So the Internet does exist in Ethiopia it just doesn't like to connect to my CHOC computer...an IPad may be in my future!!! The internet (and electricity in general where we are at) is not that reliable but I will take what I can get. I have to catch up on my truly miraculous flight from Addis to Mekele.
After being put on standby I went back to the main terminal and exchanged my US $$$ for Ethiopian Birr about 18/$1 US. I tried to get Internet in the main terminal and was able to make my first blog post and spent about 4 hours people watching, having a "coke light" (the only one I have found in this country so far) and eating some of my snacks cause nothing looked good. I went back to the domestic terminal at 2 pm as I was told & it was all new workers at the Ethiopian Air terminal counter. I retold them my plight & they seemed less than encouraging & told me to step aside until 2:30. I watched the people coming in imagining that they were all going to Mekele and at times getting nervous but I kept reminding myself that what is meant to be will always find its way. I moved back closer to the counter and asked a new person what it looked like, then another person called for everyone going to Mekele to come forward and several were in line. I was getting nervous but tried to reassure myself. At 2:50 the person I spoke to motioned me over and told me to go to another desk for rebooking, there they asked me to pay a 100 Birr rebooking fee ($5 US). This was a process all done by hand and seemed to take forever I asked if that meant I was on the flight all the while thinking the flight could already be leaving. I took my receipt back to the counter was given a boarding pass seat 30A and told me to RUN to the gate - which I did. It was a small plane we boarded outside and I got the last seat on the last row of the plane!!! I had text my family and a few friends earlier to please pray I got on that flight & I was praying all day too so as I walked on to the little prop plane I was pretty emotional as I realized I was getting on this flight cause prayers were offered and answered for me that day I had no idea there were only 60 seats or I may have been even more nervous while I was waiting. I text the Op Smile folks that " I made it" and to get me at the airport. When I got to the hotel everyone said that they were told there was "no way I would get on that flight as they are always oversold" to which I said " I was prayed onto that flight" to get here today. Had I not gotten on I would have accepted that but I
knew I had to try...I didn't travel 10,000 miles from home to spend a day where I wasn't supposed to
be. How grateful I was to get that flight and arrive in Mekele. It was a small prop plane a 60 seater
and a very bumpy flight. I got to the hotel and got settled...it's definitely much lower quality than any
other country I have been to even Kenya but it has running water and not too many bugs. I got an
update from my roomie Jannae about screening and went to bed
I thought I was sort of on a good schedule after getting sleep on both red eye flights but I woke up at
3 am and could not go back to sleep not matter what I tried. We had a team breakfast at 7 a.m. And I
was introduced as the new arrival no one could believe arrived:) we had our team day Saturday and it
was AMAZING!!!
When I drove in from the airport I thought this seemed a lot like Kenya but today I realized it was much different& seemed more impoverished. We started an hour drive to Wukro & on the way we
saw the tiny huts some people live in, there were people washing their single out fit of clothes and also themselves in the stream that ran by the town ( yep buck naked). There were lots of burros pulling carts & young children herding small groups of cows or goats. Very few seemed to have shoes or if they did they were old and broken.
We went to our first stop an archeological site where a temple was discovered and that was very interesting with lots of symbolism. Then we went to our " real event" which was to see an old church from 400 AD ....it was a deeply moving experience that I certainly didn't expect to have. We were there on Sat Oct 13th and Oct 14 th is the Feast Day & a Day of Pilgrimage so as we got closer to the church there were more and more people walking towards the church. I asked if this was a local event & our guide said no it was for all of Ethiopia and that some people would walk 1350 kilometers to get there over 2 months time from places farther than Addis. I was stunned and it made me wonder if my faith was such that I would do something like that? How far would I walk to worship?
After parking & walking towards the church we heard loud chanting coming from the church and
there were clearly many sick, blind, I'll and debilitated people there sitting on the path and steps to
the church...as they do believe in healing powers on this day. We went inside and it was pretty full of people mostly men & there was a back room where only the men gathered to chant and play musical instruments
(many of the musicians were blind) while we were in there the "high priest" came in and removed the
scriptures ( the book of psalms) from the alter and began to accept people's offerings (which varied from $$ to animals and all sorts of things) and then he would bless the people and they would be able to go to the alter and pray. Jae and I decided to give an offering and get blessed out of respect for their culture and it was a sweet experience. Inside the church the walls were covered with fresco paintings of Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, Christs birth, life and crucifixion. There is quite a bit more history as well but I wont go into that.
We spent much ore time at the church than was planned then we went back to Mekele and had Pizza (yes that seems to be universal I think I have eaten pizza on every mission). Then we went to the hospital to finish the Recovery Room set up - it isnt bad actually a little better than Kenya and not as nice as Mexico or Bolivia. We didnt get back to the hotel (using that word loosely) until 7:45 and had a team mtg at 8:15 and there was no electricity but I was determined to shower before the mtg since I was dead tired so ya I showered with the light of my mini flashlight!!! I stayed at the mtg until 10 then when they broke into the all nurse group I left as I was n hour #20 of being awake & we were to have a 5:30 a.m. wake up call (which is someone knocking on your door til you acknowledged them & we had a 6:30 bus to the hospital. I CRASHED & dont think I moved much before the door knock & my phone alarm went off - it is amazing what sleep does for you.
So now we are off for Mission Day #1 which almost didn't happen due o lack of oxygen and some necessary meds - more on that next post. I haven't touched or seen a patient but walking up to that church and seeing all those in need made me know I was supposed to be here - it is impossible to see needs like this and not be catapulted into action. I know not everyone can have these experiences....it truly is a blessing to serve in this country with some of Gods children who have tremendous needs but I realize there are similar needs in the states but it seems that we have so much ore of just our basic necessities even in the worst situations - I know there is homelessness and children going hungry at home and medical needs and I want to try to be more aware of that at home as well as abroad. I don't have to travel 10,000 miles to serve but here it seems nearly everyone is in a desperate situation. It is once again great to be a part of an international team of strangers who are all here with a united goal of changing individual children's and families lives one smile at a time. Not sure when I can post again...love you all! Nurse Nancy
After being put on standby I went back to the main terminal and exchanged my US $$$ for Ethiopian Birr about 18/$1 US. I tried to get Internet in the main terminal and was able to make my first blog post and spent about 4 hours people watching, having a "coke light" (the only one I have found in this country so far) and eating some of my snacks cause nothing looked good. I went back to the domestic terminal at 2 pm as I was told & it was all new workers at the Ethiopian Air terminal counter. I retold them my plight & they seemed less than encouraging & told me to step aside until 2:30. I watched the people coming in imagining that they were all going to Mekele and at times getting nervous but I kept reminding myself that what is meant to be will always find its way. I moved back closer to the counter and asked a new person what it looked like, then another person called for everyone going to Mekele to come forward and several were in line. I was getting nervous but tried to reassure myself. At 2:50 the person I spoke to motioned me over and told me to go to another desk for rebooking, there they asked me to pay a 100 Birr rebooking fee ($5 US). This was a process all done by hand and seemed to take forever I asked if that meant I was on the flight all the while thinking the flight could already be leaving. I took my receipt back to the counter was given a boarding pass seat 30A and told me to RUN to the gate - which I did. It was a small plane we boarded outside and I got the last seat on the last row of the plane!!! I had text my family and a few friends earlier to please pray I got on that flight & I was praying all day too so as I walked on to the little prop plane I was pretty emotional as I realized I was getting on this flight cause prayers were offered and answered for me that day I had no idea there were only 60 seats or I may have been even more nervous while I was waiting. I text the Op Smile folks that " I made it" and to get me at the airport. When I got to the hotel everyone said that they were told there was "no way I would get on that flight as they are always oversold" to which I said " I was prayed onto that flight" to get here today. Had I not gotten on I would have accepted that but I
knew I had to try...I didn't travel 10,000 miles from home to spend a day where I wasn't supposed to
be. How grateful I was to get that flight and arrive in Mekele. It was a small prop plane a 60 seater
and a very bumpy flight. I got to the hotel and got settled...it's definitely much lower quality than any
other country I have been to even Kenya but it has running water and not too many bugs. I got an
update from my roomie Jannae about screening and went to bed
I thought I was sort of on a good schedule after getting sleep on both red eye flights but I woke up at
3 am and could not go back to sleep not matter what I tried. We had a team breakfast at 7 a.m. And I
was introduced as the new arrival no one could believe arrived:) we had our team day Saturday and it
was AMAZING!!!
When I drove in from the airport I thought this seemed a lot like Kenya but today I realized it was much different& seemed more impoverished. We started an hour drive to Wukro & on the way we
saw the tiny huts some people live in, there were people washing their single out fit of clothes and also themselves in the stream that ran by the town ( yep buck naked). There were lots of burros pulling carts & young children herding small groups of cows or goats. Very few seemed to have shoes or if they did they were old and broken.
We went to our first stop an archeological site where a temple was discovered and that was very interesting with lots of symbolism. Then we went to our " real event" which was to see an old church from 400 AD ....it was a deeply moving experience that I certainly didn't expect to have. We were there on Sat Oct 13th and Oct 14 th is the Feast Day & a Day of Pilgrimage so as we got closer to the church there were more and more people walking towards the church. I asked if this was a local event & our guide said no it was for all of Ethiopia and that some people would walk 1350 kilometers to get there over 2 months time from places farther than Addis. I was stunned and it made me wonder if my faith was such that I would do something like that? How far would I walk to worship?
After parking & walking towards the church we heard loud chanting coming from the church and
there were clearly many sick, blind, I'll and debilitated people there sitting on the path and steps to
the church...as they do believe in healing powers on this day. We went inside and it was pretty full of people mostly men & there was a back room where only the men gathered to chant and play musical instruments
(many of the musicians were blind) while we were in there the "high priest" came in and removed the
scriptures ( the book of psalms) from the alter and began to accept people's offerings (which varied from $$ to animals and all sorts of things) and then he would bless the people and they would be able to go to the alter and pray. Jae and I decided to give an offering and get blessed out of respect for their culture and it was a sweet experience. Inside the church the walls were covered with fresco paintings of Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, Christs birth, life and crucifixion. There is quite a bit more history as well but I wont go into that.
We spent much ore time at the church than was planned then we went back to Mekele and had Pizza (yes that seems to be universal I think I have eaten pizza on every mission). Then we went to the hospital to finish the Recovery Room set up - it isnt bad actually a little better than Kenya and not as nice as Mexico or Bolivia. We didnt get back to the hotel (using that word loosely) until 7:45 and had a team mtg at 8:15 and there was no electricity but I was determined to shower before the mtg since I was dead tired so ya I showered with the light of my mini flashlight!!! I stayed at the mtg until 10 then when they broke into the all nurse group I left as I was n hour #20 of being awake & we were to have a 5:30 a.m. wake up call (which is someone knocking on your door til you acknowledged them & we had a 6:30 bus to the hospital. I CRASHED & dont think I moved much before the door knock & my phone alarm went off - it is amazing what sleep does for you.
So now we are off for Mission Day #1 which almost didn't happen due o lack of oxygen and some necessary meds - more on that next post. I haven't touched or seen a patient but walking up to that church and seeing all those in need made me know I was supposed to be here - it is impossible to see needs like this and not be catapulted into action. I know not everyone can have these experiences....it truly is a blessing to serve in this country with some of Gods children who have tremendous needs but I realize there are similar needs in the states but it seems that we have so much ore of just our basic necessities even in the worst situations - I know there is homelessness and children going hungry at home and medical needs and I want to try to be more aware of that at home as well as abroad. I don't have to travel 10,000 miles to serve but here it seems nearly everyone is in a desperate situation. It is once again great to be a part of an international team of strangers who are all here with a united goal of changing individual children's and families lives one smile at a time. Not sure when I can post again...love you all! Nurse Nancy
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