Ethiopia Day 1

The view from our hotel room at sunrise...


Our first day we went to the "mercato" which is the largest open air market in Africa. It was incredible. Busy and full of commotion...we watched our pockets carefully as we were told we would be easy targets. We watched a girl in front of us get pick-pocketed.

We stayed at a new hotel. It was centrally located in Addis and made it really easy to get around. We were all up early due to jetlag and the time change. The flights over were fairly easy since we slept most of the way. We had a free day until the rest of our team arrived so we headed to the open market to look for cool Ethiopian stuff...I was on a mission to find cool crosses for my jewelry...it did not disappoint. We are all buzzing with energy from this place. It is so unbelievable that we are here again. Our contact from CWA is Haddush. He met us early and is taking us around Addis. He is so kind and generous, always smiling and laughing. It's nice to have someone to translate for us...

Mission trip vs. Humanitarian trip

TEAM ETHIOPIA...the girls...and the guys

We are safely back from Ethiopia. We are tired, inspired, sad, transformed. Re-entry back into everyday life has proved challenging...

It was amazing to feel the presence of God with us the entire time we were in Ethiopia. I learned on this trip, from Dorothy who joined us from South Africa, that the differnece between a mission trip and a humanitarian trip is working for the good of God vs. the good of man. It was clear after the first day that we were there for God and he was going to lay out our path and bless it. Amazing stories unfolded and major changes took place that lead us exactly where we were supposed to be. We saw what we were meant to see so that we could come home and continue to work on behalf of these beautiful God loving people. We were blessed to work side by side with them each day. Our hearts are full and our spirits are strong so that we will remember them and come back to keep giving them hope.

I will post photos as I collect them from everyone...

...and we're off!!

Tess and Cameron boarded a flight to Miami this morning and are already enjoying the florida sunshine with their grandparents (vovo and vovo)...we will see them when we get back from Ethiopia.

We are all packed and ready for our 5 am pick up. I will not be taking my computer this time since I was unable to get on line last time we were there. I am excited and a bit anxious to just get there and get settled into our work. I pray that we are all safe and healthy throughout!

Thanks to everyone who supported and dropped off donations for this trip! Will post some amazing photos and stories when we return...Happy Easter! OX

Thank you Nancy and Perry!!

Our sweet friends Nancy and Perry Alshul were so generous and donated 50 backpacks for our trip to Ethiopia. CWA sponsors 250 local kids to go to school in their village. We will get these backpacks to them so they can carry their things to and from school. Our friend who does ministry in South Africa told us they actually end up using the backpacks as a dresser to hold their clothes and shoes inside their huts...So thank you N & P for making a differnce in these kids lives!! OXO

Tess and the boys

We heat up the new jaccuzzi just about everyday. Since it has been a bit chilly for the pool-everyone ends up in the jaccuzzi. It makes me laugh because it ends up being a bunch of boys and Tess. She doesn't seem to mind one bit...she's always the first one in and the last one out!!

Date Night...John Mayer concert in L.A.

Jeff and I had a great date night this week!! We went up to LA to meet a friend who is giving us 50 backpacks for Ethiopia. Then we checked into the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd and just relaxed by the pool before heading off to a John Mayer concert...row 4...amazing music...the best company ever!...the perfect date night!!

11 days and counting...til Ethiopia

...the donations are pouring in!! It feels like every surface of our house is covered in donations....Thank you to Dr. Godino and Dr. Reishel for each donating 200 toothbrushes and toothpaste! Thanks to lots of friends for the clothes and supplies and thanks to Rainbow Sandals for the 50 pairs of leather flip flops!! AND we collected money from those farther away that will be used to buy supplies when we get to Ethiopia. It is feeling very real now and we are excited. Ally and I designed the team t-shirts for our group today. Jeff and Marco bought bug repelent, power bars and a gadget that will boil our bottled water to make tea while we are there...