Snapshots of Korah, Ethiopia

This place is beautiful.  The people are beautiful, the culture is beautiful and the heart of the country is beautiful.  The children are happy and playful and the adults are proud of their land and heritage.

Korah is a land in Ethiopia that was originally designated for lepers.  They were pushed out of the city, Addis Ababa, and lived in their own community.  Korah is home to the city's dump, also.  We were told 10,000 people of Korah live off the dump by eating and feeding their families and digging through to find wares to sell.  The government has decided to move the dump elsewhere and many people of Korah are devastated. Their livelihood - a dump - is being ripped from them. Lepers live in Korah still, as well as the poorest of Ethiopia.  Many people travel to Addis thinking, "If only I can make it there, I can make a living," and when they cannot they end up in Korah.

Some people who live in Korah are homeless.  Those that have shelters have to pay rent for the space they reside in.  Someone comes to collect rent and if the tenant cannot pay, they are evicted. Many families cannot make ends meet enough to afford a shelter.

We were invited into the homes of several families. We met a man who suffered a stroke, paralyzed and unable to work, with three teenagers to take care of.  He was behind on rent for his home about the size of my walk-in closet, and his family would soon be homeless.  We heard many stories like his: parents proud to open their homes to us, share the faces of their children with us and humble enough to share their stories of loss and heartache.

So much beauty to be found.  The children and their smiles.  The women with their protective, weary arms around their children.  The men, some stoic and proud, and others jovially playing a game of cards.

Beauty.

The dump, photo taken from our van.  

This is certainly not a sponsored post; I'm not inviting you over for dinner to share on "opportunity" with you.  But if you are interested in learning more about Ethiopia or led to offer hope and a future to the beautiful people, here are a few places to start.

That We Might Be Adopted blog by YWAM Ethiopia Ministry

YWAM 1:27 Ministry - Partnering with the Ethiopian Church to Preserve Families and Prevent Orphans

Streams of Mercy - transforming the lives of orphans around the world.

Sleepover in Africa

Who travels to Africa for a mere two nights?

Ty and I left on Sunday, July 21.  We arrived in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, July 22.  After 30+ hours of travel time, I changed clothes on the airplane, put on make up (for pictures of course), and made our way through the couple-hour process of customs in Ethiopia.  We met our driver and promptly asked, "Can you take us to the Thomas Center NOW?"

Visiting hours at our son's orphanage are 10 - noon and it was about 10:30 when we arrived.  We were ushered into a small, cluttered office and after many formalities, moved into a classroom (of sorts).  And we waited.

Little Keraji arrived in the arms of a nanny.  He seemed hesitant in her arms, but even more hesitant to meet new people.  He is 17 months and until the previous Saturday, had been in the same orphanage his entire life.  Everyone at the Thomas Center was new to him, including this white, blonde woman who was chomping at the bit to hold him.

I took him from the nanny.  Literally, took him.  Neither of them were very excited, but I couldn't help it.  I'll be honest; he didn't care much for me or Ty.  It took about 30 minutes for him to warm up to us. Oooooh, but once he did...!

He seems to be such a happy boy!  He easily laughs.  He loves to bang toys together and throw them.  Can you say BOY?  Though not walking, he crawls with speed and efficiency.  He babbles with gusto and says, "Daddeeeee" all the time.  And he is handsome.  So stinkin' handsome!  His eyelashes are to die for and his smile will melt your heart.

His name will be Jace William Keraji Robuck.  "Jace" has been my favorite name of all time, and is that of my childhood best friend's - my cousin.  William is my dad and Ty's brother's name.  Keraji is his Ethiopian name. And Robuck is his forever family name.

The second day we visited Jace, we traveled with him and his nanny to the lab for blood work.  Though it was unexpected, we made the most of our time in the van holding him and in the lab caring for him.  

We didn't expect to be able to visit on Thursday because our court hearing was that day.  The hearing ended a bit early (we passed!) and we were able to squeeze in about ten final minutes with our boy.  He was all smiles, and it was hard to say good bye.  We left pictures of us and Lainey above his crib and promised to be back soon.

Which we will!  On average, it's been taking 3 - 4 weeks for families to receive an embassy appointment.  That means travel time is between 2.5 and 3.5 weeks!  

We flew out at 10:30 on Thursday night and arrived home Friday night at 9:00.  Lainey was giddy with excitement to see us.

Bringing Lainey Home - In Photos

Our second trip to Ethiopia was incredible.  We experienced the culture, met amazing people who will always hold a special place in our heart, and spent our first week with our daughter!  Since time is a treasure more than ever now that Lainey is home and I feel I exhausted my journalistic energy our first trip, here is Trip 2: Bringing Lainey Home in Photos.

The Morgans with Efa, the Fitzpatricks with Bontu, and us with Lainey.  YWAM families at BeJoes Guest House.

Ty with L at the Thomas Center Orphanage.

Sweet Reunion.

Marcy and Bontu with Lainey and me.

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Ahhhh. 

Many women carry these bushels on their back.

Children at the Thomas Center Orphanage singing Good-bye to the adopted children at a ceremony.

An amazing woman whose love for our daughter and love for Jesus were evident from our first trip.

Lainey and Bontu saying good bye in D.C.

Hamburger Bliss for daddy in the D.C. airport.  Only seven hours from being in our own home!