Today our group spends some more time visiting churches/monasteries in the Lalibella area.  We decide to split up today, with Jan and Jill, opting for the mule ride to a monastery overlooking Lalibella and Clarie, Eleanor, Jim and Dick head off to see another about 45 kilometers from Lalibella.

 

 

Jan and Jill head off to visit Asheton Maryam….it is located above Lalibella and only reached by a narrow, winding and sometimes steep pathway.  As you can see from the picture above, the climb to the top is a assisted by a couple of trusty mules and their handlers.

 

 

Asheton Maryam is located on Abuna Yoseph, a high mountain overlloking Lalibela. The climb up provides some outstanding views of the valley below and Lalibella.

 

 

This monastery is believed to be  associated with King Natuka La´ab. The church is carved into a cliff face of the mountain. Although beautiful in its own way, the execution is rougher than at most other churches around Lalibella.

 

 

While Jan and Jill are enjoying the views of Lalibella and mule ride, the other four set out for another monastery, St. Yemrehanna Kristos, about 45 kilometers from Lalibella. The drive takes down the backside of the Lalibella mountain into a long valley headed toward another set mountains where the monastery is located.  The drive across the valley provides an incredible layered view of the mountains ahead. The trip takes us about 2 hours, and the last 7 miles or so takes an hour by itself.  It is over some very rugged and dry terrain, with many rocks and washed out spots in the road.  The group decides this is an “African Deep Tissue Massage”!

 

 

When we arrive at the village near the monastery, we realize we have quite a climb ahead of us.  The monastery is located up a gorge, about halfway up the mountain overlooking the village.  Fortunately, a good pathway with steps has been constructed to lead our way.

 

 

Clarie and Eleanor get two gold stars today for making it to the top….with a little help from our guides and several rest stops, they reach the top (shown in the picture above) in great shape…..all 225 steps!

 

 

According to local tradition the church was built by King Yemrehanna Kristos about 100 years before the other churches were built by King Lalibella. It was built within a cave rather than excavated or carved out of stone. It sits atop a foundation of olive wood panels, floating on some marshy land. The design of the church features alternating layers of olive wood beams and stone covered with whitewashed plaster.  No nails were used in the construction of the church!

 

On our drive up to St. Yemrehanna Kristos, we are provided a poignant reminder of the true mission of our travels.  A short distance from the road, we see a solitary elderly woman, carefully filling her jerry can from a contaminated stream.  There are no houses or village around, so we can only guess how far she will carry that jerry can back to her family.  This scene is repeated countless times each day all over East Africa.  We give thanks for the thousands of supporters with a caring heart that have helped W2T to bring the blessing of clean, safe water to those in need.

 

 Today our group spends some more time visiting churches/monasteries in the Lalibella area.  We decide to split up today, with Jan and Jill, opting for the mule ride to a monastery overlooking Lalibella and Clarie, Eleanor, Jim and Dick head off to see another about 45 kilometers from Lalibella.

 

 

Jan and Jill head off to visit Asheton Maryam….it is located above Lalibella and only reached by a narrow, winding and sometimes steep pathway.  As you can see from the picture above, the climb to the top is a assisted by a couple of trusty mules and their handlers.

 

 

Asheton Maryam is located on Abuna Yoseph, a high mountain overlloking Lalibela. The climb up provides some outstanding views of the valley below and Lalibella.

 

 

This monastery is believed to be  associated with King Natuka La´ab. The church is carved into a cliff face of the mountain. Although beautiful in its own way, the execution is rougher than at most other churches around Lalibella.

 

 

While Jan and Jill are enjoying the views of Lalibella and mule ride, the other four set out for another monastery, St. Yemrehanna Kristos, about 45 kilometers from Lalibella. The drive takes down the backside of the Lalibella mountain into a long valley headed toward another set mountains where the monastery is located.  The drive across the valley provides an incredible layered view of the mountains ahead. The trip takes us about 2 hours, and the last 7 miles or so takes an hour by itself.  It is over some very rugged and dry terrain, with many rocks and washed out spots in the road.  The group decides this is an “African Deep Tissue Massage”!

 

 

When we arrive at the village near the monastery, we realize we have quite a climb ahead of us.  The monastery is located up a gorge, about halfway up the mountain overlooking the village.  Fortunately, a good pathway with steps has been constructed to lead our way.

 

 

Clarie and Eleanor get two gold stars today for making it to the top….with a little help from our guides and several rest stops, they reach the top (shown in the picture above) in great shape…..all 225 steps!

 

 

According to local tradition the church was built by King Yemrehanna Kristos about 100 years before the other churches were built by King Lalibella. It was built within a cave rather than excavated or carved out of stone. It sits atop a foundation of olive wood panels, floating on some marshy land. The design of the church features alternating layers of olive wood beams and stone covered with whitewashed plaster.  No nails were used in the construction of the church!

 

On our drive up to St. Yemrehanna Kristos, we are provided a poignant reminder of the true mission of our travels.  A short distance from the road, we see a solitary elderly woman, carefully filling her jerry can from a contaminated stream.  There are no houses or village around, so we can only guess how far she will carry that jerry can back to her family.  This scene is repeated countless times each day all over East Africa.  We give thanks for the thousands of supporters with a caring heart that have helped W2T to bring the blessing of clean, safe water to those in need.