CrossWalk's "Operation Ethiopia"

"Operation Ethiopia" On the Move

CrossWalk's "Operation Ethiopia" blog is moving to a new home. Over the next few weeks we'll be migrating this blog to a new location. Don't worry we'll keep you updated on all the details. In the meantime this site will remain operational. Please check back with us.

Beautiful Ethiopia!

It's been a while since we've update our Ethiopia Blog. Look for more updates in the days to come. In the meantime, here's the video we made for our journey through one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Beautiful Ethiopia!

Jesus' Heart for Those Who Suffer

Post Trip Refections - Part 2 is on the way, in the meantime here's a sermon from Pastor John Ortberg of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, near San Francisco. Menlo Park has focused on Ethiopia like CrossWalk. The sermon is titled "Jesus' Heart for Those Who Suffer." I highly recommend you take a listen as you contemplate God's call to serve others in 2009 and beyond.  Go here to Menlo Park's archive. Then select the format you want to access the sermon.

Saying Good-Bye at Gimbi Adventist Hospital

Post Trip Reflections - Part 1

I am finally getting a chance to share some post trip reflections.  One of the highlights of Ethiopia was the time we spent with the folks at Gimbi Adventist Hospital. There's a completely different administrative staff since my visit two years ago.  That makes it challenging for CrossWalk to stay connected.  Some of the expat administrators hadn't even heard of our church. In hindsight, I am glad we visited Gimbi, if for no other reason than for CrossWalk to reconnect with the hospital. 

One of the expats I met there was Shaunda Helm from Calhoun, Georgia.  She's there for several months helping Paul and Petra Howe run the hospital.  We were able to spend time with Shaunda assessing the needs at Gimbi and looking for opportunities for CrossWalk in the future.  I mentioned Dr. Johnston in an earlier post, he's the retired general surgeon from Brunswick, ME who's spending three months with his wife, working at Gimbi Adventist Hospital. In talking with Shaunda and Dr. Johnston we learned about the need for a charity fund that the hospital could use for patients in life threatening situations who can't afford treatment.  It costs roughly $170 per person for life saving care such a emergency surgery and recovery---think about what that costs here in the USA.  Dr. Johnston coined it the "Save-a-Life" fund and the name stuck.   We ended up giving the hospital $5000 as seed money to begin the fund.  

When I got home, a letter from Shaunda and Petra arrived for me.  Here's what they wrote: 

**************************

December 2, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters at CrossWalk Church,

Greetings from Gimbie! What a joy to learn that we have a church family in Redlands praying for us and even sharing their material blessings with us! It was a treat to meet Jeff, Tamra, Paige, Lauren, Gina, and Carrie. In addition to collecting information about our financial needs they did such things as donate blood, look over construction plans, serve as a lactation specialist, and sponsor the transfer of a patient to Addis. 

We would especially like to thank you for the contribution of your church for the purchase of Oromifa Bibles and the establishment of the "Save-a-Life" Fund.  The Bibles will be distributed to Adventist staff members, and the money in the "Save-a-Life" Fund will literally save the lives of about twenty-five critically ill or injured individuals. Stories and photos will be forthcoming. 

Thank you for your solidarity with Gimbie.  We appreciate you and look forward to staying in contact!

Sincerely,

Shaunda, Petra, and all the staff at Gimbie Adventist Hospital.

**************************

Well that's all for now. I will try and share some more post trip reflections in the days ahead.  I hope to post photos and videos soon.  In the meantime, thank you again for your thoughts and prayers during out journey.  We appreciate you stopping by the trip blog to keep up with the trip and all that CrossWalk is doing in Ethiopia.

Grace & Peace,

Jeff

Sabbath in Addis Ababa

Sabbath Peace from Addis Ababa! We arrived here last night from Gambella, on the western border of Sudan. It was another long day of traveling. It began with good bye to Abba Solomon at Ado. Abba Adisu, the school director at Ado then drove us to Danka to pick up the ladies. All the Daughters of Charity were there to send us off (Sisters Evelyn, Tsehai, Tsege, and Ganet), including the parish priest at Danka, Abba Tesfi. The hospitality here at Dembi Dollo was beyond anything we expected. We were truly blessed by our Catholic brothers and sisters.

If there are any people in the medical profession reading this, physicians, dentists, nurses, and so on, you could make such a difference here in just two weeks, and the same goes for Gimbi (three hours east). For example there's a huge need in Dembi Dollo for an ophthalmologist. The eye clinic here has an ophthalmologist schedule for early 2009, and there's already a waiting list for sixty cataract surgeries. They have no full time doctors here in Dembi Dollo. Its easy to get to the town, and the sisters told us you would be welcomed with true Ethiopian hospitality. Please feel free to contact me when I return. I would love to talk to anyone about the possibility of coming out here, either to Dembi Dollo or Gimbi.

Anyways, like I said we had another long trip yesterday. Dembi Dollo is in the western highlands of Ethiopia. Even though it's the dry season, the land is very green. It usually takes about two hours to drive to Gambella. After passing through a few small towns, fields of coffee beans, teff, and wheat, we began our descent into the lowlands. With in a few kilometers we entered dense jungle filled with monkeys and no sign of people. By the time we had reached the valley we were covered in dust and were missing the cool mountain air. The Gambella region is oppressively hot---a shock to our systems. The jungle disappears and the valley flattens out with scrub trees for many kilometers.

After a time we arrived in the town of Gambella. The people here are beautiful, tall and slender. Much darker and look similar to the Sudanese. We stopped for some soft drinks at a restaurant filled with UN workers and other NGO types. The heat was sweltering, the flies were relentless. After a rest we headed for the airport eighteen kilometers to the east. It's the quintessential African airport you've seen in movies. A shack with a little place to rest, the terminal an old mobile trailer, with some machine gun toting guards standing around looking board.

The security was good but slow---each of us was personally searched. After sitting in the heat and dust for two hours the plane arrived and we walked onto the old tarmac to board a twin engine prop place operated by Ethiopian airways. Abba Adisu and our new friend from Dembi Dollo, Shambe Kena, a photographer, waited to make sure we departed safely. The flight was smooth without incident.

We were met by our drivers Jonas and Gunti in Addis, who took us back to the Imperial Hotel were we washed up before heading out for dinner. No one had eaten since breakfast and we were anxious to return to our favorite place in Addis---an Italian place called Restaurant Castelli, by far the best Italian food outside of Italy. We all slept well and today we are enjoying some Sabbath rest, a few last minute gifts for family and friends, and a stop for espresso drinks at Café Tomoca, an amazing coffee place. Tonight will be packing and going to sleep early. Our plane departs Addis at 4 AM Sunday (5 PM California time)---we arrive in LA about 6 PM on Sunday.

This will be my last post for now. Thanks for following our trip. Thanks for your prayers and letting you family and friends know about this blog. I've heard from many of you and we're so glad you've enjoyed learning about our journey. I have some many exciting things to share with you when I return. I plan to keep this blog going as a way to communicate about the things CrossWalk is doing in Ethiopia. Until then, I wish you Sabbath Peace and God's blessings …

Grace & Peace,

Jeff

Thanksgiving Day in Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia

Thanks Giving Day in Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia

Greetings from beautiful Dembi Dollo! We arrived here Tuesday evening after a dusty journey from Gimbi. The road from Gimbi to Dembi Dollo is very poor. It's well into the dry season in Ethiopia and within thirty minutes on the road there's a layer of dust on everything. Tamra got smart and purchased a scarf---I call her the Bedouin! At night my nose is filled with soot, my lungs raw from dust, not pleasant.

Tuesday afternoon to Dembi Dollo got interesting. About two hours into the trip our driver pulled the Land Cruiser over and mumbled something in Amharic. I knew it wasn't good. A rock had jumped up and put a hole in the radiator. We were overheating. In the middle of no where, visions of trying to ward off hyenas from eating Tamra and Gina came to me (Lauren, Carrie, and Paige were somewhere ahead in the other vehicle).

After many curses (the drivers part) and prayers (our part), and considering
cursing (on my part) the driver was unable to stop the leak. We'd used all our drinking water to fill the radiator, I was getting worried. I wondered how far ahead the others were, would they return for us? Our driver was nervous, he's not an Oromo, and didn't speak the local language. I don't know where they came from but within minutes there was a large crowd watching the show---I am sure the most excitement in a long time.

After the engine cooled we tried to drive for awhile. I can't tell you how happy I was to see the dust cloud from the other Land Cruiser coming back to find us. We put the bags on top of the truck and all six of us squeezed in together for the final two hour trek to Dembi Dollo. Later I was informed Lauren, Carrie, and Paige thought our truck was ahead of them. It wouldn't have been a fun night. Our driver didn't show up here in Dembi Dollo until Wednesday afternoon.

So far Dembi Dollo is the group's favorite destination. I discovered this place with Dr. Larry Thomas two years ago. We are west of Gimbi, in the highlands---perfect weather and some of the most beautiful country yet. I wish we could've stayed here longer but didn't want to overlap with Dr. Larry's group over the weekend. The girls are very happy staying with Sister Evelyn and the Daughters of Charity at Danka, a Catholic Mission here in Dembi Dollo. They're in heaven, good food, hot showers, and laundry. These ladies know hospitality! We just ate lunch and I am embarrassed with how well we are eating.

The guys are staying out in Ado, at the other Catholic Mission nearby, about 7 km over rough roads. Lauren and I think its true paradise. Yesterday I awoke to the sounds of strange birds and monkeys swinging from the tree next to our house. I would love to come here for a spiritual retreat someday. This is where Father Solomon resides---one lucky guy. We have fresh milk and eggs every morning and coffee to die for. Dr. Karen Delacruz, an Adventist pediatrician from Kaiser in Fonanta, is working at the Ado Clinic for two weeks. Every night she has dinner with two priests, a pastor (me), and Lauren---she's so lucky!

Yesterday we said goodbye to our drivers and took the Ado Mission Land Cruiser, lead by Father Solomon, 40 km out into the countryside. Our destination, a remote village called Alaku Sasi, to see the Safe Water Project CrossWalk funded this past year. We traversed some of the worst terrain yet through villages that rarely see ferengis (Solomon only gets out here once a year). The dry season is the only time you can come out here and also the prime time to tackle these Safer Water Projects.

After an hour of driving we came to the Catholic Mission of Alaku Kessa where we had coffee and pancakes. We were then guided the rest of the way by Father Wekaene along with Father Solomon. Then another two hours of driving over even more difficult roads---Gina threw her back out it was so bad. I rode on the back of the pickup truck with a few locals who came to help us—what a blast until a tree branch wacked me in the head. Along the way we were chased by hundreds of children yelling *ferengi! * You feel like a celebrity. Upon arrival at Alaku Sasi, we climbed out for a half-mile hike to the spring.

I've learned that Solomon's Safe Water Projects are not digging wells but protecting springs. This is done with concrete and pipes. All of the building material has to be transported on trucks and carried in by hand---one of the reasons these projects are so expensive. Most springs in the area are used for washing clothes, bathing, watering animals, etc. They are filled with disease and parasites. There are many requests from local communities here for spring protection. Our spring protects fifty households! One man who came for water told us they've seen a reduction of illness among their children. Praise God.

Over lunch (almost supper) back at the Alaku Kessa mission we wrote a check for $8400 to the Dembi Dollo Catholic Church in order to provide Father Solomon with funding for three more Safe Water Pojects. The prices have jumped $300 per well. So they now run about $2800 each. Two projects will be funded by CrossWalk and another one by the Grove. On the way back to Dembi Dollo I had a chance to hike down to one of the worst springs in the area, one of the sites they will begin protecting on our behalf within weeks.

Today was spent touring some of the other projects the Catholic church is doing here in Dembi Dollo, such as a clinic for providing iodine for preventing goiters, a micro credit program for women, and a feeding station/kindergarten school for a poor community outside of town. I am so impressed with the work our Catholic brothers and sisters are doing here in Dembi Dollo. They are some of the most Christ like people I have ever met, full of love and joy. I am also proud of the work our Adventist brothers and sisters are doing in places like Gimbi, but often we seem to do things with an agenda---namely evangelism. There's much we can learn from the Catholics here in Dembi Dollo about simply sharing God's unfathomable love and grace.

Tonight the Ado Mission will provide us with Thanksgiving dinner. We are so humbled. Last night we brought part of the meal home with us in the Land Cruiser---two live chickens (they don't have Turkeys in Ethiopia). Friday we drive to Gambella to fly back to Addis Ababa. We begin the long trek home Sunday about four AM. Strange we begin on a Sunday and arrive on a Sunday near 30 hours later. Thanks for your prayers. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving from Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia. Be blessed …

Grace & Peace,

Jeff

Tuesday Morning in Gimbi, Ethiopia

I'm here writing from Gimbi Adventist Hospital, our third day in Western Ethiopia. It's been an amazing journey so far out to the countryside. There's not enough time to write about all of our experiences. Everyone's healthy. Everyone's happy. Everyone's inspired. We're leaving in a few minutes for Dembi Dolo where we'll meet up with the Catholic Mission where Father Solomon was transferred a year ago (he's the priest from Gimbi that we've been working with on Safe Water Projects). We plan to write him a check for $7500 USD for three water projects (two from CrossWalk, one from the Grove at Redlands Church). We'll spend three days there and then take a plane back from Gambela. The trip to Dembi Dolo will take about four hours over rough roads. The Gambela trip on Friday will take another three-four hours through wild country. Gambela is on the border of Sudan, very hot & humid, malaria & crocodiles, plus lots of tribal fighting. Don't worry we're just making a run for the airport.

Gimbi Adventist Hospital has a large group of farenjis (foreigners in Amharic). Paul and Petra Howe are here for two years through Adventist Health International with some of their friends from the USA---check out the hospital blog http://gimbie.wordpress.com. Also hear are the Barlows from Greeley Hill, CA near Yosemite with their youth group until May (they got here seven weeks ago). You can read about their experience at http://www.here4them.com. Check it out. They're an amazing group of people. Scott Barlow is working as the head nurse and his family and youth group are doing everything from maintenance to teaching English at the nursing school. Right now they are caring for two orphaned babies---2 weeks and 5 weeks old. I spent a lot of time holding them and missing my children. Adoption is such a huge need here in Ethiopia with HIV/AIDS. Yesterday, while shopping in town a grandmother asked Carrie to take her grand daughter to the USA.

Like I said, to much to write about but here's a few highlights:

-6 hour trip last Friday on bad roads out to Gindleberet, West Showa, through beautiful country to meet with town officials in support of a little Adventist school that needs them to reduce their taxes, our presence gave the school leaders lots of credibility. Franjis never come out this way and it was a huge deal, I was humbled.

-The drive from Nekempte to Gimbi was on a paved road thanks to the Chinese. Last time to took twice as long to get there. From three hours to just an hour and half. The trip went well (and safe considering car accidents are very common---saw a few wrecks our selves).

-At Gimbi Adventist Hospital, round up $300 USD to transport a 20 year old women in ICU to Addis for orthopedic surgery. She was badly injured in a car wreck, flash burns, head injury, and a terrible fracture of her femur. The hospital had done all they could, even pinned the leg but she needed more surgery. Also put some money together to help pay to transport a young women with a double fistula to Addis Fistula Hospital. They are going to wait until she's stronger in order to make the ten hour road trip.

-Last night Scott came down to our house looking for b+ blood donors. We all wet up to get checked. Tamra is b+ and I discovered I am o+ which is the universal donor. So they both took our blood. It went to help a man who had his leg amputated from a car wreck. They needed to do more surgery and wanted to get him stronger for the operation today.

-Watching Lauren help the Barlow Youth Group make bricks for the new nursing school building. Lauren is an engineer and has been wandering around all week giving advice on their building projects. Lauren takes to building things over the medical needs. It takes all kinds here at Gimbi.

-Giving a sermon for the hospital staff at morning worship. They are a group of dedicated people. They loved the talk. Most of all they liked my briefness. I guess the Ethiopia pastors here are not brief. It was fun using a translator.

-Ran into the Gaylen and Kitty Johnston from Brunswick, ME. Dr. Gaylen Johnston is here for three months. A retired surgeon from the USA. Friends of my parents and grandfather. What a small world. The Johnstons spent five years in Ethiopia 40 years ago.

Well I need to get going. The drivers are coming to pick us up and I need to say good-bye to all our new friends. I will write again from Addis this Friday evening (maybe Dembi Dolo if I can get internet access). Be blessed this week …

Grace & Peace,

Jeff

Thursday afternoon in Addis Ababa

Well this will be my last post until next Friday, maybe Saturday (the day before departure to the USA). We leave for the countryside and Western Ethiopia this Friday morning about 6 AM. We have a long rough ride out to West Showa. I mentioned this in my post yesterday. Anyways, its on the way to Gimbi but we have to travel many kilometers on dirt road then backtrack to Ambo where we'll spend the night in a hotel. The girls have been doubling up but Lauren and I have had our own rooms. We'll share a room Friday night and I pray he doesn't snore to loud! Ha! Ha! This may be out last beds for the next week. We've all got sleeping bags because they may not have room for us at Gimbie and we'll need to sleep on the floor. We'll see ...

We've had a good time in Addis. Saw many things. Most inspiring was the Learning Village. We are so impressed and can't wait to get back and start working to help them on projects. On a side note, I arranged the purchase of a cow for the Learning Village (they have a fully operational farm) on behalf of my 7 year nephew Aiden in Nashville, TN. He has decided to name the cow "Gracie." Found out that Gracie will be a two for one deal---she's pregnant! By the way, yesterday I mentioned the girl who walks to school at the Learning Village, well they all walk! I ment to say she walks 2 hours one way each day. Amazing!

So now we are headed for Western Ethiopia. Stopping at Ambo for a night then driving on to Gimbie where we'll spend a few days, then Dembidolo for the rest of the week. We fly back next Friday from Gambella and then depart for the USA on Sunday, Nov. 30. One of the things we'll be doing is giving Father Solomon, now working in Dembidolo, money for three or four Safe Water Projects---one of those on behalf of the Grove at the Redlands Church. I miss you all (especially Gina and the children--we talked on the phone once, it was so sweet). Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Thanks for following us and keeping us in your prayers. Be blessed.

Grace & Peace, Jeff

Wednesday afternoon in Addis Ababa

The Internet at our hotel was down yesterday so this is the first chance I've had to make a post. I am at the Hilton Hotel. Like the Sheraton it seems out of place in Ethiopia. Very nice hotel. The five are eating a late lunch and I am here on the Internet. So here is the latest:

The trip is going well. Changed plans on Monday and went out to visit the Learning Village. It exceeded my expectations. There's so much good we can do here as a Church. I was impressed with how well the school is run.Before Dr. Gemechu had to return to the states he'd been working day and night on a medical clinic. Its nearing completion. Many people in the area have to walk 2 hours for medical care. This will be a huge help in the local community. Met a little girl, 4th grader I think, who walks to school everyday. I thought of the many orphaned girls in the area and how nice it will be one day when 50 girls will go to sleep safe at night at the Learning Village.

On Tuesday we visited a CURE International Hospital for Children. It a new hospital near the American Embassy that will specialize in repairing cleft palettes---a enormous need in Ethiopia. We met an Asian American plastic surgeon who moved here a year ago with his pediatrician wife and children t get the hospital up and running. He'll be the medical director. When I come to Ethiopia I always wish I was a dentist or a physician, nurse or therapist of some kind. There is so much a these vocations can do in Ethiopia---it's staggering. During lunch we ran into an American couple who had just a adopted a little girl with HIV. The couple had a adopted two of her brothers a couple years ago but thought the sister was dead. What a reunion it will be when they get home. Sadly they are leaving an 11 year old a 16 year old behind because they are past the legal age for adoption. So sad. Needless to say but there were many tears in our group. Later that day we went to tour the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, known as the Hospital by the River. Many of you CrossWalkers will recall this is where A Walk to Beautiful was filmed, which we screened earlier this year. Dr.Hamlin was there but resting. What an incredible place, so inspiring What a witness to the Kingdom of God. It must feel like heaven to these precious women.

This Wednesday morning we met with a couple of Adventist men who are running an organization called National Aids Prevention Society. They are working in an area called West Showa, Gindeberet, about 5 hours from Addis on the way to Gimbi in Western Ethiopia. They need partners to help them with their programs. One of those is a school. Its in desperate need. We decided to leave a day early and drive out to see the school and what they are doing. So we'll leave earlier Friday AM for western Ethiopia. The village is in a remote area and it'll take awhile to get there. We'll spend the night in Ambo and then drive on to Gimbi, Saturday. Speaking of driving, every day we barter with taxi driver to drive us around for the day---usually $40-50 per day, per car. However, for the trip west we'll need Landcruisers. It wasn't fun bartering that one but in the end we'll have two drivers, three of us per vehicle.

Well I better go. They are done with lunch and getting restless. We're off to do some shopping at the Mercato. Then we're going back to the hotel, rest, then head out for some dinner tonight. Last night was traditional Ethiopian food. Tonight is Mediterranean. I am not checking grammar or spelling here so please forgive the typos. Thanks for you prayers. We are all well and healthy. Some tired. The great Ethiopian coffee helps with the latter. Be blessed. I will write tomorrow and then it will be silent for the next week since Internet is really sketchy in the countryside.

Grace & Peace,

Jeff

Monday Morning in Addis Ababa

It's another beautiful morning in Addis. Sunday went smoothly. We met up with Dr. Larry's group at the International Evangelical Church for Suinday services. An amzing church, very international with lots of Euros, Americans, and people from around the world working in Ethiopia. Church is full of life, joy, and peace, haven't heard a church sing like this in a long time.

After church went to visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where beloved Emp. Haile Selassie is buried with his wife. It's the second most sacred place in Ethiopia for Coptic Christians. It had a real ancient Hebrew feel. Christianity came to Ethiopia before Europe! Church ground filled with the poor, sick, blind, very sad. Wonder if this was like the temple in Jerusalem in Jesus' day?

We spent the afternoon exploring Addis. Had lunch at pizza place we like to visit. Never made it to the Armenian place since it was closed. Ate dinner at the Sheraton hotel. One of the top five hotels in Africa. Sad to see it next to such dire poverty. We felt guilty eating there but, ohh, it was good food. The group is very tired. We went back to the hotel and I slept for more than 10 hours. Awoke rested.

We changed plans. Today we will go out and spend the day at the Learning Village (see below). We are taking books, school stuff, and medical supplies. Did I mention we lost two bags? One of the supply bags and Lauren lost his bag. Praise God, just got back from picking them up at the airport. Tomorrow we will tour Addis some more and go to Katherine Hamlin's fistula hospital featured in the film Walk to Beautiful we screened at CrossWalk earlier this year.

This A.M. I sat out on my porch and watched the sun rise while having worship. Read a poem that ended with this phrase: "His throne is with the outcast and the weak." Wow, so true. You really feel it here in Addis. I can look down and see a poor homeless man sleeping on the street. Half a block down is a homeless woman with three little children looking for the next meal. In deed God is very near this morning. May I be in awe as I approach the throne today ...

Grace & Peace, Jeff

Sunday Morning in Addis Ababa

We arrived safe but tired in Addis this morning around 2:30 AM. We ended up being routed through Damascus, Syria for our layover. We're staying at the Imperial Hotel near the airport on Bole Rd. After breakfast we'll head to the International Evangelical Church for services (a large church with lots NGO people). We'll meet Dr. Larry Thomas and his group and maybe spend some time with them. Thinking dinner with them at the Aladin an Armenian place in Addis that is out of this world (One my fav places in Addis)! I negotiated two taxis for the day--hope I got fair price. We'll use them to take us around Addis for the day. I am frustrated my Blackberry isn't working over here like Verizon promised me it would. The internet is slow and sporadic. So that means no Twitter or Facebook updates that I can see. Plus I am not liking Windows today. Anyways, who cares, God is good and its a beautiful day in Ethiopia. Be blessed!

Grace & Peace, Pastor Jeff

The Countdown has Begun

Well after many months of planning its go time. We are on board the plane an trying to looking forward to the long flight over the pond (but first we must cross the US). I was very pleased with how flawless check in went for us. We have two bags each and we didn't pay any overage. Well it looks like its go time, we're being told to shutdown the pda's. Thanks for all your prayers and support. We consider it a hight honor to be taking this journey on your behalf. Wish we could go together. Anyways, Sabbath Peace! Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Operation Ethiopia Announcement

Here's my "lo-fi" video announcement for the services at CrossWalk, November 14: 

Packing for Operation Ethiopia

There's six people traveling to Ethiopia this time around (Tamra Handysides, Paige Johnson, Carrie Davais, Gina Rovetti, Lauren Popescu, and Jeff Gang).  While each of us are carrying our own bags, we'll also be carrying bags filled with children's books, school supplies, and medical supplies.  Many people have stepped up to donate these things for our trip, including Loma Linda University Medical Center.  We'll be taking the books and school supplies to The Learning Village and the medical supplies to Gimbie Adventist Hospital. [Pictured below: Gina Rovetti packing stethoscopes.]

The Official Itinerary

Here's the official itinerary of Operation Ethiopia 2008.  Keep in mind this is about official as we can get since you need to be flexible whenever traveling in a country like Ethiopia:

> November 14:
Depart Los Angeles in the afternoon for an overnight flight.

-BMI FLT#3982 Operated by Air New Zealand
Departing Los Angeles at 4:00 PM | Arriving London 10:40 AM on Saturday

> November 15:
Connecting flight to Ethiopia from Europe.

-BMI FL#913
Departing London at 1:20 PM | Arriving Addis Ababa 2:35 AM on Sunday

> November 16
Arrive in the early morning in Addis Ababa.  After some sleep we’ll attend worship services at the International Evangelical Church.

>November 17 - 21

-Mon. = Tour Addis (visit the Fistula Hospital)
-Tues. = Tour Addis
-Wed. = The Learning Village
-Thu. = Awasa-Famine Relief Center/Data Memorial School?
-Fri. = Project Mercy

> November 22
Drive to Gimbie. 

> November 23 - 24
We’ll spend the next couple days visiting Gimbie.

> November 26
Drive to Dembi Dollo.

> November 27
We’ll spend day visiting Dembi Dollo.

> November 28
Drive to Gambela. Fly back to Addis.

> November 29
Spend the day in Addis, go to church, shop, eat dinner on town

> November 30
Depart Ethiopia for the USA.  

BMI FL#914
Depart Addis 4:10 AM | Stop over in Amman | Arrive London at 12:00 PM

BMI FL# 3981 Operated by Air New Zealand
Depart London 2:25 PM | Arrive Los Angeles 6:10 PM

The Learning Village

One of the places CrossWalk has decided to support in 2008 and beyond is a place called The Learning Village.  Located in Kalaala, about 45 minutes outside Addis Ababa, The Learning Village is a "unique community development model which focuses on outcome and sustainability. The school was built in 1996 with the funds raised by International Medical-Aid Assocaition (IMAA), a California-based 501(c)(3) organization. The school, now grades one thru eight, has an enrollment of 500 students."  Oversight is given founder by Dr. Fekede Gemechu (pictured), an Ethiopian surgeon who resides in Loma Linda, CA (and also attends CrossWalk with his wife Azeb). 

This year CrossWalk is helping IMAA and The Learning Village begin to raise funding to build a home for orphaned girls.  This population group in Ethiopia is extremely vulnerable--the numbers on the streets of Addis Ababa is staggering.  Many of them end up as prostitutes and die of AIDS.  There is an urgent need for places like The Learning Village to provide safe places for these young girls to grow up. The Learning Village is committed to keeping the girls in school as long as possible.  A school dormitory will provide these girls a safe environment and the opportunity for basic education and job skill training.

So along with recommitting to the same projects we took on in 2008, we've committed $5000 to this project for 2007.  A generous donor has also agreed to match whatever CrossWalk raises for the girls home at the Learning Village. We'll keep you posted on the progress of the girl's home.  As of this post it building has not begun, partly because The Learning Village has focused this year on establishing a medical clinic for the community. [Note: We had been looking forward to meeting up Dr. Fekede at the Learning Village on our journey this month, but sadly, a dear family friend passed away and he is returning to the United States for her funeral.]

CrossWalk in Ethiopia

CrossWalk has been involved in many life giving projects in the nation of Ethiopia over the past few years. For example in 2007 our church adopted three projects (all of our projects must be simple, practical, understandable, and doable, i.e. SPUD):

The Polio Children Project:

A program operated by the Catholic Mission in Gimbie, a community in Western Ethiopia, that helps children suffering from the effects of polio, cerebral palsy, and other debilitating diseases. They provide children with physical therapy and other assistance such as crutches, braces, wheelchairs, etc. Since there are no resident physical therapists in Gimbie, the children must wait for them to travel several hours from Addis Ababa. For a mere $2500 CrossWalk was able to help over 300 young people through this project.

The Safe Water Project:

There's a saying in Africa: "Water is life."  There's no doubt a fresh source of water is one of the greatest ways to help people in places like Ethiopia. Unclean water is notorious for carrying a host of diseases such as dysentery and cholera.  For another mere $2500 CrossWalk funded a project to provide a village near Gimbie with a fresh source of water. These projects are operated by friend Abba Solomon Brehanu, a Catholic priest in the town (he's now working three hours west in Dembi Dollo).

The Women's Promotional Center:

For a few years now the Catholic Mission has been developing a center in Gimbie to promote women. Organized by our beloved Sister Matti (who's visa was denied this year).  Matti's dream was to provide a place where women could come for life skill training in business, parenting, and healthcare.  When we visited in 2006 the foundation had been started. The building is now finished and they are in the process of establishing the programs for the center. Joining many other churches and organizations, CrossWalk gave $5,000 last year toward completing this goal.

The Solidarity Fund:

Last year we decided that anything over our goal of $10,000 would go toward the "Solidarity Fund" at Gimbie Adventist Hospital.  The fund is an account allows the Sisters to send patients in extreme poverty to the hospital for free medical care.  Over the past few years CrossWalk, along with the University Church, St. Joseph the Worker, and many others, have helped hundreds of people through this fund. It's a very simple program.  All the Sister's do is give the person a voucher which they take to the hospital for their medical care.  After meeting our 2007 goal, we were able to put another $6,000 into this fund.