Welcome to Ethiopia

We made it to Ethiopia Wednesday night. We are staying at Lulu's Ethiopian Guest House, and it is wonderful. We have been welcomed warmly by the Ethiopian people. The house is gated and guarded at all times, and we can view the city from the roof top!  I'm ready to visit the orphanages, make home visits, and interact with the people of Ethiopia! 

Facts about Ethiopia: 

- located in East Africa, it's a landlocked country bordered by Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti and 

  Kenya

- slightly less than twice the size of Texas

- population is around 91 million

- the language is Amharic and English

- religion is 43% Orthodox, 33% Muslim, and 18% Protestant

- local currency is the birr. $1 in US is about 18 birr

- capital city is Addis Ababa which is where we are staying 

- the altitude is about 7,500 feet above sea level (to compare - Indiana is 717 feet above sea level and 

   Draper Utah is about 4,500 feet above sea level) 

- Entoto mountains are to the North of Addis Ababa 

- 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia