Day 7 – Sunday

Today I was blessed to attend an Ethiopian church where I was welcomed and was able to hear many singing and praising God in their own tongue. Despite not knowing what they were saying, I could participate….it is hard to explain. Afterwards, I walked home with 3 of our orphans from House of Promise #1. It was fun seeing so many of our kids at church. I discussed with them at what time to watch the movie today and they told me when to come. They have been looking forward to seeing the Prince Caspian movie I brought from America. The housemother showed me how they were preparing the house, as one of the girls who has grown in Operation Rescue and used to be in the original cell family house 6 years ago is now 21 and has a boyfriend who wants to ask her hand in marriage. Hiwot, the head mother of the care home, and Getachew, the project director, are assuming the role of her mom and dad and the man must come to meet them and ask for their blessing.
I was so touched by this, as the nature of their commitment to the kids is really life-long. Of course for the past 3 years we have been promoting the children who are under 15 for adoption. But for many of the kids, they will stay in the homes until they are done with technical school or university and then they will be out. So it touched my heart to realize that this girl now sees these staff as her parents to such a degree that she wants them to receive this man and take his request for her hand in marriage. Very cool. I spent the afternoon working on profiles, re-arranging the blind resource room in a way that better suits them, and talking girl-talk with the girls in the home. At 5 I went to the HIV house and spent some time with the housemother updating profiles on the kids. She is so careful with their medicaiton schedules and their food…she has grown this amazing vegetable garden and now is thrilled to show off her purified water program she has started to keep their stomachs more healthy. She is also HIV+, so she knows the stigma from which they have suffered. We interviewed the new one, whose name means “happy” and he was such a smiling delight! He told me, very matter of factly, that he had come from a poor community and his mom had died and then he said, “my father he just threw me out when I was sick.” I told him, “bet we are so very happy to have you and you are very welcome here!” and he smiled from ear to ear and laughed a deep belly laugh. Around 6 I headed to the main orphan house where all the kids had gathered – the big ones from the boys home, the ones from the Hiv house, and the 14 from our main home. They were eating, watching a Tigrinya version of Shrek (hilarious) and just enjoying one another as “family”. You really have to undersand Ethiopian culture to know how amazing it is for these very sick HIV+ kids to be snuggling and eating next to healthy kids who accept them. 18 year old boys pull them up on their laps and wipe their faces and they know full well their diagnoses. So much love in this home. After dinner the big kids left and we began our special movie. They all snuggled me and draped all over each other again on the mattress…one 13 yo boy sat next to me fluffing my hair and holding my hand through the movie. They are all still young in this house – pre-pubescent, and they are very affectionate. When one would get tired, another would just pick them up and help them to their bed. One by one we put the little ones in their beds with kisses. After the movie, again, the 3 older boys walked me home. I was tired, but my heart was full. I slept very very well.