Day 4

We were so excited to get back to the kids.  This day in crafts the kids were able to put together and decorate a prayer journal for them to write their thoughts, prayers and daily activities. The kids really enjoyed this craft plus it didn't take too long since we had a short day.  This was Wednesday and we were invited to Grace Baptist church service at 5 pm which is in the "chicken house" aka the church. So, we had to be done with the kids, cleaned up and everything our of the church by 4:30pm.

The kids loved to show off their journals and were eager to write in them.

Derek and Becka did great with recreation today, but it was a little chaotic.  The kids played games with frisbees and jump ropes. The afternoon group is double the size of the morning group so it was rather hard to have structure with the frisbees but the Becka and Derek did awesome.  

Sara T, Sara D, Laura, Josh continued to pass out care packages today along with some dresses that were made by some ladies at one of the team member's church.  The dresses are so cute and the girls love them.  In the care packages the kids get granola bars, pencils, pens, underwear, shirts, toys, flash lights for the boys and sewing kits for the girls.  The kids loved going through their care package and have the translator read the note from whomever got the package together.

Dresses of all sizes for all the girls

This is one of my favorite pictures with all the care packages lines up

Josh and Zalalem finding each child's care package

This is Derek and I giving Seada (our sponsor child) her care package

She couldn't get everything out of the bag fast enough

Mulegeta (the owner of the chicken house and

 land that Grace Baptist is using temporarily) translated our letter to Seada

She loved the dress so much that she had to put it on right away over the other clothes she was wearing.  Many of the girls did this and showed us how appreciative they were.

The lambs for Friday's feast arrived today. In true Ethiopian fashion, they are very much alive and kicking. They are grazing in the grassy area where we are playing with the kids. 

The lambs arrival created some excitement amongst our group.

We went to the pastor's house for lunch. He and his wife were very gracious and served an excellent traditional Ethiopian meal. We were also served coffee and popcorn. Ethiopian popcorn is sweetened with sugar rather than salted.  We all love it.  Homemade Ethiopian food was much better than the restraunt food to Derek and I.  We love Ethiopian food and could probably eat it more than American food.  

This is the pastor and his wife. 

Josh, from One Child Campaign, is in the background in the green shirt. 

This is the opening/gate to the pastor's house

This is a taxi...the pastor's son drives a taxi in Kombolcha and this is his taxi

This is inside the pastor's house.  They are rather wealthy because they have concrete walls, TV, and furniture.  They still cook outside like most other Ethiopians.

This is Injera...Ethiopian bread that is used to pick up you food with because there are no utensils.  

You use your fingers and injera to pick up your food and eat.  Injera is so good!!

Derek and Deanna in the pastor's house

Derek was just served his food and as picky

 as he is with his food I was surprised how well he loves Ethiopian food.

Our plate consisted of Injera, Greens and cabbage, Potatoes (yellow), lentils (red) 

and ground chick peas with spice (orange).  The spice they use is Bur Buri and is very 

spicey but Derek loved it.  I wish I could learn to make it because I really like it as well.   

The pastor's wife held a coffee ceremony for us.  Ethiopian coffee is so good and is always served with popcorn sprinkle with sugar instead of salt.  It is so yummy.