Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Obi Kale Heywet Student Center

110 km southwest of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Today was another GREAT DAY! We traveled 70 miles to Obi, our destination for meeting new people and the older children. It was so nice going through the beautiful country side and seeing people and their children working in the fields together toward a harvest that will eventually be so beneficial to them. This section of the country today seem to be a bit better than what we witnessed yesterday. Everything seem to be greener and cleaner. We finally saw some elderly people, which we saw none of the day before. The animals even looked healthier.

The roads were very busy with unusual sights. We almost hit a herd of cows crossing the road and a mule lying in the road. The people were just as bad and the cars and trucks just seem to make their on lane. Sometimes a two lane road would become a four lane road. It was amazing, and I am glad I was not driving. The rains came once again and the mud with all the terrible smells, if you can just imagine, with the animals and no facilities for humans sticking to our shoes.

On the way back to Addis Ababa, we stopped in town to help out the economy by letting some kids clean our shoes. BOY! They know how to clean shoes. (Cindy)

Once in a lifetime meeting

Ric McClary (GM - The Light Radio Network in Vermont), one of our fellow Compassion team members, seemed nervously excited this morning. Ric couldn't wait until we arrived in Obi. Everyone who sponsors a child through Compassion International has the opportunity to visit their sponsored child. But not everyone can make the journey. He actually got that opportunity today to meet 'Rhinia'. Ric and his family sponsor her through Compassion International. Rhinia lives here in Ethiopia near the Obi site. A shy Rhinia was escorted by her father for this special moment.

A Compassion child sponsorship provides the material and physical needs of a child, plus the spiritual needs as well...through Jesus Christ. (Verne)

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).

We Made It!

We Made It!
Our flight landed in Ethiopia Sunday evening after +15 hours in the air. We had a very short refueling stop in Rome, Italy. No, they wouldn’t even let us off the plane to get souvenirs! Not even one group picture for the blog!
Speaking of the group, Cindy and I are traveling with 4 additional people: Mark, Ric, Jeff and Dallas.

The weather seemed cool as we left the plane and headed for the customs area. Everyone grabbed their luggage. Yes, all our bags made it across the Atlantic just fine.

Editor’s Note: We used some of the packing tips from European traveler Rick Steves. His pointers did lighten our load.