By Jim Sorensen

After a short flight from Lalibela, we landed in Axum about 10:30 AM. We went to a new hotel—the Sabean International Hotel, checked in, and then immediately boarded the bus and headed for Selekleka. Jim Sorensen was a missionary there in the early ‘60s and started the clinic and hospital at Selekleka. We were supposed to hook up with two Ethiopians who live there, and who used to work at the mission station. But, somehow the message did not get to the guys and they both were absent. Jim was able to greet the wife of one, and the son of the other.

The mission station is still lying dormant after many years. The building where the hospital was located is shown in the background of the picture above. It is in disarray now and only being used for storage. Jim gave the group a tour of the building to show where he practiced medicine and of the grounds to show where he and his family lived.
Upon returning to Axum, we did some walking around the hotel area looking for some silver shops that Jim was certain were close to the hotel. We never found them! So, it was then time to go see the obelisks and other sites of this ancient city.

The guide we had was quite informative and helpful. The obelisks are now all there in the “Stele Park.” More than one year ago, the Italians returned the one they took from Ethiopia during the First World War. All were amazed at the awesome work it took to erect these great stones.
We went across the street to see the Church of St. Mary. It is a very large domed structure with fantastic acoustics, and was built in 1965 by Haile Selassie.

Since being here last June, they have added some frescos on the walls (shown in the picture above), which certainly adds color to the edifice. Some ladies were cleaning the church during our visit there. They were bending over from the waist and using short brooms without handles to sweep the red carpet which covers the whole floor of the church. Suzanne wanted to go get them some handles, but we did not interrupt their work.

The building (shown above) that houses the Ark of the Covenant is right next door to the Church of St. Mary, a short walk away. While putting on our shoes, which we had to take off to enter the church, we noticed that the Guardian of the Ark of the Covenant was outside the building which houses the Ark, but on the upper side, where we could not approach him.
Jim asked the guide to ask the Guardian if we might come and talk to him. After all, this is the third time Jim has been here when the guy was out of his chambers! The guide said, “He won’t let anyone come and talk with him; I’ve tried and he always says ‘No.’” Jim informed the guide that he had seen him two times previously, and that the Guardian not only talked with us, but gave each a blessing.

So, the guide sent a deacon of the church over to ask if it might be possible that we have an audience. The Guardian not only walked all the way down one story of steps and came to us, but then blessed each and every one! Johannes, our Diversity Tours guide, had never seen this before, and had never been blessed by the Guardian. We all were floating and trying to decipher the meaning of what had just happened. Jim said, “It is because I am along; he always comes out when I come here.”
Then, it was time for some serious shopping in Axum. Jim finally found the jewelry store he’d been looking for; it was not at all where he’d remembered—Duh!
After dinner, we did our daily devotions. This is the usual time for them. Tonight we talked about the Temple and Veil which was torn from top to bottom. How great that we can approach our God straight on and not have a veil cloud our vision!

 

By Jim Sorensen

After a short flight from Lalibela, we landed in Axum about 10:30 AM. We went to a new hotel—the Sabean International Hotel, checked in, and then immediately boarded the bus and headed for Selekleka. Jim Sorensen was a missionary there in the early ‘60s and started the clinic and hospital at Selekleka. We were supposed to hook up with two Ethiopians who live there, and who used to work at the mission station. But, somehow the message did not get to the guys and they both were absent. Jim was able to greet the wife of one, and the son of the other.

The mission station is still lying dormant after many years. The building where the hospital was located is shown in the background of the picture above. It is in disarray now and only being used for storage. Jim gave the group a tour of the building to show where he practiced medicine and of the grounds to show where he and his family lived.
Upon returning to Axum, we did some walking around the hotel area looking for some silver shops that Jim was certain were close to the hotel. We never found them! So, it was then time to go see the obelisks and other sites of this ancient city.

The guide we had was quite informative and helpful. The obelisks are now all there in the “Stele Park.” More than one year ago, the Italians returned the one they took from Ethiopia during the First World War. All were amazed at the awesome work it took to erect these great stones.
We went across the street to see the Church of St. Mary. It is a very large domed structure with fantastic acoustics, and was built in 1965 by Haile Selassie.

Since being here last June, they have added some frescos on the walls (shown in the picture above), which certainly adds color to the edifice. Some ladies were cleaning the church during our visit there. They were bending over from the waist and using short brooms without handles to sweep the red carpet which covers the whole floor of the church. Suzanne wanted to go get them some handles, but we did not interrupt their work.

The building (shown above) that houses the Ark of the Covenant is right next door to the Church of St. Mary, a short walk away. While putting on our shoes, which we had to take off to enter the church, we noticed that the Guardian of the Ark of the Covenant was outside the building which houses the Ark, but on the upper side, where we could not approach him.
Jim asked the guide to ask the Guardian if we might come and talk to him. After all, this is the third time Jim has been here when the guy was out of his chambers! The guide said, “He won’t let anyone come and talk with him; I’ve tried and he always says ‘No.’” Jim informed the guide that he had seen him two times previously, and that the Guardian not only talked with us, but gave each a blessing.

So, the guide sent a deacon of the church over to ask if it might be possible that we have an audience. The Guardian not only walked all the way down one story of steps and came to us, but then blessed each and every one! Johannes, our Diversity Tours guide, had never seen this before, and had never been blessed by the Guardian. We all were floating and trying to decipher the meaning of what had just happened. Jim said, “It is because I am along; he always comes out when I come here.”
Then, it was time for some serious shopping in Axum. Jim finally found the jewelry store he’d been looking for; it was not at all where he’d remembered—Duh!
After dinner, we did our daily devotions. This is the usual time for them. Tonight we talked about the Temple and Veil which was torn from top to bottom. How great that we can approach our God straight on and not have a veil cloud our vision!