Mini-Bus

On our recent day off, Joel, Megan, I and Philemon (an Ethiopian friend), all took a trip to a waterfall located out of the city. Most anyone who has ever been abroad, especially to a third world country, has experienced the joy of in a mini bus. Being a traveled veteran I thought they were all quite similar until my most recent experience.

After walking to town, we decided to take a mini bus to the waterfall instead of paying what is equivalent to two-months wages for one ride in a taxi. We found the bus that was going where we needed to go and boarded it. Unfortunately we were the first ones on the bus and soon learned that the bus would not leave until it was completely full. For an hour and a half we sat there as the bus began to fill up, and then empty out as people got sick of waiting. The afternoon rush finally came and the bus was finally packed and ready to go. Not being used to the heat, I enjoyed the ride with my window open and the air blowing in my face. My enjoyment was abruptly interrupted when the man behind me motioned for me to shut the window. I shut the window and grumbled for a bit until he eventually opened his window because he got too hot. The mini bus continued on going further out of town and into the desert with no signs of there being a waterfall anywhere in sight. We stopped to pick up a man. This wasn't any old man carrying a bag of grain, but rather a man carrying a bag with a kitten inside. The kitten was hysterical, meowing as if someone had put it in a bag with a python and it was being sucked down as lunch. Us friengies (white people) could not believe that someone would carry a kitten in a bag, and dealing with the language barrier we had no idea what the man was doing with the kitten. As if the ride could not get any more crazy- it was hot and dusty, we had no idea where we were going or how there could possibly be a waterfall in the desert, there was a kitten being tossed around in a sack and possibly sat on- we made another stop. The door of the mini bus opened and in rushed 20 people all fighting for spots on this full bus that only carries 12 people. Pushing and thrusting their bodies into the bus we decided that we were close enough to our stop that we would get out. After careful maneuvering by the attending money taker, we were off the bus in five minutes.

We walked through the desert to an oasis that is the waterfall. We had to pay some kids at the trail entrance in agreement that they would not follow us anymore. On the mini bus ride home I sat next to an old guy who carried a gun. He rode for about 30 seconds and then got off- I laughed nervously for all 30 seconds.

I Am Brittany Spears

On any given day I unintentionally accept invitations for sex a minimum of 25 times. The sole act of making eye contact gives the men here in Mekelle the belief that I am welcoming them. To them I am not a Christ-loving girl who has a heart for this world but rather Brittany Spears, the hot blond with sexy moves and toys with the inner yearnings of men. I am here to do ministry and build relationships with the girls in hopes that they will not fall to become one of the 5,000 prostitutes in this small city. My job is solely focused on girls because of this understanding that the men have about us foreigners.

Besides just making eye contact, if I am seen talking one-on-one with any guys, it is automatically assumed that I am sleeping with that man. Just the other day I, Megan and Joel were walking to catch a taxi when down the street a man called out of his window to Joel, "Are both of them yours?" Joel, who has been here four months longer than us, just called back "no, they are friends." It was to my disbelief that someone actually believed that the white guy had the intention and ability to get two girls. Not only that, but also that much of what we have learned about the culture became apparent in this one instance.

I share this information with you not to make you think less of the men here in Mekelle, but more so to show you how the Western world can effect people here, and how large of a role sex plays here in the city. I don't know the men here in Mekelle, all I know is that there are a lot of them wherever we go. I have become a pro at avoiding eye contact even when it is difficult because everyone is looking at the "foringe" (foreigners) as they walk down the street. I also limit myself to interacting with any guys unless they are boys (under the age of 10). After this age it gets difficult to identify what is going on in their minds.

Real Life Sex in the City

I had a moment the other day where I just had to laugh at what I was experiencing. It all started when we were asked to come to a coffee ceremony. In a small little "club room" were six girls chatting away. One girl was conducting the coffee ceremony which consisted of brewing coffee, pouring it, boiling more water and then brewing another round with the same coffee grounds. The idea is that the coffee is stronger at the beginning and then weaker at the end. The room is filled with smoke that smelled like incense but had a smokier effect. For over an hour the girls chatted, laughed and yelled. It was as if they never ran out of things to say even though they are always together. At the end of the coffee ceremony, all of the girls whipped out their lip glosses. It was like a ritual they all do- drink coffee, chat forever, apply lip gloss and then leave. In the middle of this they also talked about what club they were going to go to the next night. At that moment I saw a parallel to Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda drinking their martinis, talking about their love lives, freshening up and then meeting later. Although these girls are nothing like the characters on Sex and the City, I had to laugh because I saw at that moment; girls are girls no matter where you are.

7:35 a.m. Departure

Hey All,
Here I am, less than 9 hours before I'm supposed to be leaving, updating my blog and creating an email list. We leave tomorrow and will arrive in Mekelle sometime Sunday or Monday. I have no idea how we are getting from the capital Addis Ababa across the country to Mekelle, but it'll happen somehow.


The first ever WSU Deputation team consists of myself and a fellow coug, Megan. Together we will tutor children in English, math and technology at a youth center in Mekelle, Ethiopia. From what I understand it is like the YMCA or the Boys and Girls Club, only with a lot more kids.

For the trip I raised a good amount of support, in addition to extra donations to buy supplies. So far, the following has been purchased with the supply money:

- 90 tennis balls!! (Great find at Goodwill- They are so expensive and the youth center desperately needs them)
- 5 basketballs
- 3 small basketballs
- 2 volley balls
- 5 soccerballs
- 1 kick ball (gotta love the childhood games)
- A couple tennis rackets
- A bunch of craft supplies!!
- The game of Sorry
- A couple books

Our bags would not allow for much as seeming as how I spent over an hour on the scale with my bags trying to rearrange supplies. The rest of the $50 available will be used to buy more supplies there and treat kids to coffee and ice cream (it's all about building relationships!)

I am very excited about the departure tomorrow, yet more nervous than last year. I'd have to admit that this year is spent finishing up more last minute details..

Hope all is well, and I would like to say thanks to the incredible roommates and friends who wished me a warm send-away, I will miss you all!

Hope Encounter Fall 2007

This is an article I wrote while in Malawi about the village I worked in. The article explains our first days in the village and how much that can change through a summer of building relationships.

Support Letter Ethiopia 2008

Dear Family and Friends, March 10, 2008

I guess you can say, “Here we go again!” No, one summer in Africa was not enough. A week after I graduate from Washington State University, I will be serving in Ethiopia, Africa.

May is coming sooner than I can believe. I recently moved over to Seattle to finish my college credits through an internship. I work at a PR agency doing media tracking for various Nestle clients. I love being back in the city, living in a cute house and enjoying my wonderful roommates. Every weekend is a new outdoor adventure, even if it is just ‘riding bikes’ (by this I mean we ride bikes around the neighborhood, not those long endurance-training bike rides). May 3rd I will be graduating with a degree in Communications-Public Relations and from there it is off to Africa.

May 10th will mark the day that I begin the long journey to Mekelle, Ethiopia. In Ethiopia a team of us will be working at a youth center similar to the YMCA. Our work at the youth center will consist of tutoring students in English, organizing sports camps and educating the youth about HIV/AIDS. We will also be using any of our skills to create programs for the children- who knows, maybe i’ll be giving ballet lessons!

In addition to the update, I am writing you because I would like to ask you to come along side me in this mission. Whether it is through financial giving or prayer, the need is great. After my experience with the children in Malawi last summer I learned there is nothing more this world needs than prayer. In addition I have been asked to raise $3,200 for the expense. My internship has provided me with financial foundation for this trip, but unfortunately my hourly-wage does not add up. Any contribution to this trip is greatly appreciated. If you feel like God is calling you to contribute something but you do not know what, I will also be taking monetary donations to buy supplies to bring down including sports equipment, clothes and books.

Thank you for coming along side me thus far in whatever way you have. The support I have received is tremendous and has given me so much comfort in going back this year. I have a deep love for the people in Africa and I am excited to share with you the big things that will happen this summer.




* If you would like to support by donating money to buy items, please send the money directly to me. I will be updating everyone on what was bought with the money before I leave.
Mindy Behl
4417 Sunnyside Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103

*Please include your email in the response cards and subscribe to my blog for regular updates: mbehl.blogspot.com

Hey all!
I have been back in the states for about three weeks now, and now am entering the time of reflections and sorting through everything I just experienced. The transition home has been bittersweet as I’m sure it always is. I am back at Washington State University finishing up my last year, living in my sorority, and starting to think about the future..scary! I thought I would send a little recap with the highlights of my summer in hopes that you all will be able to get a glimpse of what this distant land in Africa is like.

My Ministry:
Every morning after breakfast we would head out for our ministry projects. Two other interns and I would grab our wooden boards (chalk boards) and head across the field to Mgwayi village. It was inevitable that a couple of the kids would see us coming so they would run to meet us to carry the boards to the spot where we taught. We would walk through the village to pick up the rest of the kids. This often took a while because we had to greet everyone we walked by with a full greeting. At school we taught 50 little wiggly kids the alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes. The kids knew the alphabet song but had no idea that the letters correlated with the song. We did a new letter everyday starting by drawing it in the air and then the kids would go and draw it in the dirt. After we were done with the plans for the day, the kids would sing a little and then we would play.

We would walk back across the field for lunch at the mission center where we usually had American food, but sometimes beans, rice and nsima (the staple food of Malawi). In the afternoon we would head out to evangelism. Evangelism was my favorite part of everyday. We would walk back to the village, or go to other villages that are supported by COTN. This time kids ran across the field to us not to carry the boards, but to chase each other for the soccer balls; Malawian kids LOVE soccer, or “futball”. Same as the morning we would walk through the villages surrounded by a pack of kids, greeting the elders and yelling “groundie-football”. The boys would all run out to the field and the girls would usually follow along side us singing songs and attempting to talk to us in Chichewa (the Malawian language). We would play circle games, soccer and netball then round them up for a Bible lesson. For my evangelism I told the story of Daniel and how God saved him when he was thrown into the lions den because he was always so faithful to God. After the Bible lesson we would sing songs and then say goodbye until tomorrow; “tienna mowa”.

It was the winter in Africa so the days were shorter. At night we would plan for the next day, go to a COTN kids home and do a devotion, mend clothes for the village kids, or just hang out. I loved mending clothes for the kids. Just being able to sit out under the gazebo stitching up seams, wondering which kid these clothes belong to and praying that they are safe and well-cared for, were some of my favorite times.

Living Conditions:
Surprisingly life for us was not too difficult for us. We lived in a mission center that had beds, running water (often warm), and usually American food. There weren’t any real mysterious creatures or animals..we did catch a hedge hog! The weather was mild, usually 70s-80s during the day. The nights were way cooler than what we had prepared for so many of us had to double up on blankets.

As nice as the living conditions were, I struggled with being in Malawi and trying to adapt to culture, yet still having my little America. It’s hard to play with kids all day who have one outfit and no shoes, then go lay on a nice comfy bed with my ipod in. I’m still trying to figure out how to link the two worlds together.


What I learned and experienced:
Living in Malawi this past summer was more than an experience. It’s like a life-changing moment that I re-live daily.

The most incredible thing I learned this summer is what it means to truly love. The love that I feel towards these kids, and how they felt toward me has helped me to figure out God’s love. These kids became enthralled with the smallest things, a hand jive, a fun noise, jumping up and down while saying “we are jumping, we are jumping” (even though they didn’t know English they still said it too). These kids made us feel as though we were the coolest people on the Earth, and the same time we thought they were the coolest kids on the Earth. They all wanted to play with us, sit on our laps, and hold our hands; I remember at one evangelism I fit three girls on my lap.
As much as these kids were completely captivated by us, it helped me to realize that is how God feels towards me. Who knew that what I should of learned in the years of Sunday school, I wouldn’t understand till I went to Africa in my last year of college...

I saw what it was like to have a joyful and passionate character. The Malawian interns that worked side-by-side with us have the most authentic faith. The Malawian people in general worship with so much energy; it’s like a big celebration. In church, especially a Wednesday night potluck dinner, we would sing and dance in circles. I have so many stories about church alone.. The Malawians have the ability to quote scripture off the top of their heads, pray with complete assurance that God is listening and going to answer prayers, and sing- they are the most incredible singers! The Malawian’s character with the kids joyful spirits was refreshing to experience. Many of these kids have faced larger mountains than I could ever imagine, and yet they still show joy in being able to play and be loved.

I learned a lot about spiritual warfare and how powerful it is. It was definitely something that I had not expected to encounter, but looking back it was inevitable. We learned about witch doctors and the spirits that the villages are involved with. We experienced first hand the strong-hold that is on so many villages, and what that does to the people and kids in the village.

The People and Culture Tid-bits:
Africa was not what I thought it would be. I imagined the commercials where kids are poor, crying and starving; my intention was to save the world. Of course the standard of living is very low, but it works for them. The people have their way of doing things and although it would be easier to use tools such as tractors, they don’t have them so they make do.
Most of the women marry young and have three to seven kids. All of the kids take care of each other. It is not unusual to see a six-year old with her baby sibling on the back. I rarely ever saw the men in the Mgwayi village; I’m guessing that they are usually at work or off trying to find work.

The kids are mal-nourished. It was shocking for me to see all the little belly buttons that are supposed to be innies that are now outies. Alcoholism is a huge problem in the Mgwayi village. When I was there it was the end of the harvest season, so it was time to celebrate. The alcohol problem leads to further mal-nourishment of the kids. The money that would support the family goes to alcohol, or the parents are too drunk to feed their kids.

As far as AIDS goes, I always wondered how many of the kids I interacted with day to day were HIV positive. Malawi is the orphan nation due to AIDS, but the kids were always too lively it was impossible to tell.

Malawian dress is usually a wrap called a chitinge with some sort of top. Girls always wear dresses or skirts, and for women knees must always be covered. The boys and men wear anything, usually shorts and a top. The kids clothes are so worn, they wear clothes until there is nothing left, and even a little bit longer. Most kids don’t have shoes. The ones who go to school do because they have to, but otherwise the kids run around barefoot everywhere.

Malawian people are very relationship-based people. The sense of time is not nearly as important as stopping to talk to someone. I always loved when the older men of the village would stop me as I’m walking through and asked to play a game with them, it was a generous offer but I had my agenda to get the kids to the grounds. Our driver, Wilson, would stop the coaster and talk to the gate guard for at least a minute or two before we could leave the mission center. Women of the village would walk up as we’re teaching and greet us. Mid-sentence I’d have to stop teaching to shake hands and do a full greeting. It still makes me laugh to think about it.


I could write and tell stories about Malawi all day long, but I feel as though this is getting quite long. This past summer was by far the most incredible summer of my life. I absolutely love Malawi and Africa as a whole. I am completely contempt with the understanding that the mission I was sent to do has been fulfilled. The kids may or may not know their ABC’s now, but I believe they know that God loves them and that even though life may be hard now, something bigger awaits for them. We spent time building relationships and planting the seed for God to build a garden. Whether this time was intended for me to learn, or for them to experience God, it was a win-win situation. I’m anxiously awaiting the next call to action whether it is my next trip to Africa, or organizing something to support my village. I am so blessed that I got to experience the place that I fell in love with so long ago. Thank you again for your support, whether it is through prayer or finance. These kids in Malawi got to experience God because of you, and for that I know they are blessed.