First two days in Addis

We arrived in Addis and were pleasantly surprised at the smooth arrival process. As we stood in line for immigration we couldn't help but notice all the beautiful people and gorgeous Muslim gowns, each embroidered and unique in their own way. Immigration was quick and we loved hearing the sound of our passport being stamped! After we waited over 30 mins for all our bags, we walked through the doors hoping to see staff from the guest home. We were delighted to immediately see our translator, Henock, it felt like we were seeing an old friend. He gave us a huge smile, big hug, and said "Welcome to Ethiopia."

As we drove through the city we took everything in immediately, the beautiful flowers in bloom, half built building, people socializing everywhere and then of course the unfortunate abundance of poverty. Our hearts ached for these beautiful people who struggle on a daily basis. We hope to be able to give back as much as possible while we are here in this incredible country. We would compare the drive in the city to the driving style in Jamaica, lots of honking, more cars than lanes...lets just say it was a ride in itself!

When we arrived at the guest home we were welcomed by all the wonderful staff! After we checked in and took a short nap we walked outside to enjoy the cool breeze. Soon we found ourselves in the street talking with all the local kids. They were eager to speak English, and show off their dancing skills to the Black Eye Peas! Pete played soccer with the boys for quite some time while Vivi took pictures. After the last game a group photo was taken, with the kids immediately rushing to see the picture completely knocking Vivi over, they all were fascinated with their picture! It was quit a funny and memorable moment.

We are staying at the guest home with our dear friend from Oregon who is waiting to return home. We have also met some other wonderful families. It is such a supportive and happy environment. We feel so blessed to be here! Our guest home is right across the street from an elementary school. We woke up this morning to the beautiful sunrise and the lovely sound of the nearby prayers from the Orthodox church it was so peaceful. Soon we could see all the children arriving at the school wearing their uniforms. Several waved up at us as we stood on our balcony. We loved hearing the children play and singing songs. It was a perfect way to start the morning!

Currently we are waiting for our ride to the orphanage where we will meet Baby M for the first time! We were hoping to go this morning, but we had to wait until we were approved to go. We can't wait to see those blue gates of the orphanage and those beautiful big eyes staring at us.

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” ~ Haile Selassie