Adventures in Africa

Today we got our transit visas for the kids so all is well. The kids have had to sit through hours of waiting rooms and paper work. I dont know what I would have done without Katie, surely Adam would have wondered off. Thanks for all the prayers.... I was a little bit nervous about getting it in time. Today we did some shopping and walked all over the place. We walked out about 2 miles to find the coffee warehouse (yes Pat I am bringing back 3 Kilo's of ethiopian coffee I think you have to roast it yourself though) and thought we were lost. We called back the guest house because it would soon be dark only to find out that it was only 100 meters or so down the street. We have been eating alot of ethiopian food here and have gotten quite used to it. It is better than the stuff we sampled at home. The same, but better.

Walking the streets here is interesting. They are very busy and crossing the street is definitely putting your life in your own hands. Women wear scarves that cover their hair and neck because it is so dusty and it is part of their traditional dress. Thirty minutes after walking out, we are covered with a thin coat of grit and it gets into your hair and eyes. The streets are very rocky and uneven. The women here that are well off, hobble around in their high heels on these streets passing women and children who are barely clothed and sitting in the dirt. Cars often have to pause for cows oxen and donkeys who randomly roam the city, but the goats they keep coraled for sale. Went out to buy papayas and bananas today, as our food choices are somewhat limited.

Tomorrow at 5:30 we leave for the orphanage at Shashemene. Pray for safety for our travel. It is about a 3 1/2 hour drive one way and we will get to see Awassa and Lake Langano. We will see the African country side with banyon and acacia trees, baboons, hyenas and camels. The kids will be visiting their friends one last time at the orphanage while we go. The rural orphanage there is in desparate need of the medical supplies that we will be carrying along with some clothing and diapers. Thanks Oakridge for all of the donated items, they are appreciated every where we take them.