Ethiopia - #8 (Random Thoughts)

There is still much to say about our travels in Ethiopia, but there just isn't enough time to say it. At some point, maybe I'll be able to write more about the journey. In many ways, it was a trip I will never forget. However, as life pursues us, I'm already beginning to see some of my memories fade. The pictures are still there, but the smells, the sounds, the emotions...I desperately want to hold on to those so that I have something to pass on to Caleb as he grows older.

So, in closing, just some random thoughts about our trip. Maybe at some point I can post at more length about the points below. For now, I'll keep them brief.

-I have never experienced poverty like we saw in Ethiopia. I've heard about it and seen pictures...Africa, India...poverty is everywhere. But to see the people, to understand how they live, where they live. I will never forget this and I pray God continues to open our eyes and break our hearts for the things that break His.

-We had been warned about street children...that when we were out and about they would be there begging. We were also encouraged not to give them anything, because we would get mobbed by the numbers if other kids found out. On our way to the Embassy, there was a little girl, about 5, who will haunt me forever. Shaved head covered in some type of fungus, shaved head, tattered clothes...alone on the street. Can you imagine what happened to her at night? Haunting. As I walked away from her, from all of these kids, I had to ask myself...can I truly call myself a believer and walk away from these children. Really? It is so overwhelming it can be paralyzing. I am still wrestling with this question.

- Ethiopian people are beautiful...inside and out. I didn't realize that their "look" was so distinct, but now that I'm home, I'm finding it quite easy to recognize and Ethiopian. The gorgeous skin, high hair-line...just stunning. But they are also so hospitable and they are very sweet to children. Generally, just an amazing culture.

Before and After (...one month at home)

We have been home for a little over a month now. If I get lost in the minutia and busy-ness of each day, it can feel as though we aren't making much progress. But if I really take a step back and remember how things were back in February, I realize that baby Caleb is full of a joy now that was not present the first time we held him. Above are some pictures we received shortly before we traveled. These were taken after he arrived at the transition home (he had been in the Shashemene orphanage for 8 months prior to that and it was the only home he could possibly remember). They told us that he was such a good and quiet baby. But when I look at the photos above, I see a very scared baby who had shut down in an effort to control his environment in the best way his instincts would allow. Below, are a few recent pictures I took. I think the light in his eyes says it all - it was not there a month ago - and when I grow weary...this light keeps me moving forward.

Ethiopia - #7 (Coming Home)

Our trip to Ethiopia was amazing. It felt so brief because we had almost two full days of travel there and back, so we were only in Ethiopia for five days. Much of that time seemed like a dream as we were feeling the combined effects of jet-lag and the overwhelming emotions associated with meeting a new child for the first time. I wish we would have had a few days early in the trip to do some sight-seeing and culture-absorbing. To have made the effort to travel so far to a country with such history...it would have been great to have some time to soak it in.

Even still, I have never been so ready to come home. I missed my two little ones terribly...my heart was aching for them. The 20+ hour plane road home with a baby was challenging. There was only minimal sleep as we took turns trying to keep him happy or sleeping or eating...anything other than screaming. We had a long lay-over in Amsterdam and we decided to stay at one of those in-airport hotels designed for exactly such a thing. It was a tiny little room, but the beds were clean and fluffy and it was so quiet...and we all slept and it felt like heaven. It was a delightful respite before our last long flight home. I glanced outside the airplane as we touched down in Atlanta only to find...snow! I couldn't believe it. We hadn't checked the weather and had no idea we were going to be coming home in the middle of a sizable snow-storm (by Atlanta standards). It was beautiful and it just seemed such a peaceful and fitting way to end our trip. The ground was white and quiet...and we were home - our hearts overflowing with gratitude for God's hand of protection.

It took quite a bit of time to get through customs and begin to track down our bags. All of our suitcases were lost and we did not get them until almost a week after we'd been home. If you look at our pictures above, you'll notice that there are no photos of just the six of us - because Patrick was standing in the "lost baggage" line for much of the night. Still, it was a joyful reunion and our little kids were so thrilled to see Bailey and to meet their new little brother.

Home sweet home.

Ethiopia - #6 (Shashemene)

Initially, we were planning to bring Caleb home around Christmas, possibly leaving the day after or in early January. However, there was an unexpected delay and we had to adjust our initial travel plans. Caleb is from the Shashemene orphanage which is in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. There was some investigation being done in that region and adoptions were stopped for the entire area. We had been through Ethiopian court already and this precious little one was ours, but because of the freeze in movement of the children, he was "stuck" and he would not even be allowed to move to the transition home while we waited for resolution. We were extremely nervous as we were being given very little information and we weren't sure when (or in our dark moments, if) we would be be allowed to travel...would it be weeks...or months? During this time, so many of you were faithfully praying for resolution...and God answered quickly...the correct official was tracked down and he approved the movement of the kids who already had passed court and had parents waiting for them. We were thrilled, planned our travel for February and didn't expect to hear much more about the issue. But in God's sweet grace, when we arrived at our guest house in Ethiopia, we discovered that everyone there had adopted children who were "stuck" in Shashemene. It was such a special time and now these children will always have at least some connection with others from their orphanage. Our Gebremedin definitely recognized all of those kids and his little face would light up when he saw them...we are hoping it will be a wonderful connecting point for him as he grows older. This picture is of that first batch of Shashemene kids. (Please keep praying because due to ongoing issues, there are many children who are still unable to be united with their parents...and even one day longer is too much to spend in an orphanage.)

Ethiopia - #5 (Random Pictures)