I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of a wild boar outside our tent. Then I realized the sound was inside the tent. I was disoriented trying to figure out where I was. When I finally got my bearings I realized I was on a trip to the south of Ethiopia with my Grade 9 class and the wild boar was the erratic snoring of one of the students. (towards the end of the trip they insisted I have a room of my own due to my own snoring).
Our trip took us south to the Bale Mountains, an area my Dad pioneered in opening a base for the SIM. We went by horseback up into the mountains but weren't able to reach our target due to heavy rains and impassable rivers. We had to turn back and were able to set up camp at the first base camp for the mountains. It rained heavily but we stayed relatively dry and safe in our camp. It caused us to wonder, however, how the rest of the trip would play itself out as almost everywhere we were to go was dependent on the weather.
The next day we got on the bus, were able to swim in some hot springs at Wando Genett and set up base at Lake Awasa at the Norwegian guest house. Spirits were still high and things were going as well as could be expected. The next day would be the challenge when we would try to get a bus up rugged mountain roads to Chencha.- Any rain could spell disaster.
On the way up we encountered one bus where the sides of the road had caved in and it had rolled into the ditch. The bus was totaled, however no one was seriously injured. We took the driver with us as we continued our ascent to Chencha. Miraculously we had no rain and made it up to Chencha without incident.
In Chencha we visited a Church that has become a leader in Ethiopia in self-improvement projects for the people as well as cultivating numerous herbs that treat everything from HIV to cerebral malaria. They introduced apples to Ethiopia. At first apples were something strange and few people wanted them, however now they can't keep up with demand and it is spreading to other areas of Ethiopia.
The battery on our bus cracked and leaked acid, leaving us with a bus that wouldn't start. By the time we got the bus started (using a jump start) it was growing late. Our destination for the night was Arba Minch. We had the choice of going back the way we came which would have been 3 hrs and we would have had no lights (battery dead) or going straight down the mountain (1hr.) on a very treacherous road. (no vehicles had made it up that day). We chose straight down and miraculously vehicles that had been stuck all day and were blocking the road, cleared just minutes before we got there all the way down. There's nothing like a harrowing ride down the Chencha mountain to challenge your prayer life.
The next day we took a trip on to Lake Chama where we saw plenty of monster size crocodiles and hippos. The walk out to the boats was a little disconcerting as we had to wade through knee deep water in spots with crocodiles less than 100 metres away not to mention 150 types of snakes in the area with 2/3 rd of them being deadly. The students took it in stride and the weather cooperated. I think it was the only afternoon we didn't have rain.
That evening we had a monster storm. It flooded under our door and by morning I was soaked since I was sleeping on the floor. A driver who was sharing a room with me had made his bed on a table (he was afraid of bugs and snakes on the floor). We nick-named him Noah as he was the only one ready for the flood.
From Arba Minch we were planning to travel further south to Konso, Turmi and El Duba. This area is home to the Hammer and Buna tribes. We abandoned our bus and picked up two more land cruisers to make the trip. The road, however, had been cut in too many places and the risks too great for the short time we were to visit these places.
Fred Van Gorkam, who accompanied us on this trip and who had worked for 14 years among the Buna, had himself been washed down river in a land cruiser. God miraculously spared his life and his family as they had several young children in the cruiser at the time. It was a difficult decision to abandon the quest for El Duba, however, the parents of the kids are probably just as glad that we didn't pursue it. As it was we crossed several places where flooding had washed out the road.
Fred told us the difference that the Christian message of peace with God through His Son has made to the Bunna people. They have lived in great darkness all their lives and have been at constant war with neighboring tribes. The men all have notches on their chest showing how many men they have killed. Any efforts by government or education to change them has failed. In areas where Christian believers have been established it has brought peace to the area. It has paved the way for schools, clinics, education and even police to move in where previously they feared to go.
It was a great eye opener for the Grade 9 class and also a time of personal reflection on their own lives and values. For some, I believe, it was a turning point in their lives. We had many opportunities for devotions, Bible study and personal sharing.
When we couldn't complete our trip to El Duba we returned to a base at Lake Langano where we helped Dan and Kimberely Scheel with some of the work that needed to be done around the place. I had gone to school in Ethiopia with Dan years ago. It was a great reunion and time to reminisce. They operate a clinic at Langano that sees 15,000 patients a year.
This weekend is elections in Ethiopia. There is some concern for peace and stability. I am also traveling to the north this weekend as it is the last opportunity I have to make arrangements for our return next year. Pray for peace and stability
Sue is busily wrapping up her language course with many exams and presentations in the next couple of weeks. The girls are continuing to enjoy and do well in school.