The Saga Continues

I hope if you are just joining this story you will go back to the beginning and read the whole story.

Now, where was I?    Ah yes.....

As we get up(no sleep but who cares, right) to start our first full day in Addis (now let me stop here and say, I now say Adeese because that is what I heard people say the whole time I'm there, spelled Addis but pronounced Adeese)  I'm still concerned about contacting Randy.  I did not know he'd been told I was not there, yet but I know having been on the other side of the situation it is very nice to have confirmation that your loved one is safe and sound.

I go to the dining/living room and hear Dedra (our facilitator) ask them to call someone out to fix the internet.  Well CRAP.  Still no internet.  Not only that, no working phone either.  *SIGH* 

I try to explain what happened to the Ethiopian translator and D.  Then the translator informs me how worried the 'husband' (of the woman who did not show-Shrick Land) is. My heart sinks.  Now I know Randy thinks I'm not here and I still have no way to contact him.  I have YET to convince anyone, even D, that there is a miscommunication. 

Meanwhile back home Randy is doing all he can do to find out where I am.  He contacts our airline and will NOT give up. (The man has the tenacity of a bull dog, gotta love him) For privacy information, they will not tell him that I was on the plane.  However, he finally finds someone who will say EVERYONE who was supposed to be on the plane IS on the plane.  He may not know WHERE I am but he does know I got to Addis. 

Now as it happens I did send emails from Germany they just did not arrive for several days.  So they were of no help either.

Somewhere between leaving for our first day and arriving at the 'spa' that will be our first day's experience, I convince D that I am the 'missing woman'.  Doesn't help so much since we still have no way to contact Randy but at least I have someone who understands the panic I am beginning to feel.

One bright spot during all of this is I get to finally meet Tamirat and Melkam, our two Kolfe boys.  So I am happy about that and excited to be in Ethiopia and to begin our week of activities.

We start out by stopping at the orphanage to meet the kids.  We don't stay long but I do get to see kids.  LOVE IT!  Then we head to the spa. 

Here is a picture of the 'group'.  The other family on the excursion with Judson and I have very specialized skills.  J is a nurse and F is a carpenter by trade.  So they bring a great skill set to the party. Plus, they've adopted a girl from Vietnam and a boy from Ethiopia whom they brought with them.  I swear to you it's like having Ansley and Turner there.   Dedra is in the middle.  She, too, has adopted 3 girls from Ethiopia. It is nice to have that adoption bond where everyone gets why you are doing what you do.

I'm betting you are wondering what skill set I brought. Well, you'll just have to wait.

Next time, I promise to tell you more about the organization and the work they are doing.