Our First Donation - It feels so good.

Today nothing much to write about.

We got picked up by Germetchew the orphanage driver at 10am African, so about 10:45am.  We met Elizabeth, the orphanage director at a local store to purchase some grocery items. 

As adoptions have been down lately and the fact that courts close in August and September, their food supply dwindles.  Candy, Rob, Karen & I pooled money our money together to be able to purchase $1200 ($22,470 birr) worth of groceries for the orphanage.  Elizabeth picked out what she knew that they needed. 

 

 

 

 

 

Karen & I want to thank our church Dundas St. United in Woodstock to be able to do this.  In the last four years, proceeds from dinners, concerts, bus trip to show in Toronto, personal donations and of course, Pies R Us helped raise $5700 towards our expenses.  We felt that the least we could do was tithe back to the orphanage.  Dundas we are so blessed to be part of this church and know you are all family.  God has worked in so many ways throughout our church with young and old.  We are all blessed to have one another with Christ being the center focus.

 

 

 

 

Once van was loaded we proceeded to the orphanage. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we pulled in we could see Ibssa before we got out of the van.  With the smile on his face and the sparkle in his eyes we knew he recognized us right away.  We unloaded all the groceries from the van before we got to give our new son his hugs and kisses.  We were able to play and spend about 45 minutes with Ibssa before it was lunch time and then a quiet time in their rooms.  During this time Elizabeth gave us a tour of the entire orphanage showing us each bedroom by their age bracket (0-6 months, 6-12 months, young boys, and young girls).  They had a nurses room, a baby food preparation room, kitchen, food storage room, classroom, and an office. 

Right next to the orphanage was a women’s training center that the orphanage started.  This center is to help mothers learn a skill, to support their children so they don’t have to put them in an orphanage.  This was amazing to see so many young women trying to create a life for themselves. 

 

Cooking, hairdressing, sewing and weaving were all trades they could learn.  Items created at this center would be sold to help support the orphanage and these women’s programs.  There was a wall of pictures of graduates from these programs some even with the traditional graduation gowns that many of us have seen our children wearing.  God is mighty and in the hearts of all the moms and staff throughout this orphanage.  

 

 

Once our tour was finished it was more time with Ibssa and Ephram (Candy & Rob’s baby).  Like the child I am, Ibssa and I are playing while Karen is giving Candy some new mom advice.  About half an hour goes by and then it’s time to leave.  A discussion ensues about when we should make the forever move from the orphanage.  The women (voice of emotion), of course, say tomorrow.  The men (voice of reason) say Thursday.  As both couples still need to purchase items that the boys are used to.  We got some of the details of what products they are used to; hair cleaning, skin lotion, baby formula, baby items, food and drink routines etc.  The ladies for a change agree with the men and Thursday is the day.  We will visit again tomorrow for a couple of hours.  We will return on Thursday and host a pizza party with all the kids and staff.  This seems to be a tradition that happens when children are leaving as a last goodbye.  We will get pizza, cake, cookies and soda for lunch and once that is over, the goodbyes will start.  I am sure this must be a strongly emotional time given that some of these children have grown up together.  Ibssa has already been there three and a half years.  The worst part will be for the mammies, feeling that the child they have raised is now leaving the only home he knew.  I pray for God’s blessings for all at the orphanage during this time and the days to follow.

As we loaded up - kisses, hugs, smiles and reassurance that we would return.  I am sure there is still holes in Ibssa’s heart everytime we leave.  He must be thinking of all the other non-Ethopian people that have come and gone but not taken him.  Thursday will be such a special day that we will never forget.

After the orphanage we returned to Afroland, Candy & Rob’s guesthouse.  We met up with another Canadian couple from Edmonton, Heather and Dave.  They already have a son and daughter but are there to adopt a 6 ½ yr old son.  They are going to court tomorrow, so we spent an hour with them getting to know each other and sharing experiences so far.

We loaded up again to go to the large supermarket which was more like ours at home.  It was kind of weird to have guards that checked your bags and did a quick body swipe before you went in.  Both women were rebels as they had water in their purses that they had to surrender.  After picking up some items we were done.  If you ever shopped with Karen, I was told we were done three times but the basket just kept getting heavier.  Now were done – nope they just brought in fresh bread and it’s still warm.  Ok now were done and the only reason I know this is we paid and are now standing outside.

On the way back to the guesthouse, our driver Marcus stops at a local shop, he ran in and bought us a loaf of Ethiopian bread.  It’s baked in banana leaves which it’s still wrapped in and the taste was delicious.  It kind of tasted like caraway seeds in it. Once we get out at guesthouse, Marcus yells down the street and a vendor runs up to us so we can buy pineapple.  For the ones that went to Uganda, they will remember how the pineapples were so much better than the ones we get a home.

Our day was now complete except for supper.  The whole group of us Canadians (8) walked three or four blocks in the rain to an Italian restaurant.  The food was Italian dishes but didn’t taste quite the same as home. 

Our day has now ended and again we feel exhausted as I write this blog.  We thank God for every minute and pray that he continues to bestow his blessings on us for our health, safety, family and friends.

Blessing and love to you all.