Ethiopia 2019

A new journey begins: a fortnight in Ethiopia including the Timkat Festival (Baptism of Jesus, according to the old calendar).

I have had a slight interest in Ethiopia for many years. Through Action Aid, I first sponsored a child, and then “The Next Step” which works with village communities, through clean water projects and setting up local savings cooperatives. But I never expected to visit the country.

Two people have shared their enthusiasm with me. John Binns, the Vicar of Great St Mary’s Cambridge when I worked there from 2000 to 2005, had made many visits, and took a three-month sabbatical there while I was in Cambridge. Jennifer Andersson, a member of my congregation in Gothenburg, had lived in Addis Ababa when her husband was stationed there as a Swedish diplomat, and wanted to go back to work as an opthalmologist.

When I was looking for a winter break for 2019, I saw the Festival listed in the Exodus Discovery catalogue – more sightseeing than walking. Perhaps it will be a little outside my comfort zone – some early mornings and long road journeys, not to mention overnight flights there and back. And the festival will be crowded.

The Queen of Sheba travelled from Ethiopia to visit King Solomon, and returned pregnant with a child who would be the founder of a line of kings right up to the twentieth century.