Caring for Orphans and Enjoying Forever Families

This morning, I had the privilege of visiting the Kids Care orphanage in Addis Ababa.  As we came off the bus, many children gathered all around.  Eager hands reached for the fruit snacks we had brought.  Desalegn, who I was holding, was not impressed with all the boys and girls taking the fruit snacks that he has been gobbling up this week. 

 

I made my way toward a building where several nannies stood at the door.  One began speaking quickly in Amharic and grabbed Desalegn's cheeks.  It became apparent that she recognized him, but couldn't quite come up with his name.  When I said "Desalegn," she smiled largely and made motions with her hands.  I said "Abu," and she smiled and chattered on again.  Meanwhile, she had kind of turned us into a small room with 4 or 5 small beds, and 8 or 9 young children, maybe ages 2-4.  One of the other adoptive fathers in our group had already found his way into this tiny space and had been claimed by a girl with terribly skinny legs.  She could not really walk, but could pull herself along and pull herself up against you.  He held her and asked about her while I played with many of the other children, talking to them, touching them, kissing their heads, and praying for them.

 

After a while, we moved on to an area where older children seemed to be having some form of music class.  They sang several songs (which Desalegn enjoyed) and then someone rang a bell and they all left the room.  For the rest of our time there, I tried to entertain Des while still touching and kissing and smiling at as many children as I could.  How I hope that those small gestures provided some hope for those children!

 

Mike and Abu joined our group after this morning's appointment, and we had a pizza lunch with all the families.  Then it was home for naptime.  All three of my boys had a nice nap.  I was afraid of sleeping during the day (I haven't been sleeping all that great at night--let alone throwing in a nap to mess me up some more!), so I set to work creating a game to play with Abu.  I used several sheets of paper and drew a game board with colored squares similar to CandyLand.  I made color cards and player markers out of paper as well.  Earlier in the week, I had been wishing that I had packed some playing cards or Uno or something to pass the free time.  Now I wanted something to help connect with Abu and let him use some of his English skills (he knows colors and numbers pretty well). 

 

After the boys' rest, we got reorganized and decided to walk down the street to a restaurant called the Zebra Grill.  It was fun to watch the boys eat their meal with the traditional injera (a thin bread that is broken up and used to wrap around fingerfulls of food).  They can both eat!  When we returned to the guest house, there was excitement in the air.  Now, you must picture this: this place has less than 20 rooms and our travel group has 10 families.  Several of those families are adopting sibling groups, and many of these children are between the ages of 2 and 7.  In other words, there's a lot of action to be had.  So, anyway, we enter the lobby and many of the families are having supper in the lobby (There is a cook on staff who you can pay to cook meals for you--very convenient!).  Someone mentions that there is cake.  Cake????!!!!  Apparently, the owner of the guest house had purchased cakes for our group since there has been a problem with the power here this week.  That's right...six days with no power (except when the generator was turned on--mostly for cooking). 

 

So we families savored cake together, played, talked, and enjoyed each other and the miracles of our families.  Abu was a whiz at my game, and, although Desalegn apparently doesn't like cake, he has picked up a new phrase which he repeated through most of the party: "Thank you, God.  Amen!"

 

Amen and amen!

Sweet dreamers

 

Together for Now

This morning, our group hit the souvenir shopping strip.  Now I'm not much of a shopper, but -- as with Ethan's adoption in Ukraine -- it seems important to me to have various aritcles around our home that we can point to and say, "This is from your country!"  So we did our part :)

 

In the afternoon, we went to the transition home again...and the kids were waiting!  Today, we not only got to hang out with our own children, but many others as well.  As care packages were naded out and pictures started snapping, children started to appear from everywhere!  Some with care packages from their forever families were so protective, hugging those plastic bags to themselves, turning away form other clamoring children.  Others, alternatively, were on the lookout for anyone with whom they could share their newly acquired treasures.  They are all beautiful, precious treasures of God.

 

We were cautioned before arriving at the transition home that we might not be permitted to bring Abu to the guest house with us.  This was a scenario that I had not anticipated, and the news brought on a flood of tears.  As it turned out, Mike was actually able to go with Abu and AWAA staff to see Abu's doctor.  This provided a much clearer picture of what lies ahead for our family.  It looks like Abu will not be coming home with us the end of this week.  We are hopeful that he may join our family home in mid-September.  Contrary to our earlier news, Abu and Mike were able to join Deslegn and I at the guest house later in the evening.

 

We played, read books, gave baths, ate our first meal together (pasta), snuggled, and tried our best to communicate.  The boys both fell fast asleep shortly after 8pm.  Goodnight!

Kristy Tapper

www.expanding-heart.blogspot.com

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12

It's Official...Our Hearts Are Taken!

How do you describe the last couple days?  What words can I share to convey our experiences, our emotions, our thoughts here? 

Today we met our boys.  This has certainly been the highlight of the trip.  Watching Abu and Desalegn walk down the steps of the transition home into our arms was a moment we will never forget.  Abu came to me for a hug, but it was clear that the true object of his desire was his "papa."  Joy radiated from his face as he hugged his father, slung a possessive arm over Mike's shoulders while friends snapped pictures, walked hand in hand over to a grassy area, played silly games together with his sandals straps, giggled with glee from atop Mike's shoulders , proudly proclaimed "Look, papa!" to his roommates (who were supposed to be settling down for a nap!).  It is obvious that this boy is in love with his dad.

I discovered that Desalegn is a giggler!  Contrary to all the serious pictures we have received, this kid's hearty laugh comes quickly.  A few tickles, a few funny tricks with a toy car, a few overzealous kisses to the neck region…and this gurgling laugh erupts from his cute little body.  He also displayed his "emotional" side.  Twice, when toys were taken away and given to another child, he did not hit, bite, or scream.  He simply hung his head, moped over to a corner, and pouted.  How hard was it not to laugh at that???  What a tease! 

Our hearts are heavy as we await news of whether both boys will be able to come home with us.  The thought of leaving Abu behind for further medical testing newly required by the CDC leaves us absolutely heart-broken.  Perhaps tomorrow we will have some more answers on that front.

Blessings to you all.

Just the Two of Us

 

Today's Excursion

We had the privilege of driving three hours outside Addis Ababa today to visit the area from which our boys came.  Although it was not possible to talk to actual families members due to the remoteness of their location, we were able to visit the children's home to which the boys were originally brought.  This home is associated with Kids Care, a larger orphanage in Addis that cooperates with our agency to find forever families for orphaned children.  This smaller, remote orphanage had a small yard with some tiny concrete block rooms, a main living area with a TV, table, and some cooking equipment, an office, and one room (maybe 10ft. x 10ft.) with several small cribs.  One small baby lay in one of the cribs.  She smiled whenever one of us would lean close and talk to her.

Our guide explained that we were adopting two boys who had been originally placed here.  When he gave her their names, she immediately remembered them.  She estimated that they had arrived about six months ago and had stayed there about one month.  She said that they came very sick with many stomach problems and needed much medication.  She also described her understanding of their family of origin's situation, confirming much of what we had been told.  She even showed us the two beds that the boys slept in during their time there and described them as happy children.  We thanked her for her care for our boys and promised to do our best to continue to care for them well.  She requested that we send pictures J.  What a blessing to have had this opportunity to glimpse this place that served our boys at such a critical time in their lives!

Of course, our drive also provided us the opportunity to take in many other unique sights.  In one town, it was obviously graduation day, with fancily-dressed celebrators lining the streets waving flowers.  In another place, however, hundreds processed solemnly away from a funeral.  One we passed explained that the village witch doctor had passed away.  We saw many of the traditional Ethiopian homes with their grass roofs and mud patched walls and the wide open spaces where farmers plant their crops and graze their sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and donkeys.   While I wouldn't describe the countryside as beautiful—there is a lot of mud (this time of year at least), rocks and boulders, and scraggly grass and trees, the beauty of small things stands out.  The smile of a girl who waves to our van as we drive by.  The tiny purple flowers that roadside along a few fields.  The kaleidoscope of color at the open markets.

For those of you asking "When do you meet those boys???," the answer is Monday afternoon.  We should also hear the results of additional health testing then as well.  When we know more about that we will let you know!  As other families continue to join us here at the guest house, we are certainly very excited for this week's planned events to go into full swing.      

Acclimating

This first day in Ethiopia has been very restful.  After a seven-hour (ear-plug-aided) sleep, I acknowledged the incessantly-crowing rooster and dog chorus outside our guest home.  After devotions, exercise, and a shower, I actually felt quite myself.  Mike and I enjoyed a lovely complimentary breakfast in the guest house lobby.  We were also able to meet some other AWAA families that had picked up their children this past week.  I think they are all flying home tonight.

 

It was wonderful to share some time with these families.  We talked about their experiences this week and the adjustments involved with the children.  The children appear active and relatively healthy.  Some seem to be adjusting quite smoothly.  It is obvious that others will have a more challenging transition time.  Having the time to observe and discuss different families' situations was enlightening and fun.  I will certainly continue to pray for those I have met here as they make their long journeys home and continue to orient themselves to new lives there.

 

I was reminded how the little things like teaching a preschooler to say "Please, mommy," or helping a child to know when they have eaten enough are indeed gif things during these beginning days together.  I wonder what little things will be MY big things in just a few days!?

 

It appears that arrangements have been made for us to travel and visit the area where are boys are from tomorrow morning.  At first, we were told it may not be possible due to road conditions as this is the beginning of rainy season.  It appears that we are cleared to travel now.  We are eager for that opportunity to study the culture and origins of our children, but also a little nervous about all that we may encounter.  Hope to share more tomorrow!