Wednesday, October 15, 2008

We did it! We completed our first full day of caring for Godebo and Bereket, and it went fine. I think we're ready to take these kiddos home. Today was a day for playing here at the guest house and getting accustomed to the children's routine. I have to say, we have some of the easiest kids in the group, I think. They are happy and compliant children. They climbed into bed with us in the morning, dressed themselves eagerly, ate well and napped at exactly the schedule time. The only gliche was when we tried to wake Bereket at the time designated by the orphanage and she refused to wake up and then wailed for probably 25 minutes when Jeff tried to rouse her by holding her. Our Ethiopian friend, Gigi, picked us up for some siteseeing right in the middle of this, and Bereket quieted down in the car but kept her eyes resolutely shut until Jeff offered both of the children some gum. Then she climbed into my lap and chewed contentedly the rest of the day. Hmmm. We are quickly getting the picture that this little girl has some tricks up her sleeve.
One interesting thing about being in public with our children is that not all Ethiopians are very comfortable with seeing white people adopting Ethiopian children. In fact, we were told not to take the children out of the guest house at all, because the Ethiopian government has asked the agency to keep a low profile. We only broke the rules because Gigi really wanted to show us a few things. But when we asked her about this issue, she confessed that she, too, gets very sad when she sees the children leaving the country. She understands that this is necessary, in some sense, because the country cannot provide for the orphans and the poor. But it still makes her uncomfortable. I guess that makes us feel a bit guilty -- or if not guilty, certainly somber.
Anyway, the children are asleep, and so is Jeff since he is not feeling too hot (the beginnings of a cold, I think). Tomorrow allows more time for play, as well as packing. Then we all meet one more time with an official from the orphanage, who will give us all our paperwork. As of 10 p.m., we'll be on the plane and heading home -- 31 hours of travel, I think. Ugh. But there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and we're very ready to get home, settled and back in the company of those we love.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you, thank you, for blogging your experiences. It is so wonderful to hear about the loving care these children are getting on both ends of the world. The love of God is spreading mightily! Blessings to you all as you make this final transition home.
Mary Lynn

chapman6 said...

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! I HOPE YOU COME HOME SOON!