Sunday October 10, 2010

This Sunday morning we start our day early, leaving Simien Mountain Lodge at 8:30, headed north for Axxum in Tigray.  This will certainly be the longest driving day of the whole trip.  The trip is only about 230 kilometers (about 140 miles) but will consume all day!  The road is mostly gravel and dirt, with 5 or 6 major elevation changes, so we literally will have traveled through 100’s of switch back turns when the day ends.  In addition, the road is undergoing a major improvement through a contract with the Chinese, so the road has major sections under construction.  The road from Axxum to Debark was originally constructed by the Italians in the late 1930’s during their brief occupation of Ethiopia.

Shortly after departing Debark, the road drops down a steep mountain, descending over 3.000 feet in a very short distance.  It makes for some sharp hairpin corners and nerves of steel for the drivers.  Actually the road is very safe, but those afraid of heights might choose to close their eyes for these first few sections. The first third of the journey produces some beautiful views of both the Simien Mountains that we are leaving behind and the farming on the rich soil in the area.  The mountain framing produces some beautiful patchwork vistas in the valleys.  In many area, the fields glow bright yellow, as the blooms of the Niger plant is now in full force.  The flowers of this plant is harvested for the black seed in the bloom, which can be used for feed as well as oil extraction.

Clearly, the highlight of the day came late in the journey when the group was able to visit the Selekleka Clinic at which Jim Sorensen and his wife Carolyn had served as medical missionaries some 50 years ago.  They served this community for about 2 ½ years, during which their daughters Lynnae and Diane were born.  Also, their adopted Ethiopian son, Wolde, comes from this community.  As Jim approached the clinic down the short road leading to the front, memories and stories came pouring out.  Before we knew it, there were about 25-30 local community members following the group around and exchanging stories with Jim in Amharic.  Amazingly, the current guard of the compound, who looks after the facility, is the son of someone who worked for Jim and Carolyn in the Clinic.

 Jim provided a guided tour of the facility, inside and out and described how the clinic was laid out and operated on a daily basis.  Although not in active use today, the building remains in surprisingly good condition, except for being a bit over grown with plants.  The building was originally built by the Italians, and then converted to a clinic just about the time Jim and Carolyn arrived.  Although there is no water available at the site, the electrical lights throughout the building continue to work.

The group chose the perfect spot near the entrance of the clinic for our Sunday devotion.  Again, we were blessed to be able to use a devotion prepared by Jim’s daughter, Lynnae, that fit the day perfectly.  It was a special moment for us to share and honor the service of Jim and Carolyn (and many more just like them) to the community of Selekleka.  As we proceeded with the devotion, the community members stood nearby, quietly and reverently, also sharing in this special moment.

We proceeded on into the town of Selekleka, where Jim wanted to look up a few others that had worked at the clinic that still lived in the town.  He was successful in locating Tsehaye, who had assisted Jim and Carolyn by looking after Lynnae and Diane during clinic hours, and Aligas who had worked at the clinic. Before long, a crowd of children, young people, and the elders crowded around in the street to hear them exchange their stories.  After many hugs, we had to say our goodbyes, as dusk was closing in on us.

We arrived at the Yeha Hotel in Axxum about 6:30 p.m. after an exhausting day of travel.  After a quick dinner, everyone was ready for a good night’s sleep.

Dick Moeller