After our abrupt departure from Hawassa, we drove about 2.5 hours. When we got to a town called Ziway, prounounced zuh-why, Yilkal suggested we stop for lunch. He recommended the Haile Gebrselassie resort. I was excited to stop there because Haile Gebreselassie is a legendary Ethiopian distance runner, and I knew Jamison would be happy to hear I was at his resort.
The resort was a beautiful, quiet, peaceful place to stop.
It was located on the lake. It had gorgeous grounds and served a delicious lunch.
Located on this HUGE tree that welcomed us was an equally HUGE nest.
Which appears to have been built by this large bird.
Ethiopia is known for having a vast number of bird species. I know little about birds, but I did see many they were fascinating.
This photo gives the size of the tree a bit more perspective.
It really was spectacular.
We went inside and enjoyed a delicious lunch. The kids and I had fresh fish, caught from the lake! (Lunch here was fancier and also more expensive than some places. Full meals and cold drinks for 7 cost about 1200 Birr, Still cheap by American standards though.)
Just as we were finishing our meal, Yilkal received a phone call. His friend informed him that the highway had been closed. Little did we know when we stopped that we had traveled just far enough to be back in a "safe" zone. We thanked Yilkal yet again for being so thorough in his research that morning. God had certainly used him to keep us all safe.
It was at that point that our nearness to real danger became very real to me. Earlier, I believed it, but it felt a bit surreal. I had pretty much assumed we were being overly cautionary. I was traveling with some incredibly precious cargo, so being overly cautious was OK with me - but even after driving through all the military check points, I was not completely convinced anything too bad was going on. Hearing the road had been closed shook me up just a bit. We hastily headed back to the van, and I was a bit breathless until we were officially back in Addis!
It was another quiet two hour drive as we all processed, napped, and prayed.
Addis had never looked more beautiful!
Now, let me pause here and tell you that incidences like this are very uncommon. I know many, many people that have traveled in that area. Our group was the first group I have ever heard of being sent away. Ethiopia it typically a very safe place. If I ever have a chance, I will travel to Southern Ethiopia again. Although we met odd circumstances, please do not be afraid to travel there.
Since we arrived back in Addis way earlier than we had expected, Kristen suggested we drive out to one of her favorite places, Bethel Pottery. She described it as a "secret garden." A little time wandering through a secret garden sounded perfect to me! I was feeling stressed out.
When we finally arrived near Bethel Pottery the gravel lane became too rough for the van. Yilkal parked and told us we would need to walk. Normally I do not think this would have been a bit alarming to any of us - but we were on high alert at that point. We cautiously looked at all the people staring at the only vehicle in the area, loaded with white faces, and wondered about our safety. We asked Tsige if it was safe and she said, "I not know." Then she thought a moment and said, "Come on guys! I will keep you safe." And so we walked up the hill and around the corner while EVERY eye in the neighborhood watched us.
It was creeping me out, until a middle age man called out, "Where you go?"
When I responded, "Bethel Pottery,"
He waved, smiled, and said, "Thank you!"
At that point I felt OK.
When we arrived at the gate (remember everywhere in Ethiopia is gated) no one answered out knock. Tsige asked a neighbor lady if they were open for business. She sent her little boy over to help. He stuck his little fist through a crack in the gate and opened it for us. We stood in the entrance of the compound, and breathed in the sweet air of the eucalyptus trees that covered the compound. It was indeed a secret garden. It was also mysteriously empty.
I laugh now, but that day it just seemed creepy. Tsige and Kristen were both worried that the large guard dogs may come running and attack. So, we stuck closely to the gate, waiting to see if anyone were inside. Eventually, the ladies appeared. They had been sweeping the dirt paths that meander through their beautiful compound and had not heard us enter.
They graciously lead us to the buildings which held their products. One housed pottery. Another woven items like scarves, baby blankets, robes, etc. . . The items were beautiful. Even more beautiful was the serene compound. We were graciously given a tour, and then allowed to wander around a bit and enjoy the silent beauty.
And of course, we took the opportunity to take some photos!
I laugh now, but that day it just seemed creepy. Tsige and Kristen were both worried that the large guard dogs may come running and attack. So, we stuck closely to the gate, waiting to see if anyone were inside. Eventually, the ladies appeared. They had been sweeping the dirt paths that meander through their beautiful compound and had not heard us enter.
They graciously lead us to the buildings which held their products. One housed pottery. Another woven items like scarves, baby blankets, robes, etc. . . The items were beautiful. Even more beautiful was the serene compound. We were graciously given a tour, and then allowed to wander around a bit and enjoy the silent beauty.
And of course, we took the opportunity to take some photos!
This compound was amazing. It was silent and serene and very large. It is used for a variety of things. Products are made and sold here - which provides jobs for women who really need them. But the compound in and of itself is a service. There are few parks or outdoor places in Addis that are safe for children and families to run and play and explore. This compound is available for play. You can bring a picnic lunch and hang out. You can even rent a sweet little cottage and spend the night. The women who work there graciously prepare a coffee ceremony, complete with fresh popcorn, free of charge for their guests. It was such a sweet, relaxing way to end a very stressful day.
Our final day in Addis was Wednesday. We spent it exploring a few stores, visiting a couple of ministries, and touring the National Museum.
We spent a bit of time touring (and dancing with the children) at the Connected In Hope Preschool. Connected in Hope is a ministry that employs women, many of whom were former firewood carriers. Carrying extremely heavy loads of firewood down the mountain was once their means of employment. It is a job that is hardly fit for a donkey and pays next to nothing. This ministry was developed to employ women in a much better way. It has expanded and employs a few men and women with other stories as well. The preschool is a wonderful environment for the children while their mothers work. It also employs Ethiopian people as teachers and caregivers.
The ministry also has a beautiful guest home, with the most amazing view of the city. In addition to guest rooms, the guest home has a leather workshop and also a room they use for dying thread which will be woven. I was very impressed with all aspects of the ministry. The staff was knowledgeable and welcoming, the products were nice quality, and the preschool was very impressive.
The Ethiopian government does not allow online stores, currently. But, I am sure once they are allowed some of these products, along with the ones we saw at many other locations, will become well known in America. They were well made, unique, and support wonderful people. It was really exciting to see the beautiful craftsmanship that Ethiopia has to offer.
We had a delicious lunch at Lucy's Restaurant. It is located right next to the National Museum. Brenna really wanted to go to the National Museum and visit Lucy, the oldest human remains known to modern science. It happens to be something she is studying this year, and her science teacher was pushing for her to check it out. After lunch Brenna, Grant, and I rushed through a quick tour of the museum while Kristen, Sierra, and Yilkal indulgently waited in the van.
Brenna and Lucy meet!
Here is Miss Brenna on the steps in front of the National Museum.
Our last appointment of the trip was unplanned and unexpected - but it was also one of the greatest gifts of our trip. Yilkal, our driver, asked if we had heard of Carry 117. I had not. Kristen had. He asked if we would like to go there because his friend had founded this ministry. We were excited to go, more because we wanted to honor Yilkal with our time than for any other reason, but we were excited nonetheless.
It ended up being such a blessing to us.
From the moment Henok Berhanu climbed into the van, I was entranced. For one thing, he spoke better English than I do. It was so delightful to talk ministry with someone who could understand my questions. And his heart was a thing of beauty.
He explained that Carry 117 employes carefully selected women from the neighborhood of Korah. Once hired, these women's lives are totally transformed. They and their children receive two meals a day, which are prepared at the Carry 117 compound. They are taken to the doctor once a month because their living conditions have been so poor that frequent preventative health care is necessary. They are taught the skill of bag making from a talented Ethiopian taylor, who has left his well paying job to invest in this ministry. They are helped to find housing and schools for their children. They are taught budgeting and how to save money. They are given raises as they learn new skills and move up in the company.
But even more precious, they are loved. The way that these women and their children responded when Henok arrived was beautiful. You could feel the love, admiration, and respect they had for one another. It was totally inspiring.
The Carry 117 compound is in the neighborhood of Korah. Korah was once the dump ground. The government is no longer taking trash to the area, but the impoverished neighborhood remains. While we did not witness people living in heaps of trash, the area (which is located across the highway from Jemo) is certainly the poorest I have been in. It is impoverished, but it is NOT without hope.
This is the entrance to the Carry 117 compound. It was surely the shabbiest of the business compounds we entered, but the welcome and joy of those inside was perhaps the most sincere.
Looking inside, it is a tiny compound. The brown building is the kitchen and meeting room. There meals are prepared and eaten. They also use it for times of gathering and daily scripture reading.
The pink building is where the work happens.
In my estimation, Henok has chosen to invest in people and equipment, rather than a fancy location. He has a generator and nice, electric sewing machines. The products they make are beautifully sewn and creatively styled. I wish I could send you a link to purchase them. I bought many - a lunch bag for Mataya, a backpack for Brenna, a purse for Krissy, a toiletry bag for Jamison, a wine sack for Sharlene, and a sachel for myself. Each one was totally unique in design and very skillfully put together.
The women who have children stop working when their children are done with school for the day. The children are also welcome to come to the compound and play.
As a mom who loves working from home, I love that kids are welcome here.
These girls had rigged up a "tetherball" game using an empty bottle. I am so trying this next summer when we are camping and Joshua is bored!
These flowers touched my heart. The heart of women longs for simply beauty. I love that beauty is rising from the ashes of Korah.
This is a glimpse of the roadway in the neighborhood. Sewage may have ran in the gutter, but hope and hard work was the lasting impression left on my heart as I left the area.
Carry 117 also has a guest home. Henok spends much of his time guiding mission groups. As a guide, he brings mission groups to many different ministries where they do small projects and learn about the ministry and about Ethiopia. Both this guide work and the guest house help to pay salaries for his employees.
I love, love, love this ministry. I was honored to meet the staff and learn more. In the end we were able to help just a bit by bringing a couple of bags filled with their product back to the States. There is not much of a market for the items they make in Addis, so it must be shipped to America for sale. We were able to take several bags and bins with us which reduced their shipping expenses. It was so fun to be able to help in this simple way.
At this point it was late afternoon, and we needed to head back to our guest house to pack. Our flight left at 2 am.
Some of their last moments at Tsige's!
Sierra hates flying. It freaks her out, and wouldn't you know it, she was feeling sick when we boarded our first flight. It is never a good thing to start a 30 hour airtrip by puking in the airport trash can. UGH! The airport was quite an adventure. Sierra puking. The cleaning ladies chasing down and killing a rat. And a surprise appearance by world champion runner, Mo Farrah, who happened to be on our flight. Such drama!
(It was so ironic that we saw Mo Farrah because Jamison follows him on Instagram anf Twitter, s he knew Mo was training in Ethiopia. I had joked that I was going to meet him for coffee. When we saw him in the airport, I had to laugh. Jamison is so jealous. He can not believe our luck and us quite irritated that we did not get an autograph. In retrospect, I am upset with me too. A MO autograph would have been the greatest grad gift ever for my tall son.)
Thankfully the drama was short lived. By the time we got to London and ate, we all felt well. Our flight from London to Chicago was really empty, so we all sprawled out and slept well.
Actually, only us older ladies slept. Brenna and Grant spent the whole flight talking and asking the indulgent flight attendants for snacks and soda. They were the only kids on the flight and spoiled as such. Thankfully the flight attendants reported that they were great kids - very polite!
Before we knew it we were back in America, feeding our kids ice cream and McDonald's french fries. While there is no place like home, a piece of my heart is always in Ethiopia. Loving two lands, the way we do, is hard.
That concludes the details of our trip. I have some final thoughts, but these "facts" are as much as I have time for today. Thanks for traveling with me! I would highly recommend that you take a real live trip of your own someday!
