Charis Around the World

Tidbits from Ebony
by Elizabeth Carmichael

A Trip Back to Glory Land

Dear Charis Family,

Hello from Ebony! Praise God, I finally got my new visa to re-enter the country, after spending five weeks in another Central Asian country just waiting for the authorities in Ebony to finish processing my invitation letter.  Issues like visas (permissions to enter another country) are a major part of living life overseas and an important prayer point to remember as you lift up brothers and sisters who serve as civilian residents in other places.  Many people have to travel in and out of their countries of service every couple of months, with children and home school supplies in tow, in order to renew their visas. Others face the constant threat that their visas or residence permits will be revoked for some arbitrary reason.  Thanks for lifting me up while I worked on my visa and thanks for rejoicing with me that this part of the process is done!

Another wonderful development of late is that I was invited to return to the city of Glory Land with my new organization in order to spend a week helping to supervise a childbirth education course of sorts.  This course is five days long and it is designed for Ebony women to teach other Ebony women how to teach OTHER Ebony women about prevention and management of emergency situations occurring in pregnancy, during or after delivery.  There are 20+ Pushpin women in the group and it is going very well thus far.  It is so exciting to me to be a part of this training since it is one component to the project I had been dreaming about in Glory Land for quite some time.  The Father is just working it out in a different way than I ever would have expected.

As we rode into the city from our flight on a Red Crescent (Red Cross) plane, I felt so at home.  I miss this place.  We passed a lady who was literally laying down in the middle of the dirty street, her head and face completely covered with her veil.  It was clear she was sitting there, intending to beg from passing cars, yet, at the time we passed by, she was lifting her veil to expose her breast to her baby who was laying on his side beside her.....in the dirt....in the street.  It was a very sad picture and one I can't remember ever witnessing here before.  It made me so thankful for the training course we are here to facilitate, and so hungry for the impact it might have on the women of this region.

For our first night in Glory Land, I was to bunk with the three Ebony ladies who had traveled from the capital to actually teach the course.  As young, modern, big city girls they were NOT pleased to discover that Glory Land is so hot!!  Nor were they happy to see we'd be sleeping on mats on the floor (like the rest of the people in Glory Land).  :-)  They also had a very hard time processing the thought of no electricity.  I just said to them...WELCOME TO MY LIFE! :-)  Their grumbling and complaining truly made me feel like I was back in the days of taking high school or college students on trips that included some need for servant-heartedness and adaptability. These girls cracked me up.  The whole situation highlighted for me the stark differences in class and life-style among different people in Ebony -- even though people of this nation are often considered one group who live in very similar circumstances with very similar values.  It is clear to me now that this isn't always the case!

These ladies had EACH brought a suitcase full of newly tailored clothes. Since the style of dress is different in Glory Land than the capital, they felt the need to provide themselves with new wardrobes in order to fit in.  They started laying out pile after pile of bright, multicolored fabrics.  Scarves and pants were flying.  Shoes were brought out and paraded around.   It was a mad house and rather hilarious.

As the girls became tired, they started to complain more.  This time, it was the smell of the place.   I gave each of them a wet wipe from a pack I had brought with me. They were wet wipes purchased in Central Asia, so they had a very distinct, perfumy smell that I actually can't stand.

One of my favorite images as we were getting ready for bed, was of one of the ladies texting on her cell phone while she was supposed to be doing her Cousin prayer ritual.  Maybe she thought she needed to try another way to get through to Him.  I am not opposed to thinking outside the box!

We provided an ample feast for the mosquitoes as the night wore on.  The girls kept calling out to me in the night.  "Elizabeth!"
"Elizabeth!"

Yes, I'll admit that it got to the point that my response was simply,  "What?!"

To which they incessantly replied,  "How are you doing?"  Oh my goodness!  They crack me up.

I would always answer, "I'm fine.  How are you doing?"

Then the whining would begin,  "We can't sleep.  We're scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"The guards."

I growled and rolled over, "Don't be scared!  They are guards.  They are doing their jobs.  God is with us."  This went on for several hours.   Oh.....I am looking forward to some sleep tonight!

We were all exhausted for the first day of training, but it was a terrific time.   The Pushpin ladies who are participating in the course are very vibrant and willing to participate fully in the role playing, the discussions and the other aspects of the course. One lady brought her four month old baby, so it is a joy to serve her once in a while by holding and playing with him so she can concentrate.  I am learning so much from how the ladies from the capital are teaching and also from the insight and stories shared by the Pushpin ladies in attendance.  My mind is swimming with Pashto and the other language of Ebony.  It is a fun time.

The highlight of the evening here in Glory Land has got to be the walk I just shared with a dear, old friend.  She is leaving Ebony soon, but was a part of my process of falling in love with this place and a part of all the Father taught me in Candybar. We walked around and around a lovely rose garden here at the office.  It had just rained and the cool, spring smell was irresistible to us.  We walked and set our minds upon Him, shared our hearts, and I was greatly encouraged and further refined in His truth that she shared with me.

Thanks for joining me for this day.  Please pray for the ladies taking this training, that they would be able to use it throughout Glory Land.  Pray also as I visit friends from the past year.  I am not sure when I will be able to visit this city again.  I want to make the most of it!

Blessings and Love,
Elizabeth C.