After an early rise we got into our mini bus to travel outside
We had many close runs with donkeys, goats and sheep before arriving at a rock hewn church. After a little discussion with the guide we were able to look round the church which was facinating. It had been built in the 12th century and we were also able to say a prayer together with the priest.
Whilst snacking on the many biscuits Medenekia and Emebet had brought along with them we moved on to the only open air archeological museum in
It was great to have a day to reflect and enjoy a very different side of
Our day started off with a visit to a group of ladies who together run a small cooperative business. The group comprised women who are HIV positive as well as those who have not been affected by the virus but have chosen to work together in an integrated way and to be a sign of inclusion to the local community. The group's love for each other was evident as we entered a small warehouse where they work every day and were given a really great welcome. The group was sorting out wheat that would then be bagged and sold in small shops on the street. Other ladies were making Injura bread and others showed us how they crush chilies as well as other spices to bag up and sell. The smell of spices, coffee, charcoal and injura filled the air as we sat together asked questions and listened to them share with us a small part of their lives as well as hear them sing. We were then allowedto try out the various tasks that they spend their day doing and all left feeling that we could have spent the whole day with this remarkable group of ladies.
We then were taken with the minibus up some very narrow Addis roads through
a school to the back of its grounds where we encountered two small
buildings and a group of budding young entrepreneurs. This was the
mushroom project; another small business, but this time run by 10 young men
(aged around 20). These young men all come from families who are currently
a part of the child sponsorship programme. Very simply, World Vision was
able to share ideas with the group of the potential of growing mushrooms
(which up till now has not been eaten in Ethiopia). World Vision provided
the materials needed to build two sheds, the spores and other ingredients
needed to create the right process for mushroom growth as well as training
and ongoing support. The group are just about to harvest their first main
crop and have great ambitions to supply both the local hotels in Addis as
well as obtain export licenses in the future. They were a fun, youthful
and passionate group of young men who buzzed with hope and opportunity.
Our lunch-time conversation hummed with what we had seen, smelt and heard
along with a conversation with members of the micro credit "Wisdom"
organisation. Afterwards we went on to a local school / Kindergarten where
we were met and welcomed by smiles, singing and excited children. World
Vision has helped the school within the education project through providing
school materials, resources, outside playground equipment and ongoing
support and training. Today's experiences have all demonstrated the power
of hospitality, hope and harvest.
Over the last few days the team have all encountered people, young and old, in a variety of contexts. The following poem arises from two specific encounters:
Part 1 captures the moment when an old lady, who no longer had any fingers through accident or disease, asked for money whilst the team were inside the mini bus waiting at some traffic lights.
Part 2 captures the party day as we met, talked, sung and played games with children from the Lideta community.
Smile (part 1)
you smile at me
and from behind 'safe' glass
I self-consciously reel,
smile back
and feel
you search my soul
with eye piercing zeal;
hold out unloved hands
for something… real.
and mirror
my mixed motives
certainty: un-sealed.
and present
god’s parable.
life’s icon: revealed.
Smile: (part 2)
you smile at me
and from distant difference
we meet.
adult to child
respectfully greet
each simple
humanity-made small steps
to deeply connect;
and with mutual affect
as holy hidden gifts unwrapped
reap responses – feel
of joy, hope, delight
long lasting change – real
and as discovery made:
received more than given.
the smile is relayed
as earth touches heaven.
Martin Thomas
This morning we were able to visit World Vision Ethiopia's National Office where we met Bekako Duguma the Ethiopian Christian Commitments Director for WV Ethiopia. It was fantastic to learn more about the history of World Vision in Ethiopia over the last 25 years as well as understanding the context in which it works and some excellent new project initiatives. After a quick meal at a local pizza restaurant we were then able to visit two projects being run in Lideta. The first was a tailor co-operative which started 10 years ago and has been funded by the Wisdom Fund and is now producing some beautiful needle work. They have been able to pay their loan back to the Fund and the project now provides for at least 50% of the money they earn and they also have plans to extend their premises and open a shop.
After this we drove down the road and stopped next to an old container that had been split into 4 small shop areas. Here we met a shoe maker and his family, a drum maker, a hairdresser and a small shop. Three years ago World Vision paid for the container and for some of the set up costs for all of these little busineses.
Our resident Vicar (John) thought it was time to have a haircut!
Norman has been drawing some sketches as we've gone, here are a selection
of them.
"Most trading seems to happen on street."
"This goat herder was on herding his goats down one of the main streets of
the capital."
"This is a typical town scene, there is lots of corrugated iron used for
roofing and walls."
Today we were able to attend the service at Kale Hiwot Church. We split
into two groups, one went into the main service, and one went into the
childrens groups to help lead a few activities. Actually this meant that
they visited 4 out of around 8 classes, each holding between 30-50
children. Songs were sung, stories shared and hand prints were drawn to
send back to the UK to enable children to pray.
We all came together at the end to give our (and your) greetings to the church, and Chris gave a
short talk about running the race of faith and the prize which everyone can
receive; which was fantastic. We were so grateful that the wonderful choir
sang a song to us at the end of the service, before we returned the favour
with a rendition of “We are marching in the light of God”. We then
returned to the hotel with a group Pastors whose churches the CHiP
programme supports and had a fantastic time sharing stories and
experiences, encouraging each other and learning more about each other.
We asked the Pastors what we could all pray for. They shared the real need
to pray for their young people who face significant daily pressures,
particularly in how to live out their faith.
Today we held a two parties for our sponsored children, it was an amazing
time and below are some of our reflections.
“What a wonderful privilege it has been today to meet all 16 children
sponsored by our Church at St. Mary’s, Bloxham. To see the joy on the
faces of the children was something that I shall remember forever.”
Barbara
“I was able to meet all the children we are sponsoring at Long Buckby &
Brington Baptist Church today. They are really so happy that we are here,
and to receive all your messages, presents and love. Thanks guys – the
whole experience here is amazing. Watch this space!”
Norman
“Tsion our sponsored child was very very shy and it took some time to get a
little smile and sense of connection. When we went outside to meet her
much older sister we both felt more confident and shared a few lovely
moments. I got a feeling she was a serious and interesting little girl, I
am so curious to know what the future holds for her and her hopes and
dreams”
Iris
“It has been an absolute honour and a privilege to meet the 10 children
sponsored by the church family at All Saints, Allesley. They were so very
pleased that we are here and their wonderful happy smiles is a picture that
will be with me for a long, long time.”
David
“From now on I will be known as that bloke who caused a riot with a bag of
tennis balls. As soon as the children saw them I was mobbed. We learned
from it and the afternoon session was much more orderly. It was great to
see the smiles once they warmed up, and they surprised me with how clever
and appreciative they were. A moving and memorable experience.”
Chris H
“I was so thrilled to put faces and personalities to names, and to see the
childrens’ delight in simple pleasure like looking at pictures on the back
of a camera and batting balloons about. It is amazing to hear the plans and
aspirations of children who wanted to be everything from doctors to pilots,
and know that they have real prospects through the child sponsorship
programme.”
Kathryn
“This is my first overseas visit as a part of the staff with World Vision.
I wasn’t here to visit a particular child so I was able to get involved
with the whole group. Helping the local team host two two-hour parties for
so many children was amazing to be a part of; exhausting and exhilarating
all at the same time! So many highlights to share, but just two would be,
teaching a 12 year old to play ‘snap’ and singing “God is so good” in
Amharic!”
Martin
We asked the children to draw round their hands and here are the results...
