Roots Ethiopia visit and Lewi Resort getaway

We packed up from the Lemma Hotel, drank 6 Macchiatos, and headed out into the streets of Hosanna to the Roots headquarters. There we were able to ask a lot of specific questions regarding the projects of greatest need. Elsae is on their leadership team. We were able to meet with Pastor Legese as well.



My favorite thing about this picture, is that Ted is so very interested in this map of the region. The thing is, this exact same map has hung in our house since last fall. But now, NOW, we are into this map.



After asking a lot of deep questions and writing my notes on "post-its of purpose", we headed out to see some of the folks working entrepreneurial businesses that we started with help from Roots.

First, this is Tsehay, who started this coffee businesses. Her husband is a day worker, which is great, where is work that he can be hired for. She is able to run this business while still feeding her baby.



After drinking some majorly strong coffee, we headed over to Zinash's store. Roots originally helped her start up an injera business, where she would sell injera in the street and at the market. She was able to save up, and purchase this store, where she also lives with her two young children. She even had stuff I really needed at the time, like a flashlight.



Our brains and hearts were full of possibility. We will wait to fully move forward with some school development plans until we are home, but it was all very very good things.

We said a fond farewell to Elsae in Hosanna, and started our drive to Hawassa for our couple getaway before Hurricane Trent.



Welcome to the Lewi Resort!! Below, the shenanigans.



While there, we also walked to the Hawassa fish market where we ate the freshest tillapia possible. Watch out for the fish soup though, it's way hotter than you think. We had to choke that one down slowly.



This is a "bajaj" or a "tuktuk". It basically made my life.



We checked out this morning and started our drive back up to Addis. On the way, we found the Castel French winery, but they were reluctant to let us in (lol). We were so very close to the Ziway Lifesong for Orphans school that we support, that we popped in for a very quick hello so as not to disturb the kiddos and staff.



We got back. We hosed off 6 hours of road dust... and we pack the day bag tomorrow for a certain little boy we will finally meet in the morning!!