Return to Addis Ababa

We rose early once again to make the long journey back to our home away from home. Fortunately , we had changed rooms in the hotel and this morning we had lukewarm water to shower with. Yesterday our shower was ice cold! We loaded up the van and began what would be a 9 hour adventure back to Addis. It rained last night and made the already poor road conditions even worse. The dirt packed roads had HUGE and numerous pot holes and were now flooded with water. The van we travelled in was 4 wheel drive and made it through but it was a wild ride. I lasted 5 minutes in the back of the van before moving closer to the front. We were very happy to finally arrive in Ambo about 2 hours outside of Addis where we could stretch our legs, have a bathroom break, and grab a bite to eat. Along the way we did enjoy stopping occassionally and Tezerra treated us to some roasted corn or maize from one of the roadside vendors. The corn is just coming in and they are roasting it on little charcoal grills and selling it all over the country even here in the city, every 100 yards is another person roasting and selling corn. The traditional coffee ceremony is another thing that is done all over the country from the very poor to the wealthy, they enjoy this coffee ceremony while visiting with family and friends. Tezerra stopped on the roadside to buy 2 more coffee pots for the widows who like to offer coffee to their friends. Their current pot was so small they had to boil the water several times to make enough for their guests . So she was purchasing a bigger pot for them to use. These are clay pots that are made generally in the countryside and sold all over the country. We also stopped to purchase several bundles of sugar cane which Tezerra said she would prepare for us tomorrow. Evidently you chew on stalks of the sugar cane. It looks like bamboo. We tried to purchase a chicken for her to make the traditional Doro Wat which is a spicy chicken stew eaten all over the country but they were asking too much for the chicken. Tezerra is a tough negotiator .

I was sitting with Tezerra on the first bench seat in the van and she and I enjoyed sharing our
testimonies of how we came to Christ. What a blessing it has been to be with this sister in Christ. She has a great command of the scripture and even in broken English she enjoys teaching and sharing her faith and experiences. I was an eager listener.

We arrived back in Addis In the late afternoon today. We walked up to a local children’s store where we purchased a baby carrier to give as a gift to Tezerra tomorrow. She told us of the great need for the carriers to be able to transport the babies safely when needed to go to necessary appointments or moving them . Hopefully we can purchase more second hand once home at yard sales or consignment sales and send her more through families that will be traveling soon. There is also a need for baby wipes in addition to diapers and formula. Had we had the babies with us on this trip as planned we would be using toilet tissue with bar soap and bottled water to handle dirty diapers on this long journey. You can see how baby wipes would be a tremendous blessing!

Tonight we packed the diaper bag in preparation to go and pick up our daughter, our 4^th child . It was no less exciting than it was any other time . She would soon be joining her family for keeps!

We will leave at 8:30 am and head to the Thomas Center to pick her up. We then will make a 1 ½ - 2 hour road trip to Adama where we will visit the orphan and widows home where Sifan was from January until the first of May. The home in Adama was the first established by the YWAM ministry and the fulfillment of the dream God had given Tezerra. We are looking forward to our visit there. We will spend the day there and then make our way back to Addis where we will enjoy bonding with our daughter. We may have limited computer access again but will persist in trying to get word and pictures to you all. We cannot see the blog or your comments but please leave your comments as we will enjoy reading them once home and they will be a treasure for Sifan to read one day and know there were many who loved and prayed for her and her family as God was bringing them together. We know you are praying as we feel we have been given an extra measure of strength for the journey. Thank you for your continued prayers for her adjustment and her accepting us as the last stop on her difficult journey. We are thankful for all the love she has been given along the way and know that this love will prepare her for the love her forever family and friends will lavish on her in the days to come.

On this journey to Gimbie and back, I had a real sense of God’s presence. I know it is because THIS is where He said He would be…..with the least of these…..the lonely…the lost…the forsaken…..the forgotten…..BUT He has not forgotten…..He has not forsaken…..and He is MOVING on behalf of these little ones who have NO ONE else!!! Hallelujah! Our God Reigns!!

With great love for all of you , our family and friends ,