Laughner's Journey to Ethiopia

This year's Ethiopia video. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18XA-4GPVRU

Pictures from the 2014 trip to Kombolcha, Ethiopia

Our trip home deserves a post of it's own... So, health wise, we'd had a fairly uneventful trip. Both Michael and Allison were really tired, which caused some problems with headaches and minor stomach issues. Otherwise, medically, we did pretty well. I was relieved when we got on the airplane that we'd made it unscathed. However, thirty minutes into the first leg of the flight from Addis to Rome, Allison laid her head down on the tray table to go to sleep. I got up to go to the bathroom and when I came back Michael told me that Allison had gotten hurt, and sure enough she was sobbing. The woman in front of her had reclined her seat very quickly and in the process, Allison's head got pinched between the tray table and the seat. Allison hurt her neck when she tried to get unstuck. Allison was in a lot of pain. Every time she moved her head, she was in agony. I gave her 400mg of ibuprofen and ice. Jen, the nurse that was with us, took a look at her. The main flight ...

It's hard to believe that it's Friday already. Last week, leading up to our departure from the U.S., seemed to take forever. Today we have the feast, goody giveaways, and good-byes to say. It will be a long day. The Bible story today is about serving others. Rob tells the story of how Jesus washed feet. Today, we will wash the kids' feet. Eight of us took turns washing feet. About thirty of the kids chose not to have their feet washed, mostly the older kids. We had gloves for these dirty feet, but several of the group chose not to wear them. I started out wearing them, and made Michael and Allison wear them. To be sure, the kids' feet were filthy. Even after taking my time to clean them, there was still dirt on the rags when I dried them. Eventually, though, I shed the gloves. To me, it contradicted the message of servitude by having these blue gloves on while showing these kids that we were serving them. They were a barrier between my hands and their feet. ...

Overall, today was a fun day, but also sombering in a way that probably foreshadows the day that is to come tomorrow. Our rec activity today was in two parts. Michael and Glen had been saving large water bottles all week (We go through a lot of water here. It is really dry.) They put rocks in the bottom of the bottles and set them up as bowling pins. The kids kicked balls into the pins to knock down as many as possible The kids loved  this activity. There were water bottles flying everywhere! John, Michael, and Glen had quite the time picking up and setting up pins. One of the best at it was a girl who was wearing a long skirt and shoes with heels. Patty, Aaron, and I played hot potato. We had two circles, each with a yellow bean bag. The kids would pass the ball until I yelled "Abook!" (Stop in Amharic.) Aaron had the great idea to involve the kids in yelling Abook. The kid holding the bean bag was out. As kids were eliminated, they joined us in calling Abook. We would ...

Today was care package day, the day when the kids receive packages from their sponsored families. Today was also the day we get to do a home visit. Allison and Michael really want to visit Kalkidan's home. Since Lori had gone last year, my preference was to go to someone's house sponsored by a family we know. Luckily we were able to do both. But first the care packages. One lesson we've learned here is that all of the planning in the world doesn't amount to much once the feet Kalkidan playing the egg game while things were still under control. Michael with several of his admirers. are on the ground. Flexibility is the name of the game. The "plan" was to have all of the kids do rec while waiting for their care packages. Rec would occur in the back room with the dirt floor. Glen and I spent nearly an hour last night planning activities. The "plan" involved splitting the kids into eight groups and having them rotate through the station...

A relatively uneventful day. We arrived at the care point, mingled with the kids, and ran through our VBS program. I'm in the rec group this year. There were supposed to be three of us, but John stayed at the hotel because he was sick, so Patty and I ran the show. Our space is half of an enclosed structure with a dirt floor. In the corner is a pile of rocks and an old ladder with rusty nails sticking out of it. I want to keep it simple. While there are plenty of translators, you can't always depend on having one nearby. I also wanted to keep it calm since I had heard from last year how dusty it got. We had two games. First, we created a 3x3 grid on the wall, first with chalk and then with masking tape, and numbered each of the squares. The kid was blind-folded and told which number to find. Second, we laid out jump ropes in circles and had the kids toss bags into the circles. There was a large circle and two small circles. After the kids got bored, I for...

Being ready to leave at 5:30 was not a problem for us, as we were seriously jet-lagged. Allison woke up at 1 a.m. and worked on homework (impressive, eh?) Michael rolled around in bed. I woke up at 2, but was able to go back to sleep until 5 (I hadn't had a good sleep since the hotel on Friday night). My wakeup call was the call to prayer from either the Greek Orthodox church or the mosque down the street that was said over the loud speaker. The call went on for a long time. Unfortunately, while we were ready to leave at 5:30, the luggage wasn't and by the time everything was tied down it was almost 6:30. I've written before about the amazing journey from Addis to Kombolcha. The geography varies from what you would see in the Great Plains states to the barren hills of parts of eastern Washington to the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest to the deserts of Arizona to the hills and mountains of southern California. Along the way, you drive through small villages bu...

I remember the first time we drove through the streets of Addis. We had arrived to bring Daniel home. It was late at night and we were exhausted. It felt strange and uncomfortable. Everything was unfamiliar. No recognizable stores or restaurants. Our route to the hotel involved lots of twists and turns. This is my fifth trip to Ethiopia. What was then unfamiliar is no longer so. The airport parking lot, once overwhelming because of its chaos, is a welcome sight. The ride through the city is now as easy as riding through Chicago or Boston (not that I would ever drive here...). I am comforted by what I recognize (places where we've eaten dinner or shopped, landmarks, buildings) and impressed by the new construction that has taken place since my last visit. We arrive at the guest house, check in, and unload the bags. Fortunately, we didn't have to haul every upstairs. The elevation in Addis is very high and walking up stairs, even for someone in good shape, is tiring. This pl...

This will be my fifth trip to Ethiopia, and my third to Kombolcha. While I'm not nearly as anxious as I have on previous trips, I'm still pretty excited to see the kids I've gotten to know so well since my first trip in 1999. Lots of familiar faces in this 1999 photo.   Playing Duck, Duck, Goose in 1999. This is Besrate, sponsored by our friends the Morris'. One new aspect of this trip will be the inclusion of Allison (16) and Michael (13). Benjamin went with Lori last year as a nine year old. I am excited to see how the two teenagers interact with the kids of Kombolcha. They both have big hearts, so I know it will be a good experience. Also going on this trip are our friend Glen Bogdanovich and my cousin Patty. Glen's wife, Mindi, went last year. The trip started easily enough. We picked up Glen at a parking lot, and then went to meet Michael and Allison at their schools. The itinerary is a little crazy. We are flying out of Boston on Friday,...

 Sponsor kids with connections to Belchertown! Way to go Belchertown we can make a difference!!!  2014 Kombolcha team!  Allison and our sponsor daughter Kalkidan ready for a home visit.  2014 team at Enoto Mountain.  A sneak peak. More to come...

Afternoon update from Kombolcha: Today is care package day! It's been a crazy day of anticipation as each child is waiting for their name to be called!! The children are LOVING their care packages. John Logan is feeling better but Laken has tummy issues and stayed back at the hotel. Ginger is not feeling 100% but is participating in camp. I think Rob slept last night! Please continue to be in prayer for our team.

Tuesday Update- John Logan has a stomach bug- and  Ginger Burks  is not feeling well- please continue to pray for them. Rob is trying to go to sleep now. The camp went well today. The children had a great time and didn't want to leave! There are a few minor logistical issues- the area for Recreation has two HUGE mounds of dirt on them. But Glen is doing a great job of working around them. There is no internet so we don't have any pictures to share yet.  Joy Sturgill , Allison L and Stephanie C. had a dance off during camp and the kids loved it! Tomorrow is Care package day!

On Friday March 7, We arrived at Boston airport with 9 50 pound bags and 7 15 pound bags. We checked in hoping that we could check our bags all the way to Ethiopia! Well United said that our lay over was longer than 6 hours at Dulles and we would have to take all our bags with us on the shuttle to the hotel!   Saturday morning, our world travelers are ready to go!  Ready for a really long flight to Ethiopia!  Sunday morning in Ethiopia, spending time in Ethiopia in devotion.  Monday morning, just before 5:30, loading the van for Kombolcha!  The team is ready for the drive to Kombolcha. Lori here,  The trip is going well, it has started with a few road bumps! Rob, our team pastor was sick and one team member had her flight cancelled and didn't make the flight with the team. Rob is feeling better and Patty is now with the team! There is no internet in Kombolcha, and it is not looking like there will be any for the week! So I...

Dear friends and family, Michael, Allison, and I will leave for Ethiopia on Saturday, March 8. We fly to Dulles airport on Friday night with our friend Glen Bogdanovich (for whom this is his first trip. His wife Myndi traveled with Lori and Benjamin last year). On Saturday morning, we'll meet up with my cousin Patty, and many friends as well as soon to be friends. Seven suitcases full of donations and one bag with Allison's clothes. More bags yet to pack. We will arrive in Ethiopia on Sunday, spend the night in Addis Ababa, and make the ten hour drive to Kombolcha on Monday. We'll spend late Monday, and Tuesday through Friday with the kids. Next year, we will begin working with a second care point, so we will also be visiting that location. We'll drive back to Addis Ababa the next day, spend Sunday and Monday attending church and being tourists and will leave Ethiopia late Monday night, returning to the U.S. early Tuesday morning. Ethiopia is eight hours a...