Ethiopia Part 3

We now have a daughter! She is officially ours :) and we could not be happier! Now if only she were home with us!  Here is our first family picture for your enjoyment- soon I will be able to take that little heart off and show you her beautiful face!

The last 3 days we spent in Ethiopia were good.  We went from feeling a mixture of being tired and ready to be back home with a sense of normalcy- to dreading leaving our girl.  But we were able to make the most of the time we had.  We spent time with Ryah each day- but we could tell she was growing increasingly overwhelmed with us being there each day and giving her so much attention.  We had definitely expected this type of reaction, so we were prepared, but it's still hard to see and actually be a part of.  So many prayers were prayed for each of our hearts before the trip and while we were there.  Because she was so overwhelmed on Friday- we decided that would be the last day for us to see her.  We had planned to go back on Saturday before we flew out- but it just didn't seem like that was in the best interest of her little heart- so we said our goodbyes on Friday.  Goodbye was a lot less dramatic than I envisioned.  I surprisingly didn't cry at all.  After spending the week with her, and seeing how much she is loved where she is and how happy she is there, made leaving peaceful.  She was happy to be handed back over to her nanny- who is really the only mother figure she has ever known, so it made sense that she would want to be with her.  We told her how much we loved her and that we would be back as soon as we could- and we left.  Both of us with a mixture of happy and heavy hearts.  We were leaving a huge piece of our hearts there when we returned home the next day, but it had to be done.  She has no idea what is in store for her when she leaves that place.  It's going to be very hard for her to leave- please begin praying for that transition now, it will be hard for us all!

Also, while we were in Addis, we got the chance to visit 2 really incredible ministries that we support and hear about what God is doing there.  The first is called fashionABLE. This is an awesome ministry that is all about creating sustainable work for women in Ethiopia and getting them out of prostitution. For many women, this is the only way that they are able to feed their family because poverty is so

overwhelming in Ethiopia.  We had never seen poverty of that magnitude before.  But still, the people were all so joyful and friendly, it was so encouraging.  So, fashionABLE takes these women off the streets, teaches them a trade and provides a job for them.  They make beautiful scarves and have just recently launched a line of leather products.  Aaron and I have started buying more of our gifts from organizations like this, that give back to a community, and it's about more than just spending money for the sake of buying a gift.  A purchase from something like this enables these women to feed their family, something we take for granted every day. God is doing an incredible work through this company.  We got to visit and get a tour of their new facility and meet a few of the women working there.  We can't wait to go back on our next trip! Definitely check them out- the scarves are so pretty, I now own 2 for myself and we bought Ryah one while we were there and she loved it!

The other ministry is somewhat new to us, but it is the same concept as fashionABLE.  It's called Mission Ethiopia and they are creating work for women.  They also make scarves, but they have other products as well.  Clay and paper bead necklaces, door mats, etc.  There is an awesome story behind the man that makes the doormats(they employ men as well). The man who weaves the door mats has leprosy.  He has no fingers left really, on either of his hands, but he sits every day and weaves these rugs together with joy.  It was so incredible to meet him and watch him work.  God is doing amazing things in and through him and this company.  ME will be launching an online store here in the states soon and I will be sure to let you know because you will want to check this out!  We were so thankful for the opportunity to visit and support these ministries and what God is doing in them.

Saturday it was time to return home. We had a very memorable experience in the Ethiopian Airport before our flight left. Lots of claustrophobia and chaos were involved.  But we got to the gate and on the plan to take us home.  We arrived back in the states Sunday afternoon and then had a 4 hour drive home from DC.  We were both tired, but thankful for a safe trip and to be back at home! We can't wait for our 2nd trip- hopefully in about 2-3 months we will return and bring Ryah home!!!!!!