Colby in Kampala: Where am I ?

Hey everyone,

It was an insane week for me. I left Uganda and headed up to Ethiopia. It was a two hour flight. Hard to believe I can take a two hour flight over 3 countries and still be in the same mission. It might be the same mission but it doesn't feel like it!

Wow my life is crazy right now!!! I still feel like this is one giant dream and not at all real! I am living in Ethiopia!? It's a really crazy place and the missionary work is completely different here. I am honestly not even in an african country anymore. The people are light skin like Arabs. The language is crazy and sounds/looks like Arabic. The country is really cold! I have worn a sweater every day! Man, Its all just crazy. I have only been here since late Thursday so I don't know a ton.

The missionary work in Uganda was so fruitful. The people there are so prepared. I loved Masaka and the work there. Ethiopia is a little different.... The culture is overtaken by the Orthodox church. The Orthodox religion is about 65% of the population. You should read in to the religion. It is quite insane. The people here really have no desire to change and are so deeply rooted in the Orthodox church that growth for our church is really hard. Right now the church is struggling a lot in Ethiopia but especially Beklo Bet. Last week church attendance was 38 BUT over 20 were Americans. The perk for missionaries in the Beklo Bet branch is that it takes in all the American Embassy workers. Many are members. Without them, there were I believe 17 native Ethiopians at church. The church service is in Amharic and the English speakers (missionaries and embassy families) are translated to Amharic. The branch is at a low point right now. I arrived at church to find that the person giving a talk was not there. I filled in and gave a talk. I pretty much just bore my testimony as powerfully as I could summon that this was the true church and the members should not fear being here. I will explain later that issue. After that we went to the second hour where I was asked to fill in and teach Gospel Principles class. Not my first time to do that so I was fine with it. Yeah, that's church here. Not easy! But a great experience.

My area is pretty much the ghetto of Addis Ababa. It is an outskirt town but still heavily taken in by the city. I live around sky scrapers. The city reminds me of a very dirty Seattle in a way. I really like it. I live in a place I am not sure of the address. The best way I can describe my address is if you take the main train that goes through Addis and get off at Temanja Yazh stop. We live on the left side of the road in a small little house. Its a good house but its a bit beat up cause missionaries have been in it for a while. The cool thing is we leave our gate and literally are on the main road. Its a good house. I have had worse on mission and better. I love my shower. I don't have to cup my hands and splash it on me like I have before and water stays warm for more than 3 minutes! The house is big and nice. I enjoy it. The downside is power has been out at our house for 3 days but I am used to that. No biggy...

We don't have a car here. We use taxis or the train that goes through Addis Ababa. I am sure you can google the train.

The Language is nuts. I thought it would be sort of like Uganda where everyone speaks Luganda but also speaks English.... NOPE. Even the more educated people just don't speak any English. Most cant even respond to "How are you?".... I have to do language study every day. My companion picked it up fast because he lived here until he was 9 and then was adopted in to the US.. He can speak enough to get us around. I don't know much of anything. It sounds a lot like Arabic and even looks like it. All signs are in Amharic. All church material is in Amharic. Everything.... Amharic.

Food! It is awesome. I am really lucky to grow up in a family where we ate a lot of odd foods. It has helped me transition a lot here. We eat a ton of the staple food. They don't have much variety here. They eat injera with everything. Its a sponge like round thing that you tear a piece off and use it to pick up sauces. Its made out of a fermented flour thing. Its sour and good. I will send pics of some things I have eaten. I love the food! Today we went out to lunch with a returned missionary. He is pretty wealthy and took us to the nicest restaurant around and we got real greek pizza. It was amazing!!!

My comp is great. Funny and nice guy. I have been lucky with good comps.

That is about it. By next week I should be a little more comfortable in my new home. I would love some prayers on my behalf. It is a tough place here and it will take much effort and prayer to soften the hearts of these people. In return I will pray for everyone back home. I want to thank you all for loving me and making my mission the best. Stay great.

Love,

Elder McLain