Ethiopia Day 3: Women at Risk

Freedom

I am more of an introvert by nature.  If I'm in a large group of people I don't know, I get overrwhelmed and tend to let others do more of the talking.  I would much rather spend quality time with one or two people than be at a large party and endure small talk.

I'm married to an extrovert.  Andy has a quick wit and is able to talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything.  He is comfortable walking into a room of strangers and making friends with everyone there.  

So yesterday was a stretching experience for me.  We were scheduled to spend time at a ministry called Women At Risk. We didn't know much going into it except that it's a program for former prostitutes.  We had no plan except to show up.  

Upon walking through the metal gate into the compound, we were told the women were in the middle of a class, and we'd have to wait a few minutes. Two little ones caught our attention, and of course we gravitated over to the corner where they were playing.  Two or three children peered at us over a metal gate, and about ten or more happily toddled around, chattering and chewing on toys and throwing balls.  Their playroom was a very simple, very small concrete block of a room - concrete walls and concrete floor covered with a thin rubber mat.  Leaning over the gate, we talked and interacted with them while they reached out with toys and high fives and smiles that lit up the whole place.  One little girl handed me a green nesting cup - one that probably every child in America owns - and I goofed around with her and placed it upside down on my head like a hat.  She gave me a quizzical look, reached out for it, and then tentatively balanced it on her own head.  I giggled and she gave me a long stare and then marched around, proud as a peacock with that little cup on her head.  

Soon the director of the program, a distinguished looking Ethiopian gentleman, approached us.  He spent a few minutes explaining how they operate, pausing while Sammy translated for us.  

Women at Risk has been in operation for over 17 years and their vision is to love, respect, and reach out to women caught in the cycle of poverty and prostitution.  There are around 150,000 prostitutes working in the capital city of Addis Ababa, and three quarters of them are estimated to be HIV+.  Women at Risk serves women who are seeking to leave that life.  After an initial introductory phase, those who show interest and determination are invited into a year-long program which involves intense counseling, mentoring and career development.  From their website:  "By the end of the year, each woman is expected to have acquired life skills that help her work through past and present life issues positively, and is financially self-sufficient through healthy employment and/or small business ownership.  To date, about 90% of the women we have worked with through the years have left prostitution and have stayed away."

Sammy told us we would probably be able to spend some time with the women who were in the yearlong program.  They were learning how to cook and sew among many other life skills, and he was thinking they'd be very open to visiting with us.

But God had other plans.

The director led us to a small room filled with twenty women who were in the first phase program - the ones who had just recently come off the streets - the ones who were brand new and most likely to be wary of new people, especially feringes (white people) from America.

I'll admit - it was really awkward.  A bunch of girls ages 17-40-something, sitting in a circle of plastic chairs staring suspiciously at us, waiting for us to say or do something.  Except we had no idea what we were supposed to say or do. 

Thankfully my extroverted husband started talking. He introduced himself as Andy, which means "strong."  Name meanings are very important in their culture.  He told them he was a dentist.  He said they were so brave to take that first step toward freedom - that it is hard when they do, but each one gets easier to follow the steps God has for them.  He told them they were beautiful daughters of the King and that Jesus loves them and has a plan to use their gifts to impact the world.   

Meanwhile I sat quietly observant, smiling and nodding and praying that God would give me something to say.

One of the girls asked a question and all eyes turned to me.  I looked questioningly at Sammy and he said, "They are wondering why you don't talk."

I started laughing and told them I'm more shy in a group, that Andy is the talker, and I like to talk to one or two people. 

One of them asked if we grew up learning about Jesus, and Andy and I both shared a little bit of our story.  Andy then asked if they had any questions for us.  They ranged from serious (Does the government give money to poor people who have children?) to curious (What's the weather like?) to downright strange (Do you paint chickens in America?).  Not sure where that idea came from!!

When the question and answer session ended, we thanked them for having us and encouraged them to keep learning about Jesus and keep trusting God to make a way for them.  We stood up to go and one woman asked for a picture. After posing with a few, the others surrounded us, clamoring for a hug, a touch, just one more picture. They were so hungry for attention and even though we couldn't communicate, we all spoke the language of affection.

The little livewire on the left, Kalkadan, held my hand and had to be in every picture.  :) Weneshet is on the right.

Finally it was time to go and we exchanged our last hugs and kisses and on the cheek.  Women who had been strangers an hour before yelled out "I love you," and waved wildly as we walked to the car, blowing kisses all the way.  

 I can't imagine a scene like that ever happening in America.  We tend to be formal and stiff, unsure of ourselves, unwilling to put ourselves out there.  We greet with a firm, polite handshake. This culture, I am learning, embraces and welcomes and hugs.  And these women, who are in the process of transforming their lives, turned awkward into intimate, and we treasure that time we spent with them.

Pray for these incredible women - pray that the love of a Savior will continue to fill them with courage to keep taking steps and show them there is hope only in Him!