Book - Page 8 & 9

 The first thing on our agenda was to meet Aiden Yohannes.  Fasika and Donny (Gladney’s social workers) came with us.  Donny was the social worker who had done all of Aiden’s background work.  They took us to Hilawe to meet Aiden.  Fasika told us about six times on the way over how extremely shy he was, that he sometimes even refused her.  He did cry and wanted his caregiver.  However, eventually, he let me hold him and I fed him a bowl of noodles.  He somewhat handed Ian a toy.  When we got back in the van, I was terrified Fasika would think it didn’t go well.  Instead she said, “That went better than I expected.”  Well, okay, then.  Due to the fact that we hadn’t officially adopted Aiden yet, we weren’t allowed to take pictures on this first visit.  

This is the restaurant where we ate lunch, Top View.  It was yummy – one of our favorites.

 Solomon, our driver, decided we should celebrate our visit with Aiden going so weel with his favorite drink – Macchiatos.  Everyone but Ian really liked them.  That’s saying a whole lot – even the smell of coffee makes me gag!

This is the outside of the Holy Trinity Church.  It is the highest ranking Orthodox cathedral in Addis.  We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside.  We had to take off our shoes before entering.  Alexa, as usual, was not wearing socks.  She knew it was disrespectful to not take off her shoes.  However, she tried to argue that having a dad or brother carry her around the cathedral would be fine.  Let’s just say she kept socks in her bag the rest of the week!