Pure & Lasting » Life and Ethiopian Adoption Blog

We’re home and busy, busy, busy, but doing great!! I am a bit overwhelmed with all we need to do to get Alain set up for school and life in the US, but I want to write down the stories from our trip before I forget. First there will be a few posts about the day to day goings on. I’m expecting a few about the emotions, motivations and changes in our life to surface a little later :)
It is my intention to honestly document our journey. It is a beautiful journey, but it is and will be hard work. It is not a fairy tale. It would be irresponsible for me to give you the idea that it is. We are blessed beyond measure to be a part of Alain’s life, but not only because it is fun and exciting, but because we are a part of the work (work!) God is doing in his life. We get a front row seat to watch God’s plan for his life and for ours unfold. To go into an adoption or a whatever-it-is-that-you-call-what-we-are-doing with unrealistic expectations is not fair to the child who is involved in the situation. The adults in the situation have to be in it for the long haul. To love through the healing of broken hearts and stay when the new wears off. If there is one thing I have learned through Maya’s adoption process and Alain’s visa process, it is that this stuff is complicated. Worth it, so very worth it, but complicated. I’m sure there will be more about this later :)
On December 28th, Chris and I boarded our first plane on our way to Rwanda. Throughout the many hours of traveling, we had conversations about how we were feeling. At 30 years old, both owners of businesses, we pretty much do what we want, when we want to. Adding a 16 year old child who would need quite a bit of attention, teaching, directing and loving was beyond our imagination. Literally, we did not know what to expect at all. We wondered if we had any earthy idea what we had gotten ourselves into. Was Alain as sweet and smart as we remembered him to be? Would we be able to communicate with him at all? Could we actually do what we said we were going to do? How the heck did this even happen? I know I was there throughout the whole process. I filled out the forms, paid the fees and said the prayers, but oh my goodness, it actually happened! I was excited and scared to death, but some how unusually calm most of the way to Rwanda.
While waiting on our last flight, we were told that it had been delayed…for 6 hours. That was when I almost lost it. I knew Alain would be waiting with our attorney at the airport and we would have a difficult time getting a hold of them. But when you are in Africa, just wait a bit and everything changes. Somehow they found another plane and had us on our way with a 2 hour delay. We get off the plane in Rwanda, go to collect our bags and find that the bag with all of Alain’s we clothes is missing. We wait and wait and still nothing. All this time we know that he is waiting just on the other side of the doors to greet us. Finally we gave up, report the bag missing and head out of the terminal. A few steps into the room and there he is, bounding towards me arms wide open, he hugs my neck saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” and doesn’t let go. It was a great moment and a picture that I will have in my mind forever :) He was just as beautiful and sweet as I remembered. He was so excited to see us!!
After the big greeting, he returned to his somewhat reserved self. We discussed our plans with our attorney and driver and decided it was best not to drive 3 hours after dark. We would wait until the next morning to leave and hope to collect our missing bag before we left. It worked out perfectly, we got a good nights rest, collected bag easily at the airport the next morning and we off to the orphanage. We wanted to give Alain a chance to say goodbye to all of his friends and my dear friend Wynne was at Noel with a Visiting Orphans team. Such perfectly great God-timing. Here are a few photos of our traveling days :) Next up, Noel Orphanage.
-Jenn