Holy Water: Cure-All in Ethiopia

There is one hotel in Addis Ababa that volunteers from other parts of Ethiopia often use when they come to the capital. The manager in this hotel is very friendly towards all patrons, especially volunteers. It was during one of my medical check-ups that I had this funny and illuminating conversation with him.

“You look tired. Where have you been?” He asked politely.
“Oh, I went to the hospital.” I answered.
“You’re sick?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“You know, I have a cure for that. I can give it to you for free.” He enthusiastically informed me.
“Oh yeah, what is it?”
“Holy water.”
“I’m sorry?” I asked again, unsure that I heard him right.
“Holy water."

At this point I can’t help but laugh. I knew that he meant well and I did apologize for laughing.

"It can cure you of your sickness. It can cure anybody of any disease.” He insisted.
“But I don’t believe in holy water.”
“It’s true. I assure you.” He replied, with his right hand raised in the manner of taking a serious oath.
“Well, then you should probably boil it first before I can take it. We’ve been warned against drinking water that has not been boiled and filtered.”
“But that would take away its healing powers.” He answered, eyebrows raised slightly and eyes rounding in surprise.

I laughed again. My well-intentioned hotel manager was disappointed and aghast at the mere suggestion of boiling the holy water. But he and his staff laughed with me. They probably realized the futility of convincing me of their holy water’s powers.

Pardon my ignorance, but apparently, this holy water comes from a holy spring. The sanctity of the source is what makes the water holy. Thus, boiling it is out of the question.

Well, should I risk drinking the pure holy water for a possibility of being cured? Not a chance. But that conversation left me with a feeling of hope; that there are still some people who believe in miracles even if I don’t believe them myself.