Foreigngee Christmas

Even though Ethiopian Christmas wasn’t until January 7, we had a weekend retreat to celebrate Christmas on Dec 24/25.  Abba Aristide organized the retreat to include a bunch of the foreign volunteers who are working with Salesians.  Besides Paula and I, the other volunteers are from Italy and Austria.  It was quite the whirlwind trip!

We left our compound at 5am, Sunday morning.  Deacon Temesgen drove us:

 We stopped for breakfast.  We had cappuccinos and "eggs and tibs," which is like scrabbled eggs mixed with small pieces of meat, served with french bread on the side.  To eat it, you tear off a bit-sized piece of bread and use it to scoop up the eggs.  It was REALLY good!

We arrived in Zway at about 9:30am, met up with the other volunteers, and began our retreat.  We had a couple of different talks, time for prayer, and Mass in the evening.

The church where we had Mass.

Some of the other volunteers, just relaxing.

 Monday morning, we visited a Don Bosco women's project.  Women who are

underprivileged can apply for the project.  They are taught a trade (i.e. weaving, chicken keeping, sewing, etc.), then are supported in starting their own businesses.

There were women sitting in groups weaving basket ware.

These women were weaving materials with looms.

There were also women embroidering.

 

We visited the on-site store to buy some of their handiwork.

 Then, we hopped in the car and drove to Debre Zeit (a couple-hour drive)....

 

We had lunch with the Salesian community in Debre Zeit and toured the compound there.  After that, we hopped back in the car, and drove the rest of the way to Addis Ababa (approx. 1.5 hours).  Upon our arrival at the Salesian community compound in Addis, we had a couple hours to rest and get ready for our Christmas Eve celebration.  We went to Mass, which included a baptism in Italian.  We had earlier prepared to sing "Silent Night" in German, as our group of volunteers was responsible for being the "choir", so that was pretty exciting.  Easily the most international Christmas I've ever had!

The church where we had Christmas Eve Mass.

 After Mass, they had prepared a feast for everyone in the reception hall.  Dinner was followed by music, provided by our accordion-playing priest, and dancing.

After dinner, we went back to the compound where we were staying and exchanged gifts with just our group of volunteers.

Before too long, we all headed off to bed as we were pretty tired from all the day's events.  In the morning (Dec 25), we had breakfast and goodbyes.

We rode about half way back to Soddo with one of the priests who was driving a van in that direction.  After that, he helped us get on a bus that took us the rest of the way.  The bus was cracking me up!  The entire front of the bus, inside, was covered in tapestry, tassels, and bright red fake fur.  They insisted that we sit in the very front, so Paula sat in the first chair and I in the second.  As we were driving, I noticed that even the steering column and gear shifter were covered in multicolored fur.  The decor was complete with a legless toy pterodactyl hanging between the sun visors.  As the camel herds and mud huts passed by outside our windows, we sped on by listening to "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen playing through the sound system...that song is EVERYWHERE!  I was too nervous to ask the driver if I could take a picture of the view from my seat, so I drew one instead:

After a total of approximately 7 hours of travel, we made it back to Soddo safe and sound. 

Paula and I had our own small Christmas celebration and opened our presents :) I made a Christmas tree out of Paula's packing peanuts and the pink bubble wrap.

Paula's parents sent her a small Nativity set, complete with llamas - Bolivian :)

መልካም ገና  ! ("Melkam Gena" = Merry Christmas!)