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Seattle is very diverse and we've found a few stores that sell a lot of stuff from all over, Peru, Nepal, Kenya etc. One shop only had a couple items from Ethiopia and they were quite expensive but beautiful. Here's a couple pictures I found that look similar to what we saw today.
Processional crosses, so named because they ware held above the heads of the crowds in church processions.
Hand cross- Every ethiopian priest holds a hand Cross that he's constantly carrying with him. He is putting the Cross on the forehead of the believers and they are kissing the Cross.
The two crosses we found were $150 and $225. One was a hand cross and the other was a processional cross. They were quite amazing. We found a few places online to buy these sorts of Ethiopian crosses that are not quite as expensive as this store was. We are excited to start getting some Ethiopian art and clothing.
A couple of weeks ago we announced in church that we are adopting. A family we didn't know too well approached us after the service and invited us over for dinner. Come to find out, Scott and his brothers with their parents spent a lot of years living in Ethiopia as missionaries. If I understood correctly I think 2 or 3 of their 5 boys were born in Ethiopia. The parents don't live their any longer. When we had dinner with Scott and Janet's family Scott's parents were also there and his brother who now lives in Germany. They made us wonderful Ethiopian food!! We didn't take pictures there but I found a some pictures on the internet that resemble what we ate.
The silverware we used was called Injera. I guess the kind we had was fairly Americanized because in Ethiopia they let it set out for days from what I understand. It just has a different look to it. But here's what ours kinda looked like: A recipe I found online: Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups lukewarm water 2 tsp active dry yeast 1/4 tsp baking powder salt to taste 2 Tbsp canola oil
They made Dora Wat. In this picture it was more like the back portion rather the the front with peas. Here is a recipe I found online:
Ingredients
2-3 lbs. chicken 9 oz. tomato paste 3 sticks of butter 10 hard-boiled eggs 3 lbs. onions, finely chopped 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp. of ground black pepper 3 heaping tbsp. of berbere
It was a very unique dish but tasted amazing.
Another dish they made was Cabbage and Potato Aliche
Ingredients 1/2 medium cabbage, coarsely chopped 4 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 1 medium yellow onion, diced 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp five spice powder (OR, 1/4 tsp nutmeg) salt to taste 2 Tbsp canola oil
We got to ask them a lot of questions we had and it was so exciting to hear about Ethiopia and their culture. We learned that the kids are named very meaninful names. The name might have something to do with where they were born, what was going on when they were born, the season they were born in etc. We also found out that most of the boys have their heads shaved except a little tuff of hair in the front. This is for their guardian angel to snatch them up if they are in trouble or harm. Interesting! They shared a slideshow of pictures with us that was very moving. The country is beautiful and the children adorable. Some of the pictures of the country looked a bit like the monument except green. Anyway, it was a wonerful evening. We're even more excited then before.
Joy to the world Let heaven and nature sing Let heaven and nature sing
Now Jonnie never got his wish on December 25 That's what he said when he left the orphanage 9 years old, but Jonnie was an old soul Gonna spend his first Christmas in a real home Showed me a picture that he drew the night before Was a picture of a man standin' outside a door I asked him who it was and he said someone I only see in dreams Comforts me when I cry myself to sleep Father of the fatherless Be with your sons and daughters this Christmas This Christmas Believe in angels? Jonnie asked me starin' at the sky I said I do and saw a sparkle in his eye Big brother for the weekend respondin' to the season Took the chance that givin's better than recievin' Two nights, a new family, some holiday cheer We laughed and sang Came on a midnight clear We gave, recieved, and as we headed to close We looked to the heavens and it started to snow Down blessings Father of the fatherless Be with your sons and daughters this Christmas (You ain't livin' til you choose to give love and joy and peace to one of His) Father let us not forget The children who are all alone this Christmas (You ain't livin' til you choose to give, you ain't livin' til You choose to give) (James 1:27) Religion that God our Father Accepts as pure and faultless is this To look after orphans and widows in their distress Merry Christmas everyone Joy to the world The Lord is come Let heaven and nature sing Let heaven and nature sing Let heaven and nature sing Let heaven and nature sing Believe in angels Jonnie asked me starin' at the sky I said I do and saw a sparkle in his eye 9 years old, but Jonnie was an old soul Gonna spend is next Christmas in a real home
So our home study is done. . .except . . . we have to read a book and write a little paper on it. I ordered it online because the local libraries didn't have it. So, we're waiting for it to arrive and then we'll try to sail through it and hopefully get it done before the end of the month. Then we have a couple months of waiting on the USCIS stuff before the dossier (tons of paperwork) is sent to Ethiopia. We're getting so close to being done. Phew!
