Traveling with Rhona: Treated Like Royalty in Asella, Ethiopia

Helen, Tony, Abiy and I playing cards at Lake Hora on the way to Asella.

Lake Hora

Abiy Negussie originates from Asella, Ethiopia, about a 3 hour drive South of Addis. Asella is home to great Ethiopian runners Haile Gebreselase and Derartu Tulu among others. Abiy wanted to introduce us to his dear family and city. Asella is very proud of their son, Abiy Negussie, whose humanitarian efforts have helped so many street children of Addis Ababa find safe homes through his NGO, Abiy Negussie Humanitarian Organization (ANHO). UK Rotarians Tony Sharma and Helen Johnson (Rotary Club of Tower Hamlets, UK), and I set out with Abiy for Asella on Sunday morning. Helen is Mayoress of Redbridge, so a gift exchange and ceremony with the Mayor of Asella was arranged for Monday morning. We had no idea what greatness lay ahead of us.

Redbridge, UK Mayoress Helen Johnson of Rotary Club of Tower Hamlets is exchanging gifts with the Mayor of Asella, Ethiopia

The Mayor of Asella welcomes me and gives me a gift.

Getting to Asella should have been a 3 hour drive, but when you stop at Lake Hora for a walk, coffee and to play cards, and stop for lunch in Nazreth, make a fruit stop and a second coffee stop to visit friends, it becomes a good 5 hour drive. Abiy’s mother had a wonderful dinner waiting for us in her home. Her hospitality is hard to put into words. I am just so touched by his family’s love and kindness.

These beautiful ladies dressed me in the traditional Oromo clothes and jewelry. The Mayor of Asella is on the far left.

The four of us were also given these beautiful traditional beaded gourds.

Here is Tony, Helen and I with our new friends and family. The man on the right is one of the Holy Men that blessed us at the meeting.

I know I won’t be able to express in words the emotions of our day in Asella. It’s one of those days that change your life. The day started with a greeting by traditional dancers at the Mayor’s office. The Mayor, all of his cabinet members and staff, and several holy men attended the meeting. Greetings and gifts were exchanged and blessings by the Holy Men were received. We were gifted the very beautiful traditional Oromo dress, jewelry and beaded gourds. I was amazed by their generosity.

A rock quarry where Asella has employed many unemployed citizens for a fair wage. The child stays near her mother.

One of the beautiful cobblestone roads in Asella. Cobblestone roads cost half as much as asphalt and require much less maintenance.

This visit was different than any other place I have visited. The Asella leaders wanted to show us how they are tackling their poverty and unemployment issues. I saw a progressive city doing great things for its citizens. We first went to a rock quarry where they have employed many previously unemployed citizens cutting rock for cobblestone roads. Cobblestone roads are much cheaper to build than asphalt roads and they last much longer. They also pay a fair wage. We visited a chicken farm run by university students, a biscuit factory almost ready to start production, and a bio-farm. They took us to the future cobblestone road they are naming “Rotary International Road” (4.5K) and another road, in honor of Mayoress Helen, “Redbridge Road” (3.5K). What a great honor that is.

Me with UK RotariansTony Sharma, Helen Johnson and Abiy Negussie standing on the future 4.5K Rotary International Cobblestone Road.

This is the future Redbridge Road, in honor of Redbridge, UK. It will also be cobblestone.

Abiy Negussie is to my left and his mother (in white) is on my right.

Our afternoon ended with a large lunch on the shores of a beautiful lake. More gifts were exchanged, thankfulness and love was expressed, and then we headed back to Addis. Many new friends and family were made this day. It will go down in my history as one of the most wonderful days I have experienced; a day I received so much love and kindness; a day of many new friends and family. Yes, I am part of Abiy’s family now; thank you Abiy, Tony and Helen for bringing me into ANHO and into your circle of life. It was a gentle reminder from God that He is with me; guiding me and helping me and letting me know that I am on the right path….