The Joy of the Journey

What a joyful journey this has been!

On Thursday we had the opportunity to go to the Market. The family I am with bought Miss M an Ethiopian gift for every birthday until she turns 18 years old. They want their daughter to always remember her culture and heritage. We all had lots of fun bargaining and looking at how rich the Ethiopian culture is. She spent hours looking through traditional dresses and picking out dresses for Miss M and her siblings.

After we went shopping we went to the baby home for a "Thank You" party. We wanted to celebrate and thank all of the important people in Miss M's life, such as her caregivers, nurse and friends. The children had lots of fun! We had pizza, cake, sodas, candy and gifts! The children were so full of joy, they knew that this would be the last time they would see Miss M and shared that they were happy to know that Miss M would have a forever family.

In the middle of our party the electricity went out. This was by far the most fun part of the party. All the children had fun playing in the dark. It was amazing to see how resilient the children were; even though they could not see, they kept having fun and laughing. The children are so well mannered. They all wait to be served and they love sharing their gifts.

As we left the children sang songs such as "Joy to the World." It was a perfect song for the joy we were all feeling. God has given Miss M a forever family and we have the assurance that God also has forever families for the other children.

On Friday morning we met Miss M's extended family. It was a special time for everyone! And on Friday evening we got to go to a traditional Ethiopian restaruant. There were traditional dances and songs of each of the tribes in Ethiopia. It was fun when Tegist would point out the children's tribes and each tribes' characteristics. It is a "must go" when families come to Ethiopia, just make sure to bring your camcorder. And the food was great! They serve the food very traditionally on an "injiria" table, (i don't know if it really has a name). The family I'm with enjoyed watching Miss M's tribe dance and seeing the tribe's traditional dress.





On Saturday, our staff took us out to Bantu. What a cultural experience! The tribe that is from this area is the same tribe where Miss M is from, so Miss M's family wanted to see how how these people lived. They still live in round mud huts. Some of the people let us go into their homes... it amazed me to see how people still live in these conditions. We had a flat tire so as our driver fixed our tire, we went walking over to the school that Buckner is building for 200+ children. It was an adventure walking over to the school. We had to walk through lots and lots of mud, we were full of mud! It was so much fun, all these children from the area started coming out and helping us navigate through all the mud. These children were precious, they were so willing to help us.

Finally we made it to the school and saw where some of these children are going to go to school. I was so blessed to know that God is working through Buckner to provide these children with the wonderful opportunity to go to school. I can't wait for Miss M to hear all about her family's experience in Ethiopia and how they were a part of helping other children.



On Sunday, we went to church where the Buckner Bright Hope Director is the pastor. Wow, what passionate people! They have so little yet they praise God with so much joy and passion. It reminded me of the joy I should have for all that God has blessed me with.

Monday the family and I had many last minute errands and interesting appointments to complete. It was hard for Tegist to know that this would be the last day she would see Miss M (at least for now).

Tegist and I finished that day thanking God because he allowed us to be a part of this beautiful miracle, A FOREVER FAMILY FOR MISS M. We prayed that we would continue seeing this miracle for all of the children that God placed in our care and especially for the older children who quietly watched and prayed that they too would have a forever family.

Today, Tuesday, was so exciting! I got to go back to the baby home and see our precious children! They waited eagerly at the door and all called my name out as I arrived. I cannot describe in words how special these children are. I can only say that they have changed my world around. They asked if Miss M had left already and they sighed, but quickly shared a smile of joy for her. The children like to watch Christian music videos and they like to imitate the singers and sing to the Lord. I wish everyone could see how passionately they sing to the Lord.

Each time I hug the children I say a little prayer them. I pray that God will one day bless a forever family with these children as much as they have blessed me and all who meet them.

Embassy Appointment Passed

(originally sent Thursday, Aug. 7 by Anyra Cano)

Just wanted to let you know that the family passed the embassy appointment yesterday. It was a very interesting experience, but glad to be there to have a better description for families.

Last night was the first night the family got to keep Miss M and she did well. She is adjusting well to them. Today we will go shopping and then we are having a thank you party at the baby home. We will have pizza, cake and lots of other fun for the children to thank God for the gift of Miss M and all her friends and caregivers.



It's official! Miss M is with her family!

I met with more staff today, and I cannot say enough about our staff here! They are working hard to learn and evolutionize.

Precious Children

(originally sent Tuesday, Aug. 5 by Anyra Cano)

I have had an amazing time. Yesterday I got to play with all the older children. I taught them how to play green light, red light and duck duck goose and they taught me how to play some Ethiopian games. They are so much fun. I cannot express into words the impact they have had in my life. I have been around so many orphan children before and I am very passionate about helping orphans, but these children make me cry just thinking about them.

Here are some of the children I've met:

*Chris, he is cuter than what I would of ever imagined. He's actually a lot shier than I would of thought. He is very tenderhearted and loves to smile and hug. He also likes to be silly. As we were playing duck duck goose, he would fall on purpose as to make all the kids laugh.

*Adam is very gentle and is more reserved, sacrificial but still very sweet and kind. He can understand and speak a little English. He has done very well with the family here.

*Nathan, he is very sweet! He likes to wait at the door and welcome everyone. He is very inquisitive and likes to teach me Amharic, he would be a great teacher! His sister *Josy is also at the home. She recently came to the home here, and Nathan takes very good care of her and is always watching out for her. She looks out for him, too. Josy is precious. She loves to jump rope! she is all girl and loves to have her hair made all pretty and play with dolls.

*Joe is also new to the home. He is 4 years old. He has a servant's heart. He wants to help everyone. As we come into the home, he helps us through the mud and rocks. He is quiet but loves to tickle.

*Michael is so excited about coming home soon! He is a true leader, all the children look up to him and he does a good job being an example for the others.

Every time I hold these children I just want to cry -- cry out to the Lord! I pray that God will do a miracle for each of these children and give them forever families. They will all truly bless their forever familes. Each one of them is so happy for Miss M, but they also have the desire to one day have a family who will come and love them. Please help me pray for this miracle.

The outside of the Baby Home in Ethiopia.

The family I'm here with has been great! They have done so well with Miss M. It has been a miracle to watch her with them. She stares at them and it is apparent that she enjoys them. This is the first time I had the opportunity to see a family meet their child for the first time, what a beautiful example of God calling us to become his children. He is patient and tender with us. He calls us out with arms wide open waiting for us to recognize our Father and his unconditional love for us.

Continue praying for our trip. Tomorrow we go to the Embassy and we hope for everything to go well and it will be Miss M's first night with her family. Most of all, as you go to sleep tonight, please join me in prayer for forever familes for these precious children.

*Names of the children have been changed for confidentiality.

Home by Another Way

Last year, Rachael Daugherty -- international adoption counselor for China -- began a blog to chronicle her journey with four adoptive families from Buckner as they met their children for the first time in China and brought them back to the United States.

Rachael named her blog "Home by Another Way" after one of her favorite books, a book of sermons written by Georgia preacher Barbara Brown Taylor. The books' title sermon tells the story of the wise men leaving their gifts with baby Jesus and then going home by another way.

Adoption is a special picture of God's love for all of us. Just as these adopted children will be going home by another way, we all will eventually. As Christians, we've all been adopted into God's family and we'll all go home one day by another way.

As adoption caseworker Anyra Cano sends in updates on her trip to Ethiopia with one adoptive family, pray for God to bless their travels and bless the new family He has formed. And pray for all the children who live in Ethiopia and are hoping for a "forever family." Some of them have families waiting for them in the United States right now. Others still need a family. Pray that God will direct these childrens' paths and orchestrate everything according to His plan.