By Jim Sorensen

Well, today we had an 8-hour African Massage! We rode in cars for 8 hours; 4 hours each way, to the Arsi District, near the town of Balee. By the way, this is over gravel and dirt roads with pot holes filled with water (it’s been raining), up to a foot deep! Thus-The African Massage!

 And then, there are the drivers. Ours are Messin and Jimmy Carter (a nickname his mother gave him—go figure). They drive for hours on end over these very treacherous roads, filled with people (they don’t walk in the ditches, but on the road), cows, donkeys, sheep, goats, and one day we saw an Ethiopian fox! The drivers have to especially careful that someone does not dart out from behind a bus that has stopped on the other side of the road, and watch for little boys who like to throw rocks at the cars. Hail to Ethiopian drivers!

 There were two groups to visit the water projects that have been constructed by the Oromo Development Association, with funds from Water To Thrive. Our group spent 3 ½ hours seeing 6 well sites. They were in good shape.

 
 

 However, there were not any Water Committee persons present. They had all gone to the market in Balee (shown above), which is held every Thursday. The other group was able to visit 7 sites.

Usually there was some person who knew information we needed. It is refreshing to hear the community members tell us that they are trying build up their first-ever bank accounts so they might someday have a second well.

 
 
At one site was a woman named Likee Motuma, whose husband is on the Water Committee and who’s son was present. She told us that she has had 9 children. She thanked us for the clean water and added that already, after only 9 months, they are seeing an improvement in health, especially diarrhea. In thanksgiving to God, she explained that she often brings the coffee ceremony to the well site, and invites her neighbors to partake in the celebration. Her son brought a male sheep into the well site, offering it to Dick, saying, “If we would have known you were coming, we would have prepared a proper feast, but in thanksgiving, we are offering this sheep to you.” We considered it, but thought getting on to the airplane might be somewhat of a challenge. So, Dick asked the community to have a celebration to honor us.
 
One of God’s created creatures is the donkey—my favorite Ethiopian animal. However, if you believe in reincarnation, pray that you don’t come back as one in Ethiopia! They work all day, carrying loads way too heavy up and down hills you can only imagine.
 
 
When I saw a baby one with its loaded-down mother, I asked our guide, “How many maternity days does a female donkey get?” Now, I really expected him to say, “One hour.” But, he said, “I think it is up to a week, and sometimes they even allow her to stop working some time right before the birth.” Hooray for the donkey!

 Tomorrow will be a more relaxing day for us.  We will drive to Lake Longano, about 4 hours south of Adama. We will have a nice relaxing afternoon and evening enjoying the lakeside area at our hotel.

 

 By Jim Sorensen

Well, today we had an 8-hour African Massage! We rode in cars for 8 hours; 4 hours each way, to the Arsi District, near the town of Balee. By the way, this is over gravel and dirt roads with pot holes filled with water (it’s been raining), up to a foot deep! Thus-The African Massage!

 And then, there are the drivers. Ours are Messin and Jimmy Carter (a nickname his mother gave him—go figure). They drive for hours on end over these very treacherous roads, filled with people (they don’t walk in the ditches, but on the road), cows, donkeys, sheep, goats, and one day we saw an Ethiopian fox! The drivers have to especially careful that someone does not dart out from behind a bus that has stopped on the other side of the road, and watch for little boys who like to throw rocks at the cars. Hail to Ethiopian drivers!

 There were two groups to visit the water projects that have been constructed by the Oromo Development Association, with funds from Water To Thrive. Our group spent 3 ½ hours seeing 6 well sites. They were in good shape.

 
 

 However, there were not any Water Committee persons present. They had all gone to the market in Balee (shown above), which is held every Thursday. The other group was able to visit 7 sites.

Usually there was some person who knew information we needed. It is refreshing to hear the community members tell us that they are trying build up their first-ever bank accounts so they might someday have a second well.

 
 
At one site was a woman named Likee Motuma, whose husband is on the Water Committee and who’s son was present. She told us that she has had 9 children. She thanked us for the clean water and added that already, after only 9 months, they are seeing an improvement in health, especially diarrhea. In thanksgiving to God, she explained that she often brings the coffee ceremony to the well site, and invites her neighbors to partake in the celebration. Her son brought a male sheep into the well site, offering it to Dick, saying, “If we would have known you were coming, we would have prepared a proper feast, but in thanksgiving, we are offering this sheep to you.” We considered it, but thought getting on to the airplane might be somewhat of a challenge. So, Dick asked the community to have a celebration to honor us.
 
One of God’s created creatures is the donkey—my favorite Ethiopian animal. However, if you believe in reincarnation, pray that you don’t come back as one in Ethiopia! They work all day, carrying loads way too heavy up and down hills you can only imagine.
 
 
When I saw a baby one with its loaded-down mother, I asked our guide, “How many maternity days does a female donkey get?” Now, I really expected him to say, “One hour.” But, he said, “I think it is up to a week, and sometimes they even allow her to stop working some time right before the birth.” Hooray for the donkey!

 Tomorrow will be a more relaxing day for us.  We will drive to Lake Longano, about 4 hours south of Adama. We will have a nice relaxing afternoon and evening enjoying the lakeside area at our hotel.