Woohoo!!

A few days ago we officially chose the two boys we are going to adopt!! They are Zerihun, age 15, and Melaku, age 9. Zerihun is the brother I mentioned in my last post, whose sister was found to be over 18. The director spoke with him this past week, and asked him whom he would want to go to America with if he could choose, and he thought about it for a day or so, and came back to her and said, "I choose Melaku!" We didn't want to only go on his word, of course, but we heard back from some people who know him, as well as the social workers there at the orphanage, and they all felt that this would be a good match.

This is a little bit about each boy:

Zerihun - a mom who knows him well wrote me this about him - "Z is unbelievably smart... I was taken aback by his outlook on life, and his plan for the future. He really wants to be the 'hope' for Ethiopia, and do well in the States so that he can return and make changes in ET. He's an amazing kid, and whoever gets to be his parents will be very lucky. He is a peacekeeper, often seen breaking up arguments between the younger boys... He's quiet and the thinker, too... He likes to draw, beat the pants off me in UNO, and play soccer. His english is excellent, and writing is good, too... He broke my heart on the last day I was there, when he said to me... "Can I ask you something?... Why do Americans only want babies? They always come for babies, and not so many older kids..." I told him that some Americans do want older kids... but that a lot of families are scared to take a kid who already has a mind of his own... but that the 'perfect family for him was out there, and that they would find him soon'.

A girl who volunteered at the orphanage for the past two summers, wrote this to me - "Curious and intelligent, Z likes to do experiments. One time he gathered together an old water bottle, stray cotton balls, some sand, gravel, and dirty water, and figured out how to make a simple water purification system. He does very well in school (received an award while I was there) and likes to follow his curiosities and read about things that catch his interest. As you’ll read in the blog (note - this is the link to her post about him - http://addisunderground.blogspot.com/2010/08/guitar-lessons.html), he likes making music too. He did well teaching his peers what he had learned, directing them in an almost jocund manner. The guitar was the first time I think I saw him really smile."

Zerihun's older sister, Meseret, is currently in a boarding school in Addis Ababa, so we will support her there, and hopefully in the future we can bring her over as well.

Melaku - This is what the girl who volunteered there wrote about him - "Melaku is no pushover. He can hold his own. By this I do not infer that he is argumentative or defiant, simply that he is not overly sensitive and though the children have occasional disagreements, he handles them wisely. He is sure to express his view, hear another out, and when the matter is settled to drop it. He holds no grudges. He is helpful towards the younger children, and plays well with the older ones. He is the smallest but feistiest goalie in Layla and one of only a few younger children sturdy enough to play with the big boys.

Melaku nearly always rushed after me to help carry supplies for activities and classes whenever I taught. I have a photo of him and Yirgalem carrying baskets on their heads one afternoon – it was a signature moment. Always my little helper. He likes math and is good at it. We spent several hours over the summer doing flash cards and problem sets during activities time. Guess who had the idea. Certainly not me. I’m a music major. Melaku liked to pull out math supplies whenever I took down games like legos and puzzles for activities.

In class he paid as much attention as one can expect of a 7/8 year old (note - our agency says he's 9). He isn’t afraid to raise his hand or try new things; he enjoys writing on the board, giving examples, and helps other kids with their work. All in all, fairly mature for his age – though you could say that for most of the children considering how much they have been through.

Meluku and I shared many things in common: a love for music and music-making, our favorite color is red, we both enjoy sports, we like to draw,etc. He has a comforting steadiness and a peaceful spirit uncommon for such a small boy. I recall one very hectic afternoon when I had to combine two classes because of a shortage of teachers. At the time I as the only volunteer in the compound and so group two and group 1b went into the library. In the midst of finding, replacing, and reading books, Melaku asked if he could read to me. In his hands he held the first book I ever read to my dad: Go, Dog, Go. I sat with fascination as this small boy read nearly every single word of that book without halting."

These are the new Phillips boys! We are all very excited. They will begin the process there in Ethiopia, and in a couple of months or so Darren and I will travel there for a court date, and to meet the boys. :) :) Then we'll come back for a bit, and maybe a month or so later we'll be able to travel back and bring them home. :) :) :)

Please pray for us, for all the funds that we still need to come in - for the remaining fees, and for all of our travel costs.