The Davis Moon Project

Looking Back

2011-08-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

One year ago I was gearing up to participate in the Davis Moon Project's first group mission trip. When the team met in Washington, DC, to board our direct flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we all knew this would be an adventure of a lifetime, but none of us knew how the trip would affect us.

Spending my birthday in Ethiopia was a special treat in itself, yet as the day unfolded it truly was one for the memoirs (see post below). That evening, I placed an elephant-hair bracelet purchased in Addis on my right wrist. When I returned back to the States, I contemplated taking it off, but didn't. At a formal event in November, I contemplated taking it off, but didn't. I've ruined numerous dresses, shirts and jackets as a result of the bracelet's roughly cut ends catching on the fabric. I've created pulls in sweaters, scarves and towels - yet never removed it.

I look down at my wrist every day, several times a day, and remember the smiling faces of children who had so few worldly possessions and so much love in their heart. I remember shoeless, hungry kids who considered a hug from me the best moment of their day or week, perhaps the best moment of their lifetime. I remember the genuine connection I experienced with several Ethiopians that week - and their dark, beautiful eyes looking deeply into mine while we shared a smile.

The bracelet has served as a daily reminder of the fortunate circumstances I find myself in, giving me perspective when day-to-day frustrations come calling. I no longer need the bracelet to remind me and plan to unceremoniously remove it from my wrist next week, though I will forever cherish the immediate love those children gave and the friendly, welcoming people of Ethiopia.

I still struggle with the ability of one person to have an impact where there is such vast need. Then I think back to my own encounters - a single brunch discussion or chance meeting on an airplane - where one conversation forever changed my path in life.

Four years ago Sonja and I were chatting about her and Rob embarking on this "little project to give back in their own way," which has already improved the lives of so many here in the States and abroad, and I think about a quote from Gandhi: Be the change that you wish to see in the world. Yes. One person, one act of kindness, one trip to Ethiopia, one book at a time, any one of us can make a difference.

GUEST POST: Tricia Traeger

2010-09-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to talk about Ethiopia and our mission trip with The Davis Moon Project in a meaningful way. One in which I expect you to feel my feelings.

So, since I’ve owed my mission post to our blog since we were two hours away from landing at Dulles on our way home, I’m doin’ a Top Ten list!

My favorite things about Ethiopia from our mission trip with The Davis Moon Project:

1. I was charmed to see children see us and recognize us as something they’d never seen before. Same with some adults. We were evidently a sight to behold in the communities where we delivered children’s books. I’ve never felt more instantly welcomed, more popular, or more loved by strangers.

2. The lingering eye contact that was invited and so sincere when we would look at one another. We unabashedly held each other’s gazes. This exchange between strangers left me with a feeling of peace.

3. My mission-mates. We got along beautifully. That ended up being really important and drew us together.

4. The orphaned children. That one is hard to talk about.

5. Reading the books we brought to the children at the Gladney Orphanage. They fought over them, trying to choose and hold onto their favorites. We had to calm them down, by reading to them, gathering them closely around each of us. I’ve kept a mental picture of this in my mind. In so many ways they were just like all other children their age. I hope our books will encourage them to read.

6. Planting the eucalyptus trees in Dahley – must’ve been 200 of them. Of all the tasks we worked on, I think the trees we planted will outlive us.

7. Exposure to poverty at this level. It made me want to quit non-essential shopping
altogether. While the children we saw everywhere had so little, they seemed to be so happy.

8. Thinking. Being on The Davis Moon Project mission makes you think about the mission of The Davis Moon Project. And you ask yourself a lot of questions about it. Their work makes you think long and hard about their good work.

9. After shocks: when my friend asked me recently what else I would have brought with me to give to the children and adults of Ethiopia, my first reaction was: shoes. On a large scale, I’d like to see clean water reclamation happen in Ethiopia.

10. Getting to do this mission with my husband, Mark Traeger.

Like a Scene From a Movie

2010-09-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

I saw the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” today. The opening scene for the second of three self-revealing journeys captured by Elizabeth Gilbert (played by Julia Roberts) brought back a huge rush of emotion and memories from our time in Ethiopia.

Liz was jolted from the relaxed loll of four months in Italy and dropped into the middle of chaos and bedlam in India. The first several minutes of her adventure were reminiscent of how I felt as we navigated the roads in Ethiopia. The movie scenes dart between her experience in the back seat of a taxi and the streets as she watches the confusion and pandemonium. She encounters farm animals loitering in the middle of the road, a child playing in trash, overloaded vehicles, hectic traffic, children grasping through the taxi window seeking charity. Then the cab comes to an abrupt stop in front of the ashram.

My perspective should not be interpreted as a condescending note on life in Ethiopia, rather an appreciation (dare I say longing???) for the disparity. The following quote captures the value in recognizing the beauty in both. It’s important to note that Henry B. Adams was a U.S. historian and that “order” could be attributed to “the dream of (the American) man.”

“Chaos was the law of nature; Order was the dream of man.” Henry Brooks Adams (1838–1918)

Every day I am more grateful for the experience that The Davis Moon Project offered me. Thanks to all that made it possible.

Transitions

2010-08-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

Getting back into my normal routine the last couple of days has proven challenging for me -- both physically and emotionally.

For the first time ever in my travels am I experiencing jet lag -- nausea, disorientation, dizziness, irregular sleep patterns.

Then there’s the mental transition. When asked at the dry cleaner yesterday, “How are you?” I teared up. “I’m great,” I replied. How could I justify any other response than “great”? I’m well-fed and healthy. I live in a clean apartment with a reliable water source and electricity at the flip of any number of switches. I am lucky to have several safety nets -- an unemployment office, family, friends -- to catch me if I was in dire straights. I’m not deprived of any basic needs, in fact, I have many desires and whims that are fulfilled.

Even simple errands turn into opportunities for second thoughts. I stopped at the ATM for cash and saw a landscaper spraying stuff on the grass growing between the cracks of the sidewalk. “Really?”, I thought.

Of course friends and family are chomping at the bit to hear tales and see pictures and I’ve been reaching out as time and energy have allowed. Some cannot relate whatsoever, although everyone has been very supportive of this trip and the DMP mission. A few of my friends have traveled to third-world countries and I’ve found their insight on processing and making sense of this transition very helpful. I’ve also been in contact with some of our mission group which has been a great source of solace.

I wonder how long it will take me to go back to the oblivion of trivial American life encounters...

Mission Accomplished! DMP Class of 2010 Returns to US

2010-08-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

What great fortune!! (Well, that and a boatload of pre-trip planning, coordination, confirmation, calculation and a bit of consternation just for good measure.) All DMP mission volunteers and bags of books arrived in Ethiopia on August 8 and all volunteers and empty bags returned to the States today! Some comments I heard during our last evening in Addis Ababa:
Has it already been a week?
I am definitely coming back to this country!
Today’s SNAFU ended up being my favorite day.
This has been a life-changing experience for me.
Don’t forget to friend me on FaceBook.
I can’t wait to eat a salad!

Tonight’s wrap-up dinner will be a special opportunity to meet some DMP donors and mission volunteer family members and friends, recount stories and share photos (and probably some tears too.)

We must apologize to our faithful blog followers for interrupted service while on the ground last week. Between spotty cell service, intermittent black/brown-outs and slow internet connections, we were unable to post play-by-play updates. HOWEVER, watch this blog over the next few days for day-by-day reports, snippits of more than 5,000 photos and hours of video, and guest posts from other mission volunteers.

GUEST POST: D’Lee Marshall -- Day 7

2010-08-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

This was a week packed full of meaningful moments, but the day we visited the state-run orphanage, Kebebe Tsehay, in Addis Ababa, was an experience that is unforgettable to me.

As our bus pulled into the orphanage compound, several dirty little feet tapped toward us. Little cuties ran up the hill with arms stretched as wide as they could stretch them and huge beaming smiles from ear to ear. I got a mighty hug from one little boy and noticed how tight he was holding me -- a teddy bear hug that seemingly would need to last a lifetime because he wasn’t sure when the next hug would be.

The kids were wearing tattered clothing, no shoes for the most part and dirty from head to toe. (But not in the way my kids get dirty from playing outside - no! - this was serious grime, likely a result of their accommodations and the limited access to bathing and washed clothing.)

Our group walked over to the play area and the number of children grew from 5 to at least 100, with ages ranging from 2 years old to maybe 12. Most of the children were obviously ill with simple sicknesses like runny noses, ring worm, dental issues and cuts. Illnesses that would be easily remedied here in the States, but apparently unaddressed at the orphanage.

Why were these children here? I wanted to know their stories and started asking our guide to translate questions I posed to the Director. In one word: poverty. Most of the children at this orphanage were dropped off by parents that could no longer provide food for them. Some had horrific stories such as an 11-year old girl who had been chained to her bed her entire life with the scars on her ankles to prove it.

After an hour or so of playing with the kids outside, a few of us walked over to see the kids dorm room. Beds were stacked 3 high -- some beds with sheets, some without. It smelled. It was dirty. This room was disgusting! “These kids live here?,” I thought.

Then my entire body went numb. No emotions. No feelings. I stood there in emptiness -- like an out-of-body experience. Before the trip, I had read that when a person becomes emotionally numb, this means that the emotion has become too much for the mind to process. This is the body’s way of protecting itself. When I realized I was experiencing this state, I broke down in tears. Yes, this was too much to face, but in the interest of the kids, I pulled myself together.

Then we walked into the baby room. Thirty cribs packed a small room in the back. Some cribs had two babies laying feet to feet and some babies were sitting in bouncy seats -- approximately 50 babies in all. With 3 caregivers, the babies were picked up only for diaper changes and bathing then put back in their cribs. Each crib had a bottle in it.

The environment was sad, but these babies were beautiful! I wanted to ensure that I held at least each baby once. I could at least see to it that for one day these babies would get some human interaction. My heart ached for each of them.

After more than an hour with the babies, I walked outside and that is when I felt a flicker of hope and after a minute... pure joy! Sitting on the steps leading up to the orphanage doors were my fellow DMP travel mates surrounded by children and reading the books that we had brought with us! The kids were wide-eyed listening and enthralled with the magic uncovered in the words that were read to them. We really were making a difference here.

This week’s adventures were an emotional roller coaster, but every time I saw hardship I also saw love and our experience at the orphanage brought it all full-circle. Yes, there was hope and it was staring back at us through beautiful eyes and big smiles. It was magical and made me believe that there were better days ahead for these kids and other children throughout Ethiopia.

Thank you to Sonja and Haleigh and the DMP for an incredible experience that I will never forget. Thank you to the people of Ethiopia for showing me that humanity and character are alive and well on the other side of the world and that you are people that honor everyone you meet with openness and love. Randy Pausch, author, said, “Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people.” Together, we will knock down the walls of poverty. We will break the education and language barriers and we will make this a better world for everyone.

Beautiful Awassa

2010-08-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

When Haleigh and Sonja were planning the mission trip, they wanted us to have the opportunity to experience some of the lush countryside away from the big city of Addis Ababa.

The city of Awassa, located in the Great Rift Valley, is between a 3 and 5-hour drive south from Addis Ababa, depending on the traffic. (Traffic is a term I use loosely here since that may entail any number of lanes of donkey-pulled carts, auto rickshaw taxis, pedestrians, cattle herds, goat crossings and, of course, other busses, trucks, SUVs, passenger vans, etc. Hats off to Tsuri, our driver, who was not fazed by any of the heart-attack moments us Americans were experiencing as back-seat drivers. WE LOVE YOU TSURI!)

Awassa is often referred to by Ethiopians as “very clean”, but our hotel was decidedly NOT. A couple of lucky team members scored the rooms appearing in the photos on the hotel’s website and Nora was thrilled to learn upon check-in that the shower in her room actually worked properly since she’d been without water pressure for 4 days in Addis.

Wide Horizons for Children, the orphanage we visited our first full-day on the ground, facilitated meetings with a couple of the families that were participating in the Empowerment Program, a humanitarian effort they sponsor in addition to adoption services. We piled back into the bus after a quick lunch (NOTE: Ask Portia to reminisce on her fried pigeon) and headed to the outskirts of the city. Fifteen minutes down the road we stopped to pick up Eshetu, our first Empowerment member, so that he could navigate the route for Tsuri. Ten more minutes and we turned onto a pitted pot-hole mess of a dirt road, then left onto a path, then right onto another “path” -- I looked at Sonja wide-eyed along the lines of “Can you say ‘remote’?”

Yes, we were in the bush. As we arrived at our first stop we were greeted by about 15 of Eshetu's neighbors, employees and family members. He showed us all of the entrepreneurial efforts he managed, including crafting furniture; farming coffee and false banana trees, cabbage and corn; serving as village photographer; and catering with optional party supply rental. WOW! By the time we departed, Eshetu was grinning ear to ear and there were at least 50 of his closest friends gathered in the front yard, so we exchanged hand shakes, hugs and smiles and headed off to our next stop.

Tuk-Tuk and her 3 children now live at the back of the building (designed and built by Eshetu, by the way) that serves as the local store. As a result of her acceptance into the Empowerment Program, she sends all of her children to school (they walk one hour each way for the privilege of attending school!) and still has enough money to keep her store stocked, raise chickens and tend her two mules. Soon, she plans to farm the land around her home. There is no doubt that these motivated, hard-working beneficiaries have made the most of the opportunities and support Wide Horizons has presented them. Amazing folks, really. And the welcoming nature of the other villagers was pretty overwhelming as well. Have you ever driven down a road where people run out of their homes just to give you a big smile and wave good-bye?

On our second day in Awassa, we visited the public library. I’ll let you determine for yourselves from the photo below on what is missing from the library:

Our final stop in Awassa allowed us to enjoy the stunningly beautiful lake area with its huge acacia trees and abundant interesting wildlife (see photos below). We spent a couple of hours checking out flora and fauna and then hopped back on the bus for the long drive back to Addis.

GUEST POST: Kasey Faulkner -- Day 2

2010-08-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

EDITOR’S NOTE: Given our varied backgrounds, each mission volunteer experienced the week’s adventures through a different lens. Sonja asked the team members to recount a special moment or day that was meaningful. The result are guest posts that, hopefully, provide our dear readers additional perspective on the trip. Enjoy!

Since I had never been outside of the US before, I had no idea what to expect on my trip to Ethiopia.

On our second day we drove about an hour outside of Addis to the village of Dahley. As we drove through the city we saw children standing hungry on the side of the street, sometimes mothers holding babies looking for us to help. As we got outside of the city the scene changed. We were no longer surrounded by large buildings, but rather a lush green landscape with small huts made of sticks, mud and straw.

It was sprinkling rain as we pulled to a stop to meet Sally & Tom Baer and find out what we’d be working on for the next two days. I was in the group that went up to the library. Sally gave us a brief rundown of what their hope for Dahley was, specifically the library and medical center that were under construction. She asked us to create a rock pathway in front of the frame of the library so when the ground was muddy, as it was that day, it would be easier for people to access. We worked for several hours moving rocks and arranging them into a path.

Later in the afternoon we were asked to meet the mudders group in the school house before we left for Habti’s house for lunch. There Sally told us because it had rained so much the river had risen and she was not sure how we were going to get back across to our bus. Eventually they decided that we would walk across the river with help from some of the men from the village. The current in the river was strong and the water almost came up to my hips. It took four men to help us across. Although we had all worn waterproof boots and pants, they did not withstand the hours of standing in the rain followed by walking through the river. We all climbed back onto the bus (poor Tsuri had to get so many car washes this week!) and went to Habti’s hut to have lunch and a coffee ceremony.

The moment I got to the door of the hut, one of the school children wrapped her hands around my face and kissed each cheek. After we had eaten our lunch we went outside to bring food to the school children. Several of them came into the hut to eat while we drank our coffee. I sat in a room with about eight of the children and since I couldn’t speak the language or tell them stories or jokes, I resorted to my usual fallback of making fish faces. Right away they began laughing and making fish faces back at me. I was amazed for as cold and hungry as they were, a simple fish face brought about such big smiles. Anne Marie started singing the ABCs and the children joined right in and then started singing their own songs in Amharic. Mr. Blay, our travel guide and translator, said the songs were filled with hopeful words. It touched me that these children, who were living in poverty and showed such little love and affection, remained so happy, hopeful and loving. Tom Baer told us that two of the girls in the hut were twins, about 7 or 8 years old, that cared for their 3-year-old brother because their mother was unable to take care of them and no one knew where their father was. The girls were sweet and happy, just like the other children, and very protective of their younger brother.

The happiness, resilience and love of the children of Dahley, in spite of their circumstances, helped me see hope for their future. I am so happy I got to experience this and that I was able to do it while I’m so young.

The children and people of Dahley, and Ethiopia as a whole, have showed me a sense of hope I have never experienced. Wherever my path leads, I will continue to draw on that sense of happiness and wonder. Today, I am more excited than ever for what the future holds.

Adventure? Nah.

2010-08-10T23:15:00.000-07:00

Today was our first foray outside of Addis. We met up with the Baer family in the village of Dahley about an hour drive to the higher highlands Lagetafo. The rolling hills of the countryside are breathtaking: lush, green and extremely fertile. It’s raining and muddy here and many of the locals were plowing fields with oxen. Between us and the village is a large gully with a creek about 15 feet across. The Baer’s asked each of us to grab a handful of eucalyptus saplings, which would be planted in the field surrounding the library we funded, and we crossed the creek by stepping on stones. (SIDE NOTE: Eucalyptus, a non-native tree, is used widely by Ethiopians, including erecting scaffolding, wood for fires, fencing, framing for houses, etc., because it’s fast growing and strong.)

The Baer’s were very well organized for our work day and broke us into two groups – one to mud side of the school house and one to create a stone path in front of the framed-up library. We had no tools and this was intense physical labor, compounded by the pouring rain. The mudders were scooping up mud from the river bank with a make-shift shovel, corrugated tin with sticks nailed at each end, and slinging it on the short side of the school house while the sidewalkers were gathering armfuls of rocks from a heaping pile and carrying them to the designated area to create a path. Although we were prepared with waterproof jackets, boots and pants, all of us ended up soaked and cold (it was only about 50 degrees.) A few hours into this back-breaking work, it was time for lunch. We all assembled in the school house before heading back across the creek to the bus.

Here’s where the day got interesting. Because the rain had picked up, the creek we crossed to get to the village was now a raging waterway about 40 feet across. We waited about an hour to see if the rain would let up and the river recede back to the dabbling creek. No such luck. Then someone mentioned the idea of spending the night in the school house. God bless Sally Baer for taking the lead in figuring a way out!

The plan called for four village men to serve as anchors and help all of cross the forceful, thigh-deep river. First, Sally and Tom’s children were carried across, as was Luke, the family dog. Now it was our turn. One by one, with a death grip on the villagers, we each navigated the piercing cold rushing water to the other bank.

Emptying our boots of murky water and wringing out our socks, we loaded onto the bus and headed toward Habti’s house where Tisgey was cooking a vegetarian Ethiopian lunch for us. (It is a fasting time of year where most meals are limited only to vegetables.)

Habti’s house, a project similar to Habitat for Humanity, is still under construction, but we were happy to be out of the rain. We were greeted by several children who kissed us on both cheeks and showed us where we would be sitting for lunch.

Tisgey delivered an incredible meal and not one of us had any room to spare. Then she began the process for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony by wafting the smoke of freshly roasted coffee beans toward each of us. This is no short event and several local children joined us for laughs and miming (some speak Amharic and some Omaric and all of us were out of our league.) Then they began singing to us. This was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me as I realized that these kids are truly happy. No matter the weather or lack of medical care or the hunger pains in their bellies, they are making the most of every moment and finding joy in giggling through songs (some in English!) and in reciting the alphabet for us. It was a special day for all of us!

That night our travel guide, Habtu, had arranged for a fun outing where entertainment was combined with dinner. It was a lively celebration of Americans attempting to dance Ethiopian-style, professional Ethiopian singing in high falsetto, and even a birthday cake (with fire torches!) for me! Definitely a birthday I will never forget.

What We Learned in Ethiopia (So Far)

2010-08-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, you need malaria medicine -- even if you’re staying only in the highland of Addis Ababa. There are still mosquitoes here.

There is abundant commerce in the country capital.

The local beer is yummy and cuisine SPICY.

They don’t drive on the right or left, it’s every man for himself.

Do not think a metallic heat blanket is a good barrier between you and iffy sheets.

The Ethiopian people are friendly, welcoming, warm and helpful. Their English is navigable and their coffee ROCKS!

Water runs downhill (see Tuesday’s post.)

Expect nothing to go as planned, but it will all work out in the end anyway.

Our first full day in Ethiopia was spent with the Wide Horizons for Children organization. This private adoption agency has expanded its services to providing for child welfare in general and is now considering additional humanitarian aid efforts. When Sonja contacted them about any assistance our team could offer (free manual labor!), they jumped at the opportunity.

We signed on for two projects: painting murals at the orphanage and conducting a workshop on microfinance in Ethiopia for Wide Horizons economists and social workers.

They prepared an amazing lunch for us -- beef wat and tibs, green beans in sauce, two types of stewed lentils, fried white fish, potatoes, fried plantain chips, freshly baked rolls, penne noodles and injera bread. Quite a spread!

After lunch, the kids at the orphanage were up from naps. Our first opportunity at interaction with Ethiopian children was....well, see for yourself....

The Final Countdown

2010-08-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

5 page itinerary
4 remedies for traveler’s diarrhea
3 hours of conference calls on final logistics
2 days until departure
1 entire can of DEET used (already!)

Ready or not -- here we come!

Our big adventure is right around the corner and all of us were abuzz on the conference call this evening.... Do we need to bring toilet paper? What if my carry-on weighs more than 16 pounds? Can we give our clothes away at the end of our trip? Do we need to register with the consulate? What if I get stopped at customs carrying only books in my luggage? What will we eat for our ‘fasting meal’? Are the monkeys tame?

The Davis Moon Project’s maiden mission is ready...set...

Stay tuned for posts from Ethiopia!

Water, Water Everywhere

2010-07-31T06:09:00.001-07:00

With our trip departure exactly seven days away, I’m excited (and anxious!) and I’ve become a little obsessed with .... water. While widely available in our Brita/bottled/Smart/spring/flavored/vitamin-enhanced water world, clean water is a scarce and coveted resource in Africa.

I drink at least 2 liters of water a day and quite worried I won’t have access to clean water for drinking to keep me hydrated. (This concern is a bit unwarranted since, yes, there are grocery and convenience stores in Addis Ababa.)

Then there’s the issue of hygiene. A good day for me is two showers. A great day is three. Sonja has warned us about the municipal water supply. Similar to the precautions one would heed in Mexico (Can you say “Montezuma’s Revenge”?) with regard to fresh vegetables washed in water or drinking straight from the tap or the presence of ice cubes in a drink, yet compounded by the unreliable infrastructure. (The Addis Ababa Water & Sewerage Authority was established in 1971 and the government is still learning how to best manage demand and access to clean water and the safe disposal of waste.)

My heightened water awareness is piqued at every turn: brushing my teeth, washing my face, shampooing my hair, washing my hands before I put my contacts in, rinsing out a glass, watering my plants, drinking coffee, flushing the toilet, swimming in the pool, getting my car washed, sitting in the steam room, boiling water for pasta, doing laundry, wiping down the counter....

The CDC offers lots of tips for travelers regarding safe food and water. Click here for more info: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/safe-food-water.aspx

Living the Meaning of Sacrifice

2010-07-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

We just wrapped our first group conference call. Sonja and Haleigh have been very busy planning our mission!! During our seven-day trip, the 15 of us are:
-Transporting approx. 25, 26-inch, 48-pound, waterproof reinforced nylon roller bags of books
-Conducting a micro-lending workshop
-Painting murals at an orphanage
-Constructing the walls of a library
-Building furniture
-Delivering books for Ethiopia Reads
-Moving a school library
-Meeting families affiliated with Wide Horizons for Children
-Producing and taping a documentary

While in the village of Dahley for two workdays, we are partnering with Six Baer Essentials to help construct a public library. The August 2010 Mission is also supporting the library with a delivery of over 500 pounds of books and supplies. The library is part of a community center available to children and adults in the Dahley and surrounding communities. The Six Baer Essentials are access to food, water, clothing, health, shelter and education programs.

Six Baer Essentials was created by Tom and Sally Baer. The Baer’s story is a story of hope and transformation. A widower, Tom met and married Sally and they adopted each other’s biological children. In 2003 and 2008, they travelled to Kazakhstan and Ethiopia to adopt again.

“Sally felt an immediate connection to the country and culture, feeling completely at home there.”

In 2005, Tom attended seminary at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, volunteering full time in many different capacities, domestic and international mission trips, and finally pastoring a small church in New York. This incredible journey was preparing them for full-time service in Ethiopia.

Feeling drawn to Ethiopia, Tom made plans for a trip. He, too, wanted to experience the country and culture, but soon recognized the incredible opportunities to make a real and significant difference in the lives of many people. In May of 2009, the family of six sold their possessions and moved to Ethiopia with 10 plastic buckets containing the remainder of their belongings. They founded Six Baer Essentials on the principle that by providing food, water, shelter, clothing, education, and health to the people, you can enable the people of the impoverished community to provide daily meals for their family and for them to dream above and beyond their current circumstances. Get involved: http://www.baeressentials.org/

Fourth Time's a Charm

2010-06-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Visa is secured! One would think that my accessibility to the Ethiopian embassy in Washington, DC, would have made this process quick and easy. Not so much. My first trip with paperwork and passport in hand, the office was closed. I failed to follow Sonja's instructions on the second attempt and had to come back with a money order for round three. The processing agent asked what my purpose was for visiting Ethiopia and I said I was supporting a mission. Then she told me that I had incorrectly filled out the paperwork because if I was planning to "work" in the country I needed a different form. Upon clarifying that I was only delivering books (wink, wink) to a children's library, she took my passport, forms, 2" x 2" photo, and the $70 money order and told me to come back tomorrow. Fourth trip to the Ethiopian embassy on International Drive = SUCCESS!

Gear

2010-06-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

Give a woman a reason to shop...
Yes, it's a stereotype, but I happen to fit it so well. We each have a list of must-haves for the trip and all of your must-haves must fit into a carry-on with a max of 16 lbs. (We are load balancing with the books and supplies we are delivering to the orphanage and children's library.)

Here's what I have thus far:

waterproof knee-high boots
lightweight rain jacket with hood
mid-weight water repellent jacket
water repellent lightweight trail pants
Buff headwear with built-in insect shield (plus a couple of back-up bandanas)
various long-sleeve tees and a hoodie tee
water purification tablets
Ben’s insect repellent wipes and Repel insect spray (100% DEET ... ew!)
nuts, Cliff and Kind bars
dry shampoo
liquid Band-Aid
LED flashlight

...all to jam into my new Osprey Talon after dousing with Repel Permanone insect repellent. Eleven pounds ... and counting ...

Two Months and Counting

2010-06-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Davis Moon Project's first mission is only 60 days away! WOW!

Sonja called me to see if I was preparing my body for the trip. I told her I bought Ethiopian coffee beans at the organic market. Apparently that's not quite what she had in mind. She recommended I start taking vitamins, drinking a cola a day, and limiting my food intake. Whaaaaaa????

VITAMINS: Although I already should be taking a daily multivitamin, the routine is hard for me to stick with. However, I started (for the fifth time this year) taking a multivitamin today. I'm supplementing that with Echinacea and vitamin C to boost my immune system. I found numerous references stating that taking a daily multivitamin or mineral supplement to prevent malnutrition and improve immune function will increase your chances of warding off parasites.

COLA: It's been at least 2 years since I've had a Coke, or Diet Coke, as it were. It's strange to think that I'm taking steps away from being healthy so that I can stay healthy in Ethiopia, but Sonja says that parasites don't like the chemicals in soft drinks, so today was the first of many over the next couple of months. Cheers!

DIET: Particularly in remote areas, food in Ethiopia is the scarcest, and most sacred, resource. Well, food and clean water. I'm less worried about the lack of food and more about the repercussions of whatever I put into my mouth. I do plan to pack a few energy bars and a bag of nuts in my allotted 16lbs, but I should really lay off the 2,000 calorie dinners to prepare my body for the much smaller meals (i.e., a banana and injera) to come. (This is going to be rough.)

I'm Radioactive

2010-06-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

Three more immunization shots and I learned something new -- what a day! A fine mixture of Hep A & B (new combo shot, Twinrix) in the left arm, meningitis and polio in the right. (We'll see what the insurance folks have to say about all the "preventive medicine".) The good news is: I don't have to get more shots until July; and, this visit was with my regular doctor (who typically books up 3 to 6 months in advance), but for the next two rounds of "the twins" I can merely make an appointment for a nurse visit. My "yellow card" (aka International Certificate of Vaccination) is nearly a BINGO! now. Cool.

And..... what I learned today:
If you're needle-shy, ask the nurse to use the type of syringe that they use when vaccinating babies. Nearly unnoticeable!

My First Steps on Ethiopian Soil

2010-05-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Today I visited the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual embassy tour. (Now I know where I'm going once I fill out my paperwork for the travel visa.)

In the event you're interested in updates on travel to Ethiopia, visit the State Department website:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2859.htm.

In Addis Ababa, the U.S. Embassy is located at Entoto Road, P.O. Box 101. U.S. citizens may contact the Consular Section at +251-11-517-4000 or 124-2424 or via email at consacs@state.gov.
http://addisababa.usembassy.gov/

Shots

2010-04-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day. Up until that nurse jabbed a needle each in my right bicep and tricep. However, I am happy to report that in a few weeks, I likely will not suffer from Typhoid nor Yellow Fever as a result of the pending excursion to Addis Ababa. I also have a "yellow card" for my passport. I'm special!

The Results Are In!

2010-04-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

I just talked to Sonja. Apparently there were 50+ applicants vying for the 12 spots available for DMP's first group mission. Most folks strangers, many were friends of friends of Rob & Sonja's, yet willing to pay for accommodations and take a week from work to deliver books to children in Ethiopia. Pretty amazing!!

Hi, my name is Heather.

2010-04-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

I was just notified that I have been officially accepted to the DMP August 2010 mission. WOW! Now what?

Since we've Been Away

2009-08-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

It has been months since I have posted any details about The Davis Moon Project! I would have to say this is a good thing. We have been extremely busy! We have our website up and running and it looks awesome, FireTide Creative did a fabulous job!

www.davismoonproject.org

In April of 2009 the Kappas and Pi Phi's at The University of Texas hosted a poweder puff football game and the two sororities raised money for the project.

In Late May, The Davis Moon Project hosted a fundraiser at Union Park Downtown. The event went well and we raised more money than we expected. Kalu James and The Scott Wiggins band both preformed at our event.

Our Next Event is TOMORROW, Tuesday September 1st at Fish City Grill in the Broadie Oaks Shopping Center.

Fish City Grill Supports The Davis Moon Project
with 15% donation of all sales on
Tuesday September 1, 2009
Please Join Us!

Fish City Grill
Brodie Oaks Shopping Center
4200 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
512-442-FISH

Please join us Tuesday, September 1st for lunch or dinner at Fish City Grill.
The Grill has generously chosen The Davis Moon Project as the beneficiary of their philanthropic night.
15% of all food and drink proceeds for the entire day go to fund our literacy missions.
Fish City Grill is a family-friendly restaurant that specializes in fresh seafood.
Come join us for a delicious meal of Gumbo, Maryland Crab Cakes, the Crawfish Platter or a Honey Chipotle Shrimp Special on Tuesday, September 1st.
They also have a wonderful Children's Menu! http://www.fishcitygrill.com/menu.html

Come out and support our cause!!
T-Shirts will also be available from 11-2 & 6-8pm

In Mid October we are also Hosting an event in DC:

Where the Davis Moon Project is To date

2009-03-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

So as many of you know by now I have co founded a non-profit organization called The Davis Moon Project. TDMP has received its 501(c) 3 Status making us official. TDMP started out just in passing, kind of like a good idea.

Upon return from our trip to Ethiopia in September of 2007 we received a huge positive response to the books we collected and donated to a local library in Addis, Ethiopia. Over 600 books were collected through the Wimberley Rotary Club and then hauled over in suitcases and distributed.

This act of kindness has turned into much more. After the positive response from the community we gave thought to the idea of a non-profit organization to do the exact same mission, just on a much larger scale.

And here we are today!

Myself and Sonja Simmons have dedicated a lot of hard work in the past few months to ensure this dream turns into reality. Sure there are some days where we questioned, "What did we get ourselves into?" However, there are days like yesterday when I am excited beyond belief to see the support of so many people.

Yesterday was a great day for the Davis Moon Project we finalized our Logo for TDMP and it looks great.

We are working with an amazing designer and we have felt it to be very important to be jazzed about any material that is released. Marty Marida at Firetide Creative out of Hutto, Texas has done a phenomenal job thus far. His work is very professional and he has a great stylistic edge we haven’t seen anywhere else. We are patiently waiting the launch of our website! www.davismoonproject.org

With Sonja working hard behind the scenes, I have been working on fundraising and the PR aspect of getting this project rolling. After getting in touch with a local UT sorority, we are very excited about this potential opportunity of partnering with them. Secondly, TDMP is now on Twitter (www.twitter.com), you can follow our updates. Our user name is TheDMoonProject.

TDMP has a lot going on these days so check back often to see what is going on!

I would also like to say thank you to a few people who have helped The Davis Moon Project to Date:

The Allen Family, Wimberley, Texas. Daughter Tess Allen collected thousands of books that she then decided to donate to TDMP. Our current book count is around 5,000 with many containers of books still out on locations.
Current Locations:
The Little Gym- South Austin, Texas
Dons Cleaners- Kingsville, Texas
Delta Gamma- UT Chapter

Marty Marida for his design skills and for diligently working on our website.

Sonja Simmons for continuously working on the very tedious amounts of paper work it takes to get a non-profit off the ground.

Heather Acord for her PR strategies.

Carrie Campbell for her legal advice.

Friends & Family who have been there since we had this small idea that has turned into one great plan of action to help some worthy children in Addis.

Stay Tuned for upcoming events.
A possible event in late April
Raffle/Charity Bash Fundraiser Downtown Austin Mid May
Tentative July 4th Parade Wimberley TX
Fundraiser Dinner Washington DC Mid Septermber