Entry One - Wednesday- January 21st

First day in Ethiopia was a good day!   After 3 flights we arrived at Bahir Dar.   This is my first time here and it is a beautiful city.  

We are staying at Homland Hotel which is one of the nicer hotels I have been at in Ethiopia.

After settling in we went to the group of people that have been marginalized because of their tribal origin.  We have been asked to consider a program that would help feed and educate these children.   In Harrar we provide food for 2 meals a day, school uniforms and utensils for about 300 children. We are trying to develop something similar here.  

Helping each child cost about $100.00 per year per child.   Additionally both the Harrar and the Bahir Dar works would be open for groups to come in and work/play/love with the kids.   These are freedoms we don't have in the Eritrean camps.

Here I am modeling the idiot hat .... Grin. It is always fun to provide joy and laughter to others!  The people were very happy to see us.

Another first for me in Ethiopia.   These are hippos in the Blue Nile.   I took this pic from the van as we were crossing the city.

These are pic of Lake Tana which is part of Bahir Dar.  Lake Tana, the largest lake, in Ethiopia is the source and from where the famed Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum, and on to the Mediterranean. The 37 islands that are scattered about the surface of the Lake shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th Century.  I think that tomorrow we may be visiting one of the monasteries.   

This is the Blue Nile.  

Keep us in your prayers as we find more opportunities tomorrow for future efforts here in Bahir Dar.