Day 3 - Part Two Debre Behran

After checking into to our 'hotel' called "The Eva" we set out to visit several of the micro-businesses and projects in the area. We met with people who had received training and micro-loans that enabled them to start small businesses to support themselves and their families. We were fortunate enough to be invited to visit with a few of them in their homes. Most of these homes were small (maybe 8x10) dung huts with corrugated tin roofs. The floors were dirt. Some of these houses were divided into two 'rooms' by a curtain. Anywhere from 7 -12 (or more) people live in this space. There was no electricity and no running water. Cooking was done on a charcoal fire in the middle of the room. Usually there was a crude window cut into the wall to let in light. These homes were furnished very sparsely. Maybe a bench or two and some mats for sleeping. Sometimes they had pictures torn from magazines hung on their walls for decoration. And despite the dust and filth outside, every single one of the houses we visited was spotless. And our hosts were thrilled to have us visit.

But the highlight of the day (and in my opinion the entire time in Ethiopia) happened later that evening when a local pastor named Dereje invited us to his home for a coffee ceremony. Being invited to a coffee ceremony is the highest honor an Ethiopian can offer. Rarely do Westerners get to participate in them. But before I describe the ceremony, I want to tell you a little about this amazing man. He is well-educated and works with the Mercado Street Children Project in Addis during the week. On weekends, he comes home to Debre Behran to be with his family and to preach at a local church. A while back, a 'law' was passed forbidding preachers to teach anything but the Coptic doctrine. Dereje ignored this law and soon was arrested and thrown into prison. While in prison, he continued to teach others about Jesus and began converting some of the other inmates. For that he was severely beaten by the guards, but still he did not quit. More and more prisoners were converted. Eventually, the authorities decided that Dereje was too dangerous to be in prison and they kicked him out! As word about him traveled, his church began to grow. They've outgrown their old meeting place and are in the process of building another larger one. An tonight we're going to his house for a coffee ceremony.