Throughout this adoption I have witnessed many awesome things. We have seen friends sacrifice for us, people pray for us, and God talk to us, but I have to say that this past week I witnessed the greatest miracle so far. You might be tempted to scoff when I share with you what it is, especially if your are familiar with God’s Miracles Greatest Hits—ones like parting a sea to defeat a great army, knocking down a fortified wall with a band number, or fire-proofing three Hebrew boys. These may seem pretty awesome, but hold onto your seat because changing the eating habits of a finicky nine-year-old female… I would rather take the Egyptian army. This past week we had to eat Ethiopian style.
Part of our Education/Home Study requirements includes becoming intimately familiar with Ethiopian culture. This is important because we need to be able to normalize Ubang and Chad’s environment any way we can. When they arrive in their new home, it will be like landing on another planet. Nothing will be familiar. The climate will be different. As I write this it is 45 degrees outside, in Addis Ababa where Chad and Ubang are it is 86. The environment will be different. Trees, grass, smells and animals will all be different. We have been told Ethiopian children are afraid of dogs because over the dogs they are familiar with are wild and dangerous and not household pets. The time is different. Now, I know what you are thinking, “of course there is a time difference”, and yes in hours, but also in days as they follow a completely different calendar with 13 months instead of 12 (and I used to complain about Indiana not changing time!).
Most importantly, the mealtime is different—not just the food—but the mealtime. You might say, “Why is that such a big deal?” It is a very big deal. Most of our memorable and cherished times are spent around the table. Think about it, when you went out on a date with your spouse, probably included a meal. When is important news often shared— around a dinner table. Holiday dinners, birthday cakes, first dates, and fiftieth anniversaries all include a mealtime and all become a part of our memories.
That is why it is sacred time, and for our Ethiopian kids, it is totally different. There is no silverware; you eat with your hands, actually your right hand. Injara bread (a kind of flat, sour dough bread) is pealed off and used to grab the food, which is served platter style, everyone shares with everyone. There is little refrigeration so the food is packed with spices to preserve and flavor it. And there is little to no sugar. Talk about a culture shock; try to find a food in the States where there is no sugar!
This is where the Frederick family comes to a crossroads. Let me just say, when it comes to food, we are about as plain as you can get. We are “meat and potatoes”, “peanut butter and jelly”, “hot dogs and apple pie” kind of people. An adventurous night out for us is to actually look at the menu at O’ Charley’s before ordering the hamburger and fries. And ethnic food? Well, we eat tacos and spaghetti does that count? But we had to experience our kids culture so we went online and found an authentic Ethiopian restaurant in Louisville—The Queen of Sheba. And this was my “pre-Sunday-lunch-out” speech: “Ok kids, this is gonna be awful, but you have to try everything, and no whining. If I have to do this, so do you.” I know, I have a way with words.
Well out it came, we ordered a little of everything: Doro Wat, Sega Wat, Doro Tips, Sega Tips, salad and Injera bread. When it arrived we gritted out teeth and were ready to try some gross, spicy, and fork-less food.
Before
After
So, like everything else we have experienced so far, we worry and God provides. We loved it. The Fredericks tore it up. All I can say is those people at the Queen of Sheba better not ever open a buffet because we will shut them down! It was great, even Lizzie thought so. She actually ate vegetables (although she did not know till afterwards).
Before our meals we usually pray a simple prayer that the kids have been saying since they were very little. We all hold hands and Liz or Zach will say, “Thank you Jesus for our food, Amen”. Maybe we should say something more like, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart (and tummy), and lean not on your own understanding (or follow your own tradition), but in all your ways acknowledge Him (and follow Him) and we will make your paths straight (and lead you to good food!), Amen.”
Brian
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