Today we make our way south from Axum to the area around Hawzien, where we will stay overnight at the beautiful Gerhalta Lodge. On the way, we will visit two project sites funded by Triumphant Love (TLLC) in 2008, Ketin Serdi and Kontebatib, both hand dug wells (HDW).  Also, time permitting, we plan to visit current a project site for 2016, Kuhale, a spring development system nearing completion.

 

Adwa Mountains

It is about a four hour drive to Hawzien, on good paved road that winds its way through the Adwa Mountains near Adigrat. The road has many switchback turns as it works its way up and down the mountainside, producing many beautiful vistas down into the valley below.

 

Weredekal with his Father (103 years young)

As we enter Adigrat, we have a nice surprise. Our main contact at REST is Weredekal, who is with us on all the visits to the project sites. As it turns out, many of Weredekal’s family live in Adigrat.  We stopped by to meet his father, 103, who greets us with a hearty “Good morning, how are you?” in perfect English. Weredekal is one of 18 of his children! An amazing man.

 

Time for a break

We managed to work in a coffee break in Adigrat as well!

 

Ketin Serdi Project Site

A short time later we arrive at our first project site, Ketin Serdi, a HDW constructed in 2008, and then later at Kontebatib, also constructed in 2008. In speaking with the water committee members and guard at each site, we find a similar experience as yesterday.  These sites have worked continuously since 2008, serving their surrounding communities, with only a few minor repair issues, handled by the water committee.  Both had a bank account for maintenance. We did discover a worn bolt and bushing at Kontebatib, but fortunately, the REST technician had the necessary tools and spare parts, so it was remedied in about 5 minutes.

 

Signage at Kontebatib

The signage at our early projects were all large paint sheet metal signs, and of course the outdoor elements take their toll on the signs. The one for Kontebatib is shown above with Weredekal, Bishop Ray and Pastors Dan, Steve and George.  Weredekal is pointing to the Amharic version of “Triumphant Love Lutheran Church”…..notice the 2000 in the lower right of the sign….the Ethiopian calendar is 8 years different, so it really was 2008 by our calendar.

 

Women fetching water at Kuhale

We made it to our third site for the day, Kuhale, a spring development project.  The project is located about a forty minute walk from the road, up a steep incline. Really spectacular view of the valley below when we reached the project. The project is almost complete, but has progress far enough so that the community can begin using water from the spring reservoir.

 

Tomorrow is a big day as we will be visiting the 2016 projects that are funded/constructed as part of the “Celebrating Wells of Love” campaign for TLLC!

 

– Dick

 

* You can now also view each blog post on our new travel site located here.

Today we make our way south from Axum to the area around Hawzien, where we will stay overnight at the beautiful Gerhalta Lodge. On the way, we will visit two project sites funded by Triumphant Love (TLLC) in 2008, Ketin Serdi and Kontebatib, both hand dug wells (HDW).  Also, time permitting, we plan to visit current a project site for 2016, Kuhale, a spring development system nearing completion.

 

Adwa Mountains

It is about a four hour drive to Hawzien, on good paved road that winds its way through the Adwa Mountains near Adigrat. The road has many switchback turns as it works its way up and down the mountainside, producing many beautiful vistas down into the valley below.

 

Weredekal with his Father (103 years young)

As we enter Adigrat, we have a nice surprise. Our main contact at REST is Weredekal, who is with us on all the visits to the project sites. As it turns out, many of Weredekal’s family live in Adigrat.  We stopped by to meet his father, 103, who greets us with a hearty “Good morning, how are you?” in perfect English. Weredekal is one of 18 of his children! An amazing man.

 

Time for a break

We managed to work in a coffee break in Adigrat as well!

 

Ketin Serdi Project Site

A short time later we arrive at our first project site, Ketin Serdi, a HDW constructed in 2008, and then later at Kontebatib, also constructed in 2008. In speaking with the water committee members and guard at each site, we find a similar experience as yesterday.  These sites have worked continuously since 2008, serving their surrounding communities, with only a few minor repair issues, handled by the water committee.  Both had a bank account for maintenance. We did discover a worn bolt and bushing at Kontebatib, but fortunately, the REST technician had the necessary tools and spare parts, so it was remedied in about 5 minutes.

 

Signage at Kontebatib

The signage at our early projects were all large paint sheet metal signs, and of course the outdoor elements take their toll on the signs. The one for Kontebatib is shown above with Weredekal, Bishop Ray and Pastors Dan, Steve and George.  Weredekal is pointing to the Amharic version of “Triumphant Love Lutheran Church”…..notice the 2000 in the lower right of the sign….the Ethiopian calendar is 8 years different, so it really was 2008 by our calendar.

 

Women fetching water at Kuhale

We made it to our third site for the day, Kuhale, a spring development project.  The project is located about a forty minute walk from the road, up a steep incline. Really spectacular view of the valley below when we reached the project. The project is almost complete, but has progress far enough so that the community can begin using water from the spring reservoir.

 

Tomorrow is a big day as we will be visiting the 2016 projects that are funded/constructed as part of the “Celebrating Wells of Love” campaign for TLLC!

 

– Dick

 

* You can now also view each blog post on our new travel site located here.