Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Taste of our Trip

*Posting blog entries in our room in Ethiopia*
Hello all....finally taking some time out to share some of the fun pictures and videos we have from Ethiopia that we could not post over there due to slow uploads.  So, here goes...
This is a picture of "AB" and myself at our lunch after church.  He was our translator and we are so grateful God brought us together.  He was a big part of making our entire trip so special and has a special place in our heart.  He is Makeda's "Uncle AB" now ;)  Can't wait to meet up again on our next trip!  See you soon AB!
This is a fun video from our trip back from the orphanage.  It is difficult to see so small, but the truck ahead of us is transporting a slew of camels.  The couple in the car commenting with us traveled with us to Awassa to see their new son.
This is a cute picture of the sweet little girl God had waiting for me at the entrance of Mission Ethiopia. She just came right up to me as we walked in and took my hand and led the way as if she had been commissioned.  "And a little child shall lead them..." :)
This is where the women of Mission Ethiopia do their work.  They started the day with prayer in that little room to the rear right of the picture and then shared technique with me as we created beads to be made into the jewelry they create and is sold to provide for their livelihood.  It was such an honor to share some time with them in their work.  Very sweet women God has brought from the dump or the streets to know Him better and be blessed by those who care.
These are the kids at Mission Ethiopia.  Boy did we have fun with them.  I was able to share the little bit of cashews I had left in my goodie travel bag.  They loved them.  I kept trying to break them up in little pieces to make them go as far as I could.  Next time I will take little treat bags for all of them!!


Below are a couple of pictures from Mt. Entoto.  The top of this mountain used to be the capital and we toured some historic sites there.  This mountain has become a place where many of those afflicted with HIV have made their home and is a place of much poverty.  The first picture is of a woman caring bundled branches she will sell for very little but it is her livelihood.  The bundles are HEAVY and the mountain road is LONG and steep.  It is quite a sight and testimony to the need.  The other picture is of the magnificent view from near the top of this mountain of Addis Ababa below.  WOW!

Trying to describe the streets of Addis Ababa is difficult with words.  There is just so much to see and so much to take in.  Here is a very brief look at some of what we got to see as we travel by...



Ahh, yes, our Ethiopian Restaurant visit.  This was great fun for me as I love dance and just really enjoyed watching all the cool Ethiopian dance styles.  Below is one of my favorites.  To my fellow Zumba girls; perhaps some new Zumba moves???  Great fun!!


And then my turn to share in some Ethiopian Dancing :)  Woohoo!!

okay...you can stop laughing now :)  It was a lot of fun ;)

The last day of our trip; May 22, 2012...our 19 year anniversary.  On our way to the airport AB took us to an Italian Restaurant.  He even ordered us a little chocolate dessert to surprise us for our anniversary.  Awww, how SWEET :)

The plane ride home was LONG (17 hours) and definitely NOT my favorite part of the trip.  But considering the plane rides the "labor" involved in having our daughter, it is bearable.  Not looking forward to that part again, but definitely looking forward to being in Ethiopia, visiting familiar sites and perhaps some new ones and most wonderfully, bringing Makeda into our family and welcoming her into her new God ordained home here in the United States.  
Can't thank you enough for the prayer covering and well wishes.  It has been great fun taking this journey and even more fun sharing it with you!!  Blessings to all...
...TO BE CONTINUED :)











Thursday, June 14, 2012

Keda's Birth Certificate

We got her birth certificate today :)  How very exciting and she looks sooo adorable :)  It's fun to see her hair a different way :)  It will still be many weeks while her paperwork is put in order and then we get our embassy date to go back and get her.  Please pray for Makeda as she is moved from the orphanage she has called home for the last year to the transition home where she will live until we come to get her.
As for the homefront, we are slowly making this new house into our home.  Tim is recovering well from his fall and we look forward to being settled in this incredible blessing of a home God has granted to us.  "The Lord Has Done Great Things For Us and We Are Filled With Joy" Psalm 126:3 :)