The Blissfool

Everything happens for a reason... for a good reason. When making my decision to come to Ethiopia I had a couple of plans lined up. The way life works is you can't plan it. You set a goal for yourself and achieve it with all the twists and turns that come your way. Recently I had a huge change in my life, something happened unexpectedly and it was pretty major. It pushed my estimated plan about a month or so back. I believe that this is happening for a really great reason. I may not be able to see it at the moment but I'm sure I'll get to see the bigger picture in the end. I am now living at my grandmothers which is a little ways outside the city. The peaceful nights are one for the books. I am hoping to figure out a few things while I have this isolations. I have not been able to think straight but I am reminding myself of what my goal is. Will let you know what the good reason of this is soon as I find out.

April 3 - I got to spend the whole day with Lulit, who lived in Ethiopia for one and a half years. Background on her, she’s family, who I’ve never got to spend time with “for real for real.” We randomly talk via social media here and there and her energy spoke volume   (based on what she shared). I can’t say how much of a blessing it is to “meet” someone who’s such a breath of fresh air. I was told we look alike which is a complement since she’s absolutely beautiful! She’s the Lynn to my Joan (I don’t know who Maya and Toni are).   She is in the process of starting up a center in the neighborhood that we grew up in. And her vision for the place is just so incredible I’m so proud to be a part of it. Check out her website to get the full details on the place, the history and the vision. CLICK HERE So needless to say today was an absolute adventure. I met her in Bole which is like the Americanize part of Addis. We went to a café to eat and I saw how local Lul...

April 2 – I am pretty speechless this journey was well needed. I was told about this group in the states and the amazing work that they do. So glad I got to experience one of their works first hand. This trip was a large gubaye, but it was also to raise money for this small church in the Southern region that didn’t have the means to build a larger church. They were only able to have kidasay one a month, and that’s if they were lucky. A good deal was raised; it was so nice to see such a large crowed of people (200+ full of buses) coming together for a great cause.

April 1 – Got to go to Yaya Village, which is a resort build by a famous runner. Then it was time to turn up like a 10 year old. saved snap

March 29 - I got to hang out with my friend from the NYC trip! We went to Nazrate. You’re wondering why the title is Awassa if I’m in Nazrate. So he was taking a business trip to Nazrate and asked if I wanted join. I asked if it was a warm place since Addis had been a bit on the chilly side I wanted a place I could ware a dress and be fine. After being told that it’s hot I decided to join. Because I had talked about Awassa that day with my uncle or cousin I for some reason thought I was going there. Later that night at dinner I was with my Dad and step-mom and he asked where I was going. I said Awassa and he told me that it was an over night trip I said no it’s too close to be over night and argued the mess out of where I was going. I asked what the nearest hot city to Addis, but in the midst of arguing I decided to text Amare (the friend). Well you could only imagine my reaction to the answer. It’s good to humble thy self sometime. Non-the less it’s s...

March 25 and 26 – Saturday I got a chance to go to Entoto Kidane Meheret. My cousin came by and we walked there, it’s mainly uphill and muddy. A large number of people were there as well so we didn’t get to go to tsebel (holy water). It was great to go to a Kidane Meheret church and give thanks for a safe arrival, since my home church was also Kidane Meheret. Sunday I went to the church near us, which is where I got baptized. After we went to two christening parties.   At the second location, which was my cousin’s, I saw one of my “aunts.” She took me to her place for me to see the kids (who are all grown up now) and I had dinner with them.

March 23 – I got to meet our little sister Hiwot.

I’m in awe of the flower people give you when you arrive. We’re doing it wrong America. In love with my centerpieces! They’re a few days old so please forgive their droopiness.