A breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs & smoothies awaited us. (can you tell I enjoy the meals Tsige so lovingly prepares?!) After breakfast, we headed out to Jemo. On our agenda for the morning would be to organize & inventory supplies at the Jemo office, along with meeting Daniel at the gov't school across the street from Jemo for a morning visit..About 75 of our 250 Jemo kids attend this gov't school! The attendance at this school is roughly around 4,000 students, grades K-8 & most classes have anywhere from 60-75 students!!! whew!!! It was fun walking through the gates again & seeing even further improvement made to the grounds, bathrooms, water extension project..
the old water system..
the kindergarten classrooms..
About 60 kids in this kinder class!! As crowded, warm & stuffy these rooms must be...they are equally as clean, organized & set up as well as possible!!
Daniel showing us the new bathroom facilities!!
the nap area for the littles of the bunch!! Again, a very clean space!!
The new water system!! When we visited last year, the tile surround hadn't been installed yet..
The playground for the littles!!(which is now surrounded with this fence...again, that has been an addition since our last years visit!) So exciting to see these improvements!!
The principal of the school!!
They were very proud to show us this plaque!!
the kitchen/bakery!
Very clean facility..
School kids!!
all smiles for this boy!!
So good to see him again!!
Tsige & their family.
my heart is full.
Love this woman.
Biz & Fares' aunt Hanna & cousin Netsanet.
Once home visits were through, they all joined us at the boys' home for a sweet time of gathering over coffee & goodies!!
The building with the painting on it is where the cows reside;) The school has a partnership with a local group...Ethiopia Initiative. They provide about 10 cows, in which are being used for their dairy to supply the kinder kids with milk on a daily basis & fresh bread from the bakery, which is the metal building on the left of this pic.
The kids enjoyed seeing the calves & learning more about this project!!
We were then able to stop in & visit the kiddos who were eating lunch! They were excited to see us, as we were to see them!!
Our visit was complete & we headed back to the guesthouse for a bite of lunch & then packed up gifts to deliver to Dietrich's sponsor children & their families!!
Walked through the Jemo gate to these sweet faces!!
I was able to go along on a couple of home visits with Alicia & her girls, which is always a learning experience. It's a joy to see these children in their home environments(for the most part.) & to learn more about their lives & families. It's a privilege to be a part of. We were then so close to Biz & Fares home, so Tsige & I decided to surprise the boys!! As we walked up to their home, Tsige yelled out Biz' name...all of the sudden, the gate opened & Biz was standing there, so handsome in his little suit coat & welcomed us in until the rest of his family would return!
So much hope & love in this home.
We visited for a bit & then Fares arrived home with their father, Mogas & their mother came shortly after & she insisted on treating us to a coffee ceremony!! How could we say no to this?!
Time to head on our way! Always hard to leave them, but so thankful we still had time left to look forward to:)
A night at the guesthouse was sounding great...enjoying company, food, hair braiding & laughter.
Went to bed with much to pray & dream about & so much to be thankful for.
Another good, great, beautiful day in Addis.
Kristen
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