Trip journal - Day 1, part 2

Sunday, June 20, 2010 Addis Ababa, 8:20 pm

No wait for visa in Addis - hooray!
No wait through passport control - hooray!
Almost 40 minute wait just to change money!  The banker even had to leave the exchange office to get more money when she ran out.  Oh well, guess we had to wait somewhere.

Addis airport is small, but decent.  When we finally got to meet up with our Children's Hope escort, we headed outside to a lovely view.  I was expecting a rather dirty, big city view.  Instead, I saw hillsides in the distance, lush trees, and yes, poverty.

Drove through busy streets -- people walking everywhere.  Driver used horn at least six times in the twenty-minute drive!  Don't think I saw any stoplights.

Escort (Ficker) asked if we wanted to meet A-bell (how they pronounce Abel).  And we were questioning, "Really??"  He told us the other three families met their kids this morning, and would we like to?

Before Scott could answer, I piped, "YES!"  Any thought of fatigue and lingering motion sickness left my mind immediately.  Really?  Were we ready?  No time to prepare!

Ten minutes later, the driver honked at a gate, it opened, and we saw the place we have been seeing in pictures for two years: The House of Hope!

The nannies wanted to dress Abel up for his meeting, so we waited a few minutes in utter suspense -- me still quesy from the plane.  I heard the nannies' voices -- familiar from the videos we had received -- and I quickly asked Ficker to take pictures for us.

Abel clung to his nanny, while they explained, "Mommy" in their excited chatter to Abel.  A second nanny came to hold Abel and hand him to me.  He instantly curled his fingers into my shirt as his arms wrapped around my arm and back.  Within minutes, we were whisked back into the van -- without explanation of eating or sleeping -- without us even giving a "thank you" to the nannies.  (They had disappeared the minute I took Abel -- too sad?)

All I could think was, "Our boy!"  He was so familiar from all the pictures -- I felt like I had met him before.


































The van ride to House of Hope 2 (the guest house) was brief.  Abel stayed in his locked position even as we got out, and were swarmed with the other three families and their kids.

So tired -- must write more tomorrow.

Comments

J.E.Oppenheim said…
So you were able to take him with you that day? I didn't realize! How wonderful! How quick, though, with no transition, as you say, no instructions, no good-byes from the nannies. Perhaps they were too overcome at that moment, as you also say. However it came about, it appears God worked it all out, and you bonded beautifully. Praise God for bringing you such a gift!
July 7, 2010 at 7:35 AM
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