Reunited

I am trying to squeeze a blog post in just before midnight for you folks in the states!  Our wifi was out at my normal blog time just before bed last night.  Hoping you aren't too mad at me:)

Saturday started out slow and good.  We had pancakes for breakfast and a fun morning playing in the living the room.  The guesthouse was quiet as two of the three siblings next door (the newest children to the guesthouse) were sick. We've been praying for them and this morning we went with Mengistu as he took them to the hospital to be seen and get medicine.  Turns out the new environment for them is likely the cause and as I type, they are on the mend with no more fevers!

After taking them to the hospital, we stayed in the van we had all taken to the hospital and the Bethany van came to pick up the sick kids to take them back to the guesthouse.  Mengistu stayed with  us so we could go shopping for a few things still on our wish list.  We have been piecing together all the components for a coffee ceremony and we were still lacking two important pieces.  That was our main goal AND to revisit the place where the women make scarves.  Last time we went they were working at the looms, but the shop was closed as they had taken their products to a local bizarre to sell them. So, today we went back and bought the place out did some Christmas shopping.  These scarves are beautiful and help these women financially who otherwise would be carrying hundreds of pounds of wood on their back each day up and down a mountain just to try to make enough to survive. 

After going scarf hunting we went to an outdoor local market.  We were looking for those final pieces to our coffee ceremony and looking for soccer jerseys for Corbin and Hudson.  This particular local market may not have been quite as used to "ferenji" (white people).  We kind of caused a scene everywhere.  But, we found what we were looking for and after Mengistu's negotiations, we were outta there with some steals of a deal.  At one point Brycen slipped out to the open area beside the small tent we were shopping in.  I stuck my head around the corner and saw him with his wallet out, standing getting his shoes shined.  He had on tennis shoes and by the time the, I am guessing, 12 year old boy finished shampooing his shoes they looked BRAND NEW.  When he spotted me, Brycen said, "I am not sure how much a shoe shine is, Mom, but I have plenty of my own money.  I want to help him out."  I fought back tears as I watched the two of them interact.  Two young men, both wanting to serve each other.  Something in Brycen changed as he handed the boy, younger than him, money for his service.  Brycen remained quiet and kept commenting on how good his shoes looked.  Here's the thing I encouraged Brycen with.... he could've just given the young boy money without the shoeshine.  But, to that young boy, that would've made him a beggar.  It was much more honoring to let him wash the shoes and pay him for his service, because then he earned it.  I know one thing for sure, Brycen and Regan aren't returning as the same 14 and 12 year olds we brought.  Their worldview. perspective, and hearts have changed.  They are more grateful, aware, and selfless than I have ever seen them.  They are friends with children who are homeless, orphaned, and many who are very sick.  Having faces and names of people you care about who face those daily struggles can't help but change you.  It's changed me.

Next, with clean shoes and a completed coffee ceremony set, we headed to lunch.  We went back to Lucy's, a place we had visited on our second or third day in Addis.  Last time we were there, Tyson wasn't with us yet and so this time, it was extra fun. The environment is unique at Lucy's, with a outdoor garden with tables in the center of the restaurant and fish tanks surrounded by beautiful flowers.  After we ordered our food Tyson said, "Mom, let's go look at the fish."  His English, Y'all.  SO GOOD.  So, off we went. He counted the fish and named the colors (4 orange, 3 silver, and one pink and white jellyfish for those who care).  Lunch was delicious.  At one point in our eating, I asked the server for ketchup for Regan's fries.  Tyson, understanding what I had said, picked up his small bowl of ketchup and handed it to me saying, "here, Mom, we can share."  His heart is big and living his young 5 years with so little has allowed him the gift of selflessness like I have never seen.  He won't take a drink of water or chew a piece of gun unless he offers one to everybody.  He wants to always make sure he doesn't get something that someone else can't have.  He's teaching me so much.  And, just like I tell him everyday, I love being his mom.

We finished up at Lucy's and went to Wal-Mart Shoa.  There we bought Addis tea ("chai," pronounced "shy" here).  It is just tea (not chai tea), but it is delicious!  We wanted to get some for home and for gifts.  We also needed to get Tyson some milk (which comes in plastic bags here, by the way).  We grabbed a few snacks and we were off.  Just outside of Shoa a man was selling movies for $1.25... movies like "Finding Dory" and "The Secret Life of Pets," etc.  Having bad experiences with such movies historically, we were skeptical, but Mengistu assured us the quality would be good.  He was right.  Mengistu is batting a thousand... he hasn't let us down yet.  

The next stop of the day was so powerful for me.  I mentioned a few days ago that there had been a young lady who had been with Tyson in his original orphanage, moved with him to his last orphanage in 2014 and then aged out of that orphanage last year.  She had heard Tyson had gotten a family and cried, thinking she wasn't going to get to say good-bye.  Her nannie called Mengistu and he assured her we would come by to let them see each other.  When we arrived, the 8 girls, ages 13-16 who live in the house weren't home yet from lunch out.  They were on their way back.  In a few minutes the gate opened and Tyson was at the front window watching.  When Haset walked into the gate he took off running for her.  I can't, in human words, describe the hug they had.  It was an embrace like I have seen so few times in my life.  At their young ages of 5 and 14 they get what it means to love.  It was obvious their bond was unique and deep.  She kept her arms around him and he around her.  We let them sit outside and talk a while.  She had ran ahead of the other 7 girls in order to get home faster.  When it finally came time for us to sit and talk with her, I cried.  She described him as an infant (his skin was lighter and he was skinny) and as a toddler (he was kind of "difficult," always into everything).  THANK YOU, HASET, FOR ENDURING THOSE TODDLER YEARS FOR US.  She gave us details about the scar on the back of his head, the nurse who treated him, and how she had feared when she was younger that he was blind due to his eye movement.  She even described reading him the bible and teaching him bible verses when he was younger... I am crying again.  Right there, in that dingy, worn out, but beautiful house, our sweet boy looked right at her and quoted John 1:12 to reassure her that he hadn't forgotten what she had taught him.  Mark was also fighting back tears.  It was SO obvious they were bound by something deeper and more profound than we will ever know.  Haset is a 14 year old with darling braids, black-rimmed glasses, and heart of pure gold.  Her nannie had described her as "the most disciplined, responsible one in the house."  I didn't miss that... she had taught Tyson more than just Bible verses.  How do you thank a 14 year old who, at the tender age of 9, took on being a primary caregiver to your son who didn't have a family yet?  I still don't know how you thank her.  All I could muster up, just before we left, was a super long, hard hug with tears streaming down my face, and then I put my hands on both sides of her face and said, "Thank you so much.  You did a perfect job with him and you are beautiful."  We hugged again and I am praying for God's favor and blessing over her in a powerful, undeniable way.  While we had been at the house, the girls all asked us questions about America and our family.  They asked Mengistu if they had families (that was hard for me).  The truth is, some of them might and most of them don't, but they have a Father watching over them and I am trusting Him to meet their every need. As we left, we grabbed photos of Tyson with Haset and with the whole group (they had all lived with him at his last orphanage).  Haset stood at the gate watching us as Tyson loaded into the van first and ran to the window closest to the gate so he could wave at her.  Just as the van door closed behind us, Haset ran out one more time and touched his hand through the window, leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.  I sat with tears streaming down my face.  Her sacrifice and love for him profoundly impacted me.  God's plans for Tyson have always been abundant.  I am just now being given a front row seat to see how many people love him and have poured into him on the days I was home missing him, praying for him, and praying for people to be pouring into him.  God didn't owe me the gift of seeing those prayers answered, but in His kindness, He LET me see that He heard every prayer.  Having a face, a name to put as answers to those prayers has grown my faith in remarkable ways.  The wait wasn't in vain and I am forever grateful God has given me the privilege of seeing that.  He has been so purposed all along the way, even in my doubting, He was proving faithful.

We went back to have a tea/coffee combo at that CRAZY awesome coffee shop and then we came back to the guesthouse around 4:00pm.  It was a fun night of loud playing in the living room.  There was a game of soccer, some keep away, and even a soccer game on the TV.  We came up stairs and did showers, movie (Finding Dory), and bedtime.  It was a great day of bonding, laughing, dancing, shopping, and growing.  Seeing Tyson and Haset reunited was so good for my soul.... something I didn't even know I needed.  

We are off to church shortly and we have the cutest little boy, dressed in green dress pants and a plaid green, blue, and white button-down, going with us.  My heart is so full.

Thank you for faithfully walking with us.  

Until WE'RE home,

carrie