.
We went to an awesome church with lively gospel worship every Sunday, the International Evangelical Church. We normally caught a ride from the main road, but on one particular day, we were surprised to find a block party consuming the street.
The street party was full of Orthodox believers, celebrating the last day before their 40 day fast leading up to Christmas. Orthodox believers are very ritualistic and legalistic, devoted to holidays, constantly fasting or feasting, and rely heavily on works for salvation. They typically dress in these white ‘fits, but also play a mean game of soccer and share goal posts with the adjacent games.
In our Jemo place, we had a DREAM of a room. Now, I chose to spend time indoors because it was the closest place that has felt like home. And now, I will never again take water for granted.
We hosted a Thanksgiving dinner with our team and some of our Ethiopian friends. My teammates are much more traditionally inclined than myself, so we had homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, chicken, mac & cheese (since WHEN is that a Thanksgiving food?), veggie casserole, peach cobbler, and one guest brought a cake to share! We also made cards for each of our friends and wrote reasons we are thankful for them, and sweet Hannah brought it home with a PG edition of the Thanksgiving story. Even though we’re in Africa and about 8,400 miles from home, this was the most traditional (and biggest) Thanksgiving I’ve ever had.
Also, we went to a market bazaar with Carry 117. It was essentially a giant farmer’s market chock-full of creative artisans and flourishing non-profits. If I had all the moolah in the world, I’d likely spend it all there.
CARRY 117
I rest assured you faithful readers remember our lovely ladies at Carry 117. If not, check out some of their story here or through my eyes here. Speaking of that mighty goal of creativity, Carry 117 graciously allowed me the opportunity.
These photos of our sweet friends at Carry 117 were the greatest honor to capture. I found that people rarely allow you to take their photo in Ethiopia – they believe that you will snap a shot, attach a sob story, and exploit them as a ‘poverty lifestyle’. Of course, that is never my intention. Instead, I shoot and share photos to humanize and dignify the people that I have the privilege of knowing; I share with the intention to bridge the gap between us and them.
So, we hung out with our friends at Carry 117 for three weeks before snapping a single shot. Yes, that required an ungodly amount of self-control and resulted in a museum of mental images stored as memories. Yes, it also allowed me to engage in conversation (including some ASL), learn some Amharic and even help make products. Yes, it was worth it even just to gain trust, break down the stigma of Westerners and specifically photographers, and treat our friends as human beings, not models or subjects.
I treasure these photos because they are the fruit of beautiful relationships; they are the result of putting the camera down and building friendships over a portfolio. And in the end, I got to take product photos for those with bags named after themselves.
These photos are all from our second to last day with our friends; I spent the remainder of that day editing and printing them for my sweet team to write encouraging words and verses on them. Our friends’ faces when we gave them photos of themselves was worth it all, and I continue to pray that those words speak life to them even after we left.
Our family at Carry 117 was hard to say goodbye to and yep, I sure did print a couple extra of their photos for myself.
But, back to the market. We were wandering around when we met Gelila, the founder and owner of a jewelry & rug company, Lila Products.
LILA PRODUCTS
Gelila is a warrior who faces pain with hope. In the midst of the rubble of Korah, she saw mothers and children collecting food to eat and things to sell; she realized “my trash is their income” and broke down.
In spite of their hardship, she sees tremendous potential and ingenuity. She sees people and wants to give them a voice, value, and opportunity. She sees hope rising from the ashes of poverty and an abundance of peace and provision where scarcity once resided. She knows there is no lack as the Lord continues to meet their every need.
Gelila employs the marginalized to harness that potential and ingenuity.
This is Kassa. He’s 75 (and has been for about 5 years now) and he’s a widowed dad of four children and three grandchildren. He’s also a leper and, as a result, lost his fingers; but, he doesn’t let that stop him from making these beautiful rugs. He is full of perseverance, redemption, love and JOY. He is proof that seeing someone live at their highest potential has made my world better.
Lila Products also makes beautiful jewelry pieces comprised of clay beads they fire in a kiln at the shop in Korah, handmade paper beads and bullet casings.
And lucky me, they just released a new line of jewelry! Victoria, Becca and I got to spend the day taking product shots (and model shots!) for the new line. We were resourceful with some paper, a plastic stool, and a half-shaded backyard… and it WORKED.
And, here’s how some of them turned out!
EMBRACING HOPE ETHIOPIA
Also in Korah, we partnered with an organization called Embracing Hope Ethiopia.
These cute kiddos are from families with unemployed or underemployed single parents making less than 400 ETB ($12 USD) per month. They are also likely orphan vulnerable or have a disability or life defining illness.
Embracing Hope Ethiopia loves these kiddos holistically – through onsite nurse examinations, nutritious breakfast and lunches, play time/nap time/music time, and Bible teachings. And, they still have time to dig out the contents of their nostrils and give them to you as treasured gifts.
While there, the Lord still answered my prayer for doors to creativity. They needed portraits of all the kids to send in Christmas cards to their supporters back in the States. So, we lined up all the munchkins, snapped a shot in front of a blanket draped across a door frame, gave ’em knucks as we said a sweet prayer over them, and sent them on their way.
My heart was melting the entire time.
And I mean, ENTIRE time.
GRACE COFFEE
Our friends at Carry 117 also led us to Grace Coffee, a coffee bean roastery that opened in the last couple months in Korah.
They led us in a traditional Ethiopian coffee (buna) ceremony.
And when you walk into this lil’ shop, authenticity, warmth and JESUS take over.
We also helped with their marketing launch, praying even the smallest tangible gift is a reflection of the Lord’s provision.
I was privileged to take their photos, too. Allowing these women (& everyone on the blog) to feel seen, known & loved has instilled a new love for photography. Showing them their picture on the camera screen was precious, praying that when they see their photo, they see the love, grace and JOY that the Lord sees in them.
And with that, Team Mariposas is OUT! Hannah, Aspen, Victoria and Becca have been the sweetest. They are grace giving, adventure seeking and love abounding girls. This team has been filled with irrepressible laughs & dance parties, generosity & humble hearts, cooking parties & movie nights, protecting one another & sitting in the fire together. Lucky is an understatement and my gratitude for them knows no end.
Now, I’m off to Oman with my new team, the Cartographers. Catch ya again from the Middle East!
Join me in prayer: Thank you, Lord, that we get to stop and pay attention, to let our hearts break as we notice the need around us. Thank you for how it stirs something inside of us that moves us to action. Thank you that it’s never about the products or even the photography, but it’s only ever about YOU. Thank you that we get to become conduits of sorts through which You can pour Yourself into the world. Your never ending joy is indescribable.
Goodness you are so professional. #getsponsoredsoon
This post is amazing! I love every shot and curve of a smile. Miss you HUGE.
KATI. You continue to blow me away with your incredible gift of writing. (also photos, but we already knew you were a professional). I am constantly amused and intrigued when reading you blogs and honestly just don’t want them to ever end. Please please please just keep writing so I can keep reading. Love you lots.