Afternoon and Night Addis day 3. (Steph, tear level orange “safe”)
Long day today. I already posted about Kelly and Kate’s new sleep pattern and I am trying be a better husband and father so I won’t obsess any longer about the fact that they are causing me much mental anguish and stress and if they really loved me they would do everything in their power to let me get some much needed rest…as Wilma inferred in Bible Study a month ago, if I’m going for beauty rest – I’m not getting enough…oh yeah, I wasn’t going to obsess.
Anyway, we went to breakfast this morning. Kelly had an omelet with ketchup and a coffee with 6 scoops of sugar. Kate had toast and a coffee with 9 scoops of sugar. I had 4 coffees which consisted of 4 espresso shots, 1 tbls of milk froth and 2 teaspoons of sugar…have I mentioned I REALLY like the Ethiopian coffee? After breakfast we went to Hannah’s Hope. Kelly and I had a meeting with the director and Kate played with the all the older kids. Our meeting went well. We along with the three other couples with us (great people by the way) were all challenged about our resolve for adopting. I was very impressed by the way the director was so blunt and straightforward. Made all of us comfortable that she is singularly focused on the good of the children. She also reviewed the court process with us to prepare for Wednesday. Another part of our time with the director was her setting the stage for our day. She told us that we shouldn’t apply U.S. standards to the way Ethiopians do things, especially in assessing orphanages. Some may not be the most clean, some may not give daily baths, or have diapers, or have 3 good meals everyday… ‘cause that’s just not possible when there are millions – yes millions of orphaned children. The facilities may be substandard and understaffed but they exist to take care of as many kids as they can and if they didn’t the kids would be starving on the streets or worse if you’d like to imagine worse (I don’t want to). This opened our eyes a bit and helps me to be much more grateful for the work they do here.
When we got out of the meeting, Kelly and I went down to the courtyard with Kate… the kiddos were swarming around her like flies in …well, you know. She did a great job loving on them. Some of the kids call her momma or auntie. We played with balloons, painted toe and fingernails and just let the kids crawl all over us. I had up to five on my lab at once – a little sucker goo, fingernail polish, and snot make for a good time – who knew!
We left the orphanage at lunch time and came back to our hotel. Kelly and Kate had lunch while I went up to bed for a long needed nap as I have been suffering at the hand of a wife and child that give no thought to denying what CS Lewis calls one of God’s great blessings (sleep). I can hardly believe they are so rude…….am I obsessing again ….let it go, Nick. Anyway, I slept for an hour and Kelly and Kate had lunch. Both ordered pancakes and because they had asked for ketchup on their eggs, the chef (I use the term loosely, here) garnished their pancakes with what he thought was their favorite condiment – ketchup. Not what they expected, but better than the thought of a hamburger…I did already write about the meat shop in a previous post.
After lunch we took a drive, they don’t use blinkers here and don’t stop for pedestrians, to Bethsada orphanage. They had 50 children in residence and it is from here that agencies like Hannah’s Hope places kids. The place was a beautiful home that was worn a bit by lack of upkeep. Smelled like urine and other fragrance less pleasing to the nose. The staff was absolutely wonderful and loving to the kids. We witnessed them feeding some young girls that were blind, deaf, and paralyzed – they staff was so gentle with them. Suckers were handed out and little ones came out of the woodwork swarming to our group like, well metaphorically speaking…., never mind, you get the idea. I continue to be amazed at how these itty bitty, malnourished waifs come up to the big, bald guy and demand he pick them up and hug on them. More snot. More sucker goo. A little bit of pee. Some drool and leftover lunch. Another great time. Witnessed a couple of families that came to say goodbye to the children they were giving up for adoption…, I think a mom and uncle and grandma (maybe). Oy was that hard to see. When they come for the last time, they come with smiles and affirmations to send the kids off on a good note but beyond the whiter than white smiles you see sadness in the eyes and shoulders that quite frankly take your breath away…. Add tears to the snot, sucker goo, pee, drool and lunch we were covered in. Heartbreaking for sure.
Went back to Hannah’s Hope and Kelly took out a remote controlled car for “Y” and his buddies to play with. Fun, Fun, Fun. Like all boys it wasn’t too long and ramps started being set up to see if the little jeep could jump or not. Played for an hour or so, then watched the kids eat and brush their teeth, then come inside to play. We went with the older kids and played with blocks, toy cell-phones, and other kid friendly stuff. “Y” ran up to me and said dad, dad, bad man, come. He pulled me to a window and pointed to a construction site across the alley where some guys were squatting (meaning living on a property they didn’t own). Wrapped up our time did lots of hugs and then left for a traditional Ethiopian supper at a restaurant.
Supper. You may or may not know that Kelly is absolutely opposed to adventurous eating. I often say that sour cream is just a little too spicy for her. Needless to say, both she and Kate packed granola bars for this event as the Ethiopian Cuisine is quite spicy….that and they are scared of the meat, fruit, vegetables, and sauces. The diner was awesome and quite out of character all three of us tried the food and drink (honey wine….very strong and sweet). We had injera, a pancake like bread that one eats with their hands, which we used to scoop up beef, chicken, chickpea porridge stuff, beans, and spices. I loved the experience and was so proud of Kelly and Kate. We also had a fish dish that I didn’t try but Kate ate quite a bit of. Hopefully we won’t get any parasites. Dessert was popcorn. During the meal performers danced and sang and we came to understand the dance the “Y” does (Kate videotaped him today shaking his stuff). It is a dance from his village and awesome to watch and connect to his heritage.
Well, I’m shot. You see, Kelly and Kate don’t let me sleep. I think it is because Kate doesn’t honor her father and Kelly is far from submissive….just kidding. I’m going to bed and I hear both of them snoring.
Thanks to all for the prayers. I have mentioned before that we actually “feel” them which is an experience that I intend to write about in more detail some time when my brain is working a little better. God Bless!
Kelly
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