Hyper Inflation - Teacher likes cake - Mountain Ministering - AJS - Love Bug - Homeless boy - Ethiopian Marathon Winner

Yes. The exchange rate is going crazy this last couple of weeks. I won't go into details much but it's a little nerve racking not knowing what you're paying lately. This means the cash you have on hand is dropping in value but items bought with a card are much cheaper than they were, since it's based on the actual exchange rate of the day. This also means hyper inflation may be coming soon.

Our Amharic teacher was graduating with her masters degree so we celebrated. Sister Martin and our teacher made a chocolate cake together and we gave her some flowers. She liked the chocolate cake and we gave her some to take home. She is an Orthodox Christian and seems to be fasting from dairy, eggs, and  meat quite often, such as every Wednesday and Friday and certain holidays, sometimes for months. So, it was nice to finally share a meal with meat and a cake with milk and eggs with her. 

We also invited the sister missionaries from upstairs for chicken curry dinner. Everyone had a good time.   

Who's eating our Ramen?  

Got back from the little store near our apartment and noticed one of our Ramen had been nibbled on. 

It was Sister Tohiariki's birthday so last minute, we decided to go to lunch with a few of us couples.

The Relief Society President asked Sister Martin to go ministering up in the mountains again. 

A couple of great sisters live up there. While they were driving, this sister ran along side the vehicle up the mountain to show us where she lived.  It was amazing that she wasn't even tired or breathing hard! 

Two of the young Elders came to give  blessings.

In front of her humble home.

Women carry heavy tree branches to use for firewood to cook up in the mountains. How do they carry all that weight?

                                                Elder Wasurum and Elder Annan, Sister Martin, Meseret and Kduse, and                                                    Fevan

Visiting Alemitu's home with Elders Wasurum and Annan, Fevan, Meseret and Kduse, and Abdi. 

Enjoyed District meeting with the young missionaries...and even the role (real) plays.

We had another opportunity to teach the Accelerated Job Search/Self-Reliance and education class to some missionaries about to go home.

These missionaries are impressive people that pretty much know where they want to go in life. They are setting goals for their future and better yet they are working hard to have Jesus as their partner. Their mission has helped prepared them for the challenges ahead. We all felt the spirit as we watched some of the videos located in the "Life Help" section of the Gospel Library under "Employment" / "Finding a Job" and also Education.

Had a great lunch together. Elder and Sister Woodbury joined us.

Out in front of the restaurant was "Herbie, The Love Bug"? Didn't know he moved to Ethiopia...!

Hopefully these missionaries will remember some important information and insights, or at least remember where to find and review it in the Gospel Library.

More new children came to primary. 

We had one little member and three new children just come in to church. The missionaries said that the children hang out at the church during the week. They said they think at least one is homeless. No parent supervision, no idea where they come from but they just come and invite their friends. 

At the last minute I was asked to give a talk in church so I threw one together about Tamirat Tola, Ethiopian Olympic Marathon Champion.

I'm sure you all heard the incredible news about Tamirat Tola of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia who is currently the greatest marathon runner in the whole world, Gold medal Olympic champion. Did you all know he wasn't even suppose to run in the Olympics. He was actually a backup runner. His teammate got sick so they signed him up just two weeks ago to run the marathon in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He won and now has an Olympic record, fastest time ever of any Olympic marathon at 2 hours, 6 minutes and 26 seconds. When I was a child I heard about the World famous Ethiopian marathon runner, Abebe Bikila that won with no shoes. He also shocked the world with what was thought to be impossible.

I personally do not like running long distances but my son-in-law is a marathon runner. He loves to run and takes every opportunity he can to run a marathon. Tamirat Tola's wife and brother are also runners. Like Tola, my son-in-law's enthusiasm is so contagious that now his wife, my daughter, now also runs races up to half marathons. They are very healthy and strong. This ability doesn't come easy. They tell me about how they must train almost every day and must have a specific plan to achieve their running goals.

I was reading about Tamirat Tola  and found out he trains in Sendalfa town (elev. 8,000+ ft), just north east of Addis Ababa. He trains with one of the best, former Boston Marathon champion runner, Lemi Berhanu.

We may not all be marathon runners but each of us have daily challenges that we deal with. We may have a family to feed, bills to pay, and spiritual hardships. As we struggle and run our marathons in life we should also train with the best, Jesus Christ. We can do this daily training by reading His words, praying to him often and attending church weekly.

Elder David A. Bednar recently said, "Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, our Mediator, and our Advocate with the Eternal Father and the rock upon which we should build the spiritual foundation of our lives."

Isaiah 40:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

I know that God and Jesus Christ live. He is our Rock... 

Forgot to post this picture with us and our Mission Leaders. While in Awassa we had the opportunity to eat with them. They are fantastic leaders and we love them.