Today we spent the day at Kolfe, getting to know the boys. It was such fun to see the group interact with the boys, playing soccer, american football and many games such as hide and seek and the human tug-of-war.
For those familiar with Kolfe, you understand the brilliance that are the boys of Kolfe, but also may realize the challenges that a group of 150 pre-teen and teenage boys present when living in an orphanage setting.
As the Olivet organization we discussed many of these challenges before agreeing to lock our hands in partnership with these boys. As our relationship has been built with Children's Hopechest and Kolfe, these challenges have proven to be true.
Today, four boys from Kolfe were able to address the leadership at Olivet, Hopechest USA and Hopechest Ethiopia together in one room. We were able to listen to them describe their wants and needs, and expectations of us working together. In turn, we were able to define and re-set expectations. It was a great meeting and one that needed to happen. Hopefully from this point forward our relationships can continue to grow in both trust and love amongst all parties.
While we were meeting the rest of our group was out on the soccer field playing with the boys. The youth on our trip had so much fun interacting with the boys. They played hard and laughed a lot. It is so gratifying being able to watch these peers from two different sides of the globe come together as one in play.
We finished the evening with dinner at Carnivore Addis (isn't that the best name ever for a restaurant!) which was a great experience and our first option to try traditional Ethiopian food. It was also the second meal at which machiatto's were served, and over half the group had fallen in love with this delicious treat.
Dorms at Kolfe
Hopechest leadership Mesiker and Ben Savage
Playing some American "football" with the boys at Kolfe.
The newest boy at Kolfe, he overcomes his handicap (deaf) with amazing sweetness and the help of his brothers at Kolfe.
