Reflections on our trip to Ethiopa

I had the best intentions of faithfully updating our blog...well didn't quite work out that way. For some reason, we couldn't upate our blog while in Ethiopia and internet access was pretty slow there anyway! After returning from Ethiopia, we went right back to work and it took quite a while to recoup from our trip! We were emotionally and physically exhausted and now know what true jet lag is!!
So here goes the readers digest version... sorry it took so long and so glad we kept a daily journal!

The flight to Ethiopia was quite long, but we were just so excited to meet our kids that it really didn't matter! The airport was quite a funny experience. We waited about an hour or so to get luggaage. The funny part was that we got swindled (not really-maybe out of $5.00 total) by a baggage carrier-it was funny because we thought we were so prepared-NOT!! There was a gentleman waiting for us (and others) outside and when we got to his car, we thought he was kidding because it was so tiny. We had 4 HUGE 50lb bags (we don't usually travel this way-only one had our stuff in it-the rest was donations) and we had no idea how this was going to work! It did-we had bags tied to the top and every space in the car had luggage in it! The whole way to the geusthouse, we envisioned our luggae falling off...but it made it! We stayed in a room at The NewFlower Guesthouse in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Helen, the owner as well as her workers were so amazing-they helped and taught us so much during our trip!

Our first day in Ethiopia, we traveled with Simara, a wonderful nursing student to Bethel Orphanage to meet our kids, Daniel and Yordanos. Traveling in Ethiopia is interesting...you share a road with goats, cattle, donkeys and anything else imaginable! There really are no road rules...just go and honk if someone is in your way! We opted to hire a driver anytime we wanted to go somewhere! It took about an hour to get to Bethel, which is on a farm outside the capital. The grounds of Bethel are absolutely beautiful-they have an amazing view of the mountains. The kids were all eating when we arrived. Once they finished, we all went into their living area and Simara told Daniela dn Yordanos that we were their "Mommy and Daddy" from America. Yordanos' face lit up and her jaw dropped. She had the biggest smile I've ever seen and she came running over to me and gave me a hug. Daniel was a little more reserved and he just smiled. But boy did he warm up in the next few hours. He wouldn't leave Dave's side the whole time we were there! We spent the enxt few hours with Daniel and Yordanos and the other 19 kids at Bethel. We gave them tons of donations (clothes, toys, school supplies, etc...) and they were all so appreciative and excited! It was funny-when the kids got clothes, they just whipped their older clothes off and put their new ones one! They were all so sweet! Some of the other families who are adopting kids from Bethel sent some stuff with us to give to their children. We were able to spend some one-on-one time with them and talk to them about their families (with Simara translating). One of the neatest things was that all of the kids had the photo albums that were previously sent to them from their adoptive families, including Daniel and Yordanos. They actaully told me that they sleep with these albums-how precious-this made me cry! We took lots of pictures and got tom know their personalities. Yordanos is very outgoing, smart, funny and bossy-she will be a great big sis to Daniel! Daniel is quiet, but very inquisitive and smart! It was so amazing meeting them...we were exhausted by the end of the day!

The next 2 days, we spent sightseeing and experiencing Ethiopian culture! We went to the weavers and saw how they weave scarves. We bought lots of souveniers and gifts for family and friends. We were able to buy gifts for the kids for their birthdays for when they come to America. Another adoptive mother had shared with me that she bought gifts from their country so that the kids would have an Ethiopian gift each year. Our driver, Ayeli was wonderful-he helped us in so many ways and was very protective-even though we never felt scared in any way-it was very safe in Ethiopia! We did have a scary experience that we now look back and laugh about! We were passing the US Embassy and I had my camera out. Ayeli quickly said, "don't take any pictures here", but it was too late. The armed guards stopped us and asked fus to pull over. They asked for our passports and camera. Luckily, I didnt actually take a picture, but that didn't matter to them. It was a scary 15 minutes-but they let us go! Lesson-don't even take out your camera when close to a US embassy!!

On Sunday, our 12 year anniversary we traveled to the country to visit Village of Hope (VOH)and Sheshemane-home of the Rastafarians! This was an awesome experience and we are so glad we went! It took about 4 hours to get there and it was so different from the capital. The village people are amazing, so self sufficient, welcoming and appreciative of everything! It is truly amazing what the Village of Hope is doing for that area-they are in the process of building a cultural recreation center for the village people. The best thing is that the people from the village are the ones building it-what buy-in! They have also recently supplied the village with clean water. This is so important because the village people used to get their water from the river...many were dying from disease. We spent some time touring the compound and at the VOH orphanage-it was wonderful! We stayed at the Lily of the Valley Hotel, which is owned by Rastafarians-it was really neat! We found out the significance of Ethiopia and Rastafaraians. Years ago, Jamaica was in a major dry spell, people were dying, etc... and Haile Selassie, the Emporer of Ethiopia at the time visited Jamaica and right after, the rains came! Haile is looked at as a Messiah in Jamiaca. Haile also set aside 500 acres of his personal land in Shashemene, Ethiopia as a "thank you" gift to the rastafarians, which is where many know live.

The next day, we spent the entire day at VOH Orphanage with the kids. We played soccer, volleyball, sang songs, danced, laughed, listened to the I-Pod, you name it we did it! The kids were amazing and so loving! One of the families with Hope (our adoption agency) is adopting 2 girls from VOH so we spent lot of time with them. I told the family, if they weren't adopting Talile and Basa...we would in a heartbeat!! They are wonderful teenage girls- we promised to visit them when they come to America! Definitely a life changing experience and we will cherish it!

Out trip home the next day was really long-6 hours! We stopped on the way home at a Leopracy Hospital-it was neat. In this hospital, people diagnosed with leopracy make all kinds of things (scarves, souveniers, clothing, pocketbooks, etc...) for sale. We bought lots of souveniers in support of the hospital and people. The ladies even let me spool cotton! We were exhausted when we got back to the guesthouse. Sleeping in Ethiopia is quite an experience! There are lots of wild dogs and they bark ALL night!! Thank goodness we brought earplugs-but I thinkwe just got used to it!

The next few days we spent visiting Hope's Orphanage and we went back to Bethel where Daniel and Yordanos are. Hope's place had about 60 kids when we were there-they do such a great job caring for the babies and kids! We brought lots of donations and took lots of pictures and spent time with the older kids! We taught them songs and they taught us a few-took some video-it is precious!! I think all of the kids there are in the process of being adopted so that is wonderful! The kids were so happy and funny! Our last day there, we went back to Bethel. We brought tons of fruits (watermelon, bananas, oranges, etc...) and goodies! When we arrived, the kids were all dressed in their denim school uniforms waiting for us! They were so cute!!! We played games and had lots of fun! Yordanos and Daniel showed us their school books and all that they are learning! They are learning basic English and phonics skills-we were so excited about this! Yordanos could read some English words and they both know the alphabet! They told Simara to share with us that they are both first in their class at school--that is our kids!!! When it was time to go, we had some one-on one time with Yordanos and Daniel with Simara and the caretaker at Bethel. Dave and I bought Ethiopian cross necklaces for them. We gave them to them and said to always wear them to remember and think of us until we can come back to bring them home with us. Yordanos jumped up to say a prayer. It lasted about 5 minutes and was all in Amharic, their langauge. Simara started crying and shared what she was saying. She prayed and thanked God that we came to see her and Daniel, she prayed for our safe journey back and for Simara visiting and being able to translate. Lastly, she prayed that we would come back soon for her and Daniel. This was such an emotional experience....we were all crying. Maybe that is why it has taken me so long to post...because I couldn't write about it without crying. They are such amazing kids!!!

We headed out the next day...long flight...they lost our luggage and we missed our connecting flight...we could tell we were back in America!!

Ethiopia was truly amazing and certainly more than we expected! I'm not sure one can ever be prepared for a trip to a third world country. We read books, researched, viewed pictures and watched videos and movies and it was still very overwhelming. The easiest way to explain is that it is a "life changing experience"! We have already changed our ways, thoughts and actions. The poverty is really beyond belief. We will never forget our time there not just in meeting our children, but experiencing the people and life there. We were reminded daily how blessed we are in the America and how easy it is to take things for granted. We have no idea what it’s like to have absolutely nothing. We know that in addition to adopting Daniel and Yordanos, this experience will be with us forever. This has really been an eye-opening experience for us and while we can’t help everyone in Ethiopia, at least we can make a difference in the lives of two very special children, Daniel and Yordanos!