I slept pretty well, but was wide awake by 3 am. We got up, got ready for the day, ate breakfast, and headed back to the airport for our flight to Addis. We walked around and did a bit of shopping before boarding our plane. We had a good flight overall, and got to Addis Ababa around 1:45 pm.
We had to wait in a horribly long line to get our visas, and everyone kept cutting in line and slowing everything down. We finally got our visas and headed over to pick up our luggage, but there were no carts to be found to haul our 15 totes of donations. Angela found one that had the brakes permanently set, and it was a nightmare to push. All of our luggage made it, though, and eventually we found some more carts. The line to exit the airport was horrendous because the mass of people, baggage, and carts had to be herded into a cattle chute-type area and be checked by a lone security guard at the end. It was total chaos. Finally after about 2 hours, we headed out of the airport and found Mathewos and Wass. It was great to see them again! They loaded everything onto/into the van, and we drove to Wellspring Guest House. We checked in, were shown to our rooms, and got situated. Wass played Dutch Blitz with the girls for awhile.
Pastor Omod came to meet us, and we visited with him for awhile. We gave him the money we had brought, given to us by the Bible Distribution Fund at church, so he could buy Anuak Bibles for his prison ministry in Gambella. He told us that there have been a lot of conflicts lately between the Nuer and Anuak tribes, and it was no longer safe for the twins' birth family to stay at their home. They had to move into town and rent a place. I can't imagine what the boys' lives would be like if they still lived in Gambella.
Wass took us out to eat at Chanoly Smoothie and Noodles for supper. The food was delicious and the portions were huge! We shared quite a few different dishes. Wass told us that all the food there was safe, so we even got to eat the lettuce salad and fresh fruit smoothies. Yum! Afterwards, we went back to the guest house and went to bed.
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