We are Safe and Happy.

from the pen of Annie:

WE ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!! In Ethiopia. After 38 hours of grueling travel we are finally here. The plane ride was okay - we spent lots of time sleeping. We did not get into Addis Ababa until 7:30 PM, and because of a baggage situation, we did not get out of the airport until 9:30 PM. Although we looked totally lost, we were quickly rescued by our guide, Negusse, who had been waiting for us for 2.5 hours. He helped us get all of our luggage into vans and we were taken to the Holiday Hotel in Ethiopia. Today, we are trying to get some errands done before we start at the hospitals tomorrow. This weekend, we are also going to be able to help out at an orphanage.

Katie had asked us to fill out a predeparture questionnaire before we started our journey here, and one of the questions was "What is your current definition of poverty?" After just one day of looking around the area and even in what is in our hotel rooms, I can tell you what it is like to be pretty well off: Having electricity, having clean water (Hot water is a big plus, which we currently do not have), and having clean clothes. Most of the people here do not have any of these things. Apart of me misses home because I am not use to this, but another part of me is excited about living simply and not taking these basic things for granted.

Our spirits are high and we are all ready to get started though. I hope to update you on more later, but we all wanted to let you know things are okay.

One thing you could really be praying for us for - our baggage!!!! Most of our medicines were taken away at customs to be reviewed by the Minister of Health. It shouldn't be a problem, but we still don't have them in our custody, which makes us a little antsy. We do have all of dental supplies, so if anything, many Ethiopians will still have clean teeth :D

This trip seemed completely surreal to us even a few days before we left, but now that we are here, our entire team is just in awe of this entire journey from beginning to now. It still blows our minds that we are here, and we are so, so thankful. We all want to say "Amaseginalehu" (thank you) for just being here and supporting us.

Ciao! (Bye!)