Our last day was jam packed as we wrapped up at three
different locations. We started the
morning with an hour long drive back to Holeta.
We helped the kids write to their sponsor families and complete an art
project. The were so well behaved. We had 36 seven-year olds in one small
room. They all worked quietly and
diligently to complete the project, sharing the supplies with each other.
Our sponsor child Desta was in this room, so we got to spend
some time with her as well.
Then it was lunch time, Orange Mirinda soda and sandwiches. The Mirinda comes in glass bottles that have to be returned. Knowing this, many of the kids returned to the care point with plastic bottles from home and then poured their soda into them so they could take their drinks with them and savor them or perhaps share them with a sibling at home.
Then it was lunch time, Orange Mirinda soda and sandwiches. The Mirinda comes in glass bottles that have to be returned. Knowing this, many of the kids returned to the care point with plastic bottles from home and then poured their soda into them so they could take their drinks with them and savor them or perhaps share them with a sibling at home.
All of these girls go to school together.
After this, sweet Lomi sought us out to say goodbye. She was much less shy today and it was nice
to see her smiling and more comfortable. The fact that we were spending time
with her at all was an answered prayer. We learned just before our trip that
Lomi had moved away from the care point further into the country side about a
month prior and was no longer in the program.
I was so disappointed to hear this. The kids at our church have formed a
bond with her and have been so eager to support her through sponsorship. We prayed that we would at least get to meet
her while we were in Holeta so that we could tell her in person how much she is
loved, even if it would be for the last time.
Well, God worked out a little miracle and shortly after arriving to
Ethiopia we found out that her mother decided that the school in Holeta was
better for Lomi and they had recently moved back so she could again be in the
sponsorship program. Her home is still a 30 minute walk to the care point, but
Lomi does not seem to mind the walk and appears thrilled to be back in Holeta.
After saying goodbye to all of the kids, we headed back to
Korah to pick up the rest of our crew and say our goodbyes there. I got to see Ato, the elderly man that required
medical attention earlier in the week. He looked so much better and smiled and
praised God for his recovery. We are
praying he will be back on his feet and fully recovered soon.
Then it was off to I Care to meet the 21 kids who do not
have sponsor families there. We got some great pictures of these kids and got
to know a little about each one. I’ll be
posting details on how you can sponsor one of them and be a part of the great
work that is taking place at I Care.
Ayne then generously gifted us with beautiful traditional Ethiopian
dresses for the girls and shirts for the guys.
They are some of the prettiest designs I’ve ever seen. She has great taste.
We stopped and picked up dinner at the best restaurant in
Ethiopia, Bake and Brew. It’s a newer
restaurant owned buy a guy from UK and it has the most delicious breakfasts,
sandwiches and desserts. It’s completely
up to code and you can even eat salad there (although I still didn’t branch out
too far, I did have the avocado toast a couple of times and spinach and
mushroom omlette).
We wrapped up our day relaxing and packing at the guest
house before heading to the airport. From the time we got dropped off at the
airport until we arrive back at home it will be about 32 or 33 hours of travel
time. As I type this, we are on hour 4
of an 8 hour layover in Turkey. The
girls are working on math homework, Nick is sleeping and we are chilling in a
quaint café. I was dreading this layover, but it has actually been rather nice
to hang out here. Next time we fly this
route though we will plan on staying in the airport hotel which has an hourly
rate. Our next flight is almost 12 hours
to DC and then just a short hour and a half flight home.
We are so thankful for our time in Ethiopia. Thank you again to everyone who made it
possible. I always say that I have to go
back periodically to reset my focus. To
have distraction free time in a home with 8 children is a complete luxury. It is always a blessing for me to get away to the place where God meets me so
closely. So, until next time, “Chow Ethiopia, ameseganalo!”
Like cold water to a weary
soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25
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