Day 6
Today we took the trip to Hosanna to meet Webitu's birth family. We woke up at 4am to take the Land Cruiser parade that would arrive at 5am. The staff has the day off on Sunday so we helped ourselves to some toast and jam and made PB & J sandwiches to take along (bring
lots of snacks for this trip if you travel soon). As you leave Addis the corrugated tin buildings fade and the tukkel (huts) come into view. The tukkels dot the beautiful mountainous landscape. As the sun rises you start to see families emerging from their homes with their livestock. Children age 6 or 7 driving donkey drawn carts (basically a piece of wood mounted on wheels). Children as young as 5 carrying their baby siblings on their backs. It was amazing and beautiful. All the chidren would stand on the side of the road and wave at us as we passed with huge smiles on their faces. Even men in their 20's would pose for pictures as you drove by.
Meeting Webitu's birthfather was heart wrenching and I will not be the same as long as I live. The people of Ethiopia dearly love their children but have been put in a horrible spot where they cannot feed the ones they most dearly love. To be put in the position to have to
make an adoption plan for a child to ensure that they do not starve is absolutely unimaginable in the US. I am ashamed of myself to doubting the intensity of the poverty here in Ethiopia. It is real, children really do die of starvation because the soils have eroded or there is not a good harvest because of drought. I will remember and teach all of my children about Ethiopia and its people as Webitu's father asked. May God bless him and his family in every language that exists.
Today we took the trip to Hosanna to meet Webitu's birth family. We woke up at 4am to take the Land Cruiser parade that would arrive at 5am. The staff has the day off on Sunday so we helped ourselves to some toast and jam and made PB & J sandwiches to take along (bring
lots of snacks for this trip if you travel soon). As you leave Addis the corrugated tin buildings fade and the tukkel (huts) come into view. The tukkels dot the beautiful mountainous landscape. As the sun rises you start to see families emerging from their homes with their livestock. Children age 6 or 7 driving donkey drawn carts (basically a piece of wood mounted on wheels). Children as young as 5 carrying their baby siblings on their backs. It was amazing and beautiful. All the chidren would stand on the side of the road and wave at us as we passed with huge smiles on their faces. Even men in their 20's would pose for pictures as you drove by.
Meeting Webitu's birthfather was heart wrenching and I will not be the same as long as I live. The people of Ethiopia dearly love their children but have been put in a horrible spot where they cannot feed the ones they most dearly love. To be put in the position to have to
make an adoption plan for a child to ensure that they do not starve is absolutely unimaginable in the US. I am ashamed of myself to doubting the intensity of the poverty here in Ethiopia. It is real, children really do die of starvation because the soils have eroded or there is not a good harvest because of drought. I will remember and teach all of my children about Ethiopia and its people as Webitu's father asked. May God bless him and his family in every language that exists.
3 comments:
Unknown said...
I am so glad that you are getting to learn a lot more about your little girl it will really help later on. I am also glad that God has been answering all of our prayers for you guys. Dave and I cannot wait to see you all home safe. We will continue to pray for you and the rest of your trip.
Sheila said...
Torrey and Kimberley,
Your journey is taking me on a journey of memories. I remember feeling so sad and sick to my stomach at Rachel's orphanage. So many beautiful babies needing their mommy and daddy....it was enough to rip your heart apart. The grief of these parents who are forced to give their child up by either the government (China) or poverty (Ethiopia) is unfathomable. Your opportunity to sit with, hold and love on them for even just a moment is such a blessing for both you and the children. We are continuing to lift you up in prayer.
Anonymous said...
Kimberly,
I can't tell you how incredible it is to sit here and watch God fulfill His promise to you. I can't wait to see you and meet your beautiful daughter.... the boys are doing great. We have just fired off an e-mail to you. Hopefully you can check it soon! We all send our love!!
Krista