Samaroo
Samaroo is a village about 8 k from Dembi Dollo. It takes half an hour to travel there by vehicle. Sisters Genet and Tsehay spend 3 days a week in Samaroo attending to programs to help the poor in that community.
Sister Genet is in charge of the kindergarten and feeding center. At this center, they feed the children a good meal every day. It may be the only meal some of them get for the day. There are about 130 children in 3 different classrooms. Sister Genet is very energetic and passionate about helping all the children. Her face just lights up when she talks about her children and the school. After we painted the Sisters' Center at Dembi Dollo, she had the empty paint buckets cleaned and was so thrilled to have the kindergarten children plant seeds. The plants had sprouted and were already growing when we left.
Over a year ago, Sister Genet asked me if we could paint the feeding center with bright colored animals and make another Happy Room. This time, the concrete floor in the center was finished, so she told me "We are waiting for you"!! When we arrived at the school, the beautiful children were singing "We Are Waiting for You!!!" They had flowers for us and we felt so loved.
The room was quite large but with a team of creative helpers we were able to finish an amazing project in two and half days.
Stephanie, the 18 year old volunteer from Gimbie Adventist Hospital, did all the drawings. She also helped with the painting.
Sister Evelyn was my joyful surprise!! Much to my amazement, she painted the giraffe's and monkeys with such care and clean lines. And, she did so with laughter and happiness.
She kept talking about what she would name her animals. Yes, the name would be Graffey for the large giraffe, and OH!! Abba Tesfaye for the larger monkey. The two little monkeys were named SB for Stephanie Barlow and DH for Danielle Huffaker. Both young women had climbed the large Banyan tree at Dembi Dollo and stared at monkeys. Sister Evelyn had never painted before, but you would never know that after seeing her precise work.
I had a picture of African animals at a water hole. Sister Genet insisted on having a water hole for the animals. Wonder of wonders!! By mixing two paint colors and gasoline, I was able to achieve a beautiful water effect. That became the centerpiece of all the paintings of many different kinds of animals.
Sisters Genet and Tsehay as well as Danielle all helped with the painting.
When finished, I knew it was the most beautiful room that we had done.
One day, during break time for one of the kindergarten classes, they all flocked into the room. As there were many oil-based paints in the center of the room, I was trying to be careful that they did not go near them.
Then, Danielle gathered them around her at one end of the room. With a radiant smiling face, she pointed to each animal, naming each animal as they proceeded around the room and repeated the names after her. They were beaming just as much as she was. Yes, another moment of grace!! I just had to stand back and take pictures.
Friday lunch was a special event. Sister Genet came up with two surprise vegetarian dishes. She had seen onion rings in Addis Ababa, and so did her delicious version. She also made little spinach balls that were so tasty. Sister Tsehay was on cloud nine - she just could not contain herself... she had to blurt out that they had made ice cream for Friday night dinner -- Stephanie's last night with us.
Friday afternoon was time for celebration. Ethiopians are so very grateful, they always shower us with gifts and set aside time for a grand celebration. There were guests.
The children had practiced special songs to perform for us. They were accompanied by the most beautiful little girl playing the drum, who just captivated our attention.
Toy monkeys and balloons hung from the beams. The traditional coffee ceremony was so beautiful. They had made a large round loaf of bread which Stephanie, Danielle and I cut.
A boy read out in perfect English a wonderful tribute and expressed gratitude for the incredible paintings.
Each of us was given lovely soft traditional Ethiopian white scarves.
Yes, another one of those occasions when you feel like you are flying high and again, you could not possibly be any happier.
I received a letter and pictures from Sister Genet last week.
She mentioned:
"I want to tell you that the painting in our feeding center is attractive and the children are eating their meal there. The first day when I see them eating their lunch I can tell you that all are excited to have lunch they even forgot to eat just watching, talking and pointing their fingers to the pictures and talking."
Once again, Thanks be to God for the privilege we had to transform this feeding center for the children way out in the western region of Ethiopia!
Love and blessings.
Iris
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