More pics... and then I'm gonna leave some for dear 'Mom to post (again, her's are WAY bedda!):
In this first one, that little dollbaby girl in the middle came up and in the SOFTEST voice, whispered "Sweet-Sweet?" and kept touching her lips and repeating it. I didn't get it at first and then I realized she wanted candy. And... I HAD CANDY (in case of diabetes "crash" - LOLOL!). I had... RED VINES!!!... red licorice, for those who don't know what Red Vines are... which she and her companions had never seen before:
Since it was new, a couple of the older kids were reluctant/refused to take it, but I convinced them to try it and... voila! The boy to the far right in this next pic (and another older boy) took it and after trying the tiniest of pieces, said, "Yes! Good!" LOLOLOL!
And so, once they saw that the two older boys liked it... ALL of the kids wanted some! Here I am standing with a bunch of little boys holding the licorice I gave them at the entry to the archeological site of King Kaleb's tomb (which is underground... AND has bats! Don't ASK me how our guide, Sisai ("Sis-Eye"), and 'Mom got me to go down there... but they did!).
Note, Ethiopia is 7700 above sea level... and Axum even higher... so the wind was blowing... and the sun was REALLY bright - LOLOL!
Here is dear 'Mom and our WONDERFUL lead tour guide, Mebrahtu ("Muh-Brrrah-Too")... aka "Duche" (Doo-chay), in front of St. Mary's church:
He is devout, although quite "modern". But he observed all of the necessary protocols and respects at the church, which was impressive for a young man of 23. His mother is a widow, and he has a younger brother and sister, all of whom he supports (his siblings do quite well in school so he refuses to let them quit to work. He takes his responsibilities for them and his mother QUITE seriously. He's a hustler but a good and fair one!).
And... the chapel were the "Ark" is kept, with the guardian (in gold robes) standing outside the chapel but inside the compound fence talking to his assistant (with white shoulder robe) getting a brief breath of fresh air (this is about as close as folks can
usually get. Well, up to the parapet railing just a few feet away):
My understanding is that he [usually] cannot leave the compound but can step outside for some fresh air in an area accessed only by his attendants, who must stay outside the fencing. He did come outside the compound for us, for a very brief interchange and exchange, which I am not privileged to share the details of here, sorry.
Note, the "Ark" is kept in a chamber underground. The actual Ark (of the Covenant) isn't there. Rather, the story is that there is a box made of 3-inch thick solid gold on all sides that was said to have been used to transport the tablets when they were taken from Jerusalem by Menelik, the son of Solomon and Makida (the Queen of Sheba) because the Ark itself would have been too cumbersome to sneak out of the City undetected. Per my Lord, this is accurate.
Dear 'Mom will post more this weekend, then I'll add a few more.
Peace to you all!
A slave of Christ,
SA
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Glad to hear you two got back safely.
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