Ethiopia--Lalibela

I know I haven't posted in 5 months--the only excuses are:

1. Blog challenged

2.Really busy taking care of missionaries

3. Lazy

4. Making jewelry from African trader beads

We recently took a trip to Ethiopia with President and Sister Christensen. What an amazing country. The above pictures are of the Coptic churches that are carved right out of the mountains or out of caves. In this small area there where 8 churches. Each had a different purpose-- One for men only, one for baptism by immersion in a font, one for women , another for singing and chanting, and one for its healing waters that drip from the rocks into pools. It took these people approximately 40 years to chiseled the churches out of the rocks. It is amazing the intricate work that was done with a chisels. We had to climb up the hills and then walk down narrow tunnels to get to each of the churches. This was done so they could protect the churches from invaders. There is some speculation that these were built by the Templar Knights looking for the Ark and Covenant. Some of these churches are 3 stories tall. The insides were intricately carved with multiple arches, painted beautifully murals with handwoven tapestries hanging inside. The churches still hold services here daily. We got up early one morning hiked up to one of the churches to attend one of their services. The religion they practice is a form of early Christianity that is called Coptic. They still use the ancient language of Gee. Each church has a "Holy of Holies" area with a replica of the Ark and Covenant . Of course we were not allowed in there!

Lalibela is a world heritage site. It is very remote and after flying in a small plane to a landing

strip, we then took a van up a winding road for a hour to Lilabela. Lilabela only gets 20,000 visitors a year compared to 3,000 visitors a day to Petra in Jordan--made famous by Raiders of the Lost Ark. There are two "hotels" and only one restaurant in town. I use the word restaurant loosely--thank heavens for granola bars! The "hotel" we stayed at claim to fame was Bill and Chelsea Clinton stayed there! We got to stay in the same room. Which is not saying much as there was only 8 rooms at our hotel.