Day 6 in Ethiopia (Lori)

By -

Sidama/Hawassa

Day 6

This morning we started out with breakfast again. The monkeys were back which is entertaining.
Tamenech's family were supposed to stop by from 10-12 to say their good byes. We started seeing them arrive before 9. I had soccer balls and jump ropes out for fun. They were having a good old time.
We then had a few special gifts that Tamenech picked out for her sister and Grandma but, then decided to give to two her aunts also. 
 
Many people were there and it took a lot of explaining that there were other gifts being brought out later.
We had the photo books made for grandma and sister. She also gave them a locket necklace with her picture in it and heart necklaces to show how much she loves then.
 
Grandma and sister also got Columbia zip ups different colors but matching to Tamenech's, and a special blanket (made by Shirley Pearson. She also took her lacrosse jacket to give to her sister. She had two other columbia sweat shirts which she gave to two of her aunts.
 
I think we hurt some feeling by not having special gift for everyone. At the end of the visit
 
Tamenech handed out candy, little toys, jump ropes, soccer balls, and 150 pounds of donations for them to share our fight over.
 
We also gave monetary donations to those closest to Tamenech. We then have a donation to the church we visited and helped with Daniel's baptism.
 
I had a rough morning, I have had a cold/ sinus infection but kept up with all the activity. I started an antibiotic for a few days and I think I had an allergic reaction. 
 
I saw some of her family for the first hour and then I went to lay down. I was a little scared of how I was feeling. 
 
Right as Tamenech was getting ready to say her goodbyes, another family approached. Their daughter was adopted from Sidama and was going to do her birth family reunion. She is from Minnesota. They exchanged numbers. 
 
Tom, Tamenech, and Daniel were there for the donations and good byes. There were many tears. Our time in Sidama had come to an end. 
 
We drove to Hawassa, to the Haile Resort.
 
We had all afternoon for rest and relaxation. 
 
I need this break, and I don't think I am alone. 
 
The swimming pool over looks Lake Hawassa.
 
It is such a nice place.
 
Again Yonas and Mr Gold are amazing and we couldn't do this with out them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IT'S A BOY!

By -
Today at 4:25 the call came.... It is 4:25 I was sitting out by the pool just getting ready to get in. The neighbor had just left and my kids were swimming. I sit on the edge to slide in and just then the phone rings. I think I will see who it is, but I am not going to answer it. It says 703.... oh my I think that is America World, I start crying. I answer the phone and it is Terra she asked me how I was, I ask is this "the call" she says yes... I am yelling at the kids get out of the pool, on the deck, no off the deck, close up the pool, it's "the call" I am just crying and going crazy! The neighbor hears me and thinks that someone got hurt in the pool, she comes running. The kids are yelling it's our referral. I am apologizing to Terra, I am running in the house crying, shaking, and my phone is about to die. I find another phone calm down and listen to all the information. I called my husband on the cell phone to tell him (still crying), he thinks that som
Read more

Reunions (Tom)

By -
Image
The primary reason we made this trip to Ethiopia was to have Daniel and Tamenech meet their birth families as well as learn the culture and history of their native countries. In order to start the process, we hired a gentleman who we've known for many years to find them. Yonas has helped numerous adoptees find their birth families, so we were excited to learn what he could find. We sent him all of the information we had and he started his work. In short time, he had located everyone. Tamenech's family is from Sidama, a territory in the southern part of the country. They live in traditional huts in a  vlllage with no running water or electricity. We knew Tamenech had grandparents and at least one sibling. Yonas reported after a visit that Tamenech's grandfather had passed, along with one brother. Her grandmother was still around, as well as a sister (who had just gotten married in an arranged marriage).  Daniel's mother had moved to Beirut shortly after he was born, whic
Read more