The local Orthodox church here has 24 national holidays, offices and schools are closed then and local orthodoxs don’t work as well. This time about half of Soddo was celebrating the holiday of Jesus’ baptism. A festive procession with priests, fathers and prentices dressed in golden and colourful clothes, went through the city from one orthodox church to the other. Ark of the Covenant was carried on unrolled carpets, branches and hay was thrown on roads.
On a celebration day the local people forget their faded clothes and wear white. The contrast gives a nice effect where already beutiful women and girls look even more beautiful. When me and two of my Ethiopian friends blended with the cheerful and singing mass of people, the police officers made us clear that taking photos was prohibited. I didn’t think it to be strange because rules are rules and so we went on the edge of the mass, to peacefully observe what was going on. I think I was as visible from there as a lighthouse in night. Someone from the procession beckoned us and then came to us. When he heard from my young friend that we are orthodox, I couldn’t even blink my eyes when all of a sudden we were already in the center of the procession and walking along with the most important Orthodox people. They also told me to make as many pictures as I wanted and to take home with me positive emotions from Ethiopia. Soon I saw also Andres who had the same fate – a little bit abashed, he was standing with his video camera in the middle of dancing priests…
Tonight is raining! For us it’s the first rain here. The air was full of crispness and inexperienced fresh smells. Luckily at this season it rains only at nights and quite rarely so we have hope to continue painting of the school house, which we started already yesterday. I can’t get over the thoughts, the local people have made me think about. Last night I had trouble with sleeping, probably because of the malaria medication. I sorted out pictures and deepened in portraits. Wonderful people! The people here, despite the fact that they are very poor, they are still grate- friendly, humble, faithful and happy.
Although there are a lot of hurt here, people take it as a natural part of life and the don’t have any depression here. They have hope in better tomorrow and they feel happy of the present day. That is what i need to learn from them.
It’s night, besides the rain you can hear our guard singing a song.
JOOSEP
