Spring Break in Texas

December 8, 2011 was a full day. 

The day began with breakfast at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Then there was a 2 car accident involving the taxi I was riding in on the way to the airport.  We arrived in Mekelle, Ethiopia only to learn that our hotel reservation was cancelled with the government coming to town.  Next, the three of us traveling together along with our driver/guide were in a massive car accident in a busy intersection.  The SUV was totaled and, after some time waiting, we found a ride to take us to a Guest House.  Upon arriving at the Guest House we learn that our reservations were made for the following day.  We had no place to go.

The locals surround our SUV after a memorable crash (note: no stop signs or lights)

The lovely woman that ran the guest house motioned for the three of us to throw our suitcases in the trunk of her car.  We had no other options and she seemed very trustworthy.  So we did.  We hopped into her car and headed down a bumpy road to a gated home.

As we pulled up to the gate, a small service door swung open and a little boy popped out with a big smile on his face.  He helped us with our luggage and ushered us into the home.

We were greeted with incredible hospitality.  Sheets were changed and the woman that had taken us in insisted that we sleep in their beds.  She and her two children were going to sleep downstairs for the time we were in town.  As we later discovered, her husband was out of town on business. It’s hard to imagine any woman in an America home alone with her kids would willingly take in three strangers. 

A pretty young girl walked in from a day at school and spoke perfect English.  She became our interpreter and communication improved instantly.  She told us that she learned English in grade school in Texas. Her father, an architect, left Ethiopia briefly to study abroad at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.  She told us how everyone that we met at her house fit together.

Her mother, the wonderful woman that ran the guest house, was named Atsede.

Her father, the architect that was out of town on business, was named Girmay.

The little boy running around the house was her little brother.  His name was Gideon.

Her name was Deborah.

The boy that met us with the big smile was a cousin.  Deborah told us that he lost his parents when he was younger and lived on the other side of town.  He was at their home that day because he missed the gate closing on his orphanage school.  He had a younger sister, Liya, that was adopted to a family in the US the year before.  His name was Sofani.

Gideon and Sofani checking out pictures on my laptop

That brings us to today.

Girmay, Atsede, Deborah and Gideon are currently living in Lubbock, Texas temporarily while Girmay finishes his PhD at Texas Tech.   They will return to Mekelle this summer.

Liya, Sofani’s biological sister, lives with her new family in Brownwood, Texas.  She's been with them over 2 years.  We were connected to her parents during the adoption process with Sofani.  This was an amazing turn of events.  We had no idea how we were ever going to help Sofani reconnect with Liya.  Sofani’s adoption enabled us to find Liya’s family and form a very special, lifelong connection with them.

Why am I writing this?  Good question.

Tonight, Staci and I are jumping on a plane to Dallas/Ft Worth with our four kids on Spring Break.  We will be driving tomorrow morning to Lubbock to spend a couple of days with Girmay, Atsede and their family.

On Sunday, we jump in the car and head to Brownwood for what should be an amazing reunion between Liya and Sofani.  When Liya left Ethiopia and was adopted to a family in the US, the chance of them ever seeing each other – much less having an opportunity to forge a relationship – was an incredible longshot.

This should be an awesome week for reunions in Texas.  What a thrill to be a part of it.  I'm sure there will be some pictures in the next post!

BIBLE COLLEGE UPDATE:

The site for the temporary Bible Training Center (2nd and 3rd Floor)

Funds continue to flow!  We are awaiting a check that will put us near the $7500 mark to solidify the furnishing of the temporary school.

The website is nearing completion and should be ready to roll within the next week.  I’m very excited to get this out as it will be a much better place to explain the initiative than my blog.

Keep praying, researching, sharing, following and donating.

More updates very soon!