We just spoke with Honeybee and our friends in Ethiopia. Signe described Honeybee’s visit to her family as an Ethiopian version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Everybody came to her grandmother’s house to see her, aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors. They were so excited to have her visit and everyone wanted to hug her. Signe said Honeybee was shy and reserved, which was difficult for her family, but hopefully they understood. We laughed when Signe told us that Honeybee’s grandmother brought out a large photo of Honeybee as a chubby, naked baby, and Honeybee was mortified. I can completely imagine it.

They had just finished breakfast at the hotel, but Honeybee’s family served a large meal and did a coffee ceremony. Two hours later they visited Signe’s son’s family and were served another meal. When that visit was complete, the driver asked if they wanted to have lunch and they all answered, “NO!” You just don’t turn down a meal prepared especially for you when visiting in Ethiopia, so three meals in three hours was plenty.

The trip to Jimma was good, with exciting hair pin turns on narrow roads, people and animals walking in the middle of the road, and one lazy cow that was actually sleeping in the road. They stayed in a hotel that Signe described as “interesting”. They were on the third floor, so they had no water the first day, except a bucket that was filled at the well outside the hotel.

Today they are going to the German Embassy to get Jubilee’s transit visa, then they are off to visit our friend Hanna and her ministry, Children’s Heaven. Tomorrow they plan to visit Dimples’ family. They are going to be exhausted when they finally get on the plane to fly home.

For those of you who know Jubilee (Beautiful M. from Big AHOPE), it sounds like she is doing great. She is very eager to get to America and begin school with her brothers and sisters.

~Lisa

Honeybee’s Travel Update #1

Honeybee’s Travel Update #2