Entry Five and Six - Travel Day and Harrar

We left Shire today via Shire International Airport.

That's it folks!  Pictured below is Airport Security.

We flew from Shire to Mekelee - then to Gonder - then to Addis - then to Dire Dawa where we are staying at an amazing hotel called Africa Village.  

We started the morning out with breakfast as we prepared for the hour drive into Harrar.  Omelettes are a staple for me on African Trips!

The drive between Dire Dawa and Harrar was through the mountains and while it isn't as sparse and rugged as northern Ethiopia it is still desolate.

While riding in the front passengers seat, I tried to shoot so photos with my phone of some of the people along the road.

After arriving in Harrar we went to the IHS Office for planning and review of a project with about 100 students that are at risk.   Many of them have lost parents to HIV and are being raised by their grandparents.   Many of these students are HIV positive diagnosed at birth.

The program the IHS developed is providing 2 school uniforms, a backpack, school supplies, tutoring and possibly one or two meals a day.  We were allowed to go to the school where many of these students are part of our program.

We also were able to meet with the principal.  She described the dire needs of the school.

We left there and had a bit of time before we were to be at services that evening.  So we were able to spend a little time in on of the many markets.

As we were leaving, I met a Muslim Friend - it is my understanding that the Red in his Beard indicates he has been to Mecca - the most holiest of places for the Muslim.  He was quite the character and we had much laughter and fun together.

We then went back to the IHS Office and met some of the younger students IHS is helping as they were in tutorials.

We then went a short way to the church that is working with IHS helping with these children.  I had the privilege of speaking that evening.  It was an amazing evening challenging us all to serve our Lord by striving to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the people around us.

After the services were over we did something very very cool!  We fed wild Hyenas!