I'm not sure I really know where to begin, but since we arrived in Addis, Abba, Ethiopia at 7:10 on Monday, March the 5th, I guess I'll start there. After a decent, somewhat turbulent, 13 hour flight that was completely full, we landed and checked into the Addis Hilton at around 9:00 a.m. I have to say that I really wasn't too surprised with the surroundings since several friends and family members had already traveled to Ethiopia to visit or bring home sweet children and I had seen their photos.
After a quick breakfast of coke and rolls (the breakfast of champions), we headed out to the America World Transition Home where I have to say the staff and all of the workers were so completely and overwhelmingly loving and kind. Just seeing their love for the children was amazing. I was so fortunate to see a sweet family from North Carolina meet their baby girl. They had their three children with them and all of them were so simply enamored with her. What an example those parents were of God's love. Over the course of the week I was privileged to see four more families spending time with their precious blended children. It was so heartwarming to see and feel the joy and love they all were experiencing.
Next we were taken by the America World driver to the American Embassy where the ladies had a meeting with some of the staff there about procedures and clearances. There was a lot of discussion about changes that might be necessary to alleviate some of the red tape that seems to cause so much delay in placing children with adoptive parents and frankly, I probably zoned out most of the time because I was just counting the moments until I actually got to see more kids:) I did have a little altercation with one of the guards outside of the building because I had the audacity to take a picture of a flower and photos are strictly forbidden. Really....a flower? He was just doing his job and I did offer to erase it.
From the Embassy we headed to a government run orphanage...hard, hard, hard! There were probably 35 toddlers - ages 3 or 4 and under all clamoring for just a moment's attention from us when we walked through the door. I could have stayed there all day and just picked every last one of them up! The nannies were with them at a table while they were having a snack. As we moved into the baby room the overwhelming sense of sadness increased at least 3 fold. I saw what seemed like an endless number of little babies lined in cribs around and through the middle of a room that was probably 9 feet by 9 feet. I was so distracted by trying to keep the flies off of the babies with feeding tubes and the ones that couldn't roll over to even give an estimate of how many there actually were. I am going to guess that somewhere around 40-50 babies were in those cribs. Two, three, sometimes four in a crib. None were being held, none were plump, none seemed to feel any love from their care givers. Truly one of the saddest points of all. Was I surprised?...no. Was I saddened by the lack of care?...definitely.
On Tuesday morning we were heading to 4 more orphanages. One was a boys home that was owned and operated by the government and the other three were privately owned. The boys "compound" was for ages 7 through ? There was actually a 28 year old living there who told us he had gone to university but could not find a job. While this was disturbing on many levels, the real tragedy was and is that there are 210 young boys living there in dire circumstances with only FOUR nannies to help care for them. DURING THE DAY. At night there are no nannies on site to protect or care for those little boys so lost and alone. The tension and fear was sometimes palpable between the younger and older boys. All I could think was - NO HOPE. Of course, I know their hope needs to be in the Lord, but no one seems to be interested (government wise) in saving them. Three of the 7 year olds finally spoke to one of the America World staff and told her, in fear, that they actually knew their families and wanted to go home. The police brought them there and have done nothing to help them. One of the boys called his mom and she told him not to come home. She said that she didn't want him any more. Another one has a dad, mom and siblings but trusted a neighbor to take him to the city and then got separated from him. Surely his parents are frantic, but no one will step up. He even told them his name and address but to no avail. So much to even bear for such a little child.
Next visit was to a very well run private orphanage named Abeneezer. Children there all seemed to be happy, healthy and well cared for. The director there was very involved with the kids and it had a seemingly good reputation. We also visited a private home named KidCare. The director there was such an elegant and strong woman who had such passion for the children and their care. She was so well spoken and was a very strong advocate for the children. The children were very responsive to her and she was so kind to us. They served us "ceremonial coffee" and amazingly tasty organic popcorn. Thankfully the director suggested that the coffee was too strong. (Ethiopian coffee is always strong so the fact that she noticed a difference was alarming in itself since I don't even drink coffee but was trying my hardest to not offend anyone)
The next stop was another privately run orphanage where there were 56 children (all ages) waiting for clearance on paperwork. The director was a young man who seemed to have all the right answers to questions asked by the America World staff. All of the children were very respectful and genuinely happy. Hopefully homes will be found soon.
On Wednesday I stayed at the Transition Home while the staff had meetings all day. I just played with and held babies and children for hours. The babies were all so happy and well taken care of. So loved by their nannies and very attached to them. My heart simply melted in the toddler room. Any new face excites most of them and they demand your attention. If I sat down...four of them were on me. If I stood up...at least two wanted me to immediately pick them up. Beautiful babies - just wanting desperately to be loved and held. Again, their nannies - AMAZING, One little girl cried when it was time for me to leave. Trust me - I would have gladly stowed her and at least 3 more in my carry on luggage and brought them home.
I sat on the steps for about 30 minutes with a little 6 year old girl. She was so curious about everything. We listened to praise music on my ipod while she sang and danced. Amazingly sweet. All I could hear in my head was the song lyrics "You've stolen my heart, yes you have". She didn't know much english and since I know absolutely nothing in her native language, we spoke in a lot of broken phrases. I think she understood a lot more than I did. One thing she made sure I knew without a doubt was that she didn't have a family. I promised her I would pray that God would send her the perfect a family some day very soon. The smile that came across her face was priceless. I think about her constantly and cannot wait to get the news that God has answered our prayers and given her her heart's desire.
I am overwhelmed by all I saw on my first trip to a third world country. It is so incredibly different than anything most of us have ever experienced. One thing I know for sure...children are children no matter where we go, and making their lives an easier journey should be what we all strive for.
What a work God is doing in this hard place!
Thursday was another day of enjoying the children in the Transition Home. After more meetings and time spent with staff, we headed to the airport for our 17 hour flight home. We had one short stopover in Rome to refuel. Couldn't wait to get home to something recognizable to eat:) I have to say that 5 days of goldfish, granola bars, wheat thins and peanut butter ritz crackers is about my limit.
I have such a new respect for all of you who have extended yourselves and expanded your families to include some of these precious ones who simply need love. You are my heroes!
It all comes down to this....
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
