Heading ‘West’ from Addis Ababa

Holeta Mulu Wongel Child Development Center (ET-403) is about 44 km from the capitol city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. One of the added programs that this center offers is the Child Survival Program which helps pregnant mothers living in the area. This specific program offers basic education regarding health, disease prevention and routine care. So, Compassion is already there to help the unborn child and his or her family. The average wage earner (adult) makes around $18.00 a month.

Fresh mud quickly became our ‘friend’ as we stepped out of our vehicle. Two inches worth of mud in some areas along the worn paths around the center. Mid August is near the end of the rainy season.

We were warmly greeted from the center’s CSP families, mainly women and children, who ran up to us with beautiful multi-colored roses that were actually grown close to the village.
After an extensive tour, we made our way into the church’s humble worship center. The smell of bold coffee and a huge loaf of barley ‘injera’ filled the air. The bread loaf was made by hand and baked in a clay oven over a wood fire. The coffee beans were grown near the village.
After a visit to some of the homes, we traveled back to Addis Ababa to meet with Dawit Hailu, the director of Compassion in Ethiopia.

‘These are the first store bought toys that these little ones have ever seen or played with…ever”. One 6x6 room at the center was used for child care (kids mostly younger that three) while the mothers attended health training classes next door. The room had a handful of toddler toys. Just the basics…balls, blocks, etc. It hit me. These kids don’t have store bought toys to play with at their own homes. Not even a ball of their own. I’m thinking, my two girls (Bailey and Mariah) have out grown more toys (that we still have boxed up in our basement) than hundreds of children in poverty will ever see. But, you should have heard the laughter and seen the smiles beaming from that room.

Editor’s Note: The drive to the center was very interesting. ‘Mickey’ our driver for the week was wonderful! It was everyone else that we worried about. Maneuvering through traffic is never the same overseas as it is in the states. Traveling in Ethiopia is no exception. The biggest vehicle has the right-of way. Whether they truly have the right-of-way or not! And who let out all of the animals into the street? (Yes, we have photos coming).