I just found out that some of the staff traveling down to Tigist’s funeral by public transport were in an accident and some were injured and hospitalized. I don’t know any more than that…
Ethiopia
Archived Posts from this Category
June 10, 2009
This morning, the country director of Ethiopia contacted me. He told me that he had sad news from Zeway. One of our social workers in the Child Development Project, Tigist passed away the night before. From what I understand she was in some type of a car accident, taken to the hospital and passed away sometime later. The staff will be traveling to southern Ethiopia for her funeral over the next few days. I wish with all my heart that I could be there during this time. Please pray for my coworkers, for the 125 children under Tigist, and the Zeway community as a whole.
April 15, 2009
I was recently included in an article by George Fox University… take a peek!
March 4, 2009
It’s been a great adventure that is winding down… I’m looking at my last 48 hours in South Africa, before heading home. Home to Ethiopia that is. I’m actually ready to get back so I can get to work. I miss my friends and my home. I met up with my cousin, Greg, in Johannesberg. We spent the night and quickly headed off to Madagascar. We masterd public transportation and were crammed into busses with the majority of our stuff loaded on top.
Our desintation was a huge park which holds a secondary and primary rainforest. There we saw 3 or four types of Lemers, lots of birds, chamillions, gekos and georgeous frogs. We would start our explorations in the morning, and even did an evening walk to see the chamilions in their full glory. It was nice. It poured on my birthday, but it made it a greater adventure hiking through the forest. When it came time to leave, the airlines wouldn’t let us because they overbooked, so we got a free night at a nice hotel and were routed through Mauritius the next day.
We arrived in Mauritius, made it through customs and found our gate. Just when we were to be boarding we were told that there was a problem and our flight would be canceled. We were excited because that meant we would actually be able to leave the airport and see some of the beautiful island. A few hours later, we were on a bus and being carted away along with all the other passengers. They took us to a 5 star hotel… let me tell you we spent that night in luxury… eating a feast, looking at the beach, and enjoying a luxurious room… I felt like a queen.
Finally 2 days later than planned we arrived in South Africa. We rented a car and drove directly to Greg’s good friend’s house. I’ve been relaxing, and seeing some of the pretty countryside. I finally got to see Greg’s house and the area where he spent so many years- that was a gift. One night I saw 2 rhinos on the road and a puff adder snake(which later died and was skinned). We also spent a day exploring the indiginous forest through a canopy tour (zip lines). Which was an exhilirating adventure. And just got back from seeing the Drackensberg Boys Choir… which was amazing. Tomorrow we’re heading off to Durban to play at the beach and soak up the sun on my last day here. Then I’ll fly to Johannesberg and by evening I’ll find myself in Addis Abeba. It’s been a good time and I’ve had a good chance to see how life works here in South Africa.
I have posted some photos from my trip to Madagascar
Here are pictures from South Africa
February 15, 2009
Tomorrow morning I am taking off for a three week adventure. My cousin Greg, talked me into joining him during his return trip to South Africa. Well it didn’t take much talking, because I have been wanting to visit this country since he began working there many years ago. Well the day has come and we will be spending 1 week in Madagascar spying on the lemers and other exautic creatures then we will be roaming my cousin’s old stomping grounds for about two weeks. I feel a bit guilty that I get to take part in these adventures but so happy that I do. I’ll keep you posted…..
February 9, 2009
Some photos from our day of shopping….
Shoe Shopping
Stylin in their new clothes
Gleeful Shoppers
February 9, 2009
Bridges of Grace, Child Headed Household Program, regardless of what you want to call it, the program has definetly begun. Of the 31 children included in the program from our existing Child Development Program Children 6 were selected to kick of the program by shopping for their new clothes items and eating a snazzy lunch. I can honestly tell you that I’m not sure if I have ever seen children so excited about a shopping spree. This is not an every day activity for these children who are lucky to get enough food to eat and they were giddy with with joy… like a dream come true. Not only that, but these kids were able to shop together and learned for the first time that they were all in the same position: living without parents or guardians and doing their best to get by.
January 29, 2009
I love having the opportunity to teach my project’s social workers. I love being able to build their professional capacity and change the way they work with people in our community. It’s simply exciting to me. Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach again, this time we focused on review of past sessions, empowerment, strengths and developing resiliency in children. I’m not sure if you are familiar with the word empowerment, but this word encompasses what it is all about: giving power, confidence and strength to people. I love the idea of it and it is exciting to be apart of the empowering process for the social workers and indirectly for the community. The social workers were great- participating, doing little dramas and of course joking as much as possible-but in the end I believe that they found the training helpful for their work and even their personal lives.
January 29, 2009
I love having the opportunity to teach my project’s social workers. I love being able to build their professional capacity and change the way they work with people in our community. It’s simply exciting to me. Yesterday I had the opportunity to teach again, this time we focused on review of past sessions, empowerment, strengths and developing resiliency in children. I’m not sure if you are familiar with the word empowerment, but this word encompasses what it is all about: giving power, confidence and strength to people. I love the idea of it and it is exciting to be apart of the empowering process for the social workers and indirectly for the community. The social workers were great- participating, doing little dramas and of course joking as much as possible-but in the end I believe that they found the training helpful for their work and even their personal lives.
January 29, 2009
I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world because I had a FRIEND come a visit me. It’s hard to believe that just a week ago Melissa was here sharing in and experiencing my life. We visited friends, experienced the chaos of an Ethopian Orthodox holiday during our bus ride to Zeway and listened to the rain pound my tin roof. I feel so lucky because I am one of the few foreigners living here who actually got to host a friend- not a family member but a friend. I think one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive is the gift of a visit, because now I have one more person who can understand and visualize what I’m talking about when I talk about being emotionally exhausted walking from my house to my office or that I didn’t feel like going to the market because it is a lot of work. Thanks for the gift Melissa!!
