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Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Meet Kayo and Saynafis: Day 10 of (W)HOLE's 2025 Ethiopia Immersion Trip

Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Meet Kayo and Saynafis
Day 10 of (W)HOLE's Ethiopian Immersion 2025

A Family in Need of Hope

On July 23, 2025, our team met Alem and two of her beautiful children at Fares Medium Clinic in Ethiopia. Life has not been easy for this family of five. Alem struggles to find work, and her husband, Dereje, suffers from a condition that limits his ability to provide. Despite these challenges, they remain hopeful.


Kayo, 10, dreams of becoming a pilot. She’s in 4th grade and loves math and football. She also battles worsening vision and needs medical support. Saynafis, 4, was born with undiagnosed physical challenges related to her spine, neck, and shoulders. Both girls urgently need medical care, proper nutrition, and stability.

Kayo

Saynafis

Their youngest sibling, Raj, is 2 and healthy, but the family’s ability to meet even basic needs—like food and rent—is uncertain. Alem’s biggest concerns are stable housing and feeding her children consistently.

You can make a difference:

🏠 $50/month – Housing Sponsorship
🍎 $30/month – Balanced Diet Sponsorship (per child)
🩺 $70/month – Medical Sponsorship for Kayo or Saynafis

Your support offers more than essentials—it gives dignity, opportunity, and hope.

Pray for them. Share their story. Sponsor if you’re able.

Learn more about sponsorships: amanda@wholeintheroof.org

#WholeintheRoof #Healthcare #AgapeLove #Ethiopia #FaresMediumClinic
#SupportSpecialNeeds #Nonprofit #ChildSponsorship #GiveHope

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

A Ride Through the City: Day 3 of (W)HOLE's 2025 Ethiopia Immersion Trip

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
A Ride Through the City
Day 3 of (W)HOLE's Ethiopian Immersion 2025

As we drove around Addis Ababa, various landmarks came into view.  


Statue of Menelik II, erected in 1930, symbolizing his ultimate patriotism and grace during the Battle of Adwa in 1896.


Adwa Victory Memorial, Opened in 2024
commemorates the historic Battle of Adwa (March 1, 1896), where Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian colonial army


In addition to a museum located inside the building, the memorial has multiple facets on the exterior.  As we drove by, we could hear children giggling as the water spouted up.  It was way too cold for them to actually play in the water that day.


A tower on one side of the memorial features Ethiopian warriors fighting to climb, around obstacles, and over rocks to reach the top.  Each face depicted conveys pride and determination.  Most figures have both a long spear and a round shield for attack and defense.  The victory of this battle is a source of great pride for Ethiopians as well as other African peoples.  On top of the tower sits an outline of Africa with rays emanating from it.   


We drove all the way around the memorial.  Our intention was to check out the museum as well.  Alas, that closed about 15 minutes before we arrived.  A visit for another time.  


We came across the Abrehot Library.  This site was completed in January of 2022.  A new building with multi level windows towers above the street below.  The simple construction of cement and glass is etched with characters from various languages from around the world.  Unfortunately there was no time for our team to add a tour to our itinerary.  More information is available on their website https://abrehot.org.et/


On our drive through the city, we passed the gates of the old palace.  It is marked by two colorful statues of peacocks that stand approximately two stories high.  Their plumes drape down with patterns of gold, green, and blue.  The Imperial Palace was used by Emperor Menelik II from the 1890s through the end of his reign in 1913.  It has now been converted into Unity Park.  This large space is home to beautiful gardens, historical sites, a zoo, cultural learning opportunities, and space for families and visitors to enjoy ice cream or a meal.  Their website has much more information, going into detail about the attractions.  It is well worth a look!  https://www.unitypark.et/

While we did not visit Unity Park on our 2025 trip, I have a blog post from 2021


Amongst all the traffic, the squares, overpasses, and roundabouts, we could catch glimpses of churches, mosques, statues, monuments, and other notable sites.  


Addis Ababa does have a train system that runs through and to the outskirts of the city.  Over the years, the construction has created new traffic patterns and a change in the need for taxis.


During this 2025 Immersion Trip, I noticed more motorcycles and bicycles than I had before.  The development of "The Corridor" through the city created a safer space for bicyclists.  Although the revamping of these spaces has also created significant issues, removal and displacement of small businesses and people in poverty.


Off the main road through Addis, at most corners, you'll see women selling food.  Roasted corn on the cob or sambosa are the most common.  These ladies are extremely efficient with their setup.  A fire pot, stool, umbrella, and husked corn.  Prepared for the sun or the rain.


The husk is peeled from the cob.  Then used to serve the roasted corn.


A little Amharic lesson... Kolo (ቆሎ) is the word for corn.  And roasted corn... makes Bill very happy!


Our adventures for the day would not be complete without a visit to... Allmart!  Yes, you are right!  It is the closest thing to an Ethiopian Walmart.  You can purchase most anything in here.  The floor-to-ceiling windows in the front offer a glimpse at the first-floor shelves stocked with non-perishables.  Toward the back of that floor is a butcher and a small freezer section.  The second floor opens up to a display of fancy teacups and coffee setups.  A toy section, office supplies, and household items take up the rest.  On the third floor... furniture and appliances.  I, by no means, want to pass judgment.  I am sure there is a very good reason for this.  The furniture, the appliances... third floor.  I'm just glad that I'm not stocking the store!


That evening, we made a trip to the airport.  Not the international terminal... the domestic terminal.  While we knew there was a difference.  I had no idea how far apart they are, and there is no way to move easily from one to the other.  

Aregahagn, the young man below, is a part of our family.  He calls us mom and dad.  We are happy to call him, Burke kiddo #6, our son.  We've known each other for over ten years.  He lives in Pawi, Ethiopia, to the north of Addis Ababa.  Even though we would do anything to make it happen, from the time we've known each other, he had aged out of the adoption program.  He serves as a nurse, the equivalent of an LPN in the states.  The clinic that he is responsible for is in a rural part of the Pawi area.  Much of his job is administering vaccines for children and adults, and treating malaria.  Of course, he and other nurses are there for emergencies and other healthcare needs as well.  We have worked for years to find a way to allow him to come to the US to work and to be with us as a part of our family.  To no avail.  We hold out hope, though.  Each fall, we apply for a diversity visa, where recipients are chosen by a lottery system.  If you're the praying type, pray for God to make a way for him to be with the rest of us!

Aregahagn stays with us while we are in Ethiopia.  He is a wonderful translator and we are thankful for him!


Late at night, the front of the airport is lit up.  A vintage Ethiopian aircraft is posed before the terminal to celebrate Ethiopia's success with air travel.


Lunch and St. George's Cathedrals (Plural): Day 3 of (W)HOLE's 2025 Ethiopia Immersion Trip

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Lunch and St. George's Cathedrals (Plural)
Day 3 of (W)HOLE's Ethiopian Immersion 2025

Wednesday afternoon, we were still adjusting and recovering from jet lag.  Eyosias, our driver and the oldest of the Zebene kids, delivered us back to the Fountain Hotel.  Before a much-needed nap, lunch was necessary.  On the ground level of the hotel is a cafe and bakery.  They serve burgers, sandwiches, pizza, traditional Ethiopian food, donuts, shortbread cookies, and more.  


club sandwich with fries


Fountain "special" burger with fries


shiro (injera and thick chickpea stew) for the win!!!

A little sleep refreshed us, and then we were ready to go again.  In planning the activities of the 2025 Ethiopian Immersion Trip, Bill mentioned that he would like to tour some churches while in Addis Ababa.  Not a problem!  Ethiopia boasts a diverse selection of churches, cathedrals, mosques, and other religious sites.  We hopped in the car and I asked Eyosias to take us to see St. George Cathedral.  Again, not a problem!  We arrive here...


Confusion washed over my mind.  I thought to myself, "Huh, this place REALLY looks different from how I remember."  Questioning my memory, my hold on reality, and the location.  Eyosias affirmed that this was St. George's Cathedral.  "Orthodox?"  I asked.  Nope.  Little did I know, this was St. George's CATHOLIC Cathedral in Addis Ababa.  Part of the fun was that I had never visited this site.  It was something new for Bill, Lynne, and me!


In the center of the stone facade perched a bell tower.  A balcony wrapped around the second story.  Steps reaching the entire length of the front led to a porch lined with potted plants.  Multiple pieces of art (weather-resistant) graced the entrances.  Mary and Jesus as a child.  Christ glorified.  Three sets of heavy wooden double doors beckoned visitors to enter the sanctuary.  


The interior revealed an open sanctuary with a balcony above the back portion.  On the walls, relief carvings told the story of the stations of the cross.  Icons, painted portraits of religious figures, hung around the space.


In the front, paintings of the four gospel writers watched over the altar area.  The sun shone through the stained glass windows, rounding out the sacred vibe.


To each side of the altar sat prayer stations complete with candles, art, and prayer rugs.


This.  This depiction of Jesus is EVERYWHERE!  Even in Ethiopia.  The artist painted Christ as a pensive white man with flowing hair and a thick beard, staring off into the void.  There must be billions of copies of this piece around the world.  Maybe trillions.


While it wasn't what I initially expected to visit, it was a beautiful, sacred space.  I'm glad we were mixed up and found ourselves there.


After visiting St. George's Catholic Cathedral, we went in search of St. George's Orthodox Cathedral.  As we arrived, I noticed netting up around the building.  Followers were stationed outside deep in their individual prayers.  It was 4:50 pm.  

We were allowed to enter the courtyard and walk around the building, but the inside was completely closed off due to renovations.  By this time, it was 4:48 pm.  I remembered there was a small museum off to one side.  Visiting there would at least give us some opportunity to learn about this famous cathedral.  We walked up to the small gated entrance.  It was closed.  They closed at 5:00 pm.  We struck out for this trip.


However, Kevin and I did visit this cathedral back in 2014.  Check out the blog link below to get a peek at the inside of the church.

St. George Orthodox Cathedral, July 2014
https://ajourneybutnotalone.blogspot.com/2014/07/yup-were-church-dorks-ethiopia-round-3.html

Fares Medium Clinic: Day 3 of (W)HOLE's 2025 Ethiopia Immersion Trip

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Fares Medium Clinic
Day 3 of (W)HOLE's Ethiopian Immersion 2025

The best way to start your day is with coffee.  But not the brown water that is "coffee" in the US.  It must be Ethiopian coffee, from the birthplace of coffee.  I had the privilege of starting every day with this beautiful nectar, direct from God.  And most afternoons, we had coffee as well.  You could say I was very spoiled while on this immersion adventure.


After breakfast we went for a tour of Fares Medium Clinic.  This was Lynne's first time seeing it in person.  Even though I have seen it many times before, there is always something new to view.  The front has an updated sign along with some new greenery.


The clinic has experienced a multitude of phases.  When Kevin and I were getting to know the Zebene family this entire space was their home.  They rented out a back section to another family.  The front housed their family (of then) six.  When Dr. Hiwot and Zebene opened the clinic they used half of the space for their family and the other half to treat patients.  Eventually the clinic became so prominant in the Bole area, they sold their one vehicle in order to purchase land for a home.  The entirty of this space was then dedicated to Fares Medium Clinic.  Each time I see it they've rearranged or updated various spaces.  In addition, there are some big dreams to come.  Be patient, more on that in a later post.


Through the doors of the entrace you'll find the waiting/reception room.  They have comfortable couches, a desk for the receptionist, healthcare information posted, and a space for making coffee.  You can guess which spot I sit when I'm in this space!  (As close as I can be to the making of coffee.)  Through a doorway on the left is a long open air hallway.  The doctor's office and exam room is behind the wooden door shone in the picture below.


Both Dr. Hiwot and Dr. Hannah share this office, which is also an exam room.  The doctor's desk sits to one side with multiple chairs accommodating a couple of family members in addition to the patient.  To the right in this picture is the ultrasound machine that was donated to the clinic through the generosity of Redeemer Lutheran Church Family in Columbia, along with other supporters.


The clinic has seen significant use with this machine.  In Ethiopia, most clinics of this size do not offer ultrasounds.  Pregnant patients receive higher quality prenatal care.  In addition, the doctors have the opportunity to treat patients with other issues that an ultrasound can reveal.


The lab is equipped with microscopes, a hematology machine, centrifuges, and many other items that I don't know the names.  The two lab techs take shifts and run tests immediately as the doctors order them.  The hematology machine was brought over in 2021.  Two new centrifuges came with us this year.  The hope is to be able to take a urinalysis machine with our immersion trip in July 2026.


The emergency room, used for immediate needs such as IV fluids and monitoring, is in the back of the clinic at the end of the long, open-air hallway.  While our immersion team was around the clinic, a woman came in presenting with dehydration.  Two family members had brought her over an hour and a half to this clinic, specifically.  She had previously lived close to Fares Medium Clinic in the Bole Area of Addis Ababa.  Since moving, she still sees Dr. Hiwot for her healthcare needs.  The caring, compassionate, holistic care that both doctors provide means that much to their patients.  


Next to the emergency room is the nurses' station.  There is a partial wall between these rooms for nurses to monitor the patients.  In this room, Nurse Lemlem (pictured below) and the other nurses have space to administer injections, check a patient's vital signs, and provide other nursing care.  


Continuing through rooms that are still in the back of the clinic building, we have the small procedure room.  Circumcisions, stitches, and other minor medical procedures happen in this space.  There are three procedure tables, a privacy curtain, a supply cabinet, an instrument cart, and plenty of light in this room.


This outdoor hallway connects all of the rooms together.  It is not covered by a roof at this time.  Even though it is the rainy season, drainage is not a problem.  Seating in this area provides a place for patients to wait while lab tests are performed.  In the picture below is a view of the hallway from the back of this clinic, looking toward the front.  The iron gate you see ahead is another door that leads to the street running in front of the building.


The view in the picture below shows the doors to the procedure room, behind Bill.  Behind Lynne is the entrance to the nursing station.  Next to Bill is their washing machine.  Scrubs, bedding, and other washables are hung to dry.  In the far left of the picture is a partial view of the incinerator.  They dispose of various hazardous materials themselves.  


Moving toward the front of the clinic is the sanitizing room.  The back table holds a bucket of bleach, water, and another sanitizing liquid.  A pressure cooker-style machine sits on the table on the left.  This primary method of sterilization will soon need to be replaced.  What the picture doesn't show is the hole in the ceiling.  A round hole... about the size of the pressure cooker lid.  This might be taking the non-profit's name, (W)HOLE in the Roof, a bit too far!


Toward the front of the compound, there is a men's and women's toilet along with a shared sink.  Yes, both restrooms have a squat toilet.  If you're not familiar, YouTube can help you out, or ask me in person.  I can't bring myself to type out those directions here.  The door on the right side of the picture leads to the street in front of the clinic.


After the tour of Fares Medium Clinic, Dr. Hannah took some time explaining how they keep patient records.  Three different ways ensure that the patient's medical needs are recorded.  Below, Dr. Hannah and I are looking over the registration book.  They use this to record the clinic activities of the day.  Each patient is signed in with their basic information, a diagnosis, and a treatment plan.  


Fares Clinic also keeps files sorted alphabetically with more detailed information about the patients they see, the diagnoses, and the treatments they provide.  And hey, there happens to be a fabulous picture of the founders of (W)HOLE in the Roof and the founders of Fares Medium Clinic!  Amanda Burke, Zebene Shewakana, Kevin Burke, and Dr. Hiwot Zeleke (2021)


The third way that the clinic keeps records is through a charting application on their laptop.  In the US, it is reasonable to keep all records with technology.  However, in Ethiopia, the electricity is not always reliable.  During the immersion team's time there, the clinic lost power for a solid day and a half.  In order to continue treating as many patients as possible, the medical records must be kept on hard copy as well.


This is the view down the side street of the clinic.  Children play ball, mothers walk up to reach the little shop up ahead, and worship songs echo from the church next door.  This clinic is a central fixture in this particular community.  Just sit on the porch for a bit.  You'll see it in each person who walks by.


If you've read this far down... thank you!  So much information!
Connect with Fares Medium Clinic through Facebook