ETHIOPIA PART II

GOTCHA DAY
On Saturday, February 11th, we left to go pick up our girls.  We flew Ethiopian Airlines this time which required an overnight stay in Washington DC.  It was nice to start out our trip with a nice date, dinner and overnight stay at the Hyatt.  On Sunday, the 12th, we took off on a huge Boeing 777 for the 13 hour flight to Addis.  We arrived on Monday the 13th and after a quick lunch, we headed out to pick up our girls.

I really didn't know what to expect when we arrived.  I guess it is every parent's wish to see excited children running their way and jumping into their arms.  However, that is not what transpired for us.  It broke my heart to to see both our little girls standing at the back of the courtyard crying when we arrived.  Jerusalem was especially sad about leaving since she has become very attached to her friends this past year.  Our girls have experienced so much loss and grief in their short little lives.  Now they are losing their friends and their culture.  All the older kids were at school and the toddlers were napping while we were there so the staff told the girls they could say their good-byes on Thursday when we came for a coffee ceremony.

It is nice the girls still have each other.  Once we were back at the hotel they interacted with each other and smiled.  After a bath, they put on their new clothes.  Woo hoo, thankfully everything fit!  Next, we tried out all the games and toys I had brought to entertain them.  The big hit was the memory game.  They caught on so quickly and had no trouble beating David and I every time we played.  At first, Bethlehem would help us out if she knew where a piece was located but she quickly learned that the winner is the person with the most pairs.  No more help after that!  It is incredible how quickly they pick up on things and learn new things.  I thought communicating would be hard but they have been quick to pick up on words also.  I think they may know a little more English than we initially thought too.

Friday night was difficult again.  Bethlehem went right to sleep but Jerusalem cried and cried.  She finally quieted down and drifted off to sleep as I sang her some songs.

EMBASSY DAY
On Valentine's Day we left for Embassy.  Embassy was quick and uneventful.  The officer asked a couple of questions and sent us on our way.  We learned from the Embassy's interview with the grandfather that he is indeed 86 years old and made his Embassy trip while he was sick with malaria.  What love and dedication to provide the best opportunity he could for his granddaughters.  We also learned both parents died of malaria.  Two of the girls' older brothers live with the grandfather and the other two live with other relatives.  I imagine they are old enough to help out on the farms.  I hope that someday, when the girls reach adulthood, we can go back and locate their brothers and extended family.

Before Embassy, we gave the girls a Valentine's Day Card and small box of chocolates.  The agency employee read the cards to them.  We asked the girls if they would like an American name or if they prefer to be called by their Ethiopian names.  Both chose their current name.  So the names Jerusalem (Jeri) and Bethlehem (Betty) will stay.  Kathryn and Rebecca will be their American names should they ever wish to change names.

Both girls are incredibly shy around people.  It was difficult for us to have someone interpret for us because they are extremely reluctant to talk to others.  Jerusalem will turn her body and look the other way from others when we are at a table.  On the other hand, they have no trouble coming alive when we get back to the hotel room.  They are constantly chatting away with each other and giggling.  Betty has a laugh that is simply contagious.

Tuesday afternoon we took the girls to a beauty shop near the hotel to get their hair washed and braided. When the beauticians were unbraiding their hair, they kept pulling out gobs of loose hair.  Alarmed, David ran over and asked if that was normal for so much hair to fall out.  Boy did we feel dumb, the beautician rolled her eyes at us and said they were taking out extensions that had been braided in.  We felt bad that the nannies had probably put them in to make the girls look extra pretty for their gotcha day. But, how were we to know.

A DAY ON THE TOWN
Wednesday we hired Joel from Life Tours to take us around Addis. We had a good day doing some shopping.  It was a bit overwhelming for the girls to choose a new dress because the vendors would not stop shoving dress after dress in front of them.  Too many choices for little girls who have grown up with nothing!  Next we went to Compassion to introduce our girls to our friend.  We also enjoyed eating at a traditional restaurant and playing at Africa Park.  It is sad that most of the local people can not enjoy the parks since admission is charged.  Each time we drove by the parks, they were empty.

COFFEE CEREMONY
Thursday Betty got her cast off.  Yeah!!  It was getting pretty dirty and smelly.  We were so happy she did not have to wear it home.  At noon, we headed over to the care center for our good-byes and coffee ceremony.  The older kids were pulled out of school to say their good-byes and we took some group photos.  Their teachers also came by with Betty and Jerri's report cards.  We learned that they both have been attending Lower Kindergarden.  Apparently they did not have any schooling before leaving their family.  Both girls scored at the top of their class in all areas.  Nice to know I will have some bright students to homeschool!

Thursday night we went out to dinner with Joel to Yod Abbysinia, a local Ethiopian restaurant.  We enjoyed the traditional food and watched a great show.  Joel had reserved a great table right up front for a good view of the show.  We listened to Ethiopian music and watched dancing from the various cultures within Ethiopia.  Bethlehem especially enjoyed the dances and laughed out loud at some of the silly costumes and movements.  It is amazing what those people can do with their bodies!

DEPARTURE DAY
Friday we prepared for our departure.  The girls saw us start to pack and immediately began packing all their clothes and things.  Then we sat and sat waiting for a late 10:30 p.m. departure.  Waiting had to be hard for the girls because we couldn't really explain anything to them.  We tried to get them to take a nap but they both kept chatting excitedly.  Finally, we moved them to separate beds which resulted in Betty falling asleep and Jerusalem being reduced to tears again.  Without a nap, Jerusalem's eyes were barely staying open when we finally got on the plane.  However, the adrenaline started pumping once they saw the TV screens on the back of each chair.  They were all giggles and smiles as they flipped quickly through all the menu options over and over again.  It didn't help that the airline turned on all the lights and started serving a dinner after we took off.  It was a few hours before any of us had any sleep!

Flying back home was much longer.  Because the plane is flying against the jet stream, it is a 17 hour flight requiring a stop in Rome for fuel.  After what seemed an eternity, we flew into Dulles and then had to take two more flights before finally arriving home late Saturday afternoon.  We received a sweet greeting at the airport by our family group and found our front porch brightly decorated when we arrived home.  Unfortunately our luggage didn't make it.  It finally arrived sometime during the night and was left on our porch.  My parents who had been taking care of the boys had to leave upon our arrival due to my 99 year old grandmother being sick.  Fortunately, our older daughter and her husband prepared us a nice dinner and then it was early to bed.

FIRST DAY HOME
Today was a great day.  The girls had so much fun exploring the house and their new room and toys.  The boys kept them engaged with games and puzzles.  I loved watching how excited the boys were with their new sisters.  It was a bit like having a new puppy in the house.  I imagine that won't last long though once sisters start getting into their things!

I was worried about what the girls would eat since their diets have consisted mostly of injera and sauces prepared with Berbere.  However, I think after the airplane food, they both realized things were going to be a bit different and that they would need to try new foods or starve.  So they ate a few pancakes for breakfast, seemed to enjoy a PB&J for lunch and gobbled up pasta for dinner.  I brought back Berbere spice to sprinkle on our American food and that seemed to help too.  My sister also left us an Ethiopian lentil dish that they enjoyed.

We also enjoyed a cold outing to our neighborhood park today.  The girls put on heavy coats probably for the first time in their lives.  A little snow was left on the ground in places and Betty had fun stomping through it.  At one point, she picked up some snow in her bare hands and let out a sharp squeal when she realized how cold it was!  Then the boys showed them how to throw snowballs at us.  That brought about some more laughter!

We are so thankful for your prayers that have sustained us and protected us over the past week.  We appreciate the meals that will be coming this week.  We feel truly blessed to be the parents of these incredible daughters and to have such wonderful friends and family be a part of our new life.

Truly God does put the lonely in family (Psalm 68:6) so that we fill that emptiness with children without any family at all....

Sorry I have posted with no pictures but they will be forthcoming as soon as David downloads them!