ETHIOPIA PART III

 

Another one of the projects that Clyde and Delores Moses worked on was helping the 'Mekedonia Home for the Elderly and Mentally Disabled.'  The Church was able to supply the home with 150 blankets, 300 mattresses and 400 sets of sheets (they go through a lot of sheets with so many old, infirm, residents).

 

Delivering sheets and blankets to one of the dormitories in the compound

  They also provided them with two looms and some sewing machines. One gentleman was sitting at the sewing machine repairing some pants.  We watched as some men were making a beautiful rug.  Another gentleman was weaving a delicate "Gabby" which is the typical scarf and/or head covering worn by many of the women. By making and selling these  items, they help with some of the expenses of the home. 


 

Weaving a Gabby

 

 

Chewy (one of the 2 office employees) and our hostess modeling Gabbies

 

Doing some repairs on the foot treadle sewing machine

Making one of the many beautiful rugs

The home is taking care of men and women who have no other means of support.  Most of them had been living on the street.  Three years ago they had 40 patients and now they are taking care of 750 men and women. The goal of the home is to provide basic services such as shelter, clothes, food, hygiene facilities, health, education and medical attention so that hopefully some of them will be able to live on their own. Some of them are bedridden and will never leave but some are able to change their lives and get a job.  They also help the mentally handicapped.

The sitting room

He was happy to see us

They have a display with pictures of some of their success stories and the change in some of those men and women was amazing.  There are 150 volunteers that come to help, including doctors and nurses.  Those people are saints!

Some of their  success stories

A place for them to worship

We were a bit surprised at the poor condition of the buildings and facilities.   Some of the floors were just dirt or covered with tarps. 

As we walked around, we went in some small, dimly lit rooms filled with beds. In the men's section we visited two dormitory type rooms filled with about 100 bunk beds each.There was a small room for the doctor and it certainly wasn't some place you would ever want to visit. 

The laundry



Washing one of the many sheets

The clothesline.  Notice the donated firewood (used scaffolding)

 

The country of Ethiopia has recently given them 30,000 square meters of ground (about 7 1/2 acres) to build a new facility that will house 3,000 people.  The home is supported mostly by local donations.  

There was another small room where women were making ‘enjera’. One of the ladies was stirring some of the dough in a large barrel.  It is a large, gray, pancake like tortilla that is cooked only on one side. The uncooked side looks like a sponge.  It is made from a grain that is mixed with water and then left to ferment.  It is used like a spoon to scoop up different types of food. It is one of their basic foods.   We tried some at a restaurant and did not like it.  It was cold, wet and slimy and had no flavor.

 

The Kitchen (preparing the grain)

 


A pan of flour.  Note the lady in back stirring the dough in the big plastic drum

 

The Fare (What! enjera again??)