We enjoyed visiting an elementary school expansion project that was 80% complete. This expansion will provide a new building with 4 large classrooms for young children.
The existing school room buildings were rather cutely decorated.
We also visited a bore hole well project that will provide fresh water to a few hundred families and farms. This is especially needed during times of drought when collection ponds run dry.
The 250 meter deep borehole project is finished. Just awaiting pump, generator, tanks and piping.
The farmers were mostly growing teff, a tiny grain that is used to make injera, a staple of the Ethiopian diet. We even tasted some of the seeds and they were pretty good. It is a good source of fiber and very nutritious.
Injera is a spongy flat pancake that is used instead of utensils to scoop up the vegetables and sauces to eat.
Along the dirt road, our driver had to dodge the cattle being taken to and from the watering ponds.
We also visited a tree seeding planting project. We were asked to assess trees to see how many were still alive and how good they looked.
The project goal was 80% survival. From what we observed 80% were still alive, although many were struggling due to lack of water, weeds, construction debris, poor planting location, rocky soil, etc. We were told the local community members agreed to care for and water the trees. Unfortunately, one area near the soccer field had some raw sewage coming from an apartment building. Luckily, one of the community leaders was with us and was taking notes of our walk and would convey messages.
The trees near the goal of this soccer field were completely gone. Next time we'll advise everyone to avoid areas like this for planting small tree seedlings.
I hope this donkey isn't eating the seedings.
A member went with us to help translate. He was Muslim and his sister shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him. When he began learning about the gospel he wanted to be baptized immediately. The missionaries told him that he must complete all the lessons first. His sister helped all of his siblings join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is now looking forward to being sealed to his wife and child in the temple in Ghana.
We visited another school that a member works at. He is a teacher that helps with special needs children such as handicap, autism, etc.
This confident little boy came up to greet us and shake our hands.
Some of the children need medical attention and even procedures but there are no funds to pay for it. They need basic supplies such as 2 wheel chairs, diapers and teaching materials that are specifically designed for these special needs children.
Our camera compensated but this room was actually quite dark and the lights were not working.
This member and class teacher below is also getting ready to leave on a mission next month to Botswana/Namibia mission. His background was also Muslim and was disowned by his family when he joined the Church. He is very sad about losing his family and especially misses not being able to talk to his mother. He is also sad about leaving and losing his job to go on this mission as it is so difficult to find good employment here. But he knows the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and is very clear what God wants him to do. He has shared the Gospel with many and some have joined the church. You can see and feel the light of Christ within him as he talked with us.
We had a nice lunch with injera after in the teachers lounge. Notice, no forks. We really like Ethiopian food that they make. We need to learn how to make it. Even though we didn't pay for the food I asked how much it would cost. Only about $1.20 for the big plate. Too much for the 3 of us to eat.
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