Yates Family In Soddo

These are instructions for celebrating Christmas in Ethiopia with a Southern California tradition: Tamales! Tell people that you miss tortillas and Mexican food initiating the sending of Masa Harina packages Wait 3-8 weeks for packages to arrive, celebrate Ask for recipes from friends with experience.  When none come look up some on Internet. Drive 5 hours north and procure Pork Fat and Pork meat from Addis Ababa Render Lard from Pork fat for 2 days in crock pot through various power outages Cook delicious pork Look for Corn Husks and and find that they are unavailable in Soddo right now Substitute banana leaves from tree outside Make Chili Salsa from dried chili brought from America Make Masa dough by mixing Masa and Lard Realize the recipe you found is way way off on ratio Panic Find new recipe and do your best to salvage Blanch banana leaves Make Tamales Wrap tamales in splitting banana leaves Wrap banana leaves in foil because banana leaves aren't holding up Steam tamales for 7...

We are sitting outside in the beautiful sun studying Amharic while Cole joyfully plays in his bathtub on the porch. We are thankful for so many things here, and for the many blessings that we have. Language study is hard and tiring, but we are starting to figure out this language and speak in halting phrases to our neighbors and new friends. We are blessed by so much love and support from you all our friends and family and thank you for reaching out to us. Next comes more transitions, moving from Addis to Soddo into temporary housing, and changing language teachers. We will learn to live in a new place again while pursuing language study full time and overseeing the construction of our home in Soddo and engaging in relationship with our mission partners. The anticipation of transition is always difficult for us but often we do well through the changes. Please pray that all goes smoothly in this next season.

It has been a while since we have updates our blog... Even though life feels simple, it also feels so full: full of daily life like washing and cleaning and food prep. But also full of emotions. It's sort if funny how these things sort of hit you. Adam and I went out to celebrate his birthday tonight, and we went to the only ice cream shop in town (that we know of). As we sat there, everyone was speaking English, there were other Americans there and then over the speakers I heard the song With everything by hillsong. It is a passionate, beautiful song. In that moment I didn't feel frustrated or upset, I just felt an overwhelming sense of being homesick. It was a reminder that I don't really feel at home here. This song touched the deepest parts of my heart that I feel have been sort of dry and unattended. I missed feeling the music of home in my soul. I realized that I need to be intentional to tend that part of me, because it won't just happen naturally here. And that...

Today, Adam and Michelle started our first day of language school at the Joint Language School in Addis Ababa to attempt to learn Amharic. I was feeling a little bit nervous about starting this difficult language. There are letters (or fidels) in the language. I walk around and feel like I am looking at squiggles and hearing nonsensical noise. But today was awesome! We will be learning via the GPA system. Growing Participator Approach: http://growingparticipatorapproach.wordpress.com/the-growing-participator-approach-gpa-a-brief-state-of-the-art-and-some-practical-illustrations/ Like a baby, we start our language learning with listening and pointing only. This allows us to understand the language first. Later, we will start to talk and finally learn the alphabet and to read and write. Basically, what it looked like today is we heard words, pointed at objects and played with dolls. I hope the rest of the schooling is just as fun! And Cole had a great day with Wendy. She arrived safe and...

We already had our first visitor. What a sweet blessing. On our 6th day in Addis, one of our good friends, James Appel, that lives most of the time in Chad, but we also know from Ventura, had an overnight lay over in Addis. Adam picked him up from the airport, we brought him home to stay in Wendy's bed, before she arrived, and then left early in the morning to be on his way to Monrovia, Liberia to work at an Adventist hospital there. He is a champion in the faith and a courageous doctor. (http://www.amazon.com/Nasara-Dispatches-District-Hospital-Chad/dp/1461074975#) It was a short, yet sweet visit. During the quiet of the morning he was able to pass on one of his missionary and life pearls to me. He encouraged me that when fears take hold of our mind, especially in the middle of the night, and our mind can race with ideas, fears, processing, perfecting, stressing, optimizing etc. It is in those instances, that we need to take every thought captive. We destroy arguments and every lo...

We, the Yates, made it and are getting settled in to life in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. We have spent most of days getting to know the city, running errands, making food and hanging out in our home while our little precious Cole gets some sleep. It took him 7 days to get over jet lag. He was such a trooper, and is now passed that! Our new apartment is great with lots of amenities, and a bright yellow wall (which is my favorite color for all that don't know), but is a tad on the small side. Well, I guess we will just get to know our neighbors really well and enjoy the communal space on the compound we are living. One of the challenges of this past week is getting over my slight guilt that we are here and not really "doing" anything. We are living life, but not going to school or working. For some odd reason that is difficult for me. One of our neighbors told me to enjoy the "snow day" because life is going to get very busy after school and our service work begins. I a...

The Yates family is on our way. After some good and tearful goodbyes we boarded our plane in LA and spent the next 16 hours in the air. We crossed over the north pole on route so even though the flight went "overnight" the sun never set. Cole slept well for a solid 9 or 10 hours and we made it to Dubai with no trouble. We are now waiting for our flight to Addis. Thanks for your prayers!

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. The apostle Paul was certainly suffering far mor hardship than the Yates family but with the moving day coming so soon we are starting to feel "utterly burdened beyond our strength". For indeed what we are trying to do is truly counter to our normal nature to keep life simple and restful. We are burdened by the work but more so we are burdened by the loss of leaving. The changing nature of relationships as we move...

We, the Yates and the Simpsons, would like to welcome Wendy Gray to our team! As Many of you know we have been praying about having someone join us from the US for language school to help with child care during our classroom time from August until December. It would facilitate more family time, improve our language learning together and help ease the transition for our children to have someone familiar and consistent. After over a month of emails, telephone calls, conversations and prayer, we have found someone to join us. We had all but decided that this was not God's plan. And then 3 weeks ago, during our introduction at Reality in Carpinteria, Wendy approached us after service saying she wanted to pray with us about joining our team for a few months. After a few conversations, prayers and God's leading, we were excited to invite her to come. Wendy is a recently retired preschool teacher and was teaching Spanish to her students. Since retirement she has been praying about wha...

A friend posted this blog on her facebook page, thanks Christina Gabrysch! This has really encouraged me to be extra intentional in our preparation for leaving. I would also ask that you, our friends and family do the same and help to hold us accountable. Sometimes it can be weird or awkward or hard to express our feelings or emotions, but it is really so much better! This is one of the many recommendations about how to have a successful transition: One of the simplest and most brilliant plans for transitioning well was developed by the late Dr. David Pollock.  It’s called building a RAFT (genius).  Paying attention to these four areas can mean the difference between success or failure, flopping or thriving,  great memories or horrible regrets.  Way too much for one blog post but you should Google it (Try “Pollock RAFT”). Here’s the short version what goes into a RAFT: Reconciliation:  Strained or broken relationships don’t go away when you do.  Make it rig...

Welcome home to Kavi and Taylor. They will be having their third boy the end of June. We the Yates family continue to prepare for our first departure. In this season of preparation, God has continually been reminding me of the ways he has confirmed our calling, as the preparation and the grief of "see you later" gets more difficult. It has been really good to remind ourselves (and I ask that others also remind us) of how we got to where we are! In 2010, Adam and I started praying intentionally every week with two other couples from residency, the Simpsons and the Tinsleys about wisdom and discernment for the future and the possibility of serving the Lord together internationally. We felt God answered our prayers for the Simpsons and the Yates to serve together as God united our vision for ministry both in and around the hospital. Spring of 2011, we had a special bible study at the home of our friend and residency director's home where we learned about LifeWind Internation...

God has been so faithful during this building process. It has had its ups and downs and definitely started out later than we expected several times, but it is now in full swing. As we, specifically Taylor, is working hard on the physical aspects of the construction, we are also spiritually preparing the foundation and the construction to be our home. This home will see us through many years of life, including seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow. We have individually and corporately been praying these scriptures over the home with the plans to write them on the walls of the building when the walls are above ground ;) Please join us in praying these verses over our future home and let us know if you there are any others you have been praying! Psalm 90:16-17 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Ephesians 3:20-21 No...

As we, Adam and Michelle, continue in our preparation work, we have recently decided to conquer the ever challenging idea of living on a fixed budget. With that in mind, Adam and I have decided to start using a new app for our phone called "You need a budget" (http://www.youneedabudget.com).  This has been life changing! And I think a must-have (at least in concept, not necessarily this app) for all international service workers. The function of the app is lay out a budget, that can only be "budgeted" as the money is in hand. Then, as you buy your groceries, fuel or pay your rent, you immediately place the expense in the app. This in theory (and has been very close) gives you the real time money in your account so you don't overspend money that you don't have. It synchs between devices, so Adam and I will also have each other's account information on our own devices. This has allowed us to be more proactive and prospective about our spending to guarantee...

Thank you Taylor for all your hard work!  Let the construction begin.  The site preparation has just begun. As we partner with the hospital, recently built in 2006, to expand physician housing for our arrival and many others after us, the construction of the newest duplex has started! All construction at the hospital is modern concrete construction for earthquake safety and longevity and health of the residence. The total cost of the duplex is $140,000.  Through many generous donations the construction project is 50% funded!  To complete the project we are looking for a number of new donors.

I wanted to share this great video that Soddo Christian Hospital prepared.  We are so excited to be partnering with SCH this year. The Simpsons are there now and the Yates will be there soon to take part in the great work of the hospital.

This is a funny season for our team.   Kavi and Taylor have gone to Ethiopia, yet Adam and I are still in Ventura preparing to leave sometime this summer. Thus although our posts, may be slightly different in tone, I believe that God is still teaching us very similar things in these seasons of life, despite our distance.  Here are some of my ponderings this morning,  12  “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the  Lord  your God has commanded you.   13  You have six days each week for your ordinary work,   14  but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the  Lord  your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do.   15  Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the...

Transitions are difficult. The Simpsons made it successfully to Ethiopia in the face of influenza, some slight baggage problems and sickness. I will let them update you as they are able.  For the Yates family, it has been a season of loss. Some of them silly things, some of them not, but all of them real.  Our sweet puppy, Domino, died last November, then Adam's stepmom Penny died of leukemia, then our very good friend Tim and Leona Okeefe moved to Nepal, and Mackenzie Slater moved to Honduras.  Finally, our partner, the Simpsons, moved to Ethiopia.  Although each loss is different, we have still been experiencing it as loss.  Instead of stuffing down all the yucky feelings of loss and grief, which I am very good at, recently we have been encouraged to grieve each loss as it is and ask God to meet us there, in our sadness, our loss and our emotions no matter how bad. This morning I was encouraged by this passage John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jew...

Off to Ethiopia. Yesterday, January 17, 2014, the Simpson Family took off for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They left from Los Angeles with an overnight lay over in Dubai to arrive in Addis. They will stay there for a week of orientation from the Gabrysch's (a fun couple living in Soddo already... http://jeremyandchristina.blogspot.com/ ) and then start their life in Soddo.  Everything was on target to leave this past week, when Asa Simpson, the youngest, came down with a horrible fever... up to 104°F from Influenza.  With a week until their departure, it made plans and packing much more stressful.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,     whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water,     that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes,     for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought,     for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jer 17:8. Praise God, his fever broke ...

This season has been filled with many goodbyes.  Being committed to this life of international work we will invariably have many more, but recently the goodbyes have been rough. Our family is in the midst of saying goodbye to the Simpson family as they leave for Ethiopia this week. They of course are in a huge season of goodbyes to all their family and community here as they prepare for to start a new life in a new place. Why are we saying goodbye to our partners? Well, the Yates and the Simpsons families are on slightly different timelines to get to Ethiopia. The Simpsons will be go ahead to prepare some very important work for our team: our house! Taylor will be starting his first construction project in Ethiopia, a Duplex that will house Missionary families at Soddo Christian Hospital. The project is really exciting and will be a valuable asset to the work of SCH for generations! We have the honor of being the first families that live in the Duplex, so we are particularly excite...