Hello everybody,

So vacationing is over. We wrapped up our travels in Harar, the ancient Muslim center of the empire, then went to Gonder, the empire's capital right before it changed to Addis, and Bahir Dar, a coastal town on Lake Tana. From Bahir Dar we went to a few island monasteries which were basically small monasteries in the middle of tiny islands on a lake that looked all too much like Lake Murray and made me miss home, tubing, and good fried seafood. We also spent some time at the Blue Nile Falls, the source of the Nile just off of Lake Tana. It was breathtaking and disappointing at the same time. It's sad because they have damned the river feeding the falls and they are about a third of their original size. Regardless, it was amazing.

ISP (Independent Study Project, for those of you who aren't keeping up...) time starts next week after we take our exams and I'm so ready. I've never done research like this that I care a lot about and I'm itching to get my feet wet. Hopefully I'll plan my first visit to a Prosperity Gospel service for this Sunday and start interviewing people after that. That's right, interviewing. Like real people do.

So Halloween is today, and while we threw around a few options, our group sadly never got dressed up. It's sad, not celebrating meaningless holidays, but we're already planning something special for Thanksgiving, even if it is just going to the completely random fancy restaurant near our guest houses, Chop House. Literally, it's a house, but the food is better than most houses I've ever been in so I'm fine with it.

Miss you all and would love to get emails from you.

Peace,

Brandon

Greetings family and friends!

I'm so sorry about the delayed blogging. Internet in Ethiopia is very finicky and I'm emailing this to a friend to update the blog. So don't think I haven't been trying!

I am currently in beautiful, rustic, tree-filled, mountainous Lalibela, home of the famous rock-hewn churches from a long freaking time ago. A few days ago I was pulled up a mountain by a rope and an unusually large number of Ethiopian monks into the sacred Debra Damo monastery. It was absolutely breathtaking, an entire town on top of a mountain. I'll post pictures when I can, but for now you'll have to take my word that it's indescribable. Is that cool?

I was also within shouting distance of the building in St. Mary of Zion Cathedral where the ark of the covenant is supposably held. We couldn't help but hum the Indianan Jones theme and we may have offended a priest or two...but not much.

I've missed home a lot more than I thought I would and it, well, surprised me. I've been saved by my iPod every night because I can listen to songs that take me back to fields under stars, rock quarries and rope swings, and conversations on back porches. Despite all this beauty I'm seeing and all that I'm experiencing I miss my friends and my home. That's not to say I'm not enjoying my time here. I can say without doubt that this trip has been the best few months of my life so far, partly because it has shown me how much of my life at home I love and cherish.

Well, the sunset over these gorgeous mountains is calling my name. Again, no promises as to my next post but know that I'm keeping all of you in my mind as I wander through this ancient land.

Peace,
Brandon