Thursday, October 15, 2009

AMIRA'S 6TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!






Amira had her 1st birthday with us. She turned 6......What a day... Just trying to get her to understand it was her birthday was not easy...still don't know if she got it. But she had alot of fun. We went to the apple farm and then had a donut cake with hot cider, and of course "presents". She got the "present" thing and loved all of them......Yes, she wore the sunglasses the whole night!

A little update...

From the bottom up.....The pictures start in Rome, go to Ethiopia, then to the day we met Mertalem (Amira) and the traditional Ethiopian dinner. It's been quite an ADVENTURE!........




PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


















Here are some pictures in order rigth up to the day we first met Mertalem (Amira). I thought they would be better than me babbling on and on......

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Hi ! Its been too long....But we are HOME with Amria!!!



Well we have been back for about 2 weeks....Praise God!! I will give a brief update since I'm not if I have the time or energy to go into it all.

It was a rough trip! Rome was great but expensive! we were there 3 days. We got to see the Vatican, B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!! And the Colossuem. I'll have pictures up later.

Ethiopia started out great, we got there on their New Year(2002). Wow! was that crazy! It was time to feast and there were goats everywhere, even some piles of skins on the side of the road with a man standing with a knife. Yikes... But the people are warm and friendly.

The Extremes are hard to get a handle on. I would see some people walking around in suits and dresses, others in regular clothes, and people in rags sitting by the road. everywhere you looked there was someone sleeping anywhere they could find, the medians in the roads, grasses areas, even just in the dirt. Under passes were like small communiites. There were people everywhere, walking, sitting or just standing.
The poverty is very real and extreme. It's hard to get past it or think of anything else. But the longer your there you begin to see that is was more of an issue for me than the Ethiopian people. We feel they are missing so much but are they really?(I'm not speaking of basic needs as food or clean water. All human should have that.) Everyone we talked to, who could speak English, ask how we liked Ethiopian culture, but never what's America like. Makes you think......

We got to worship in Ethiopia sunday, what an awesome experience. To realize your praying and worshiping around the world with another part of the Body of Christ was amazing. "T", who works for Awaa, played in the band and taught sunday school. He was Great, what a heart for the Lord. He learned all his English from cartoon network....lol...and he speaks perfect English. See cartoons are educational..lol..

Monday was the day!! We meet Mertalem(now Amira). It's hard to put into words the children, the transitional home and some of the conditions. Lets just say Amira had quite a few "issues". I will post more pictures as soon as I get them.

That night we had a traditional Ethiopian meal...YUM. Everyone seemed to like it. The food and entertainment was fabulous. They had dancers that seemed to peform stories as they danced. 2 hours later they were still going and they were fantastic.
It was quite a day!.......

Tuesday is when our troubles began, but it was also our "GOTCHA DAY", the day we got to get Amira and bring her back with us for good. Emotions were up, down and side ways.........What a whrilwind.........

Friday, September 4, 2009

ALMOST GONE.....

Well, It's only days till we leave. The craziness is on! We are still praying our new amended I-171H (immigration) will make it to the consulate in time. But we are almost packed, tight!. We have a full suitcase and some of ours full of donations for the orphange. I'm so excited to take them to the children.

My brain is on over load right now and I can't think..... so I'm hoping to be able to post when were there. Otherwise, we will have tons to share when we get home.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US AND OUR TRAVEL GROUP! We would appericate it.

Blessings.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

"ADOPTION" shower for MERTALEM......




It was an Amazing day! Family and friends were there and the weather was beautiful (the day before was cold and sprinkling). Alot of people stayed and hung out for most the day, it was great. We had it at my sister,Dawn's, house. Andy has a big pole barn that he let us use. We went for the "Green" theme, new or used we would love it. Mertalem got sooooo much stuff! It's exciting to think she will be coming home to her own things. She will leave the Transitional House with nothing. I'm sad for her because she will have nothing from her past. But she will have "a future and a hope." I believe God and His word. It has taken me 2 days to clean and put everything away. Praise God! He is good. Not long now and were coming to get you princess.