I left early on the 30th, to catch my plane in Nuermburg. I was thrilled to meet up with my friend Suzanne (who adopted 3 kids in 07, when we were in Addis visiting Ava) in the Amsterdam airport, and we had a great time catching up!
The flight was long and miserable for me, since I had a terrible sinus/ear infection... and the pressure of taking off and landing rivaled that of Leyton's C-section birth.... Thank God, my doctor prescribed an antibiotic, and I started taking it as soon as I got off the plane. I was feeling much better a few days later!
When I arrived at the Guest house, I discovered that our case had not been heard in court that day... and was rescheduled for January 27th. So, needless to say, the girls were not able to come home with me... and I will need to make another trip in the next month or two, depending on how court goes.
It was a great two weeks, spent without hot water, several nights without electricity or phone use... and dust, lots of dust. I was so busy with the holiday project, that I hardly had time for anything else, but I did manage to squeeze in some baby holding/feeding, and a day of total sickness-could barely get out of bed. It was Ethiopian bliss, and it was a great time. I was able to see the girls nearly everyday, and it was great to have that time with them.
Suzanne and I got to work shopping, sorting and wrapping, and were joined a few days later by the rest of our team, Lynn- who flew in from Doha, Qatar... and some friends from Germany, Elena and Amy..... With so many hands, the work was quick and even without electricity, we finished the job.
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It was so much fun to be there with the kids on Christmas day... The Holiday Project went great! All my stressing over what to buy, and the budget, simply faded away, after seeing the looks on the kids faces, when their names were called, and they headed out onto the soccer field to meet 'Santa'... Though the balls were a big hit, the most loved gift, I think was the Nerf atom blaster guns... I saw more than one teacher yielding one, as he chased a kid or two around the compound...
During the Christmas celebration, a group of kids also put on the 'circus' or a great untrained gymnastics show.
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There were babies for what seemed like miles, and each of them in their little traditional Ethiopian outfits, were special, and loved. With the famine, and inflation of the past year in Ethiopia, coupled with the slow-moving court process of late... our agencies care center has seen an influx of tiny souls... some so tiny, that you wonder how they can hold on.
Since there are so many babies in care at the moment, we spent a lot of time holding, feeding and loving on them... and of course, I fell in love! There were a few that I really wanted to stick in my suitcase, but their new families probably wouldn't have liked it much.
Between Elena, Amy and Myself, we took more than 1000 photos, and tried to get at least one of every child...
The kids as usual, were great. I didn't spend as much time with them as I would have liked, since I was so busy with so many other things, but the time I had with them, was fun. There are so many great kids, it breaks my heart to think that their own parents aren't able to see them grow each day. Its hard to believe that you have to fly halfway around the world, and spend time with orphans, to truly know what giving is about... On Christmas day, Ivy, the compound coordinator and I drove to AHOPE orphanage, to pick up the siblings of children at our agencies care center, so that they could spend a few hours together. The Layla kids, faces lit up with the excitement of seeing thier brothers and sisters. They spent thier time, holding hands, and sharing stories, and playing with their new Christmas presents. At the end of their visit, the AHOPE kids piled into the van, and we started to drive them back... at one point, I turned around in my seat to see that each of the kids in the van had been given a gift from their sibs.
Our kids only received one gift for Christmas this year, and each of them gave thier gift to thier brother/sister. It brought tears to my eyes, and it was difficult to choke them back. They have so little... but give so much.
I was supposed to visit the family that we sponsor through our agency's sponsorship program on Thursday, but I was so sick (from eating salsa the night before... I know... I know... I should have known better!) that I spent all of Thursday in bed. Thank goodness it only lasted one day... and Friday I was feeling better.
Lynn, Amy and Elena were asked to teach a baby care class to the Nanny's, since our agency has received so many new babies, that they had to hire more staff, and it was a good refresher course on baby basics, and good hygeine... The girls taught 3 or 4 classes, and made a huge impact on all the ladies who are there caring for so many sweet little lives!
It was great to be in Addis when Ivy was able to take her little Alazar home. They were greeted at home by a cake with sparklers blazing, and well wishes from her great Ethiopian friends. It was so much fun seeing her jump right into mommy-hood. She's going to be great!
Friday night, we were treated to dinner at Dr. Rick Hodes'. You can read about him by clicking on his name. I first heard of him, when I read the book, "There is No Me Without You" by Melissa Fay Green. His story inspired me, and I have been hoping to meet him for the past 3 years. What a great man.
The weekend, Suzanne, Lynn, Amy and I got in a little shopping, while Elena took her turn in the sick-bed... and more classes were taught. On Saturday nigh, Lynn headed back to Doha. We held and fed babies, and spent some time with the girls. We cut blankets into burp cloths, and distributed them amongst the baby rooms. On Sunday, Amy and Elena headed out to Dubai... and Suzanne and I were left to spend our last few days wrapping up the trip.
Monday I headed out to visit with Amy and Elena's sponsorship kids. Both, great visits, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet them! In the afternoon, I hung out at the care center with the girls... and was treated to a dance show, highlighting moves from several tribes. It was great fun! On Tuesday, we spent the morning packing up, and picking up our last minute treasures. A few new families joined us at the Guest House, and it was a full-on welcome, when the lights went out! We spent the last of our time with the kids at the care center, collecting letters and gifts to send to families waiting abroad... It was sad to leave my girls, but knowing that they are well cared for, and loved at the care center, means a lot. I'm looking forward to the next trip, already!
The weather in Addis was fabulous, sunshine, but not too warm... The road construction is really coming along, and it will be great to return next year (our driver Dawit is optimistic that it will be finished by then!) to see where its at...
It was a great two weeks... and I'm so glad to have had the team that I had, along with me! Thanks, girls!
