Another Day in Africa - Posted Wedneday, March 10th

Last night we went out to dinner with a pastor who has a church here in Addis Ababa. His name is Endris and he is a kind, intelligent, and interesting man. We went to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant and the food was great. Endris ordered for us and it came on one large plate. The plate is lined with injera bread and has extra rolls of injera to tear and eat your food with. Because you eat with your hands, there is a hand-washing ceremony performed by women in traditional Ethiopian dress. The restaurant was very dark and mainly lit with candles. The chairs and tables were very low to the ground (I accidentally sat on a table- oops). We talked theology and global politics. He loves Ethiopia and he loves God. He asked us to see our daughter as a symbol of hope for Ethiopia and to pray about what God would have us do to help the efforts for change and the advancement of the evangelical church here. He also asked Matt to preach at his church this Sunday, which is really cool. I want to tape it for Annie.

Annie slept really well last night. She's been having some stomach issues though and isn't eating well today. She just had her bath and bottle and fell asleep. She really doesn't like riding in the car but who can blame her? There are no seatbelts or car seats in Ethiopia so she has to ride on my lap and a lot of the roads aren't paved and are super rocky and bumpy.

Today we visited the big kids' house at Hope Orphanage. There are 98 children there from three years up. We stopped at the market to buy some suckers and chocolate to hand out. Apparently candy is a luxury here because it came to $50 for maybe $20 worth of candy. When we arrived there was a group of three and four year olds singing and playing games in the courtyard. They were just beautiful. The children are very well cared for but they are all at an age where they know they are missing a family. I cried at one point when we walked over to the group and the children's faces lit up and they said, "Mama! Abbi!" to us. They desperately want parents and they think every new couple who visits just might be coming for them. Hopefully we will be able to come back for more someday.

The women at the orphanage held a coffee cermemony for us. They eat popcorn with strong coffee and prepare it all in front of you in the traditional way. It was fun. A little girl wandered in who looked to be three and rested her head on my leg. She told me all sorts of interesting things in Amharic and I smiled and nodded and held her little hand. Thankfully her adoptive parents are coming soon.

Tomorrow is the big day at the embassy. We have to be present at one o'clock. It only takes 15 minutes or so but we've been told to expect to wait for four hours before we actually get in. Another couple adopting a 5 year old boy that we met asked us to go out to a popular restaurant tonight but our driver said, "No, embassy appointment tomorrow. Tonight you pray. Tomorrow night you celebrate." Makes sense. So we ordered room service and hope to be celebrating tomorrow!