By Ed Scharlau

 

We started early today leaving Mekelle at 7AM sharp.  On our way to Adwa we passed through some beautiful mountain scenery and roads with many switch backs.  The farming on the mountainside was terraced with rock set in place to minimize runoff.  It was a long drive with about a 30 minute coffee stop and we arrived at our first well on schedule at 12 noon.  We filled the afternoon with four well visits.  
 
 
The first is a Concordia University – Austin funded well.  We were about five miles off the road with only a short walk.  The proud treasurer below displays the passbook account for the local currency (birr) on deposit for use in maintenance and security of he well.  This well will serve over 500 people.  The water committee and some Caucasian (me!) that scares small children.  I share the scare part because today one baby being carried on Mom’s back following my attempt to do a friendly hi and wave of my fingers screamed.  My hosts shared that they expect the baby probably never saw a white person before.  
 
 
Our next visit is to a funded well by Platinum Realty.  We again were off road about five miles and a short walk. The seniors often speak first after comments by our partner groups of Ethiopia and in many cases it is a person in their seventies.  We had great audience fun with the revealing of my age.  In all four visits today the thankfulness centered on the struggle the area had with the drought and water was a long walk and much illness.  Much appreciation expressed and particular thankfulness to the US for aiding them then and continuing following the drought in establishing help to restart the farming methods.  Now with a fresh water well to provide disease-free water the, opportunities for a better life is again a sign of fiends of the United States.  Many thanks. 
 
 
This respected elder was very expressive of what the community has been through and what fresh disease free water means to the young children.
 
Our third visit was to a well that really took some stamina as again off road over many rocks and then more than an hour’s walk and up and over small hills and down to the well site.  The group was joyous and  as depicted the ambasha bread was blessed by the priest and after we as guests had were served by the elders,  the breaking of the bread (and all I could think about was the feeding of the 5,000) and small pieces passed to all.  All the while the gracious ladies are about doing the coffee ceremony of roasting the beans (the hot pan is brought by for smells), the grinding and the brewing.   
 
 
This well is sponsored in memory of a son in the Kruse family in Brenham, TX.  Sometimes when one of the grateful community representatives are speaking the facial expressions cause me to think and feel concern (because I do not understand the words and the expressions and facial look is intense) that there may be anger or disappointment.  When translated it is many thanks to the US (helping survive the drought, help in agriculture and now wonderful water.  And as always the concern about their neighbors several kilometers so they can also have this great gift of precious disease free water.  In this and every well on this trip much gratitude to God.  I was able to share it is from the blessings that have been provided those who fund that they share their blessings.  Blessed to be a blessing.  Always great response to those words.     
 
 
Our final stop came late in the day and yes I was grateful that we did not have to walk far.  As is common we are met with popcorn being tossed in the air and at us.  And of course to eat.   Much expression regarding the fact that their children will benefit greatly.  The average family size is about 5. 
 
After this visit, we headed on to our hotel and dinner.  Tonight I hosted our Water to Thrive partners – Relief Society of Tigray (REST) and A Glimmer of Hope.  There were six of us for dinner and my bill was just over $17.00 and all had a purchased beverage with tip included.  Now since there is no McDonald index here I would say that is inexpensive.  We are in a small town tonight with no computer wifi.  We return to Mekele tomorrow with a well stop on the way.  

 By Ed Scharlau

 

We started early today leaving Mekelle at 7AM sharp.  On our way to Adwa we passed through some beautiful mountain scenery and roads with many switch backs.  The farming on the mountainside was terraced with rock set in place to minimize runoff.  It was a long drive with about a 30 minute coffee stop and we arrived at our first well on schedule at 12 noon.  We filled the afternoon with four well visits.  
 
 
The first is a Concordia University – Austin funded well.  We were about five miles off the road with only a short walk.  The proud treasurer below displays the passbook account for the local currency (birr) on deposit for use in maintenance and security of he well.  This well will serve over 500 people.  The water committee and some Caucasian (me!) that scares small children.  I share the scare part because today one baby being carried on Mom’s back following my attempt to do a friendly hi and wave of my fingers screamed.  My hosts shared that they expect the baby probably never saw a white person before.  
 
 
Our next visit is to a funded well by Platinum Realty.  We again were off road about five miles and a short walk. The seniors often speak first after comments by our partner groups of Ethiopia and in many cases it is a person in their seventies.  We had great audience fun with the revealing of my age.  In all four visits today the thankfulness centered on the struggle the area had with the drought and water was a long walk and much illness.  Much appreciation expressed and particular thankfulness to the US for aiding them then and continuing following the drought in establishing help to restart the farming methods.  Now with a fresh water well to provide disease-free water the, opportunities for a better life is again a sign of fiends of the United States.  Many thanks. 
 
 
This respected elder was very expressive of what the community has been through and what fresh disease free water means to the young children.
 
Our third visit was to a well that really took some stamina as again off road over many rocks and then more than an hour’s walk and up and over small hills and down to the well site.  The group was joyous and  as depicted the ambasha bread was blessed by the priest and after we as guests had were served by the elders,  the breaking of the bread (and all I could think about was the feeding of the 5,000) and small pieces passed to all.  All the while the gracious ladies are about doing the coffee ceremony of roasting the beans (the hot pan is brought by for smells), the grinding and the brewing.   
 
 
This well is sponsored in memory of a son in the Kruse family in Brenham, TX.  Sometimes when one of the grateful community representatives are speaking the facial expressions cause me to think and feel concern (because I do not understand the words and the expressions and facial look is intense) that there may be anger or disappointment.  When translated it is many thanks to the US (helping survive the drought, help in agriculture and now wonderful water.  And as always the concern about their neighbors several kilometers so they can also have this great gift of precious disease free water.  In this and every well on this trip much gratitude to God.  I was able to share it is from the blessings that have been provided those who fund that they share their blessings.  Blessed to be a blessing.  Always great response to those words.     
 
 
Our final stop came late in the day and yes I was grateful that we did not have to walk far.  As is common we are met with popcorn being tossed in the air and at us.  And of course to eat.   Much expression regarding the fact that their children will benefit greatly.  The average family size is about 5. 
 
After this visit, we headed on to our hotel and dinner.  Tonight I hosted our Water to Thrive partners – Relief Society of Tigray (REST) and A Glimmer of Hope.  There were six of us for dinner and my bill was just over $17.00 and all had a purchased beverage with tip included.  Now since there is no McDonald index here I would say that is inexpensive.  We are in a small town tonight with no computer wifi.  We return to Mekele tomorrow with a well stop on the way.