Flight to Ethiopia - hour 15. "Are we there yet?"
The following are pictures and stories from our trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Our journey was profound, intense, grueling at times and completely beautiful at other times. In my heart we will always hold the incredible warmth and spirit of the Ethiopian people that we met.
Thank you again to all our lovely friends and family. We carried your love with us to Ethiopia and it sustained us during our journey.
Sunrise Over Addis
View from our window at the Addis Guest House. The man begins his day washing cars
Livestock on the road, another day begins
The carwash and shoe shiners
Some shots of the streets of Addis. Not sure why I found it ironic that Pepsi and Coke have made a footprint here.
Wooden scaffoldings- amazing
Our first view of Childrens House...moments away from meeting Jonas and Jember!
Childrens House Staff and children are waiting for us. They are singing and clapping as we arrive.
Gotcha Day ~ Families (Jilliene and Brian)receiving their children
Suddenly it is our turn, and the most beautiful little souls are placed in our arms
Abdissa's wife places the babies in our arms. I am crying and kissing her. So much emotion...
...love at first sight
Our first family photo.
Should we switch now?
In the midst of such joy we are delivered shocking news. A recent blood test implies that the babies could be HIV positive. (Though the last several tests said they were HIV negative) We need to have them retested. There are no words for the level of devastation that we are feeling. I try to breathe in air but all I can find is a sob.
Families are escorted upstairs at Childrens House. We try to block out our recent news and enjoy these first moments as parents.
Faces of CHI staff: What lovely, warm people. (This is Mitu- our angel).
Always smiling
View of Addis from the balcony of Childrens House
Ethiopian Orthodox Butcher
The yards outside of Childrens House.
Beautiful flowers of Ethiopia
The following day we took the twins to an Aids clinic to get another HIV test. It was a terrible, emotional day and a sobering dose of reality. We were told that we would find out the results tomorrow (which was the day we were due at the Embassy to arrange for the visa's for the babies). The results were going to be delivered to the Embassy.
The following pictures were taken on our way to the Embassy the next day. The day was a blur. Addis was a blur. We rode all on the way to the Embassy praying to the Universe that our children were ok... that they were healthy. We held them close to us on on that bumpy car ride, their hearts against our hearts.
We arrive at the embassy. Abdissa meets us with a warm smile. He has the test results for the twins. He holds his arms up in the air and smiles "You're children are healthy!" Then we were crying and laughing and hugging each other. The children are healthy! In the midst of our joy we look up and see a runaway donkey running down the street. Its odd but I will always associate the moment I knew my children were healthy with a donkey running down the street. Life is funny that way.
Happy babies!
Childrens House threw the parents a wonderful closing party with singing, dancing and food for the families. Abdissa spoke to us all about children and families and journeys. It was a beautiful ceremony. Unfortunately, I was in the throws of food poisoning...or something. It had been worsening all day and the sailing was about to get really rough.
Final Ceremony
