Sometimes when Haile is unable to come and get me from the clinic to bring me home he sends Yonas.Yonas’s taxi is a notch down from Haile’s especially the absence of a seat belt for me. however the seats (not the originals) have head restraints of a sort. This is very helpful, as the back of the passenger seat is tied to the door pillar by a length of green string that uses the head restraint rod as an anchor. That is until I broke it. I settled back into the seat as Yonas roared off from HQ and round the first junction when the string snapped. Now I knew why it was there – the seat back fell backwards on to the back seat. I crashed back with it, leaving me supine and gazing at the roof lining adorned by 30 years of dirt. Yonas’s English is as limited as my Amharic, but I understood him when he yelped “Oh doctor!” then “yikata!” (“Sorry!”) although he kept driving as I struggled into an upright position and apologised profusely for breaking his piece of string. Travelling across Addis sitting upright in a sort of perching position is quite difficult especially with all the pot holes (not the British sort – these are craters) and stopping and starting in all the usual merry mayhem. The next time Yonas collected me he had a new piece of green string. I haven’t managed to break it yet, although admittedly I lean back quite gingerly now.

We love being invited to meals with Lemma’s family. They are so welcoming and warm, and there is a kindness in his family that we have rarely met elsewhere. And oh the “doro wat”! On 23rd August we were invited to a meal at his daughter’s home where we’ve been before. Hana and her husband Gezish are so welcoming. This time we drove ourselves – several of the roads we bounced over in Elias’s Bajaj last time have been cobbled so we found it in our own car, with Lemma’s help. Many people came and went, the food was delicious, we looked at nigh on a thousand wedding photos, had coffee made for us by Hana and her mum as only an Ethiopian can, and then we said goodbye. Goodbye for good. Hana and Gezish have won the “DV lottery” and on 29th August emigrated to Portland, Oregon in the USA. Neither has ever left the country before let alone been on a plane. But this is an opportunity like no other to start a new life in a developed country supported by some friends who live there already with a vast range of possibilities ahead of them. And it’s all down to Compassion.

Both Hana and Gezish were sponsored by Compassion. Their education and upbringing were supported by money paid regularly to their families from donors in the developed world, so they were able to get  decent education and Gezish eventually went to Addis Ababa university. They met at a Compassion event, fell in love, married last November just after we arrived here and on the basis of their education they applied for and won a permanent residents card for the USA. They are both passionate Christians. They will be greatly missed.

So yes, Compassion works. Without their sponsorship the lives of these two young people would have been very different.

Hana, Gezish – if you are reading this Chris and I wish you all the very best in your new life. It has been a privilege to get to know you a little over these past few months. Keep trusting in the Lord for everything; be assured of our prayers;  and if ever you’re back in Addis for a visit we’d love to see you.