Random Thoughts on Africa

I feel like a pingpong ball - my thoughts going from place to place. Yesterday, I read back over my journal entries of the past few days and they are the most ADD entries I have ever seen. Hopefully, ten years from now, my brain will be able to keep up! We have been all over. We have a wonderful, kind, knowledgable driver that has taken us all over the city.

On Thursday we went to the National Museum and met "Lucy" - proof that evolution exists. Ian was flabbergasted that people would believe such and wanted to leave immediately. He is so his father's child. On Friday, as you know, we went to court and then to see Yohannes. That was about all I could take that day! On Saturday we had planned to go to a nearby lake but our guest house was hosting a fundraiser for Oneisimus - a program working to get the 100,000 street children off the street.

We are going Wednesday to volunteer in their drop-off center for the day. We are super excited about that opportunity. Several of the kids that are further in their program came to meet us and give their testimony. It was neat for my kids to have the interaction. Several of them kept kissing Ian. Saturday was also the Ethiopian / Nigerian soccer game. Owen and Ryan piled in with everyone here to watch the game. It was a fun experience.

On Sunday we went to church. We went to an Evangelical Church. The service was similar to home - just the congregation was different. The sermon was on "The Older Son" from Luke when the Prodigal, younger son came home. It hit me during that service that by exposing my children to Africa at such a young age, I have to be prepared if/when they fall in love with the African culture and leave me. It was a humbling thought - made me question could/would I be happy for them; short-term - yes, long-term - no. Yet if God called them here, who am I to stop them?

Sunday after church we went to lunch and then to the top of the mountain (I cannot remember the name - I'll post that when I post pictures). Then we went to a cultural dinner. Alexa decided she would like to have an authentic dress (remember that love thing I was talking about) to wear so after the mountain our driver took us to a market to get her a dress. I have no words to describe that experience. Let's just say Solomon's tip at the end of the week went up significantly! The cultural dinner was fun. We are discovering that we do not love the traditional Ethiopian foods. A lot of the textures are interesting to our palate. We all gave it a go - Ian ate cow intestine! There were dancers and music. It was a lot of fun.

Today (Monday) we went to visit Yohannes. Ryan wanted to take some toys to make us look more friendly. We stopped at a supermarket to get a few rattles. I have to admit, it did help. We used them to play with him but will leave them there for everyone to enjoy after we leave. Today was better, he didn't cry when he saw me. You could tell he would still prefer the caregivers but he looked more curious than scared. When I walked into his room another child started screaming at the top of his lungs. I really try not to be scary. :)

After a good visit with Yohannes, in which everyone got to hold him, we went to another private orphanage. It is very similar to the orphanage Yohannes is in. They served us cookies and soda, took us on a tour of all the rooms. There was a little boy in the special needs room - he was deaf- that took a serious liking to Owen. He had his little legs wrapped around Owen's waist so tightly. Owen had to just carry him around.

Tomorrow we are going to a government orphanage. They had told us we were going to 4 but our director said that since we (the agency) don't give as much money - foreigners are not as welcome. He was going to call and talk to the directors and then decide tomorrow where we will go. I am very appreciative that everyone is taking such special considerations of how things will affect my children. 

After the orphanage, we went to lunch with another couple from Texas that we have met that have their court date tomorrow. Their son will be their fourth child. They have one other child adopted from Nigeria. After lunch we went to the Lion's zoo. As soon as I am able to post pictures you will see it is not a zoo like you have ever seen. One lion was in a cage over by himself and we were told he was over there because last month he mauled (our driver said ate) a guard. He was a huge lion. We didn't loiter there long!

Now we are back at our guest house just taking a break. We've been going to bed around 10 pm because the mosque next door wakes us (Ian - which might as well be everyone) at 5 am. This morning, finally 5 days after being here, he finally slept through it. Hopefully, he will for the rest of the week.