Its a 4am start tomorrow as we are leaving Addis to fly to Lalibela. Im not sure of the computer situation in the next place we will be staying so i thought i would post before we left just in case.
Today we went to the Merkato market, which is the largest market in Africa... Theyre not lying, the place is massive, and there are so many people around its practically impossible to move without bumping into someone or getting run over by a man with a wardrobe on his head. There must be more people in that market then there are in the whole of Devon.
After we were done in the market (I say done, we probably got a 1/4 of the way round and decided we had had enough!)We went to Ethiopias national museum.... Parts were interesting but museums are not realllly my cup of tea... Speaking of tea, we went to a cafe in the market, me, Karen, Rhi, and 3 of the boys sponcered by EEA, between us we had 2 teas, one coffee, and 3 fantas. It cost a total of 35birr... and 28birr is the equivilent to 1pound.... Crazy cheap.
The poverty around the market is even harder then it is near the guesthouse, there are less slums but more people actually living on the streets. People with missing limbs, single mothers and babies, we saw one guy with extremely swollen feet, they looked like they had become infected and were about 10 times the size of a normal foot. It left us speechless, its so heartbreaking and I feel so helpless.
I cant pray enough for these people and it would be really great if your thoughts and prayers went out to the people suffering in Ethiopia, and that they come to know the incredible love and grace of God.
Also pray for health in our group, as a couple of people have upset stomachs and not feeling so great.
Im missing home but enjoying my time out here. I feel it is really preparing me for my time away im India, both knowing what to and what not to take with me, and what to expect when i get there. Its also made me realise how much im going to miss people :(
Anyway, I will try and blog again before heading back to the UK but cant make any promises.
Big hugs to everyone xx
Monday 29 August 2011
Sunday 28 August 2011
Ethiopia! 28-08-11
Im a week into my time here in Ethiopia and im having a great time. The poverty is heartbreaking, but the generosity and kindness of the people here is unbelieveable. I cant explain the love they have and the willingness to give even though they have nothing. I have met some fantasic characters whilst out here, and heard some really inspiring stories of peoples lives and how they have been changed through the kindness of people and the neverending love of God. Ive seen first hand the extreme poverty of the people out here, even dogs and cats roam the streets searching for food, if people have a house its made out of anything they can find, just to have shelter. We visited some houses of people sponcered by the Ethiopia Education Aid set up by Maurice and Susan, and one of the houses was the size of a single bed, to sleep one man and his young child. They use paper and trees to make fire to cook food and heat water. We went to one familys home where they had a bed slightly smaller than a double bed to sleep 6 people, and the mother and father were both blind. But they are all so happy still. One of the people told me that happiness is all they have so if theyre not happy, thats when they have nothing.
We met a man at dinner who makes and sells jewellery on the street, and Maurice and Susan met him on a previous trip here, and now they pay for him to attend night school- he chose to study at night because he couldnt afford to stop selling on the streets as he needs to support him and his mother.
The roads here have absolutely no system- there are no traffic controls, just the occational police man sat by the side of the road. You pretty much have to push yourself through in order to get anywhere- its mental!
We met the teenagers from the church who are all lovely, we played games and sung songs and drank tea (the tea here they have without any milk and with about 5 sugars...).
We also played with the younger children sponcered by compassion, who are just so outgoing and beautiful. They all want to shake your hand and touch your hair and know your name. The moment the camera comes out they are all there jumping infront of you to take their photo, its almost impossible to take a photo of just one child cause as soon as you do that they all come charging from all directions!
The past 2 days we have been to Ambo with the youth from the church, and also the guys sponcered by Maurice and Susan. It was lovely spending time with them all and getting to know them and their stories. We played games and had talks and ate.... A LOT. On the last day in Ambo we had a campfire which was brilliant. The guys keeping the fire alight kept using petrol so the smoke was pretty toxic!! But it was a lovely way to spend our last evening together.. Pictures to come, the computer here is very tempramental and the USB thingys dont work. Neither do many of the symbols, thats why my punctuation is pretty much non exsistant. And the spelling may be off because the keyboard is a bit dodgy!
The weather here is their rainy season so it is much like an English summer. When its hot its hot, and when it rains.... it RAINS. Ive never heard rain so heavy!
Im sure there is a lot i have missed out but Ill be sure to add in the important stuff as and when i think of it (and when i can find a computer again.....)
This post does not give justice to thepeople i have encountered and got to know here, The saddness of the poverty and the heartbreak, and the beauty and generosity of the country itself. But I hope it gives you a brief idea of the time im having here, and the things i have seen and done. x
We met a man at dinner who makes and sells jewellery on the street, and Maurice and Susan met him on a previous trip here, and now they pay for him to attend night school- he chose to study at night because he couldnt afford to stop selling on the streets as he needs to support him and his mother.
The roads here have absolutely no system- there are no traffic controls, just the occational police man sat by the side of the road. You pretty much have to push yourself through in order to get anywhere- its mental!
We met the teenagers from the church who are all lovely, we played games and sung songs and drank tea (the tea here they have without any milk and with about 5 sugars...).
We also played with the younger children sponcered by compassion, who are just so outgoing and beautiful. They all want to shake your hand and touch your hair and know your name. The moment the camera comes out they are all there jumping infront of you to take their photo, its almost impossible to take a photo of just one child cause as soon as you do that they all come charging from all directions!
The past 2 days we have been to Ambo with the youth from the church, and also the guys sponcered by Maurice and Susan. It was lovely spending time with them all and getting to know them and their stories. We played games and had talks and ate.... A LOT. On the last day in Ambo we had a campfire which was brilliant. The guys keeping the fire alight kept using petrol so the smoke was pretty toxic!! But it was a lovely way to spend our last evening together.. Pictures to come, the computer here is very tempramental and the USB thingys dont work. Neither do many of the symbols, thats why my punctuation is pretty much non exsistant. And the spelling may be off because the keyboard is a bit dodgy!
The weather here is their rainy season so it is much like an English summer. When its hot its hot, and when it rains.... it RAINS. Ive never heard rain so heavy!
Im sure there is a lot i have missed out but Ill be sure to add in the important stuff as and when i think of it (and when i can find a computer again.....)
This post does not give justice to thepeople i have encountered and got to know here, The saddness of the poverty and the heartbreak, and the beauty and generosity of the country itself. But I hope it gives you a brief idea of the time im having here, and the things i have seen and done. x
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Let the count down begin!
So in 5 days time I will be flying out to Ethiopia with 6 other people. Started getting excited at last but still worried that i don't have all the right stuff to take out with me- lack of money means that I'm just gonna have to make do with what I've got!! Aaaand I'm moving house on Friday (19th) which makes packing so much more interesting.
In other news, on Friday (12th August) I was almost at the point of thinking I was never going to raise all the money, and worried sick about it. I had £1000 left to raise for India, and £500 of it needed to be sent off before Ethiopia... so I had a week to raise it. I was panicking and praying like nobodies business, I really felt there was nothing more I could do. BUT just when I thought all hope was lost, the very next day I received a letter from a trust that I applied to a month or so ago, with a cheque enclosed for £450. I put all my faith in God and he provided. So yeah I'm still worried about raising the rest of the money but with Gods help and the generosity of friends and family, I'm starting to believe I can do it again.
Watch this space! x
In other news, on Friday (12th August) I was almost at the point of thinking I was never going to raise all the money, and worried sick about it. I had £1000 left to raise for India, and £500 of it needed to be sent off before Ethiopia... so I had a week to raise it. I was panicking and praying like nobodies business, I really felt there was nothing more I could do. BUT just when I thought all hope was lost, the very next day I received a letter from a trust that I applied to a month or so ago, with a cheque enclosed for £450. I put all my faith in God and he provided. So yeah I'm still worried about raising the rest of the money but with Gods help and the generosity of friends and family, I'm starting to believe I can do it again.
Watch this space! x
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