Day Three in Ethiopia

It is amazing that I have already forgotten details about our trip.  Yet, there are some things that will always be etched in my memory forever, such as the birth family meetings that we had and certain beggars that we encountered as well as mothers with babies on their back, begging!  

On Wednesday we went to Embassy for our visa interview since all of our documents had arrived!!  The interesting part, is that when our agency was informed that our documents were in Addis Ababa and that we could also proceed with our Wednesday morning visa appointment, they also mentioned that Bereket's medical was going to expire on the 28th (Saturday).  The medical exam has to be current when you go through customs for when we arrive to the US, or they would not let him in!  The Embassy was suggesting that we change our tickets to leave a day earlier, but Cade and I did not want to pay the fees to change our tickets if it was not necessary, so after looking over our travel itinerary,  we informed them that we would leave on schedule and take the risk.  The truth is, that we still had an extra 24 hours after arriving into Portland, OR, but it was just another piece in the game that we had to think about to make sure it was played right!!  The visa interview went very well and very quickly!!  It was a relief and with great happiness that we left Embassy!!  I had my own uncertainties about even going to the US Embassy after all we have been through!!!!!

We had Bereket's birth father's meeting that day.  Once again, it was such an emotional meeting.  Saying, "Thank you!" did not seem enough!!  Bereket's birth father traveled 2 days to make it to Addis Ababa to meet us.  We were told that he was very anxious to meet us.  See, he was the one that had been badly mistreated by the investigator hired by Embassy and lied to!!  Yet, even with all the doubts I had about the love he had for his child, his true colors showed that he did indeed love his son very much!!!  Apparently, after the trouble with the investigator and then being told that Bereket already had a family in the US, Bereket's birth father was calling the in-country agency asking if things were going to work out for his son to be adopted by his American family.  He was very worried that things would not work out and that Bereket would be unable to leave the orphanage (rightly so).  Bereket's birth father absolutely beamed with happiness at our meeting!!  It touches me every time I think of it.  I know what it is like to lose a daughter, but it was not my choice.  I try to comprehend what it would be like for Eden's aunt and Bereket's birth family to choose to give them up because they love them that deeply and want more for their lives!!!!  I don't think I will ever be able to fully comprehend it, but these experiences to do help me to appreciate our Heavenly Father's sacrifice in giving up his ONLY son!!

Our afternoon was again spent by taking naps and then spending it at the guest house, just getting to know our new son and being with other families there!

 This was our room at the guest house and Bereket was climbing off of the bed so he could run around!  I used the sling for him part of the time we were there when we went out and he was fine with it, but maybe getting a little tall for it!!

                                                                 
                                   Father and son! - going out of the front door of the guest house.

Weygoss Guest House.  We stayed on the top floor, so we got a lot of exercise going up and down the stairs and because of the elevation change, I was always winded!

                           
                           There were many flowers blooming.  They just ended their rainy season.

         
                                            Can't have too many father / son pictures, right?!!

     
                             What a cutie!!  "Another picture, Mom?!!  You've got to be kidding!!"

                                               This special picture will always be cherished.

                                                             
                                                                Family from Canada.

 This is the Sheraton, where we exchanged money one of the times.  It was like stepping into a land of paradise, after being on the streets of Ethiopia!!  Those are hydrangea bushes blooming - very pretty!

..and back to the streets of Ethiopia

 

 

                                                                  Notice the sign below: