Update from Jon & Amy

First, thanks to everyone who commented on my posts. This blogging stuff is a little stressful because you have no idea who is reading it and what they think. :) Glad to hear from a few of you!

Betsy posed the question of when they are seeing the girls. That's a great question, and I'm ashamed to admit that I don't actually know the answer! I think it is Tuesday for some reason, but I'm not 100% on that. I just know that I get to meet them on the 24th. :) My mom would know for sure, so maybe she'll chime in with a comment. Or maybe Sarah or Donna know?

I got this email from J&A this morning, so I'll just copy and paste it:

We have had a few days of spectacular travel. Seeings things that have amazed us about the creativity in our Creator and kept us "oooing" and "aahing" around every turn!


Things have been really fun! We are falling in love with the culture and the people. Something kind of weird to us is that men hold hands with men. It is really surprising to see at first but then it is really endearing, little boys to old men, walk down the street, arm in arm. The women do to, it just seems more surprising for the men. The culture has little personal space and is very warm and loving. The weather has been beautiful in Mekele and Ziway, cold in Addis.


Today we went to the Mekele Care Center and we are staying in Mekele today and tomorrow. It is totally different than the interior. It is deserty with camels and pack mules everywhere. The people wear loose flowy scarves and clothing. I need to start wearing more scarves on my head, the look is amazing. We are staying in a beautiful old hotel here. The women at the Mekele center that remember Gebrela and Mehret say they were very 'sweet and happy' babies. We played with the kids there, had a coffee ceremony and took measurements, gave out care packages.


We went to a town called Ziway and it was beautiful. it was a three hour drive and our first driver had to cancel out because his vehicle was destroyed by hitting a donkey on the road. The driving is crazy, our drivers have been good, but you have to avoid people and animals on the road all the time. Gary and Peggy Ifft live in Ziway and it is mountainous with some lakes and farm land, very beautiful.


We have been trying new kinds of foods, it is crazy cheap here. Jon and I just ate lunch and had a soda for under 1.75.


Our driver is here, maybe more tonight...the internet seems a little spotty! We will even try to do a few photos.


Thanks for your prayers!


Love to All,
Jon and Amy

**To clarify a little about the places they are talking about, I believe Addis is where the girls are now and where the guest house is. Mekele is where the girls lived for a few months and where Mehret, the caretaker is (pics were posted of her a while ago). Finally, Ziway is a town where a missionary couple (Gary & Peggy Ifft) live that Jon and Amy know through LSM, I think...