Idaho Farmer in Ethiopia: A visit from our daughter & a trip to visit Zakir's family

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

A visit from our daughter & a trip to visit Zakir's family

We had the pleasure to have Morgan, Andrew, and our two grand daughters come to Ethiopia. We Traveled up to Addis Ababa to greet them at the airport

We spent a couple of days there before traveling back to the farm by road to have them experience the countryside.

Waiting impatiently for our Charcoal Tibs at a restaurant along the way

Having a walk with grandma as our tire was being fixed

After a long 18 hr. drive we finally arrived at the farm.

Those at the farm were excited to see our family.

We were curious of how our grand daughters might react to the local people with their different features from those in small town Idaho, but as you can see they adapted very well

Morgan being given an anatomy lesson from Zakir

We promised Zakir that we would travel to Beltu to meet his family

Being greeted by Zakir's Mother and Father

It was special to receive a warm welcome from Zakir and his family

Zakir's Family

We were led inside to where Zakir sleeps at night and served some fresh fruit while we waited for his mother to give us a very honored meal of goat tibs that they slaughtered for this special occasion.

The walls were decorated with famous sayings

Zakir's family is Muslim and his father has two other wives who live apart from each other. This is very common in Ethiopia. He usually lives with his third wife in another village but did not want to miss the opportunity to visit with the "forenjis". I have learned that Zakir does not see his father often and Shelley and I have gained a lot of respect for his mother and of what she has accomplished in raising a fine young man and providing for her family much on her own.

Morgan and Andrew put together a great video of our trip to visit Zakir's family that you must watch.

This was very memorable for us and we get a little emotional every time we watch. We appreciate the opportunity to visit Zakir's family and especially to share the moment with our daughters' family. It was a very good day.

4 comments:

Alan and Shelley said...: Baredu! Good for me to see all those pics again. Missing you Alan. Say "hello" for me to everyone.; March 2, 2011 at 11:50 PM
Anne Adele said...: I loved the video, especially when the kids were running to keep up with the SUV and waving goodbye. So very sweet. In fact it was all rather surreal because I realized that Andrew was holding the camera and he really had been there with you and brought his family too.; March 3, 2011 at 8:30 AM
Gooseneck Hitches said...: Hello,

Nice picture of vehicle with full of goods, you can shift comfortably with your family to the airport with it. Now also it is a profitable business for people. Thanks a lot.; April 21, 2011 at 9:09 PM
Ron Titus said...: What great videos these are on this site! What a fun adventure helping people, meeting people and sharing with families. Thanks for posting them. I'll have to do some thinking about this. -Ron from Holladay, UT; June 13, 2011 at 10:49 AM

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Farming in Ethiopia

Our little story: We are Alan & Shelley, empty nesters, happy grain farmer and wife living in southeast Idaho since 1983. Day in and day out, year after year life on the farm is good. In October 2009 we were offered the opportunity of a lifetime; adventure, service, and a working in a foreign country. Now here we are in Ethiopia, yeah that's Africa, helping to develop a farm that grows drought resistant wheat seed, and introducing American farming practices and equipment. Yes, we have to adjust to strange food and different housing standards, and the worry of strange diseases, but this is adventure at its craziest and wildest and we will have lots of stories to tell our grandchildren. Quoting one of our favorite people, "We are living the dream!"