Update from Matt and Amanda in Ethiopia

Our Amazing Adventure!
We left home at 1:00 PM July 5th, 2007. It was so hard for me to leave our children. They will be fine and are in the best possible care - with loving grandparents. We are so thankful for the blessing of our parents. Leaving made me very sad and my heart felt a great degree of sacrifice and sadness at leaving our three children. On the drive to Billings I was picturing Jesus telling the story of the Shepherd leaving the 99 to go rescue the one. It must have been hard to leave the sheep but the Shepherd knew the value of the one that could not make his way to him alone. Matthew and I have only been away from our children one night before. We believe God to be with them and care for them. We are forever thankful to our moms and especially for all the care and love they have for the children. We know they will have so much fun and that we will miss them more then they miss us we are sure. Our flight from Billings to Denver was 3 hrs because we had to do a holding pattern in Wyoming for 2 long hrs being told the Denver Air Port was closed due to weather! We landed in Cheyenne for fuel and waited to get clearance. When we landed we found that the Denver airport had not been closed and it had not rained. United was just very behind and the airline did not want to help any us and wanted it to be weather related delays. (We had also left Billings 45 min late with mechanical problems) With lots of talking and calls to our travel agent we found the only possible way to be in DC by 7:00 AM was to fly on Horizon to Las Vegas. The airline did not think they could get us to DC for two days! We were thankful for our travel agent finding a flight for us. So, we flew all night. We actually had a very nice time just being together and it was fun to see the lights of Las Vegas. The flight to DC was five hrs. It felt like a honeymoon for us to just have so much quality time together. We were both so full of joy and excited about our baby waiting for us in Ethiopia. At the gate for our Ethiopian flight we made friends with a couple from South Africa with three children. Their baby was 5 days older then Hadassah so I loved holding and loving on him. Nathanial is 15 lbs. - our baby is only 7 lbs! They are passionately in love with our Lord Jesus and we talked a few hrs. Matt and London really hit it off. He told me when Matt went to the rest room that I have a precious man for my husband with a very pure heart for the Lord and that was such a good thing. The flight was amazing. 300 people, Africans and American all together for sixteen hrs. As we made friends on the flight we were so blessed by all the amazing things that were planned while in Africa. Many wonderful people going home to see family they had not see in years. It was so humbling to hear their stories of sacrifice to make a better life to help their families still and Africa. Many people had not been home in four to five years. There were four mission teams from churches going to three different counties. A Young Life group, full of amazing people, were going to do A Young Life camp for two weeks in Malawi. There were several families adopting children on our flight. There were 2 from our agency and a few from different agencies. A large group of doctors and nurses who were taking 45,000 doses of a medicine that would rid people of Malaria. The most amazing conversation was with a priest from New York City and a priest from Uganda who are going to Rwanda to minister in the prisons. They have been invited by the government to come and share the forgiveness of Christ on the cross. I was so blessed by the depth and love for Jesus from these men as they shared about the massacre that took place there and their heart for both tribes and how they planned to share with these men who are captives of the shame and guilt of unspeakable actions. We learned so much about so many people’s lives. Everyone just walked around and visited with each other. Matt and I were both so in awe of the experience we had on our flight! We sat in same row as a wonderful couple from Iowa who also have three children and are adopting with our agency. We became friends quickly and really enjoyed Lane and Taywna. Our flight was long but truly inspiring and we have NEVER been on a flight with so many wonderful people that love Jesus with such demonstrative action- their lives! ETHIOPIA AT LAST!!! We landed at 8:30 AM. The smell as we got off the plane was so strong and familiar. It reminded us of China. The air port was like a movie, it was very basic and people from all over Africa were waiting for flights. People were lying all over the floor and bags everywhere. We went through three stop points and then attempted to get our luggage. Ours sadly did not come with the crazy flight we had in the US. We were so disappointed, but had to let it go because we were going to meet our baby girl next and for her was why we had come. The sights on the drive to the care center were similar to other 3rd world counties we had been in, but so much more intense. The smell, the noises and the conditions - people, children, babies living in such horrible conditions. It is unbelievable how they survive! The filth was like nothing I could have imagined. Animals were everywhere! We are staying in a part of the city where many African countries have their embassy’s. It is most dirt roads with a few paved randomly. We went to the office first where we ere given a warm greeting. We were with two other families from our flight. A women named Hannah gave us an envelope and said read this please and then you can go and meet your daughter. She has been waiting for her mommy and daddy. I opened it up and on the front of a large bundle of papers was the most beautiful baby printed with our agency letter head. I smiled and said she is so beautiful. (We truly thought it was just a picture of a baby on the cover of the info-they always pick the cutest children for promo info) The lady smiled and said that is your Zafua! I just started to cry! I was so overwhelmed. The packet was full of the most amazing pictures of her at the care center as well as info about her life there. The nannies clearly are in love with her and her beauty is so sweetly described like “rose bud lips.” After reading about her and seeing her photos we then went to the care center. We were all taken to an empty room. The magnitude of the moment was hitting us. Time was standing still and then our beautiful little girl social worker came and said Zafua is wanting to see her mommy and daddy - please come. We walked to her building with the staff watching and videoing us. We went up one flight of stairs to baby room Mussie B. Matthew saw her first and smiled at her. She lit up with the most amazing smile as she looked at us and began to coo and lift her little tiny arms. Matt held her and she smiled and looked at me. She reached her arm to me and I took her little hand. She is like a new born. Her hands are so delicate and beautiful. I held her and she gave me little open mouth kisses on my neck. She cooed and smiled. It was the most amazing joy filled moment. This baby has been grafted to our hearts by the power of our Father God and we all had a bond and connection that had been prepared by the Holy Spirit. Matt and I were both amazed by her look of recognition. It was like she new us and was so happy to see us. Her way is so sweet and gentle. She is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! We knew she was, but she is even more then we imagined. Our meeting was precious and we will forever treasure the moment we meet our gift from the Lord- Hadassah Zafua. Our second meeting After meeting the babies we were taken the preschool where our friends Lane and Twaya meet there little four-year old boy. As the van pulled up, little toddlers and preschoolers came running and yelling, “mommy – daddy”. It was amazing to watch the Henns meet their little boy and his excitement. As we got out, children we all reaching up to us saying “mommy – daddy” with such hope. I could hardly stand it. We held two at a time and they would kiss us and sing us “Yes, Jesus loves me.” We asked if they had families coming and some did and some did not. We played with the kids there about 45 min. Leaving was hard. They did not want to let go and some cried. These precious ones need families. We felt like we wanted to take them all. It was amazing to see them, and yet pulled at our hearts because we were not their parents as they hoped. We were then taken to our guest home where we ate a yummy meal with seven other families. We enjoyed getting to know them. We then were all blessed to go back and see our children again. It was so wonderful to see our little one again. She was lying in her crib. When she caught our eyes she smiled the most beautiful smile that filled our hearts with amazing joy. Hadassah kicked her little skinny legs and lifted her arms wanting to be picked up. She snuggled into me and was opening her mouth like a baby does when they want to nurse. I offered her my breast and she looked up and smiled at me! She then latched on perfectly! She looked up at me the whole time and if I looked away for a second to say something to the Nanny or Matt she would stop. So I focused completely on her and talked softly to her. I felt the same gentle feeling go through me the first time I nursed Remi and Cecilia when they were just born. It was amazing. While she nursed she held Matt’s finger. She nursed on both sides. Matt burped her and rubbed her back. She snuggled into him and fell asleep. It was perfect. How could we ask for more! It is amazing! When one of us holds her she always looks to find who is not holding her and reaches, so we hold her so the other can hold her hand or touche her. It is like she knows we are both her parents and she wants us both. Matt is so great with her as he is with all of our children. She just thinks he is so funny and smiles and coos for him. We are in love!!! It was hard to leave her there. They want the transition to be gradual and she comes in to our care fully on Wednesday. We are going to ask since she is so little if she can come Monday. The trip South We woke up at 3:30 AM. Each family got their own Land Cruiser and we were off to see the area our children were born. It was dark as we left the city but people were everywhere. They were in white shawls walking. Our driver told us they were going to the Orthodox church because it was Sunday. The stores open at 4:00 AM here. We passed a little shop where they were butchering an Ox and selling the meat. It is the beginning of rainy season here and it was raining hard. As the sun came up, we began to see the beauty of this country. The landscape is beautiful The rolling hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, and vegetation remind us a little of Hawaii. The families live in round mud huts and are farmers. There were children everywhere! People and animals are all over the roads. It was so amazing to see children alone, just playing on the road in pouring rain with little or no clothes. After it rained, the water flowing through ditches was so muddy and people were bathing in, washing clothes, and drinking it. We were also really excited because we got see two large baboons!!! The drive was just incredible. There are so many beautiful children!!! Ethiopia is a nation of children! We saw very few old people. Our driver is two years younger then us and all four of his grandparents have been dead for years. People die so young her. Out driver told us he almost died twice last year from Malaria and Yellow Fever. There is so much sickness. WE WERE TOLD 40% OF CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA WILL DIE BEFORE THE AGE OF 5! That was so heartbreaking to hear as we watched precious children play along the road. They would dance, wave, and blow kisses to us. It is not right these children are living and dying like this. I have never cried so much as I have in the last 48 hours. I continually have a lump in my throat and fight back tears. I smile because I want them so much to see the love of Jesus in me and I know his heart breaks more then I can possibly feel. We both feel God’s presence here with us so sweetly. We went through several little villages and all the people line the roads to see the “foreigners” pass through. Ethiopians are the MOST BEAUTIFUL people in the world! Every one of them is amazing. The girls especially are gorgeous! There skin is caramel brown with the most striking features. They are all so friendly and wave at us and smile. It is so humbling to see the loads they carry over gravel with bare feet. They use big banana leaves to cover their heads from the rain. As we came to Hosanna, the town of 300,000 where our little Zafua was brought to the CHSF care center, the poverty was so intense. It was so filthy and no order. There were really not even roads, but just a path with muddy ruts. Children were all over. I saw so few adults. They were in the rain and looked so cold. I was amazed to see babies on so many children’s backs with little ones all around. We went to the office of CHSF Hosanna first. That is where Maiwos (Matthew) the police officer brought Zafua. There were several children to greet us with hugs and I was kissing them all when we got out of the car. They would fight to get to you and to get a kiss. They were so cold and they were shaking and teeth chattering. I could hardly stand it. I wanted to give them all blankets and hold them. I wanted to really take them all home and give them a FAMILY! That is what they need. We were told many of them are orphans. We were told that Ethiopia’s reputation in Africa is ‘a nation of orphans’. They say there are between 4-7 million orphans. The children meeting us were the same ones that we had brought a zip lock for with flip flops, shirt, shorts, underwear, snacks, and a picture of Jesus blessing the children. We were both sick we did not have our things. All we had to share was from our carry on and that was almonds, peanuts, and little snickers. They went a little crazy when we gave what we had to them and were attacking us for more. It was hard to even stand. I also was only wearing flip flops that I wore for our flight because my shoes were in my lost suitcase. It was so muddy and my feet were sinking in the mud as the children hung on me. I could not complain about my cold muddy feet when these children live this way. I made my way very slowly to the gate. The children would not let go of me. Our driver had to pull them off of me. Oh, how can a person take all this in…? Matt is amazing! He smiles and plays with them, gives them five, and makes them smile. I love my husband so much. Inside the CHSF office compound it was so peaceful. They had painted on a rock “Jesus is LOVE.” Scripture verses were painted on the walls in Arahmaic. Families were there to meet the family they had trusted to raise their children. We saw girls that looked no older then 15 there to meet adoptive families. One man there with his daughter has 16 children and 2 wives! We talked with the staff and they are the most beautiful loving people. They just have the love and tender heart of Jesus alive in them. What a ministry! (Our US agency that funds this is NOT Christian in any way, but the Ethiopians who run the program are.) One told us “if you say you love Jesus and do nothing you don’t truly love him. We have to love with what we do and not what we say. You love Jesus and so you came for his child. Now you have Zafua - a very special baby!” This man who said this to us is living it. He was a reporter in Addis and moved to this poverty-stricken place to help unit children with families. We also met with a wonderful man that reminds me of my uncle Jeff. He is so tender, tall and strong. His name is Johanas (John). He is the director of the project. He told us they sent word to the policeman in the village where Zafua was found to come Sunday AM and meet us. He said he knows that the police officers - Maiwos Telkidan - and the witnesses all wanted to come but he was worried the rain had made it impossible. I was so sad, and I tried not to cry. He told us that she is from a very small village 60 kilometers away on a very bad road that is hard for cars in the dry season and then a two hour walk to the village. HE thought the road had washed out. My heart breaks at the hardship and suffering of the people here. We wanted to be able to meet them. We felt sad for them. How disappointing to know the rain had made it impossible. They knew we were there only that Sunday and could not come. I just called out to God for his grace. We were so sad and disappointed also. Our darling Zafua is amazing. She is a SURVIVER!!! The fact she lived being found in the woods is amazing. They said when they found her she was wrapped in clothes of many colors. We were told that the potter Telkidan and his family kept her eight days. He did not know of anyone to care for her. Their family had to trade another family some thing of their own for cow’s milk to feed her. She is from the Hadero tribe. The village is very small and poor. He did not even know of adoption. He had a friend Matiwos (I do not know if he is from Hadero or not) who was a policeman who told Telkidan he would carry the baby to Hosanna to find help for her. He walked two hours caring our baby and then found a ride to Hosanna. In the mess of Hosanna he found someone who told him about the Care Center. Our little Zafua was brought by such a loving man that would not let her die and set out on what they said was a very far and sacrificial journey for him to take her to Hosanna. We see God’s love and hand in her life so clearly. Johanas told me she is from a beautiful area where they grow lots of ginger and coffee. I smiled and said I would make her ginger cookies when she is little and teach her to make them and tell her of her Hedero people. He left and came back and opened my hand and placed a small piece of ginger in it and then squeezed it closed with tears in his eyes. I just cried… He hugged me and said a blessing over me. They did an entrustment ceremony were birth families stood on one side and adoptive on the other. The birth family lit a candle and then walked to the adoptive family and gave it to them and said a blessing over them. Oh it was so powerful!!! One of the staff brought us a candle representing Zafua’s life and trusting us to care for her and teach her about Jesus. Our friends are adopting two little boys and they had an incredible time with the parents. It was so emotional for them all. The Holy Spirit was hovering in the room as we prayed. Lane, from our group, prayed the most passionate beautiful prayer for the Ethiopian families and then the birth father of their sons prayed for all the families. It was long and full of passion and love. The Ethiopian mothers were on their knees crying and had their hands reached to heaven or over their heads. It was one the most sacred experiences of our lives… When we left the center there were sixty to seventy children there waiting for us. The other families ran to their cars and were gone. We stayed with the kids for awhile. I again kissed and blessed as many as I could. I would just speak blessings over them and touch them. There little checks were so dirty, but I could not let that stop me from touching them. They responded to the kiss and touch with such joy and would give me huge hugs in return. We got to our car and Matt got out the almonds. What happened next is a blur. The kids got so out of control they were grabbing Matt and pulling on him so roughly. They were trying to get the almonds from him. The kids on the outside of the circle were fighting each other to get closer to Matt. The driver told Matt to give him the almonds and he would give them to the kids. The kids were beside themselves. They are so hungry and cold. It was hard to leave. Matt bought a pot for milk from a man at the window and as he went to pay, he grabbed the money from his hand, and two other boys started beating him up for the money. We had wanted to give these kids the zip locks full of stuff but we realized while we were there we did not have enough and it would have caused huge problems among the children who were fighting each other to survive. It was very grieving. We smiled and gave what we had and then had to go… We next were taken to the small orphanage where Zafua spent the first 4 weeks of her life. It was very simple. It was almost bare of furniture and no toys. We meet the sweet young girl that cared for Zafua and was so happy to see us and hugged us and told me so much, and I wished I could have understood more. The kids were again waiting for us outside. We gave them hugs and had to go. We both felt so helpless to not do more for them. Our drive back to Addis was amazing as the sun was shinning and no rain. We stopped at a mud hut to visit a family. They were so gracious. They wanted us to sit and eat corn with them. They had six children. I gave them all two mini snickers bars that had fallen out during the wild frenzy of giving them to the kids in Hosanna. I was so happy I had something to give them. Matt gave the father money. There home was a dirt floor with a fire in the middle of the hut. The mom had made it nice for our coming. It was very special to be in their home. We kissed all the kids and they just hugged and held on to us. Our driver also stopped at an ancient cemetery of kings and warriers. They had engraved swords on 12 feet tall rocks. He said it was 800 years old. We bought a hat for Dominic from a little boy who was five and who handmade them from things in the fields. The village kids came and did their tribal dace for us. It was AWESOME!!! I could not stop smiling! They are so cute and really know how to move. One little boy looked like MC Hammer with his moves! It was so swampy where we were walking and my feet were cover in mud and cow dung. A little girl who Matt had given his water bottle to came and washed my feet with muddy water. I tried to stop her but she insisted and rubbed the mud off my feet. They are so sweet. I found a few things to give them and they were thrilled. It was market day so people were everywhere as we passed through village after village. Seeing our daughter again!We were so excited to see Zafua. Matt was with our driver doing some things, so I went alone. The nanny was not expecting us to come Sunday. When I peeked in she was laying over Zafua with the tape player we sent on. The nanny was repeating to her everything I said on the tape. It was such an amazing blessing to watch. I said hello softly and the nanny, whom I had not yet meet, came running to me and threw her arms around me and said “I love you, you very good mother. I so happy you come for Zafua. Everyday we listen to you and I pray with you for baby Zafua. I love all your other babies- they so beautiful, Zafua look at pictures every day. She stroked my cheek as she talked to me. OK, so I was crying yet once again. Her name is Salem which means “Peace.” I had prayed over and over that Zafua would be the apple of someone’s eyes and God had heard, and it was through Salem-Peace. Zafua was so smiley and responsive to see me. She just snuggles her little body into me. She nursed again and this really made Salem happy, she would say over and over “you good mother, God heard my prayers for Zafua.” She had been taken good care of and loved. Matt came to visit and that was wonderful. His smile is amazing which triggers her amazing smile and my heart just overflows with JOY! We left, had dinner and came back to feed her after dinner. She nursed to sleep. It was so hard to leave. We broke the rules and walked home in the dark. I was very scared. It is about eight (what I would call blocks) away. I held on tightly to Matt and we prayed. I was stepping in human waste and mud and slipping all over. It was hard to keep my flip flops on. The smell outside when it rains is awful because people and dogs go to the bathroom anywhere and everywhere. I was so thankful to be home and slathered my feet in antibacterial soap and said a lot of prayers. I have never wanted shoes so badly. If our suit case does not come I am going to buy shoes. I now can relate with the people in a new way. Monday Matt went to the airport to see if our bags came and pick up another family. I went to orientation which was wonderful. The women talking asked Tawya and I at the end if we were Christian and oh yes that started a wonderful conversation. She said please, please tell other Believers about our children. That is what we sit at this table and pray for every day. Money and education is not what we pray for. We pray for parents who will train them in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful program here and so many amazing people are working here for the children. There faith and love is so real and beautiful. I then went to see Zafua. She is wonderful and is always so happy to see us. I had a wonderful time holding her, nursing her, and playing with her. We went visiting to all the other rooms in the center. There are at least 70 babies there. I think Zafua is the smallest and I have to say as her mommy the most beautiful. They really all are amazingly beautiful! I held Zafua over them and talked to them. She loved it and so did they. They are all so sweet and just lie there looking around waiting to be talked to and picked up. The one year old room is really fun! The toddlers are so cute and it was so sweet to see them all lined up on 15 potties just talking to each other and doing their job. This is a very special place with LOTS OF LOVE! Back at the guest house I waited and ate with friends hoping our luggage would be there for Matt. He walked in with a huge smile and I said “thank you GOD.” One family last week waited five days to get there bags. We wanted our things to give so much! We then went shopping which was a disaster. The driver did not understand we wanted to buy blankets and supplies for the sponsored families. He took us down town to these little store fronts that were selling imported clothes and shoes. We were so pressured buy the men inside. They would not take no for an answer and stood in front of the door so we could not get out. Matt did not want to buy anything there, but I wanted to just get something and GO. We bought a shirt for 10 dollars US to give away. The driver called his friend who speaks English. We told him what we wanted and the driver then took us to the most incredible market. It was unbelievable!!! People everywhere and so many were deformed and bagging. The market went as far as we could see in every direction. People were bartering and yelling. He dropped us off and said he would wait right in the same place. He did not want us to take our back pack or anything with us. We at this point knew we only could get blankets. We say several people selling them. When we got out the van we were surrounded and it was hard to walk. People were touching me and I was getting nervous. We bought very nice heavy blankets for way to much money, $20 dollars US each. That was after 10 minutes of bartering. We just wanted to go. We walked as fast as we could back to the place to meet the driver. He was GONE!!! My heart sank. I looked every direction and could not see him anywhere. Baggers were touching me and talking right in my face. Matt and I were nervous but he was not as much as I was. He did not want others to know we were worried. I was praying in the spirit and just desperate for the van to come. It did come honking for people to clear the road. I was so thankful. He said they made him move. I wanted to video this unbelievable place and the driver saw my camera and said no, it was too dangerous and people would get in the van to take! I was so thankful to get to the care center. When we said where we had been they said they do not let families go there anymore because it is so dangerous. I was happy it was over. We had an appointment with the Care Center doctors. They are wonderful! They love Zafua and told us more about her. They said she came so small and has gained 3 pounds in their care. Her health has been good. The phobia she had they said was not serious and she was well very fast. She had conjunctivities 2 times. We visited with them about the children, Ethiopia, and God for a long time. They said 90% of the staff is believers and they all love Jesus and his children. He said Zafua is a very blessed baby to have us for parents she has the 2 best things a baby need breast milk and mommy and daddy that love Jesus. They told us we could take Zafua with us then and she had no need to wait until Wednesday and needed to be with us. We were so happy!!! We went to tell her nanny good-bye. We felt so happy as we drove away with her. We talked the whole way to her and she cooed and smiled at us. She has a little sing song voice that is precious! Our first night with her was so special. I was up with her most of the night. She nursed a lot. She doesn’t like to be laid down. She cries and when we pick her up she stops. She slept with us and even lying beside me she fusses. Lying on me she was peaceful and would go to sleep, so I just let her lay on me. It was such a special night of getting to know her. She loves to be close and talked to. Tuesday We went with all the families to the Embassy this morning. It was a very poor museum. I asked for the bathroom to change the baby and they took me outside to a steal shed. So, we came in and sat on a chair to do it. The tools we a saw on display were ones people in the south use. Ethiopia does have a long and interesting history. We saw the bones of Lucy - believed to be the oldest human bones found. After the museum we went back to the guest house for lunch. Then we had an hour-long drive to the US Embassy, though crazy no-rule, no-light traffic. The embassy is the most protected site in the city it seemed. It was fun visiting with people there. Our case went through perfectly and we were thankful. The gal working with us told us she was one the littlest and cutest babies she has everp seen come through. Caring for Hadassah is just like a new born. She has little core body strength. She has a hard time holding up her head. Her arms and legs are so skinny!!! Her little feet and hands are feet are so tiny! Her face looks like a four month old and she is expressive just right for her age. We know she will catch up soon. She is just so fun to hold and care for. I LOVE the tiny newborn stage so I am just in heaven dressing, feeding, and changing her. She is amazing!!!! _________________________________________________________________ Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play Chicktionary! http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_hotmailtextlink2