This is the fourth in a six-part series describing my visit to Ethiopia last year. The first part can be found here.

Sunday, March 26

Sunday morning after Liturgy (which starts a little before 5 am and ends a little after 9), I attended the inaugural ceremony for the Imago Dei Counseling and Training Center, a program that was started in large part by faculty from St. Frumentius Ethiopian Orthodox Seminary, but is in collaboration with other faith-based organizations. Its focus is providing counseling from a faith-based and whole person orientation – something that is especially necessary now, given the trauma that the region has just experienced. I was able to visit with friends at this event, including the Rev. Tesfaye Hadera, dean of the seminary, Prof. Mekonnen ?, and ?, both of whom are former deans. The seminary has played a major role in housing and supporting IDPs as well as providing the Church’s support via Qiddus Mikael, the parish associated with the seminary. To my surprise, I was asked to share a few words at the ceremony. I spoke about benefits on holistic approaches towards health, and how my work combines human, animal, plant, and environmental health. I also sought to encourage the audience, sharing with them that my Orthodox and other Christian community in the States (and elsewhere) have been praying for them, are mindful of ways that they might be able to help, and are eager to do so.

After this I was invited to lunch at Dr. Abrha’s house, where I was able to catch up with his wife, Dr. Merhawit Reda, professor of anatomy at the vet school, and to see how much his children have grown. In addition, Dr. Birhanu (MU’s Vice President of Research and Community Outreach) and Dr. Netsanet Berhe, an epidemiologist at the vet school. We spent hours talking about a variety of things, including and especially what I can do from the States to help the vet school and the people of Mekelle, Tigray, and Ethiopia. They spoke quite frankly about their inability to recommend in good conscience that I bring my family back to Mekelle any time in the near future, and encouraged me to consider how I might be able to serve their community while living in the States. I’m still processing and brainstorming as a result of this conversation, but here are some of the things I would like to pursue:

• regular trips to Mekelle in which veterinary professionals come to share their expertise, often in the form of short courses for faculty and/or students

• identifying potential research projects (and, of course, funding), especially those that involve collaboration with Western researchers and clinicians

• identifying educational and/or professional opportunities for faculty and students from Mekelle at American (or other Western) veterinary or public health institutions

• appropriation and transportation of clinical, laboratory, research, and educational equipment and materials to the vet school in Mekelle

*I’d like to do similar things with the seminary as well, although my capacity to help is some of these areas is more limited.

I simply can’t say enough about the dedication, ingenuity, passion, and work ethic of the faculty at the College of Veterinary Sciences. These folks are an inspiration to me, and I thank God that I’ve had the opportunity to become friends and colleagues with them.

I spent the rest of the evening loading our LandCruiser and preparing to drive it from Mekelle to Addis Ababa. Timing for this trip was providential, as Jon, the director of MYC, was planning to make the drive as well in his LandCruiser, and we were able to caravan. Jon had graciously taken our vehicle to a local mechanic, as it had been sitting for essentially three years, and was able to get it up to speed, apart from the fact that the windshield wipers didn’t work (more on that later, but (spoiler alert) rest assured that I survived the trip. Jon and I shared a meal consisting of fuul before getting some sleep prior to our 4am departure time Monday morning.

This is part four of six of the report of my time in Ethiopia in March 2023. Part five can be found here.