Ethiopia Day 6 - Beza and Shopping

Beza  Shopping  Tuesday  November 22, 2011

Beky showed up at 9:00 am to pick us up for our second visit with Beza.

We had another great breakfast of french toast, coffee and juice.  I couldn't eat.  Still not feeling 100% from Montezuma's revenge.

We got to Beza about 10 am.  She was not excited to see us.  They had her hair looking so pretty in braids and she was in a cute pink dress.  The other children rushed us when we got to the room.  She went to a corner on the play mat - as far away from us that she could get.

I took her photo book to give to her since we are allowed once the adoption is final.  She was possessive of it for a few minutes.  Several of the other children tried to grab it away but she held tight.  Then she handed it back to me.

We met her special mother, Blein.  She tried to get Beza to go to me.  Beza would just cry and pull away.  I knew the caretakers told her we were momma and daddy.  She wanted no parts of us.  I wanted to cry - not for myself - but for her.  She was so scared.

One of the other caretakers told Beza's special mother to leave the room.  She then picked up Beza and headed for the door motioning me to follow her outside.  She handed Beza to me and went back inside.

There we were, holding onto each other, she was crying and I could feel the tears coming.  What a crazy mix of emotions.  Here I was finally holding onto this little love and she is so scared.  I tried so hard to comfort her.  She held onto me but would not look at me.  I just kept saying over and over "mommy loves Beza" and asked Jesus to please help this baby's heart to receive me as her mommy.  She cried gently for about 3 minutes.  I walked the small yard they have in front of the foster care house.  Someone ran a banana out to me to give to her.  She held the banana I peeled half way for her but would not eat it.  Frank and Koen came out in the yard to join me.

When Koen walked up to the windows where all the kids could see him, Beza finally started to smile.  She saw her friend Mamush and kept saying his name over and over smiling.  From inside one of the caretakers told Beza to eat her banana and then she did.  I put her down on the grass and Koen did some jumping jacks and got her to laugh at him.

We enjoyed about 30 minutes outside with her.  She was very curious when she heard the birds chirping or a car pull up outside the gate.

When I picked her back up to take her inside she started to cry again.  Probably afraid I was taking her away.  When we walked into the room Beky was dancing with the children while Blein was playing drum sounds on the dresser top.  Beza wasn't so sure what to make of this so she was content to stay in my arms.

Our time was up and once I put her down she made a bee-line for the farthest corner away from me.  Her special mother was asking her to give me a kiss and she would turn her head and wimper.  But she did hug and kiss Koen - so very cute.

We walked out and I was feeling kind of bad.  I realize the transition for her when we come back for embassy is going to be so hard.

We almost got to the gate when Blein came out holding Beza.  She was saying "ciao" and waving goodbye to which Beza also did.  Beza even happily kissed me on the cheek.  She kissed Daddy too.  She was so happy to see us go.

We then drove to the Post Office markets.  Little stores/roadside market stands with hand made goods from coffee pots and crosses to baskets, bags, rugs and shirts.  We bought a National Ethiopian soccer jersey, an injera basket, a play coffee set for Beza, a noisemaker for Koen, a coffee server for us, a hat for Frank, and a few handmade baskets. 

It was not fun bargaining.  And we were told to bargain because they charge 10 times more for foreigners.  We looked like the only foreigners at the market today.

As soon as we got out of the car the beggars started following us.  A little boy kept calling me "momma" and then saying "hungry, please".  I was told not to give him anything.  Not sure about giving out food, but it is illegal to give money - you could get fined.

Another little boy followed us the whole time we shopped trying to sell us toothbrushes.  The toothbrush is actually a piece of root.  Not sure what kind of root.  Beky bought one and showed us how it's used.  You chew on it with your molars then scrape your teeth with the flat piece; spitting the pieces out as it breaks apart.  Beky bought his for 1 birr.

We bought a toothbrush but he charged us 5 birr :)  When we handed him the 5 he was so very happy.  He just looked at the 5 with the biggest smile.  I asked if I could get a picture with him (Beky translated) and he was more than happy to oblige.  As we got in the car and drove away he was still smiling and yelled thank you in Amharic and kept waving to us.  Made me happy.  Sorry to see that such a young boy of maybe 10 years was not in school but out peddling toothbrush root for a living.

We then drove to Tomoca Coffee Shop.  Best place for coffee in Addis.  Sells coffee from all regions in Ethiopia.  We were rushed by people trying to sell us maps and jewelry, and beggars.  An elderly man opened my car door expecting a tip.  We kept saying no thank you as we made our way into the coffee shop.

We bought 10 bags of coffee to take back home and we had our first Ethiopian macchiatos.  It was really the best macchiato I ever had.  We drank them at a standing bar.  I could see the peddlers and beggars waiting for us to come back out.

It was almost like we were famous and they were the paparazzi - it was a little intimidating how close and pushy they were.  The same man that opened my car door closed it and I slipped him one birr while feeling so bad as the woman with a baby strapped to her back was waiting for money too.  We drove off.

We got back to BJoes around 3 pm and caught up with the other families.  Two of them cleared Embassy today and are now excitedly awaiting their travels home on Friday.

Oh - we stopped and ate lunch at Island Breeze.  It was pretty good.  I ordered the veggie quesadillas, Frank had a grilled chicken sandwich, Beky had a double decker burger and we shared guacamole and chips.  Koen ate a chicken finger :)

We had all of my vege quesadillas for dinner.  Still afraid to eat much.

Marta, one of the wonderful BJoe ladies, gave Mollie and me a cooking lesson.  I was prepared and bought tomato, onion and oil the other day at the market.  And Mollie had the bag of Shiro.  We were going to make Shiro Wet.

So we watched Marta make Shiro Wet :)  and we took notes and pictures of every step.  We had a lot of fun and Marta is a very sweet girl.

Becca and Kirk came back from dinner and joined us in the kitchen to chat.  They bought honey wine today to share at Thanksgiving.  We all tried a glass while the shiro wet simmered.  Everyone that came into the guesthouse kept commenting on how wonderful it smelled :)

The honey wine tasted like a thick honey wine cooler, sort of.  It's hard to describe but I liked it, sort of.  Becca and Kirk had to by 2l water bottles and dump the water so they had something to put the wine in to bring home.

Tomorrow the plan is to visit the Silk Factory Sabahar and Leprosy Hospital in the morning.  At 3 pm we all have a Gladney tour of Trinity Church with Belay.

It's 11:40 pm and I'm not so tired - need to get to sleep.



Side Notes

St. Michaels Day - saw many wearing Ethiopian traditional dress for church.  Women bought grass for coffee ceremony.

a taxi

one of the only traffic signals I saw - wasn't working :)

the Sheraton - looked like a guarded palace

Ethiopia Day 5 - Court!

Court  Monday  November 21, 2011

I was up all night - diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, severe abdominal pains.  It was awful!!

I was praying that I wouldn't vomit during Court.  Becca gave me some phenergan ointment that I rubbed on my wrists to help with the nausea.  And prayed for supernatural strength for me to get through Court.

We have been so careful - using bottled water to brush our teeth, no fresh fruits or vegetables.  Seriously, I even spit the water out that touches my lips in the shower.  And I still got sick.

This was supposed to be an exciting day and all I could do was focus on not throwing up, and cry.

Beky picked us up at 9:45 am to take us to the Gladney office.  We gave him our humanitarian aid to take too.  We met Kirk and Becca, and Alicia and Kevin there.  We were all sitting in a conference room when Belay, so nonchalantly, tells us we all received positive MOWA opinions - couldn't believe it!!

We left Gladney and went to the Courthouse.  I think the Judge's office was on the 3rd floor.  We were told that we would be the last called so expect to wait an hour or two.  The room was full of people.  We walked in and were just looking around for a place to sit and were all called into the Judge's office - barely there 2 minutes.  A little embarrassed but oh-so-necessary I had my Target bag clenched in my hands just in case - with the mantra in my head "please don't throw up, please don't throw up".

She asked us questions as a group.  Did we all know this is final?  Will we teach our children about Ethiopia?  Did our families know about the adoption?  She said "this is permanent", "it cannot be reversed", "she is yours for good."  We passed!  Big happy tears - could not believe it!

No celebration for us.  We had Beky bring us back to BJoes because I was still so sick and needed to get to bed.

Beky took Frank and Koen to an indoor play area that had arcade games, slides, bumper cars - looked like an indoor carnival from the pictures.  They played there for about 3 hours.

We met another couple today who took placement of their 1 year old boy today.  So now there are 3 babies here at BJoes for Embassy.

We ordered Makush take out for dinner.  I had soup.  I'm feeling a little better.  Tomorrow will be good I'm sure.

We visit Beza in the morning!

Ethiopia Day 3 and 4

Debra Zeit  - Saturday  November 19, 2011

Right now I am lounging at Kuriftu Resort viewing a crater lake in Debra Zeit.

We had another great breakfast at BJoes.  Crepes and eggs.  They make wonderful coffee on the stove top and add cinnamon, coriander and cloves.  Sugar is offered but there is no cream.  I brought my powdered creamer from home :)

We wished Mollie well before we left.  Her son was being brought to her today around 11 am.  So excited for her.

It was about an hour and a half drive to Debra Zeit.  Crazy drive, lots of fumes, felt car sick.  We passed the federal prison on the way - did not look very secure at all.

So many people walking, so many cars and no traffic signals, goats, horses and donkeys walking in between cars, and lots of fumes!  We drove with Becca and Kirk and their driver Solomon.

The farther away from Addis the more horse drawn taxis.  Market stands line the sides of the streets.  Donkeys are used to carry heavy loads for their owners.  Men were selling fresh honey still in honey comb on the road side.  Solomon stopped and bought honey for everyone to try.  You suck the honey and spit out the comb.  Frank, Becca and Kirk all tried it and said it was very sweet.  I was feeling very car sick.  Solomon also bought chick pea pods.  Pop the chick pea from the pod right into your mouth - Frank said it was good.

We saw a man with a bag of green leaves and Solomon explained "chat" to us.  He said it's like a legal marijuana here in Ethiopia.  Keeps you wide awake and "kills hungry."  You chew it.  Sounds more like the effects of cocaine.  He said people drink lots of beer to help get to sleep after chat.

We saw one room mud homes on the road sides.  Solomon said they last about 20 years.

When we arrived at Kuriftu Resort we were all amazed at such beauty.  We just drove miles on bumpy dirt roads and then come upon this beautiful resort.  The resort is owned by an American.  The rooms start at around $150 USD and there is kayaking and a spa.

We all purchased a day pass which included a lunch buffet and 30 minute kayaking, and a 25% off coupon for a spa treatment.

We sat overlooking the crater lake and enjoyed a wonderful buffet of Ethiopian food, lamb, beef and veal stews, tilapia, veges and injera.  There was a lady performing a coffee ceremony.  The ceremony is traditional and coffee is served with popcorn.  Koen had spaghetti and they hand-squeezed a glass of apple juice for him.  I think about this now and I should not have allowed him a fresh apple.  Thankfully he did not get sick.  (p.s. he does get sick 2 days later - not sure if the apple is the culprit or not)

Frank and Koen, Becca and Kirk, went kayaking while I took pictures and wrote in my journal.  It was such a beautiful day to hang out and relax.  Someone suggested to do this resort early in the trip before visiting the government orphanages because we may not feel like pampering ourselves after that.

At 5 pm Becca and I got a massage.  It cost $11 - crazy.  The massage included full tush, stomach and breasts - much to our surprise.  They used straight-up olive oil - we slid right on out of there :)

(Laura - if you're reading this I know you had a massage in ET - did you forget to tell us something about your massage? :)

Not much for Koen to do at this resort so we let him pretend this dirt pile was a sand box.  A family was walking by laughing at Koen and asked me if they could take a picture - probably thinking "crazy Americans".

We all napped on our way back to BJoes.  Took dramamine this time.  We picked up pizza and wine and all had dinner together.  We met Mollie's little B when we got back!  Mollie was ready to take him to bed but introduced us to him first.  He is so sweet!! 

It is so nice to have other families to hang out with; share this journey.

We went to bed around 10:30 pm.  Around 1 am the dogs barking woke me up.  We plugged my little travel fan into the converter and within 2 minutes it blew up.  So I blew up my hair dryer and fan now.  Just glad I haven't burned the place down.

Sunday  November 20, 2011

We all got to take a warm shower this morning.  Some mornings the hot water is a little hard to come by so when I managed to get some all 3 of us crammed into the shower real quick.

Another great breakfast this morning; pancakes and eggs.  We met Frank, CEO of Gladney, over breakfast.  He is here for only 48 hours for business.  He was very nice.

We had time to check emails and Facebook and enjoyed reading everyones' nice comments about our meeting Beza.  Koen keeps asking to see Beza and really wants us to bring her home.

It's a down time kind of day.  Not much open on Sundays here.  Koen is catching up on DS and wishing for Wii.  Frank is trying to upload photos so we can share in emails.

Another mom arrived today to take placement of her little girl.  It's so great to see families united.

Our plan is to do a walking tour today.  We were told to prepare ourselves on how we will deal with children begging for food.  Need to buy bananas and granola bars.

We walked to a grocery market today and were confronted with our first children beggars.  I wanted to cry.  We had taken a few fruit snacks with us.  The children smiled from ear to ear when handed the snack.  My heart felt like breaking when a young girl I guess to be about 13 or 14, with a baby strapped to her back, approached us motioning her fingers to her mouth.  We didn't have anything to give her.

We bought a bunch of cookies so we would have something to hand out next time.

As we were walking to the market a loose bull was charging the street.  Men were trying to catch him with a lasso, unsuccessfully.  Crazy sight.

When we returned home from grocery shopping it was around 2 pm.  So we decided to just wait until about 5:30 and have an early dinner.  We went with Becca and Kirk to Top View - a restaurant on top of the mountain overlooking the city.  Frank and I ate a European version of Ethiopian food.  Not nearly as good as Lancaster's Addissu :)  Koen slept through dinner for the 4th night in a row.  We had a real nice time talking adoption, about our girls, and court for the next day.

It has been an emotional day for me.  I don't feel very well - blaming it on the high altitude.

It was a wonderful moment to see Leda take placement of her daughter today.  B was living in the same room as Beza.  We saw her on Thursday and she and Beza were a lot alike; shy, reserved, clinging to their caretakers.

When the driver arrived at Bjoes he handed B to Leda.  We were all standing around witnessing this most special moment.  It was wonderful and hard at the same time to see.  I was so happy for Leda imagining that will be me in a month or two - finally holding my daughter in my arms and knowing it's forever.  Hard to see the uncertainty and fear in B's eyes imagining that will be Beza in a month or two.  I really need to pray for strength.  I think about all that these babies have been through in their short lives.  Their parents disappear, their roommates disappear, then their caretakers disappear.  Makes me sad.  (p.s. B is loving her momma, and her red shoes :)  and was smiling and laughing a few days later. So very glad to have seen the transition.  She is a beautiful, beautiful little girl.  Hoping and praying for such a transition for Beza and me.)

Ethiopia Day 2 - Firtuna

On our second day in Ethiopia we had plans to visit our little girl we sponsor - Firtuna.  We sponsor her through HopeChest.org if anyone is interested!

Firtuna  -  Friday, November 18, 2011

Had a great night sleep.  It gets cold at night.  I knew that from what I've read and heard.  But, it gets really cold at night!  Most places to stay do not have heat; electric but no heat.  Asked for another blanket :)

We were served a wonderful egg omelet, toast, and awesome coffee for breakfast.  Checked email and facebook.  And met Mollie, Becca and Kirk.  I knew of these families through their blogs so it was so nice to meet in person finally!

We took a walk to a nearby grocery for apple juice and milk.  Bought a chocolate bar - wishing we brought more chocolate with us.  Note for next time - bring lots of chocolate :)

Beky picked us up about 11 am to take us goat shopping and then head out to Kind Hearts care point.  Friday is a fasting day so many do not sell meat on this day.  We drove to Kebeta and searched for a goat.  Two hours later I finally asked Beky to please just take us to the care point so we could meet and play with Firtuna.

Goat Shopping - he travels in the trunk

Sharing the road

We finally arrived to Kind Hearts at 1 pm.  We were warmly welcomed by the mission team and in-country staff.  They directed us straight to Firtuna.

All the children (140) were all sitting quietly on the ground enjoying their goat stew and injera.  This was a very special meal for them provided by the mission team/sponsors.  The children were loving it; scooping stew into their mouths quickly following it with bottle soda - another special treat.

I couldn't believe it when I saw her!  She was wearing a shirt that I bought her and sent in a care package.  She shyly looked at us and immediately looked away.  Karen Wistrom, leader of the team, told me not to worry - that she knew exactly who I was and to just give her a few minutes.

It didn't take long.  She slowly approached me and stood by my side while I fussed over her.  Within a few minutes she was constantly by my side, holding my hand.

Koen and Frank helped pass out food to the children; lined up like an assembly line passing plates along.  Koen was happy and eager to help with this.  He makes me so proud at how good his heart is.

After lunch we played with all the children and attended one of Firtuna's class.  We helped them with a craft project and took lots of pictures.  The children loved having their pictures taken.  Breaking out into huge smiles when we showed them their picture on the camera - insisting on more.

The children loved having us; hanging on us, giving us hugs and kisses constantly.  They LOVED Koen and would call him by name.

It was a very special day for all of us.  Some of these children walk 45 minutes to get to the care point; 5 year olds walking alone on rock and dirt roads.  It's a very special place for them.

The children were beautiful; dirty with torn clothing, worn shoes - some mismatched.  Koen noticed right away that Firtuna shoes did not match.

We had a special meeting with Fikre, one of the directors at the care point.  He sat down with us along with Firtuna so we could present her with some gifts for her and her caretaker.

We asked who takes care of her (her mom), if she had siblings, how far away she lived.  Her mom is at home with her baby brother.  She lives about 5 minutes away.  We asked her how old she is.  She said 5.  She was 5 a year and a half ago when we started sponsoring her :)

Someone sent for her mom and she showed up to meet us.

We presented Firtuna with a bunch of gemmed barretts, socks and jeans.  We bought her mother hand lotion, soap, comb, chapstick, sewing kit, pocket tissues, slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail kit, gum and a bag of dried apricots.  I put it all into a drawstring backpack.

When we met Firtuna's mom Fikre introduced us and gave her our care package.  She immediately embraced me tightly.  It was an emotional, touching meeting.  When we hugged I noticed how she smelled like a camp fire and I couldn't help but think of how she has to cook all of her food over an open fire having none of the conveniences I so take for granted.

Firtuna would seek me out through the afternoon; coming to me to hold my hand and every once in awhile I would feel her kiss the top of my hand.  When we took a group picture at the end of the day I searched for her and zoomed in with my camera to find her looking right at me smiling.

I can't express how grateful I feel to have been apart of their day.  A most wonderful experience.  I don't think I will ever forget the faces of those children.

Saying Goodbye

Koen saying goodbye to Billy.  Poor Billy will sacrifice himself on Monday to feed the children.  You know there is a question on a customs form one must fill out to re-enter the US - "did you handle livestock?"  oops.

Beky drove us back to BJoes and we took about 30 minutes to refresh and then met Mollie, Becca and Kirk at Lime Tree Restaurant for dinner.  Koen slept through dinner again :)

Side notes

 

Saw a few disturbing things on our drive today. A naked man on the side of the dirt road just crawling along. I asked Beky what this was about.  He said for 18 million people there is only one psychiatric hospital so the mentally ill are on their own.

And the horses in the middle of the street are infected.  They stand there so the cars driving by keep the flies from biting their infected areas.  The horses have no owners so no one to put them down.  They look so sad.

Met Yoftahe - one of the drivers.  Find that he attended a year at Lancaster Mennonite High in 1990.  Stayed with a foster family.  Need to check with Patrick and see if he knows him.



Our Trip to Ethiopia

We arrived back in the States a week ago today.  It has been a hard week for me as I try to process all my thoughts and feelings of our 10 days in Ethiopia, while dealing with unpacking 6 suitcases, a refrigerator that stopped working while we were away, a dog that picked up kennel cough while boarded, and not to mention the craziness of preparing for the holidays.

I kept a journal during our stay and decided that I'm going to post it (maybe editing a few things to protect the innocent).  I know all 7 of my followers are dying to read about my emotional ups and downs and anything-but-good writing skills :) 

The Flight  Wednesday  November 16, 2011

We are somewhere over the ocean right now.  It's 4:30 pm our time back home and 12:30 am in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

When I chose our seats for this flight on Ethiopian Air - 28A B & C - I was focused on the fact that there were no seats behind us - so no one kicking the back of my seat for 13 plus hours.  I think I would rather have seat-kicking instead of the constant foul odor coming from the toilet, which is what actually is behind us :)

We should be trying to sleep but the bug is wide awake - playing with the lights, in constant movement, kicking the seat in front of him :)

I can't believe we will be in Ethiopia in about 7 hours!  Who can sleep!  Doesn't seem real yet.

Note to self for Embassy trip - start packing a few days ahead of time.  Waiting 'til the last minute was so frustrating!

Beza   Thursday  November 17, 2011

We had a very smooth flight landing in Addis around 8 am.  We had no wait to get our Visas.  They pulled us right into the small room with a simple Visa sign above the door, passing many in line, because we had a child.  There is a genuine love for children here.

We had no problem getting all 6 pieces of luggage - they sent us right through without x-raying our bags.

Our driver, Beky, was there waiting for us and piled all of our luggage into his Mercedes Benz.  (Beky tells us Toyotas are desired more than Mercedes here.)  Barely room for us in the car but we squeezed and it was a short ride to BJoe's Guesthouse.

Genet was there to greet us, show us our room and give a tour.  Beky brought all of our bags to our room and then asks if we would like to see Beza today.  I said "what?!"  He said if we leave in 10 minutes we can see Beza today and did not have to wait until tomorrow (Friday was our scheduled time to visit).  Sleep deprived, barely able to put 2 thoughts together, we said "lets go!".  We couldn't believe we were going to meet our daughter 2 hours after landing in Ethiopia!

We walked into toddler room #2 and there she was - just like her pictures.  Beautiful, shy, so sweet.  I wanted to run to her and scoop her right up but I knew that would scare her - plus, you're not supposed to do that :)

Cribs line the walls of the room.  There is a play mat strewn with legos, rattles, balls and stuffed animals.  And all of the children were sitting there with the caretakers playing.

I see Beza and call her name and give a little wave.  She smiles shyly at me and looks away.  A handful of children run to us and want loving and attention.  We sit on the mat and try to get her attention.  She shys away to her caretaker.  I hand her a lego and she accepts it.  She hands me a lego and we start to build a tower.

One sweet boy can't stop touching my hair.  A little girl can't get over Frank's lack of hair - touches his scalp and runs away screaming in laughter encouraging other children to do the same.

Koen and Beza start to play together.  She smiled at him, played, gave him hugs and kisses.  She would hold hands with him and lead him around the room.  The other children were very fond of Koen too.  Loved putting their hands through his hair, pulling him in all directions.  He was center of attention.

Minutes after we arrived and the caretakers knew we were there for Beza they hurriedly fixed her braids and led her out of the room to wash her face.  These ladies obviously love these children.

The hour flew by and it was time to go.  I tried to get a hug from her but it was not going to happen this visit.  Koen got enough for all of us :)

The children watched us through the windows as we left.  Koen and Beza, on opposite sides of the window, put their hand on the glass as if touching.  So very sweet.  Koen asked if we could please take her home now.  Sorry bug.  I wish.

I left feeling a mixture of emotions.  Sorting through those still.

Had a great lunch at Makush Gallery and went back to BJoes to nap.  It was a great day.