At the care center

Some of the photos above are of the traditional coffee ceremony, very important in Ethiopian culture. They roast the beans & shake them around the room before grinding them into the coffee. Each person is to drink 3 cups, and it was strong, but tasty. Each coffee ceremony we were at included popcorn.

For the care center itself, Ethiopia does not want photos of its children being broadcast on the web, so I'm limited to photos of of our children, or those adopted. I didn't get a photo of the spartan like rooms with metal bunkbeds, with the skinny camp mattresses, void of all toys. Or, of the bassinets in a row with mosquitoe netting. We did get photos of children running in the small courtyard, some with care packages meaning they have a family in American anxious to bring them home. Those children happily digging through their bags, asking for help putting on new clothes or shoes. Asking for helping to undo a new jump rope or open a bottle of bubbles.

It's the children without bags that really broke my heart. They looked for a bag they might find on the ground, to take something out of. Or a child, expressing anger/frustration by screaming & a nanny swooping in & removing an item from whatever bag was closest, to keep the peace. Some of the children, just sat on the side, completely overwhelmed & unsure of what was happening.

Each of those children representing a family in crisis, because of death or poverty, was forced to relinquish their child to the care center. At this time, we were told the care center has fewer children. During the rainy season, because of court closures, the numbers escalate.

It's a difficult thing to picture. The nannies care for the babies & toddlers, but really, a child old enough to walk/potty on their own appears to be left in the care of the other older children. It reminded Paul of "Lord of the Flies." We figured out 2 older children, who also spoke Tingrinia, appeared to have cared for Atsede & Kebrom. The language barrier probably contributed to that, but children 7-10is, caring for younger children. Whoever is at the top of the pecking order sets the standards & the other children seem to follow.

There was a pile on the walk. A family back in the states had donated $1,400 USD. In Ethiopia, it purchased a washing machine, 3 cribs, a water purifier & some mats. Not sure if you noticed the furniture in the room the coffee ceremony was held. Our Goodwill would not take those couches, we sunk WAY DOWN as we sat. I wonder how many USD it would take to replace those. The center needs bumbo chairs for the babies (so they can sit without being held) and children's rocking chairs. They need water purifiers. 70% of the water, in Ethiopia, is contaminated. Most children have parasites, giardia, or some combination...at times, even tape worms.

If I think about the thinks I've whined to God about in the past, I really make myself ill. We have so much here.