I'm not sure how I slept at all that night. I was giddy with excitement about finally meeting this little boy I had known only in pictures for the past 5 months. Every time I would think about "the moment" where he would finally be in my arms, my eyes would well up with tears.
Tariku was in the YWAM Widows and Orphans Home in Adama, about 2 hours away from Addis Ababa where we were staying. Although we were a bundle of nerves, the drive was made bearable by meeting even more new YWAM friends.
We made a little pit stop for some buna (coffee) at a lovely little cafe. You like the view from our table!?
And another stop a little farther down the road for fresh watermelon...
When we got to the Widow and Orphans Home everyone else went in while Tom and I were trying to get Tobias on his back in the ergo. So we were the last people to make it in the door. Right as we were walking in the door, a little boy was being led out and someone was saying "Whose?"
A million thoughts raced through my head in the span of about 10 seconds... "I recognize that face." "But he's so little!" "Is that him?" "Oh my gosh, that's my son!"
I didn't really know what to do. I walked up to him and said something, but I can't even remember what it was. Then I knelt down and held out my arms and asked if I could have a hug. I could tell Tariku was a little dazed, looking around at all these strange faces, but he immediately gave me a big hug. It was surreal. I was actually holding this little boy that I had been praying for, dreaming of, growing to love. I cried many tears of joy during those first moments.
brothers, meeting for the first time
my boy!
We just plopped down right there in the entry way of the building and spent the next several hours getting to know our son. We had been warned by several different people that Tariku was very high energy, or "fast". I went in prepared with bubbles, balls, etc., ready to spend some time running around and playing.
But he never showed us that side of him! He was LOVING having our attention focused solely on him. If one of us would stand up, he would pat the ground as if to tell us "sit back down with me!" He loved the little book we had made him with pictures of the family and things like our van, table, his bed. His favorite page was the one with a picture of Abby holding our cat, Silas. That's funny to me, because I hate our cat!
I had brought puffs for Tobias to eat on the trip. Had I known how popular they would be among the kids I would have brought a whole case. I think I will take a case when we go back to get Tariku. Thankfully, Tobias didn't mind sharing, because Tobias' puffs quickly became Tariku's puffs. And thankfully, Tariku didn't mind sharing because his little friends kept coming up for handfuls at a time.
We ate lunch at the Widow and Orphans Home.
It was getting close to our time to leave and Tariku began to sense that something was going on. He only wanted Tom or I to hold him in our arms. If we put him down and tried to walk while holding his hand, he would immediately reach his hands up to be held again.
So we carried the heavy little boy while we were given a tour of the home. We got to see his bed with our family picture hanging above it.
Now it was time to prepare to leave. It was SO hard. I had to go to the bathroom and as I shut the door I heard Tariku crying and Tom and one of the nannies telling him "Mommy will be right back." My heart was just breaking...
I held him until the last possible second. But the moment came when we really, truly had to leave. As I put him down and through tears told him that I loved him he began to cry and reach out for me. The nannies were trying to hold him back and he fell on the floor crying and reaching for me. As I walked through the door I choked out through my tears, "I love you. I'll be back soon!" It was heart wrenching then and it's just as heart wrenching recounting it now... It is so counter to a mother's instincts to walk away from her crying child.
Now this part is for you, Chris--
The ride home was quite eventful. We ended up stuck in the worst traffic jam that I have ever experienced (and I have sat in quite a bit of DC traffic!) What normally was a two lane road turned into about six lanes with cars pointed every different direction, including cars in the grass and in the dirt off of the road. We would move a few inches and then just sit for a long period of time. There were quite a few horns honking, but we all commented on the fact that no one was really angry. Everyone was content to inch along, even having an occasional car-to-car conversation. The exhaust fumes were overwhelming. Trying to open the windows for fresh air only let in more fumes. Claustrophobia was beginning to set in... It was bad! We never did see what caused it, but our driver was eventually able to get us out of there. Though, by the time we got back to our hotel our clothes wreaked of car exhaust. Even Tobias' hair smelled like it!
We ended the day with another lovely evening spent in the hotel lobby visiting with our dear friends. We were able to commiserate with each other about the difficulty of leaving our little ones behind. We encouraged each other in our willingness (and need) to trust God and His timing in bringing our children home. Now is the time when our faith is tested, and we will not claim to have faith yet live like those who do not-- right, Jen!
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