Ethiopia: Day 3: Part 1

This is a view from our hotel window.  The TeaPot room was where we had the BEST cup of coffee!

This is where the bar is, the "American" food restaurant and the "Cultural" restaurant.  We had breakfast and supper here every night with our friends.

This is the inside of the American restaurant.

Views on the way to the orphanage.

Views on the way to the orphanage.

HERE HE IS!!!!!!!!!

Look at that sweet face!

Loving on mommy...we were looking at his picture book.

He *loves* to be held.

Giving daddy a hug :)

First family picture....keeping the other 5 kiddoes in our hearts!  Wishing they were there.

Kalab (a sweet little 8 yr. old boy) was helping Abinet to figure out who was who.

Resting with mommy.

He took his own picture :)

This was the view from the Zebra Grill, where we ate lunch on the second day.

The Zebra Grill was VERY colorful.  The food was wonderful and there was toilet paper!

The homeless that were sleeping in the median of the road.

Some of the school children, in their uniforms.

New construction building and yes, the scaffolding was made out of wood :/

Traffic Laws?  NONE.  We saw one stoplight and one stop sign. Other than that, it was a game of chicken.

Denise and Eric Veal :)  Their daughter is at the same orphanage as our son.

Woudneh...could you not just eat him up!  Such a precious man and has a love and a passion for what he does.

This sweet young lady made our coffee in the Teapot Room.

The lady, above, gave me this flower in exchange for me taking our child to America and adopting her :(

Today was the day...they day that dreams are made of.  The day that I've held in my heart, since I was a child.  The day that we meet our son. WOW!  We all met in the restaurant, upstairs and ate breakfast (they do make fabulous omelets).  The conversation was light, the nerves and emotions were on the surface of all of us.  

Here comes Woudneh, ready to take us on our trip.  The Monks' left with their trusted driver.  They had anticipated spending the night in Nazret, where their boys are, but due to some unforeseen issues, they were not able to spend the night, but they did stay all day long and enjoy the company of those sweet boys. Yonas, our rockstar driver, loaded the rest of us up and off we went.  He spoke very little english, but he has such kind eyes and a sweet sweet smile.  He was an excellent driver!

We all tried to remain calm, not knowing how long our trip would be.  We tried to take pictures of what we saw and video, but we were all so uncertain of this crazy traffic, that it was quite mesmerizing.  2 lane roads turned into 3 or 4 lane roads....I could touch the people in the vehicles next to me.  The cheap gas, that was used, caused a lot of exhaust and the fumes made for very dry lips, mouth and lungs...we were all coughing and snotting throughout this whole trip.

The people lying in the median of the street....homeless...barely clothed...no food...no shelter.  It was humbling beyond belief.  If we stopped, for some reason, women with babies, children and elderly would come up to the window begging for food or money.  We weren't allowed to give them anything due to the strict laws forbidding it.  It was almost more than I could bear, having to turn them away.  At one point, not sure what day it was, I was looking out one side of the van, only to not notice this 8 yr. old boy, his mom and her baby standing outside of my window...politely waiting.  I turned and their appearance surprised me and I let out a bit of a squeal.  It scared them and me :)  I quickly apologized for frightening them, they were laughing at the mishap.  I couldn't let them go without food...I was picturing Boo looking to someone else for food and my heart was captured.  I gave them crackers, all I had, and before I knew it there was a flood of beggars surrounding the van.  It was so sad.  I just wanted to bring them all home and feed them all.

Those images will be forever etched in my mind.................