My First Visitor

My brother Josh is really my first visitor, but he helped me move in to my place and I wasn't really set up to host him. Saturday my girlfriend, Sara (who works for an NGO in Addis) came down for a one night visit. It was really great to be able to show her my house, my neighbors and life around Zeway. We walked down to the lake while being trailed by a bunch of kids asking for her water bottle and took a horse ride to the big outdoor market in town.

For me, it wonderful to have a friend who knows where I live and what it is like for me. When I got to Addis and tell my friends there about my day or about something that happened, its difficult for them to picture- just as you can only go off of what you've seen, experienced or imagine. So, it's a blessing for me to have yet another person who can understand a little bit of my life.

Peace & Joy

The other night I was visiting one of my neighbors houses. There I sat on the floor in their mud walled house singing songs and watching the children dance. Then one of the girls who is about 10 years old said she knew a song from school (she goes to the Catholic school in town). They were trying to sing all of the "Christian" songs they knew. If any of you know the song "I've got joy like a river, I've got joy like a river.... Peace like a fountain"

In all her earnest it went something like this:
I've got joy like a liver I've got joy like a liver, I've got joy like a liver in my soul.
I've got peace like a lotion, I've got peace like a lotion, I've got peace like a lotion in my soul.

let me tell you I tried my hardest not to laugh--- just gave her a great big smile & asked her to sing more.

Is it possible??

is it possible to be so full that you feel like you can't eat for days. It's a strange sensation when that feeling doesn't come from turkey and stuffing but from injera, coffee and doro wat (red chicken stew). I've just finished welcoming in the new year Ethiopian style. we are now officially 2 days into the year 2000 according to the Ethiopian calendar. I celebrated by doing what we do during holidays: eat and eat some more. Really, it's incredible how much our ever expanding stomachs can hold, when just keep eating more and more food.

The nice thing about this new year is that it was nice and warm. In the 80's maybe even into the 90's... I don't think that can be said of any new year I've experienced in the US.

So I'm back at work. Eagerly typing away at my computer. I'm supposed to be working, but the internet has decided to work today-- even so much as to let me use Blogger-- that i'm catching up on face book and checking out everyone's blogs. It's great to feel connected to people even though we're so far apart. So thanks to all of you for keeping me and the rest of the world updated.

OK I've gotta go and actually get some work done. We've got some visitors coming next week-- which means we've got a lot of planning and organizing to do. Here's to a great weekend!

from August 30: Child Celebration Days

This past week was exciting but also VERY exhausting. We held the first annual Child Celebration Days in each of our communities. Everyday of the last week we held one of these events. Sometimes it was outside under a cluster of trees or we packed into a government building or school. All of the children in our program and their parents or guardians were invited to attend. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the achievements of the supported children. Many of the children in the program did not have the opportunity to attend school until FHI came into their lives. It’s incredible how much potential was wasted by these children not being able to attend school. Now their lives are changed and many work extremely hard to gain high ranks in their classes. We had government officials attend each of the events. At each of the events we had between 500 and 1,500 people in attendance. Just picture 600 people packed into a room that should comfortably seat 200. At each of the celebration days we had different speakers from the government and FHI who spoke about the importance of school, health, HIV and many other topics. At a two of the celebrations everyone was given candles which were all lit from one central candle. It was a gleaming display of community and the influence one person can have on another as the flame spread from candle to candle. The highlight of the event was the awards of achievement. The children who ranked in the top 5 of their grade at their schools received new English or math exercise books. Those ranking first received big dictionaries. These children and their parents were beaming with pride. Following the award ceremonies the Food for the Hungry Drama team did comedy filled and touching dramas educating about HIV. Then came the mass distribution of bottled coke and cookies for everyone. At our biggest event it took over ½ an hour just to open up all of the coke bottles.

Each of the celebrations was a giant success. Nothing like this had ever taken place in any of the communities. People left feeling special and appreciated. It was a blessing to be able to participate.

Candles

At the Bulbula Celebration Day a government official lit a candle and the flame was passed throughout the whole room. Incredible.!

Food for the Hungry's Celebration Days

From one of the Food for the Hungry's Celebrations days. LOTS of people at every one. By the time the week is out I will have attended 5.!!

Children

Children enjoying their soft drinks and cookies during the celebration.