Trip #1 Report

Howdy!!!
We promised to give a brief synopsis of everything we did in Ethiopia on trip #1. Our journal has page after page of details, emotions, taste, smells, etc...All of which would overload our blog and is too personal to share. Therefore, we will give a little outline of all that was done trip #1:

July 31st-2nd..Lost one day flying east
We parked at Steve's and he so generously took us to the airport at 2:00am, flew from PHX to Chicago, Chicago to Frankfurt and then to Addis. Upon arrival we got Visas, exchanged dollars for Birr, were met and escorted to the guest house, fed a gourmet dinner and then try to sleep before next morning of meeting boys.

August 3rd
Met Zeke and Taft for the first time..PRAISE GOD! It was love, blessings and joy at first glance. We never imagined the overwhelming emotions we would experience. The boys are a gift from God he has trusted us with raising, providing for and growing to be disciple in Him. They were beautiful, healthy, funny and AMAZING!!! We then went to the attorney's office to complete Embassy paperwork, and prepare for the court interview. We met privately to discuss if the biological family was able to testify before court. Thankfully he made the 12 hour journey to court to agree to the adoption, and therefore there is no red tape waiting for us at court. We shopped and ate like crazy, just adoring the other families who are spending their journey with us as well.

August 4th
Another long and fabulous visit with the boys! We traveled to Entoto mountain and visited a museum, church, beautiful countryside touring.

August 5th
Court Day!
We spend FORVER ironing and getting spiffy! Then we all head to court and wait in the courthouse to be called. Several families before us had hard news and need additional paperwork or biological family meetings, so our hearts were racing. We were called, and what seemed to be a super model was the judge, who interviewed us with both our attorney and director at our side. At the end she said "You contract is approved", aka "You are Parents of Taft and Zeke"!!! We walked out and burst into tears of joy! After court we met with the pediatrician and asked all the questions ever imagined. They brought the boys in for us to hold and explain our concerns. She answered everything as we had hoped they are healthy and happy. Tigist, told us our little guy was her favorite, and let us stay long after our appointment to play with them. We felt guilty since the other families did not get to see their children, so after a while sent them back with the Nanny. We went to a dinner-dance-singing type place with the whole group to celebrate court approval. We at traditional food, drank honey wine, were entertained, and the dancers then came out into the crowd to get the audience to do this crazy dance with them. The dancer must have thought Tyler was the best, because next thing you know he is having a dance off with the lead dancer..He was awarded a little coffee pot trophy! The celebration lasted late into the night...we had a lot to be excited about!

August 6th
Early morning we drive to Arba Minch, stopping to eat several times along the way. We are in an off roading vehicle since there are not paved roads most of the way. I imagined gravel roads..NO...like paths cut through the country side, with boulders, rivers, trees, ETC! We have never been anywhere like that. We enjoyed watching the country side and peoples way of life. We stopped at a village compound and had a tour of how the build their homes, cook, eat, play music, sew, dance, etc. This time must have been my dancing opportunity. The kids pulled me out into the tribe and one of their leaders danced their traditional dances with me, eventually crowning me with a leopard fur over my shoulders! We arrived at the hotel which had all glass on one side overlooking the lakes and mountain side, and the baboons would come right up to the window.

August 7th
We went on a boat ride/hike/African safari and saw hippos, crocodiles, chased after Zebra(they were like 15 feet away)..And really saw the beauties of where are boys are from. The guide though I had a fake arm because of my fake nails and scar on my wrist, thought our granola bars were "stone" that breaks teeth and cracked us up the entire time. Then, we went to the local orphanage the boys were first admitted to. The director and her son let us see documents of when the boys were first admitted, and in broken English hugged each of us and called us her "Family"..Tears amongst the whole group at that point. We showed them current pictures and they all went bonkers excited to see how big and healthy they are. They explained the situation with Zeke's mom passing away during childbirth and what cemetery she is buried at. The director took us to the inn where Taft was found, and the keeper remembered the room he was in, what the mom looked like and everything...once again tears of thankfulness that we can share the info with our kids, and that we know their history. The director explained the boys are from different tribes and that is why they look so different, so we bought the scarves from the local villagers of the correct colors and style for each boy.

August 8th
We drove to Hawassa, the roads were even crazier than the days before hand. We enjoyed the sunset and avocado drinks overlooking the lake at the Haille hotel, then a five star Ethiopian dinner there as well too.

August 9th
We started the day at the fish market, which was heartbreaking and interesting all at once. The millions of mosquitoes from the evening before were being spent at the hotel into piles...piles that filled huge trash cans...I mean millions! Thankfully we have been using our nets at night and spray during the day...I feel for the locals and the danger they face. We visited the SOS EE Hawassa center, Meke Center and then the new center Gelan. The differences in the centers were remarkable how they have improved. Many of the children were HIV positive but on ART treatment to flip it. Gelan is like Americanized with running water, dorms, toys, playgrounds, etc...The direction SOS EE is moving is remarkable. We get back to the guest house in time to visit departing families that night.

August 10th
Again Wendy took us shopping for scarves, music, knives, etc. He is a wonderful man! Like a tour guide, driver, body guard, translator..all in one! After lunch we visited the boys for the last time. Heartbreaking but enjoyable! We fall more in love each day! They have such distinct personalities, like and dislikes, yet are so protective of each other. God has blessed our family of 4 abundantly. Back at the guest house we ate, showered, packed, said our goodbyes and headed off for our midnight flight out.

August 11th
We continue to travel, poor Tyler is sicker than sick. We keep saying get the illness part over this trip, so that we can be healthy with 2 little men on trip #2. Steve picks us up, bless his heart, we looked pretty sick and raggedy at this point. We finally head back to Tucson, as parents of the most precious gifts we could ever imagine being blessed with!!!!