Reason to Sing part 2

I just found this post that I wrote last month while we were in Ethiopia.

I'm writing this from Addis Ababa.  Marjorie and I are sitting in the living room of our guesthouse reading books.  It's quiet.  She asked me to put some music on while we read.  So I did.

First we listened to a Waterdeep album and then I switched it to All Sons and Daughters.  I could sing every lyric on this album....and usually do....but tonight it was just light background sound to read by....and my book is good enough that I was able to block it out.

Then I finished a chapter and wanted to see if the Internet was actually going to work tonight or not.  Do you know what song was playing?  "Reason to Sing".  And do you know what part of that song it was on?  The bridge.  About a year ago I blogged about his song.  Particularly the bridge.  We were frustrated with paperwork and fundraising.

The bridge goes like this:

"If there be a victory, will you sing it over me now?

Your peace is the melody.  Will you sing it over me now?"

So in our frustration we were singing that out.  "God remind us you're in control here and know what's happening down here.

Back to today....almost a year later....I got to meet my son for the first time today.  He is gorgeous to me.  I am overcome with emotion.

The journey is not over.  We leave soon and E stays here.  We have to leave our son behind....but knowing that hopefully in a few months we come back here to bring him home forever.  God doesn't EVER need to prove himself to me....but days like today make me know without a shadow of a doubt that God is real, and that his plan for my life is amazingly complex and wonderful.

At the very end of the song the lyrics go like this:

" I need a reason to sing

I need a reason to sing

I need to know that you're still holding the whole world in Your hand.

That is a reason to sing"

The whole world in your hands.....from little old Warren PA to Addis Ababa Ethiopia.  This is a reason to sing.

Coin Jewelry Fundraiser

As we've shared with you previously, we're still in need of funding our second trip to Ethiopia to bring E home.  We are still selling our T-shirts (hurry sizes are now limited and when they're gone, they're gone). As you can see from our new thermometer graph (right toolbar) we're just shy of 500 dollars toward our goal.  We need to get moving on this though.

So we introduce to you our new fundraiser.  We are now selling some Ethiopian coin jewelry.  We currently have 4 different items for purchase.  Note that each item has a minimum suggested donation.  Also, if you have donated to our adoption since we've returned from Ethiopia (you know who you are) contact us right away with the item you want and we'll get it out to you.

Before we get to the good stuff we wanted to point out that on each of the coins is the Lion of Judah.  Ethiopia has a long rich history.  Part of that history is Biblical.  The Queen of Sheba goes to King Solomon's court because she heard how wise he is.  He then gives her "all her desire, whatever she asked".  Ethiopian tradition is that the Queen took the Ark of the Covenant back to Ethiopia where it remains to this day.  Also that the Queen fell in love with Solomon and that she had a child by him and thus the royal blood line, the Lion of Judah, was passed down through Ethiopia.

We like the Lion side best, but we've pictured each jewelery piece with the alternate side, should you like that as well.

You should also know that the Ethiopian currency is the Birr.  Currently the Birr is 18.9 to the US dollar.

2 single necklace sets and 2 necklace and earring combos.

We start out with a 1 Birr coin necklace.  Lion of Judah on one side, scales on the other.  (for our Canadian family and friends this is just a tiny bit smaller than a Tooney).  It's a bit larger than a US quarter.   Suggested minimum donation $8

 Next we have a 10 sentum (cent) coin.  Lion on one side, Mountain Nyala on the other side.  A little larger than the size of a US nickel.  Suggested minimum donation $8.

Next we have a package set.  You get a 50 sentum (cent) coin necklace (lion on one side, victory party over emperor in 1974...about the size of a US quarter) AND a pair of 25 sentum ear rings (lion on one side and two workers celebrating....about the size of a US nickel).  Suggested minimum donation $15

Finally we have another package for you.  The necklace is the same necklace we started with...the 1 Birr coin (lion on one side, scales on the other).  The ear rings are 5 sentum coins (about the size of a US penny).  The lion hangs outward with a soldier on the alternate side.  Suggested minimum donation $15.

As with any donations to our adoption, you can use the Paypal Donate button in the left column.  You can also make checks payable to Aaron Reinard  12 Central Ave. Warren PA  16365.


We have plenty of the 1 Birr necklaces.  Everything else is limited quantities and when they're gone, they're gone.  Christmas is coming.  These would look lovely in a stocking. 

Minor News Update 9/20

NOTE:  We have a new fundraiser that we're going to introduce VERY soon (maybe even tonight)....and it's cool.  So you're going to want to check back in on the blog soon.

Relax, we still don't know when we're going. 

HOWEVER....we got something awesome today....actually minutes ago...and we wanted to tell you.

E has a passport!!!!!  That's a really good thing.  We're one small step closer.

What happens next?  Monday morning has a physical for his visa application.  That'll take a couple days.  Then the following Tuesday all his stuff goes to Embassy.

One step closer to bringing E home!!!!!!

Finances: Bring E home

From day one of this adoption journey (and blog) we have said that this is crazy.  We didn't and don't have the money for this adoption....yet we felt clearly that God was saying "go for it, I'm gonna take care of it."  Up to this point that has been 100% true.

We have yet to come to a point in this journey where we didn't have money to pay the next bill.

Last summer we were very worried because funds just weren't coming in....and then it just happened.  Little by little.  Bit by bit (a few bits were pretty big) money came in.

We can only say PRAISE GOD!!!!  and also Thank you for being part as well.

In our attempt to remain transparent with the financing of this adoption we felt like we needed to let you know where we're at.

We had the money to pay for our plane tickets for our first trip to Ethiopia......just.  Because we had to travel in summer prices were up.  Because we had to travel last minute, prices were up.  Because there is conflict throughout the Middle East prices were up...unless we wanted to fly into Cairo right as it erupted.  So we were able to buy our tickets with only a few hundred dollars to spare......which then went to pay for room, board, and transportation to go see our son.

Early on in our adoption, someone close to us set aside some money for "a trip" to Ethiopia.  That money hasn't been touched.  We know that we have that money to pay for part of our flights.  However, we also know that that won't cover the entire trip.

So where does that leave us?
-We're guessing that we need to raise around $2,000 to cover the remaining expenses of bringing E home.

-There are still T-shirts available.  They're "on sale" now for 15 dollars local and 18 dollars shipped in the US and Canada (youth sizes S, M and L;  adult size S, M, and XL....sorry out of L)

-We have another very cool fundraiser that we hope to unveil to you in the next week.  It's going to be sweet.  Christmas is coming and you'll want to pick this up.

-Would you consider helping us bring E home?  As we said early on, a very little bit goes a long way.  If 200 people give only 5 dollars we're half way there.  Would consider a one time donation...however large or small that is?

To do so you can donate online via our paypal donation button in the right column.
You can also send checks to
 Aaron Reinard
12 Central Ave.
Warren PA  16365

 -Please please please continue to keep our whole family in your prayers.  Obviously Marjorie and I are anxious to bring E home, but so are Corban and Tobiah.  The waiting is weighing on our whole family. 

Ethiopia Trip #1: Perception of Ethiopia

So what do you know about Ethiopia? 

You probably know it's in Africa.  But where?  East?  West?  South?  North?  Could you put your finger immediately on it if you were given a map?  Is it on the coast? 

What about the weather?  It's Africa right?....so it must be pretty hot.  Right?  Every movie you've seen of Africa is either deserts or jungle....so it has to be either hot and dry or hot and wet.  Right? 

How about animals?  Africa means Elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, and monkeys. 


OK let's be done with the guessing game.  Let me tell you about the country of Ethiopia that we continue to fall deeper in love with.

Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa in an area referred to as the Horn of Africa.....because it looks like a horn.  See that was easy.   Ethiopia is a land locked country.  This creates some problems for the country....which you can probably imagine.  Importing things isn't easy or cheap. 

We talked to several people about cars particularly.  Most vehicles are old Toyota's.  Taxi cabs are early 90's Lavda's from Russia.  HOWEVER....a nice shape 92 Toyota Corolla would still cost 15k US!!!  There are a couple Chinese car manufacturers in country, but everyone says they're garbage and parts are hard to come by.  If you can figure out how to cheaply import Toyota's to Ethiopia you're golden!

Ethiopia is not a desert.  Though there are tiny parts of the country that are the edge of deserts.  It is not a jungle either.  I think of Ethiopia as lush.  It's green.  When I was a kid in the 80's we saw the massive drought in Ethiopia where thousands died of malnutrition......that's not Ethiopia today. Check out this picture we took just outside the city.   Be honest, if I hadn't told you where I that was...would you have guessed?  Doubtful.

 

Here are pictures from outside our house and from the top of a mountain looking down on Addis. 

Average temperature most of the year is in the mid-70's.  In rainy season (when we were there....Aug, Sept some of Oct) it's in the low to mid 60's and damp.  Since it doesn't get super cold few people have heaters.....so damp is everywhere.  Not exactly what you think of when you think Africa huh?

While we're at it, let's talk elevation.  Addis Ababa is HIGH.  You know when it's football season and everyone talks about playing in Denver and how the teams need oxygen and so forth.  Addis looks down on Denver.  Elevation in Denver is 5,690 ft.  Addis elevation is 7,726 feet.  I would get winded jogging up stairs.

 OK animals.  Yes there are giraffe's and elephants and hippos and so forth....but not in the quantities that you think.  When most people think of African animals, you're really thinking of Kenya.  Kenya is known for it's Safari tours.  So yes they're here, but much like the jungle that's not really here....neither are the animals like you think of in Tarzan movies.

But speaking of animals.....there are goats, and sheep, and cows all over the place....including walking across the city.  Actually the night we left there was a traffic jam because a cow was killed crossing a road by being hit with a car.  Boys about Corban's age take care of these flocks that roam around.  We actually called this trip.....the whip trip.  It seemed like all these boys discovered whips.  They cracked them for fun from dawn till dusk. 

Ethiopia Trip #1: Our little man!

I call it "the moment".  It's that instance when we get to meet our child for the first time.  The moment that someone puts our child in Marjorie's arms.  Each has been different.

We woke at 7.  Showered and got ready.  Our awesome cook at our guesthouse made us breakfast.  It's one of those days that is going to change the rest of your life.  I was way more nervous than Marjorie was.

We got our ride to the St. Thomas Center where he's staying.  We met the sister who took us up to his room.  The toddler room has 10 or so cribs lining the walls.  As soon as we walked in we saw him across the room.  There's our son.  The sister asked if we remember which one he is.  We point to him and she smiles...we know our boy.  She walks over and picks him up and carry's him over to Marjorie.

He just sits.  No tears.  No noise.  Just sitting, looking, watching.  We gave him some cars which he held on to.

 And then slowly he was OK with us.

That first day was just OK.  He kind of flirted around the room playing with toys.  He'd stop in with some of the workers to get hugs and kisses and tickles.  He'd hide in corners waiting for us to "find" him.  He was hesitant with us....which was OK.  We didn't want to push things that first day.

What we loved from that first day was feeding him lunch.  This boy can EAT!  We were given a big bowl full of squished up pasta and tomatoes.  We're talking a portion size that I would eat.  This dude ate the whole thing!!!  I don't know how he can open his mouth this much!  (sorry for the dark picture)

Day 2 was way better.  He was much more engaged with us on day 2.  As soon as we walked in the door he recognized us and smiled.  He came to us willingly.  We gave him a picture book of our family and the boys and he played with those pictures all morning.  It was awesome.  Daddy and E played with a ball for awhile.  He's a quiet little guy, but he giggled and smiled when we played.

 

 Toward the end of the morning we tried hard to get a picture of the three of us (the one we used in our announcement post)....he didn't really wanna look at the camera.  So we had a lot of bad ones.  HA

 

We want this guy to come home soon.  It was great to get to know him a bit.....but he needs to be in our house now. 

Ethiopia Trip #1: The Basics

My goal is to have a blog a day this week....or close to it.  We've been running crazy since the moment our plane landed in the states and we're honestly still struggling to just do real life....but we know we need to update you all on what went down.  So let's start with the basics.

-First off, I've been telling everyone.....the trip was FABULOUS!  Such an awesome time.

-We got to meet our son for the first time.  We spent a few hours on Monday and Tuesday of our trip with him (more on all of that in another post).  Suffice it to say that HE IS AWESOME!

-We cleared Ethiopian court (which we shared with you from Ethiopia).  This basically means the country of Ethiopia recognizes Elias as our son now.

-So why didn't he come home with you?  Well the United States government now has to have their say.  All our paperwork (and some more that we're adding to it this week) goes to the US Embassy in Ethiopia.  They go through it and make sure everything looks good.  They've already approved us to bring A child in the US.....now they have to say that THIS child is the one.

-Any idea how long that will take?  They tell us 6-8 weeks.  Could be sooner.  Could be longer.  We've done this enough to not put time tables and hopes on things. 

-This will sound silly.....but bear with me......if you could take out the fact that we got to meet our son for the first time, and take out the fact that we cleared court......this would've still been an awesome trip.  We got to see things we've never seen in Ethiopia before.  We got to go places we haven't gone before.  We met new friends, we caught up with old friends.  We tried new places to eat and new foods.  We'll try to share some of this side of our trip in the coming days as well.

FOR YOU:
-Prayer.  We aren't done yet.  We need you to pray us the whole way through this thing.  There are still lots of details that need to be worked on...which we'll be sharing in the coming days.  Today literally we're finishing more paperwork....cause you know we haven't done enough yet.

-Also pray for little E.  We want him home now.  We want him to be safe and loved up on.