When we flew into Addis, the driver who picked us up looked at me with my white scarf draped around me, wearing a bright yellow tie-dyed skirt and motioned with his hands how surprised to find me looking so nice - or should I say so traditional. I felt he was pleased to see an American women honor their customs. So guess what? I got treated with honor - amazing how that works?!
We were hoping to meet someone else that day but they cancelled. I can't go into detail here, but let's say we have some unfinished connections that still needs/wants to be done. They asked us if Jeff and I would like to meet the children ... we weren't supposed to meet them until the following day. Yes! We would love to meet them and surprise them at their school! We both thought it would be so much better this way, as they would go back to the Care Center (a nice name for orphanage) that night and come to stay with us the next day as planned. It would give us both time to get used to the change, rather than the usual abrupt drop off and run:) (sorry I couldn't resist). Having adopted older children, I think it worked much better. They drive us to their school,and we sneak up to the Principal's office. As we wait I hear the bell ringing for them to get out of class, but the Principal is talking our ears off and I'm thinking, "Please stop, I want to go see our children!!!" Finally?! we get out of his office and we see the two oldest girls, Kidan and Gerima. Wow! They looked so much smaller than the pictures we had seen of them! I said, "You're so little," and I kept thinking they are way smaller than their pictures showed them. It seemed sad to actually see that they were so vulnerable to what may come their way. I guess you could say I felt like a mother hen. They were sooooo receiving of our love and I was thinking what a wonderful God I serve that their hearts are open to receive us. I can't say I was in la-la land, because I wasn't. I knew I had a sound mind and this was not an emotional high for me. I really am glad for that, because I'm a feely person and sometimes that doesn't go so well for the looooonnnngggg haul, if you know what I mean?! They really liked the white scarf and skirt too; they said, "Mom, you louk so boootiful."
I really believe God was directing all my choices right down to the clothes I wore. Who knows, for you it may be a T-shirt that has a name on it that connects you or a bill-cap with a picture, or a necklace with a unique design. It amazes me how God created us to take delight in our senses and how He communicates to us through them.
Kidan and Gerima were both as I pictured them and acted just like I thought they would. We said our good-byes with the promise of seeing each other the next day. From there we went to see the two smaller ones, Abenezer and Mizan, at their school.
They were surprised to see us and had no problem knowing who we were.
Mizan was so tiny to me, and Abenezer was more distant and loud; they were both cute as could be. No blissful dreamy feeling here, I was praying, "God, I need you" in order to do this. Four children, that's 1. 2.. 3... 4.... oh, my goodness!!!! that's alot of children, it's gonna have to be God or bust. I smile as I type this because someone who's been stretched further would just smile and say, "Honey, you're just starting, you haven't seen anything yet!"
The schools were pretty simple and the van that carried the children to and from school was shockingly poor-looking.
I still remember their radiant smiles in that dirty, torn-up van; they were children care free and not encumbered by the "have nots" of life.
In America we have, have, have and yet where are the smiles of happiness??? These children have not, not, not, yet they are happier than most children I see. I would much rather ride in a dirty van filled with radiant children than ride in the richest vehicle with one unsatisfied child.
Don't you just Love God's way? The last will become first and the first will become last. God will choose who sits at the head of His table and He will give honor to whom honor is due. I know we will be surprised out of our socks who God honors, because it won't be who we thought; I just can't wait for that day.
We were so glad to meet their teachers and one teacher in particular caught my heart.
I prayed a blessing over her as I just could sense the love she had for these children.
Later we went back to our quiet little guest room alone, pondering what we had seen and felt. The next day was coming soon and our lives were to change completely ... never to be the same again.
Sorry for not being more regular ... it's just so busy at home, and I need a good block of time to write with clear thought.
