Times Square, noisemakers, party hats, Dick Clark, Auld Lang Syne,
snack food galore, bowl games, parades, kisses at midnight and the
ever-fleeting resolution…these are the words that came to mind when
I thought of New Year’s Eve. Well, until I spent my first New Year’s
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Now, you may be wondering why I’m talking
about New Year’s Eve in September…Well, here in Ethiopia, things are
a bit different than the other side of the world.
Enkutatash, or the Ethiopian New Year, is celebrated on September
11th. Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, in which the year is
divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 or 6
days. In fact, the “motto” of Ethiopia is “13 Months of Sunshine”
(though during rainy season, the sunshine is fleeting indeed!). This
year, Ethiopia celebrated the start of 2003.
Enkutatash means “gift of jewels”. Legend has it that when the famous
Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon
in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her by replenishing her treasury
with inku or jewels. A spring festival has been celebrated since that
time, and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing
can be heard at every village in the green countryside. (As a side
note, despite the fact that the rainy season is supposed to abruptly
end at Enkutatash, no one bothered to tell that to the rain…)
My first New Year’s Eve in Addis is perhaps the most memorable of my
recollection. I spent the day with the ministry team of Strong Hearts
Ethiopia. Strong Hearts is a non-profit community development ministry
located in the southwest area of Addis. Their organization addresses
the needs of a community living in especially difficult
circumstances…living conditions that we as Americans cannot even
begin to grasp.
Strong Hearts ministers to the community of K’ore, which includes the
leper colony in Addis (yes, leper colonies still exist in our modern
world). The dire need of the people living in this community is truly
indescribable…you really do have to see it to believe it. One of the
many ministries of Strong Hearts is their “Buna Tetu”, literally
“Drink Coffee”, for the women of K’ore. It is a time for the women to
fellowship, hear the Gospel, and, of course, drink coffee (by the way,
Ethiopiais the birthplace of coffee, so it’s the best!!!).
For the New Year, Strong Hearts blessed their Buna Tetu families with
a chicken and four eggs each. To us this seems rather inconsequential,
so I’ll put it into perspective. Currently, the US dollar is worth 16
Ethiopian Birr. I have been told that an average month’s rent here is
around $8. A chicken costs around 1600 birr…or $10 USD! On New
Year’s Eve, several of my Bingham colleagues and I joined the amazing
staff of Strong Hearts to hand out the (live) chickens and eggs,
repeating the phrase “Melkam Addis Amet” (Happy New Year) more times
than I can remember.
Following the ministry at Strong Hearts, we join the staff for an
Ethiopian New Year’s celebration. This party featured a freshly
slaughtered sheep cooked over a bonfire (t’ibs), traditional songs and
dances around the fire using chibo (bundles of sticks), firecrackers,
fellowship and bountiful laughter. Ferengi (foreigners) and Habesha
(Ethiopians) alike welcomed in the New Year with great celebration and
anticipation.
As I mentioned earlier, the Ethiopian New Year is observed on
September 11th. It is ironic that while an entire nation celebrates,
looking forward to what is ahead, another nation mourns, remembering
what has been. I am struck by this paradigm. As I enter the year 2003
(again! And I really don’t mind being 7 years younger!), I have been
challenged to never forget where I’ve been, but to look forward to
what God has for me this year in Ethiopia!
Amehsehgenalehu (thank you) for your prayers and support as I follow
the call God has placed on my life!
For more information about the amazing ministry of Strong Hearts
Ethiopia, check out their website at http://www.strongheartsethiopia.org.
Girl Meets Ethiopia 