Read my story from the beginning – Part 1; Part 2
In the States there is a certain perception of those who live in poverty. Those in poverty are often considered lazy, dirty, and ignorant. I’m not saying this is true, however, I listen to how people speak about those we consider poor in the States and this is often how they are characterized. This is not what I encountered in Addis Ababa. The first morning of my visit, Yonas, the director of the Hope Center, took us to visit three homes of children who come to the Center. By American standards they live in abject poverty.
The situation in which they live is not because they are lazy or unproductive. One woman washed clothes in her home (by hand) for her work. In another home, the father worked as a security guard and the mother worked making injera (a kind of Ethiopian tortilla). As you walk the streets, there are people collecting empty plastic bottles, doing day labor jobs, and cooking simple food to sell on the street. There are people selling items in small booths or shops everywhere. Laborers work hard, dangerous jobs without OSHA standards. I saw men sending cement several stories up by rope, on wooden scaffolding without safety harnesses. Most of the laborers I saw were only using simple hand tools, no Milwaukee Pack Out in sight. In the middle of a small parking lot, I saw people set up in what might be mistaken for a small-town farmers market in the States. They were selling fruits and vegetables, some other small items, and used car tires.
The contrast this provides to the way I live is no small shock to me. I think that I live a fairly modest life with my house, cars, and the clothes I wear. By US standards this is probably not too far off. But my way of life would astound most of the people that I saw during my trip. It’s not that I feel guilty about it, but hopefully it has given me a certain amount of gratitude and contentment with what I have. Let’s just say I have a new appreciation for my 2011 twelve passenger van, and I can buy new tires anytime I want them!
I found the people of Addis Ababa to be industrious and resourceful as a rule. Also, the small houses we visited were not unkempt. They were clean and orderly. The beds were made, the counters were uncluttered. The floors were scrubbed. They may live in one room homes, but they are well-maintained. The people of Addis Ababa are poor. They are not ignorant, stupid, lazy ,or dirty. They are poor. They are beautiful people. They smiled brightly and welcomed me everywhere I went.
Shore Community Church 
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