Sunday, December 7, 2014

Yes, today is a time of reflections for me.  We left Addis Ababa about 9AM on our way South to Hawassa. 

As I started my day I was in a reflective mode.   It is Sunday and the past days in Uganda and Tanzania give cause to pause.  I am remembering many blessings and giving thanks.  The messages of the work we are about at Water to Thrive.  Over and over again at the fresh water wells the message from those benefiting from the water is powerful.  My health and my families health is much better, I spend less time fetching water, I am able to have more water and am learning sanitation, I am so thankful. 

Our drive today was 275 km or 165 miles.  Not a great distance however we had a lower speed limit and often had to slow considerably for stopped vehicles, animals and small villages. 

Meet on left Yohannes (John) Wassie of Diversity Tours and on right our driver Woldie.  Diversity Tours has arranged several tours for Water to Thrive made arrangements for this portion of our travel in Southern and Western Ethiopia. 

We drove through the countryside where farmers are finishing the harvest of teff (a small grain used in there bread) and vegetables and watermelon.  A number of greenhouses were visible (Netherland operations) for spices, flowers and more vegetables. 

Michael recalled being in the area in 2006 in the community of Ziway when the drought in the area was such that there was no food and he was here as part of a helping effort.  There was a distribution site for USAID supplied grains and a unique paste for those who had no food for some time.  Mike had witnessed starvation up front and personal and the flash backs were powerful.  Now the area is much improved.  We stopped at a snack that Mike had trouble believing that so much had been done in such a short time. 

So another stop was for me to jump out, use my telephoto and document the Olive Baboon (Anubis).  Since we are not going to any wild life parks or reserves this will have to do by taking advantage of the opportunity. 

We finished our day with a planning meeting for our field visits the next two days. Our hosts is Development and Social Service Commission (DASSC) of the Mekane Yesus South Central Synod.  More on all of this tomorrow.  

-Ed Scharlau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Yes, today is a time of reflections for me.  We left Addis Ababa about 9AM on our way South to Hawassa. 

As I started my day I was in a reflective mode.   It is Sunday and the past days in Uganda and Tanzania give cause to pause.  I am remembering many blessings and giving thanks.  The messages of the work we are about at Water to Thrive.  Over and over again at the fresh water wells the message from those benefiting from the water is powerful.  My health and my families health is much better, I spend less time fetching water, I am able to have more water and am learning sanitation, I am so thankful. 

Our drive today was 275 km or 165 miles.  Not a great distance however we had a lower speed limit and often had to slow considerably for stopped vehicles, animals and small villages. 

Meet on left Yohannes (John) Wassie of Diversity Tours and on right our driver Woldie.  Diversity Tours has arranged several tours for Water to Thrive made arrangements for this portion of our travel in Southern and Western Ethiopia. 

We drove through the countryside where farmers are finishing the harvest of teff (a small grain used in there bread) and vegetables and watermelon.  A number of greenhouses were visible (Netherland operations) for spices, flowers and more vegetables. 

Michael recalled being in the area in 2006 in the community of Ziway when the drought in the area was such that there was no food and he was here as part of a helping effort.  There was a distribution site for USAID supplied grains and a unique paste for those who had no food for some time.  Mike had witnessed starvation up front and personal and the flash backs were powerful.  Now the area is much improved.  We stopped at a snack that Mike had trouble believing that so much had been done in such a short time. 

So another stop was for me to jump out, use my telephoto and document the Olive Baboon (Anubis).  Since we are not going to any wild life parks or reserves this will have to do by taking advantage of the opportunity. 

We finished our day with a planning meeting for our field visits the next two days. Our hosts is Development and Social Service Commission (DASSC) of the Mekane Yesus South Central Synod.  More on all of this tomorrow.  

-Ed Scharlau