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Thursday, July 1, 2010

days 3 and 4

We woke up early to pack up our things, eat and then meet the Glimmer staff to head out on our adventure down south. We were driving to Awassa. Our travel group was the 4 of us, Eric from Austin (Glimmer Director of Social Investment), Tameru (Glimmer head in Addis), MC (previous Glimmer intern, new full-time staff moving to Addis for 2 years), Asafe and Daniel (drivers).

The drive to Awassa was easy, on a nice road and provided some lovely scenery along the way. 3 of the 4 women on the trip had been to Ethiopia several times and Julie H. was experiencing it all for the first time. We were trying to convince her that the Sheraton in Addis really wasn't the best first introduction and that once we left the city, it would change very quickly! Well, clearly I didn't know about the new Haile Resort in Awassa.
We pulled up to this brand new hotel and Julie said, "this doesn't look so bad!" We just cracked up. The resort is named after and owned by the famous track star, Haile GebreSallisie.

We quickly got our rooms and then left to go with Julie N. on her birth family visits. This is her story to tell, not mine, so I won't share many of the details. She was only able to do one of the boys this day due to the muddy roads and the next one would take place the next morning. After the first visit, we went looking for THE DRUM that Julie had wanted since her very first trip to Awassa.

Apparently she saw a drum when they traveled to get Caden and didn't purchase it.....thinking they would make it back to that shop before heading back to Addis. Well, they didn't and that began the two year search for the elusive drum. We found one that was hot pink and it just wasn't "the one". She was disappointed and I just had a sense that the Lord was trying to press something upon her heart as this day simply hadn't gone according to plans......our plans I will add. More on that drum in another post. :)

We returned to the lovely hotel to relax, eat dinner and get as much rest as possible before the next leg of the journey began.

The next morning was just everything Julie had ever hoped or imagined as she spent it in the actual hut that her Cruz was born in...........again, the specifics are hers to share, but wow! She was glowing once she arrived back at the hotel. Glowing.

We were now driving south once again. We would have car trouble about 45 minutes into our drive that would prove to be a divine appointment. The little village where we pulled over came out, we were able to share some pens, lollipops, a new soccer ball and conversation with these precious people. We got more in return, as is often the case during these encounters.

It was determined that it was possibly not actually the timing belt, but a faulty light indicating an issue and we were back on the road. Once past Soddo, the paved roads ended and the bumpy, dirt roads began. On those for about 3 hours. :)

We finally made it to Tercha, the main district of the Dawro Zone in the Southern Region of Ethiopia. Took me most of the trip to figure out the system of zones, regions, districts, etc! We ate dinner with the grand puba of the Dawro Zone and he was such a gracious host. Insisting that I finish my beer only to see him waving at the waiter to bring me another one! Oh boy. :) We were very tired and ready for bed..............speaking of bed. Here is a pic to end this post. More on the room tomorrow!! :)

11 comments:

Kristin said...

Ha! Good recap em. And your last pic of the bed looks so NICE! Mine had giant moths, prehistoric beetles and those wasp thingies all over the outside of my net (well and inside.) Love the pic of Safer outside the car on the phone with his boss no doubt! Miss him!

Tymm said...

Loving reading this... thanks so much for all the details!!

Lori said...

Boo hoo, boo hoo hoo, boo hoo...crying to be there now. Living through your re-lived posts. Sounds glorious!
Lori

Holli said...

LOVING THE UPDATES!!!
keep'em coming!

annit said...

It's wonderful that you can take us along, post-trip! Thanks for all the details. Can't wait to hear more...

jill funkhouser said...

Looks so fun and beautiful!

Kimberly Baggett said...

i am totally loving these posts as we were right there with you (or actually a day ahead); however, it still makes me so happy to hear of your trip! do you know what town you had car trouble in? was it by chance yirgalem? i am curious because that is where we were!! and it is 45 minutes south of awassa!

Misty said...

i just love hearing all about the trips and seeing the pictures! thanks (again) for sharing :)

Gwen Oatsvall said...

i miss you !!! call me soon so we can catch up !!!

Courtney Holder said...

Thanks for sharing the pics and story of your recent trip to Ethiopia! I've been following your blog for a while. My husband Scott and I are in process to adopt from Ethiopia and it's always so fun reading about other peoples' stories of adoption.

missy said...

just now have the energy to focus and catch up on your trip. how amazing for her to be in the hut where her child was born. can't wait to read more.

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"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from becoming polluted by the world." James 1:27
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