Learn a New Language? - Chickens in the Church? - Runner story - 6am cannon fire

Yes. We've been asked to sing "I am a Child of God" in three languages for the upcoming District Conference. We all gathered together for this song practice. 

This man we are with comes to our temple prep class and has quite a story. He is currently single. His wife left him when he contracted leprosy. He has since recovered from the disease but has various challenges just like everyone. Amazing people we meet with challenges that are hard for people like us to comprehend. 

This is the first verse in a language called Oromo. The Oromo language is actually spoken by more people than Amharic in Ethiopia. Amharic is spoken by more in the capital city though where we live. As we were practicing the song, Oromo language speakers actually changed some of the words in the songs in the process so it would work with the notes. 

The second verse will be in Amharic and the third verse in English.

Yea, it's mango season. So yummy. Coming in by the truckloads.

Sometimes they carry them in baskets on their head.

Since it is Ethiopian Easter, the Orthodox Christian fast is over. For a couple of months most people have been fasting from all animal and dairy products. So it's like a Vegan diet. But now they are preparing for their Easter Feast. 

Reminds me of my favorite Easter Hymn, "He is Risen". link - He is Risen

He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days’ prison;

Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free.

Christ has won the victory.

2.Come with high and holy hymning;

Chant our Lord’s triumphant lay.

Not one darksome cloud is dimming

Yonder glorious morning ray,

Breaking o’er the purple east,

Symbol of our Easter feast.

Everywhere we walked or drove we saw people carrying live chickens on the day before their Easter. 

Goat.

Even had to get out of the way on the sidewalk for a cow.

Live Chickens in the Church??

For those members that are hungry or starving, live chickens were given out the day before Easter.

Running:

Saw some more runners in the track and field area. 

The sister missionaries came to dinner. We made a Cinco de Mayo dinner with tacos, etc. Forgot to take a picture of the food but afterword Sister Zvimba said she wanted to cry so I showed her some touching videos. 

One was about a boy that loved to run that lost his foot in an accident. Amazing faith, courage and an amazing boy that kept running. 

Here's the link to the video:

Crossing the Finish Line

 

We watched about three videos like this and she enjoyed a good cry.

Link to another heart wrenching video:

One on One

Went to a wonderful baptism where a brother baptized his wife (she is wearing the green skirt). They looked like such a happy little family and taking upon the name of Christ.

The only difficult part was that she didn't want to go under and had to be baptized 4-5 times. Our font is quite the strange setup with a ladder. Also we have limited water in our church building. Often there is no water. The Church put a tank on the roof for back-up but others keep tapping into it for their own use.

We woke up on Ethiopia Easter to 6am cannon fire.