Acts 8:26-27 (NKJ): Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship.
Arising early Saturday morning we departed at 6:30 AM for our long journey back to Addis. Before we began our journey, Abdi invited me to offer a prayer for our safety which I willingly did. On the journey we encountered a true terrorist threat from Al Qaeda. It was only by the grace and mercy of God and the anticipation of Abdi that our lives were spared. In Ethiopia the Lorry drivers many of whom chew Chat (a stimulant that encourages them to believe they are superman) cause so much destruction on the roads through there reckless and terrorist(ic) driving that the people there refer to them as…(you guessed it, Al Qaeda).
God obviously had more plans for us since we narrowly escaped a head on collusion with a lorry driver who decided to pass in our lane less than 50 yards in front of us. Driving almost into the ditch we barely missed the grinning and excited lorry driver. During our driving time we added to the Al Qaeda vocabulary. Mini Van Taxis which are now referred to as mini Al Qaeda and the Ped-mobile taxis as Al Qaeda JR. I am always happy to contribute to the vocabulary of Ethiopia. (ha)
After arriving back at Addis, Abdi dropped us at the Airport, and Dr. Quill and I journeyed to Lalibela. Not realizing that while our Ethiopian Airline flight was a direct flight, but a one-stop flight, we departed the plane to await our luggage. Soon a flight attendant appeared to enquire if I was traveling with an other American, and if so, if we indented to go to Lalibela. I answered in the affirmative and she invited me to find Dr. Quill, go through screening and join them for the rest of the flight. This we did and some 45 minutes later we arrived at our destination. The airport was some 25 kilometers from Lalibela. This is so not because of urban sprawl, but because Lalibela is located in the mountain regions, and 25 kilometers away was the only Steppe able to accommodate a runway long enough and flat enough to land airplanes.
After a thirty minute ride into Lalibela, we finally arrived at our hotel which had been booked for us earlier in the week. Our tour guide met us at the hotel and said that he would be back to show us the night life of Lalibela after dinner around 8 PM. Because of the scarcity of water in this mountainous region, water was available only from 6-9 each AM and PM. After our dusty rides of the day you can imagine our welcome the hour of 6 PM was to both of us and we quickly made our way to the shower. After the same, we went to dinner only to discover that when both 8 PM, and our guide arrived Dr. quill and I were both to tired to discover just what night life in Lalibela was all about.
Sunday was St., George Day, and also the Last feast of Epiphany from the Orthodox Church. Words alone cannot describe the spectacle that we beheld. Thankfully we have both video and pictures to help us remember this remarkable time that we spent in Lalibela. Lalibela was a king who reigned in Roha (later renamed Lalibela) around 1200 AD, and a very pious king was he.
Under his direction many churches were erected. These however were not made of wood and other materials but most were carved out of solid rock, today the 11 churches that remain are considered national historic treasures and are protected by European Union funds. Words cannot describe our wonder at what we were able to see. I hope many of the pictures I took will do it justice. The locals call these churches, many of which are still used every Sunday, one of the 7 wonders of the world. Whether or not this is so must wait until I am able to “Google that statement”. Soon it became time for us to depart Lalibela. Being experienced travelers we were in no way tempted to get off midway in our journey, and we arrived back in Addis Ababa around 5 PM.
With joy filled thankfulness, I remain,
Pastor Froh
