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| Valentines in front of a fountain in Awassa. We had to be in Awassa for a few days, and it was a nice coincidence that we were at a a beautiful lake on Valentines. |
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| There were lots of fisherman out. Can you see what they are standing on? |
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| A family of Egyptian Geese entertained Cindy while Dale was in meetings. There are many interesting birds here. |
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| Elder Johnson has had a great companion for the last 6 weeks. He is packing and saying goodbye for changes today. He said,"I have been in my area for almost six months and I'm glad I got to finish with some success. I am kind of in shock for my first change but I know everything will turn out fantastic! I love the work and you guys!!!" "Also, if anyone has any good ideas about how to find new people to teach, I would love to hear them." You can write him at johnson.matthew@myldsmail.net |
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| I hope this isn't his dinner. |
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| He met up with another Elder Johnson that was from Reno, Nevada. |
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| I had a "Melkum Ledet"(Happy Birthday) For lunch, went to restaurant at an orphanage where they teach the older girls how to cook and be waitresses. You don't choose from a menu but they serve you an appetizer, salad, soup and bread, main dish, and dessert. Then my nice husband let me buy whatever I wanted from their gift shop. Sister Moses baked me a chocolate cake and some elders made me no bake cookies. |
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| Here are some photos from Utah and Ethiopia that make me smile. Me'elkam ken yihunilachehu! (Have a nice day) |
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| Here is Matt eating what looks like a huge pile of fries on preparation day. He said he got super roasted in the sun during a service project. He is really comfortable speaking Spanish but still has a lot to learn. He said, "I love you guys and make sure and use your sunscreen so you don't get sunburned! Also, thanks so much for everything and have a great week. I love you all." Elder Johnson |
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| January 20 was Timkat(Baptism). It is a National holiday where the Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates the Baptism of Jesus. The festival includes taking a model of the arc of the covenant and walking to a lake or river, reenacting the baptism, camping out, and walking back to a church. Thousands of people walk up the roads to different churches as some sing and dance and preach. Then everyone goes home and feasts with their family. They went right by our house. |
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| We met some nice families who finished walking and watched with us. Notice the sleeping baby tied on the woman's back. |
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| Christmas Nativity performed by youth. |
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| Ethiopia has their own calendar and time, they are actually in 2007 and 7:00am in the U.S. is 1:00 am in Ethiopia. So we celebrated Christmas again on January 7th. We had a great time attending several different branch Christmas Parties. |
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| Fun games outside, even water balloons. |
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| These young men from Sudan usually play basketball in the afternoons. |
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| We had Christmas Devotionals with some of the Elders. |
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| We went to the Lion Zoo here in Addis. The males have black manes and we were close enough to hear them growl and roar. The best part was feeding time. |
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| The Egyptian Goose is actually a cross between a goose and a duck but check out the eyes. |
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| Nice stripes at the Lion Zoo. |
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| Luckily this one is a statue. |
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| This monkey jumped on the table and ate my fries. |
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| We saw flocks of these scavenger birds on the way to Hawassa, they are very large. |
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| Women working in the field |
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| Pyramids of Straw |
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| This boy kept these 9 cattle turning in a circle with a stick and by holding onto one of their tails. Men were throwing grain under the hooves.They were threshing tef out of the stalks. |
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| Tef is a tiny grain that is used to make enjera, the bread Ethiopians use to eat their food with. |
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| We got to go to check on a well project with the Humanitarian Couple in a community about 5 hours from Addis. Then we visited the Elders in that area. |
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| It was fun to play with the children and teach them the "Hokey Pokey" "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" the "Bunny Hop" and they were quick to pick up "Duck, Duck, Goose. |
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| Thanks to the 4th Ward for sending us the fun package. It was great to receive the notes and pictures from everyone. |
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| Thanks to a nice family for inviting missionaries to a delicious dinner. We had injera and traditional Ethiopian food, fruits and even cake. |
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| We are very blessed and are thankful for Heavenly Fathers gift of His Son and for our Saviors gift of the Atonement for all of us. |
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| We love and miss everyone but we are grateful to be able to serve the Lord here in Ethiopia. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. |
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| "Christmas here is a little bit different. The people light off fireworks at midnight Christmas Eve and everyone eats fruitcake and hot chocolate stuff. We went to a big Chocolatada(pretty much a big party where they give gifts and food to kids). We helped hand out fruit cake to little kids and it was one of the most fun things I have ever done." |
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| His companion finishes his mission this week and goes home. |
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| "This week we also helped some people dig a giant hole so they could put in a septic tankish contraption for their bathroom. |
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| "I love the work and I love being a missionary and I love you all!" MERRY CHRISTMAS1 |
