Day 3, our kids

We arrived at the guest house at 4am. We were greeted by our case manager, Sue, on arrival. She told me “I have a surprise for you.” In my mind I was like “There are more kids. NO couldn’t be…” We walked up the three flights of stairs to our room and out ran our kids! We were expecting to see them later in the day. Selamawit came straight to me and embraced me and bawled. She was crying so hard that I think everyone around us was crying. Guta went straight to Derara and wrapped him up. When they broke their embrace hugs and tears were shared around the room. Than we began the dance of smiles that we are still doing. With no shared language between us we just smile at each other. It’s awkwardly comfortable.
After we’d had a couple of hours of sleep, I joined Sue downstairs and she told us of the things she has learned about our kids. They have a BIG faith. Selamawit wants to be an evangelist. They told her their mother came to Christ a month before she died. We walked to a local restaurant for lunch and coffee/tea. Guta (Manny) has not let go of Derara for more that a minute or two! Everywhere we walk he has his arm around him or is holding his hand. Maybe he is afraid he will slip away from him again. Selamawit walks shyly occasionally taking my hand. She is so delicate and feminine. She is truly lovely.
The first evening brings us to the transition house that has been our kids home for a couple of months. Wow! There are so many beautiful children. I wallowed in babies. It was so much fun. We were all carrying babies around. The older kids sang for us and came curiously around to talk to us. There are truly a great group of children there. The wonderful part of being in a transition house is that all these kids have families working toward bringing them home. There is Hope in the house.
Before we left the house, Selamawit Grace and Guta Amanuel went upstairs to pray with the staff…We bid our farewells to the beautiful people we may never see again this side of heaven, but will never forget.
We arrived back at the guest house and then set out on foot to the Imperial Hotel for dinner. Derara had an insatiable attack of the giggles that got all of us started. Ryan well…the vomitting began at the hotel….