December 26th, 2008

Two days ago we went to a place called Sabana Lodge. Since Lake Langano is one of two lakes in Ethiopia that does not have a dangerous bacteria that can kill you, it is a popular place to swim. A few resorts have popped up in the area. Mike and Amy took us to one as a break from camp. The people were mostly European. It was a nice place, and the kids swam and kayaked. We had several family games of football (which drew the attention of the Ethiopians who thought it was quite interesting) and volleyball. We took hot showers, and we ate in the resort restaurant. It was perfect timing for both families, and we had a blast.

We arrived back at camp, and Amy and I went up to the House of Hope. We decided a couple of days ago that we would pick up a baby or two and take them outside for a walk. They don't go outside at all, so it is good for them to get some air and a little vitamin D from the sun. We were intercepted on our walk by two former missionary kids who have grown up and now have come back to visit. They met here in Ethiopia (one American the other Norwegian) and were married and now live in the US. Their hope is to come back to Ethiopia after they finish their graduate work in the US.

So we had 3 babies down here at the house for a a couple of hours. Heather and I love these two little baby girls who are twins. Their dad was supposed to pick them up from The House of Hope three weeks ago and hasn't shown up. If he doesn't come soon, the police will have to be called, and they will be placed into an orphanage. I would bring them home with us, if I would be allowed. They are so cute and so sweet.

Later on, Heather and I went back, as Heather wanted to get the twins again. As we were walking in, we passed the director of the health clinic. She was very happy that we were taking the babies out, and asked me to take a baby out named Ganolle (Ga-nol-aye). She is only a couple of months old and very sick...the kind of sick that if it doesn't break, she will die soon. I'll be honest and tell you that I wasn't very excited about taking a sick baby out. I am a coward. I am afraid that I could get what she has. The women at the House of Hope gladly sent me out the door with her, an extra diaper (NO WAY am I changing the diaper of a sick baby!!), and a bottle of some sort of an electrolyte solution. As Heather and I walked, we prayed over Ganolle as we continued down to the shoreline. Ganolle was very responsive to my voice and drank from the bottle the ENTIRE walk. I am planning to take her every day until we leave with the hope that the extra love and human contact will help her get well.

On our walk, Heather brought with her a smiling big-haired baby named Somalu. I noticed that she was a bit boogery, and Heather didn't shy away at all from that. She picked the baby that caught her eye and cooed at her and talked in wonderful voices to her. I wanted to cry at how loving she is. Earlier, Amy and I had to go drop off something for some guests of the camp, four young HIV doctors taking a much needed break from their work in Addis Ababa. When we had returned, Heather had changed Baby Hannah's poopy diaper, changed her outfit, and made a bottle for her by reading the instructions on the can of formula (thank you Mr Klenske for the great math training).

So going back to the fact that I am a coward. I admire Allison Smith, the missionary here who works everyday in the clinic, a high-risk job facing all sorts of really scary illnesses. From delivering babies to treating TB, to dealing with stabbings..iher courage amazes me, and it's another day at the office for her. She is cheery and smiling and funny...wow.

And these doctors here, who are in their twenties and thirties with their young families, facing the horrors of a country ravaged by HIV. Everyday, dealing with babies, through no fault of their own, born with HIV. They spend their days treating dead men walking, and they do it with love and prayer and kindness...never souring or turning bitter toward God. These are ordinary people. When I met them they were sitting at a card table up at camp playing a game of cards and had no air of the arrogance that we often see of successful doctors at home. They have walked away from the big hospitals, reputations, and money they could have had at home to do servants' jobs with material shortages, and they do it with grace.

One more thing about these missionaries. Every single one I have met is grounded and upbeat. They are people that you just want to be around. They aren't the hippy type that we picture in our minds. They have big families (3 or more kids), and their kids are consistently well-behaved and have intelligent conversation to offer. They are kind and inclusive.

I am so impressived with the people I have met here and their willingness to serve others. Last night after dinner the night guard, Guanamo, who had crafted the spears my children had received for Christmas, was on guard last night. He happily gave my children a lesson in spear throwing, working with their hand placement, their release, and their footwork. It was so cute to see my kids listening to him, and trying to do what he said. I have great pictures from the experience.

We had an outside fire, and pitched a tent for the boys to sleep outside. I got to talk with Guanamo for quite a while. He told me that he was somewhere between 22 and 25. He has a wife and a one year old. He works as a night guard at camp (his area is along the shoreline by Mike and Amy's house up to the House of Hope). During the day he goes to school. He is in seventh grade. He told me that he learned about God in a Christian School; his dad is a Muslim, and his mother died when he was little. He spoke fairly good English, and Mike was there to translate any tough words into Amheric. It was really neat.

It is Sunday, so we are heading off to church in a few minutes at the local Ethiopian church. This should be interesting...

Love, The Camdens