A Final Farewell

It is with great emotion that I write this final post from Ethiopia. The last couple days I have been longing to be home with family and friends and yet I know all too well this lump in the throat feeling of helping my daughter say goodbye to the people who have loved her so dearly and the land of her birth. Our daughter has had many homes while here in Ethiopia, and I am truly amazed at the depth of love she received in each one. Her first home with her mother where she was fed at the breast for almost 6 months , and then her home with an American missionary who loved her as her own for over 4 months, and then at the YWAM home in Gimbi for close to 3 months where the nannies adored her, The YWAM home in Adama with Tezerra close by where she was showered with love from the other orphans and widows for close to 4 months, and then the last month at the Thomas center. I first saw this as merely a technicality, a place she must stay until we come to pick her up. After meeting Abdissa and his wife and the staff at the Thomas center, I now know the incredible affection she was shown during her short time here. This is not just a job for them but a life work God has called them to and they give their ALL.Yesterday began quietly as we got ready for the day and decided we would do a little more
shopping. Little did we know our shopping trip would turn in to such an adventure! Battle had
seen a CNN news report before leaving America about an entrepreneur in Ethiopia who had
started a business where she employed women from a local leper community to do the work.
They make shoes all from recycled materials and sell them around the world. The soles are
made from old car tires and the fabrics for the top are Ethiopian fabrics. The name of the
company is Sole Rebels. We decided that we would like to try to find her business and buy
some shoes for souvenirs. Tsebay decided to help us in our endeavor , so we hired a driver and
drove to the area of the city where the leper hospital is. Tsebay got out and inquired outside
a few local businesses until she found someone that knew the brother of the lady that owned
the business. A little while later we were driving up to the gate of the house where they run the
shoe operation. The brother came out and said his sister was not there and that we needed an
appointment. We explained that we would have gladly made one but had no telephone number
and we were leaving the country tomorrow. As it turns out, he went and picked up his sister and
brought her back to meet with us. We toured the shoe operation and watched as each step
was handmade by the local Ethiopian people. We had not taken a camera or video and I don’t
think they would have allowed pictures anyway, but what a neat opportunity! A little while later
we were walking out with our new Sole Rebel shoes and a lot less cash! They were much more
expensive than we thought but a neat memory!

We returned to the guest house after our little adventure to let Corrie Sifan get in a little nap
before the farewell party at the Thomas Center later that evening. We stopped to pick up the
other YWAM family at the Sheraton . They had been in Adama for the day. We got to say a last
goodbye to Tezerra as she had returned with their driver to visit family here in Addis. Soon we
arrived at the Thomas Center where we were greeted by the children dancing and singing to the
guitar and electric keyboard.
We could tell they were singing praise music as we recognized the Amharic word for “ Lord”. Oh what a thrill it was to see and hear these orphans singing praises to their Lord and King! ….their comforter, defender…and friend.

After the singing, Pastor Abdissa gave us a sermon message on always speaking words of
cheer, comfort, compassion, and Christian love. He was thanking us for making the sacrifices
necessary to love these children as our own in a nurturing forever family environment and telling us what a blessing we were to he and them. We received his kind words graciously but All I could think was, WE are the ones who have been blessed! I am reminded of the t-shirt I saw
that said “ I need Africa more than Africa needs me” Oh how true!

After he spoke, we cut a huge circular loaf of bread that we all enjoyed together along with
some popcorn , cookies, and roasted barley. They then presented each of us with gifts, along with ones for our children at home as well. Our gifts were traditional Ethiopian shirts and a dress for Sifan. We wore these over our clothes and took some pictures. We said our final goodbyes to the children and then headed to an Ethiopian cultural restaurant where we would eat traditional Ethiopian style. The restaurant was uniquely decorated to represent all the different areas of Ethiopia. They had traditional Ethiopian dancers and singers entertaining us throughout dinner. Corrie Sifan already has a love for music and we had great fun watching her clap and move to the rhythm. She also enjoys food! She ate her fill of the injera with spinach, ground beef and cabbage! I must say her diaper was a doozy this morning!

So yes, now I must turn my heart toward home, Looking forward to ALL that lies ahead for
Corrie Sifan Rose and our family. But not forgetting where she is from and the love that was
so freely lavished upon her here. We give All thanks and praise to our AMAZING, ALMIGHTY
GOD! To HIM be the glory…forever and ever!!!
To all our family and friends….this is our last post from Ethiopia…we CAN’T WAIT to see you
stateside!!!

We love you!!!