Packages don’t always come wrapped in cardboard. Sometimes they are flesh and blood.
The story of this “package” starts when we were approached by our social worker back in 2008 about adopting Ethiopian sisters who were in need of a family. We were told their Mom left them at a care center so that she could search for work. She couldn’t feed them, the worker told us, and prayed that an American family would adopt them. The number of sisters they described was two.
Kalkidan and Andinet came home to our family in August of 2008. They had no birth certificates–their ages were a guess.
Although they couldn’t speak or understand a word of English, the girls were hit with American life and culture from their first day home.
They learned the joy of being ballerinas… And princesses.
They went to school.
And played American sports.
And as they were absorbed into our family…
…they began to change. Their rapid-fire speech to each other in their native dialect of Tigrinya slowly gave way to words, then phrases, then sentences in English. Instead of pointing and using sign language to communicate with us, they starting to develop the ability to tell us simple stories from home.
There were some colorful stories. Some hard to believe.
But there was one character who kept recurring in the stories; someone named Tamer.
At first they didn’t have the words to tell us who Tamer was. But eventually they did.
She was their big sister. And she had been left behind in Ethiopia.
They couldn’t explain why. I don’t think they knew. But I wanted to know.
I learned that the girls’ mother had originally put all three of them up for adoption. At some point in the bureaucratic adoption process it had been determined that most American families would not be willing to take in three siblings or an older child on the cusp of puberty. Mom was advised to keep Tamer in country and let the agency find a home for the two younger sisters. Keeping Tamer in country meant that she would live alone while her mother left to find work.
I don’t know who made that decision, but I did know a family who would be willing to adopt three siblings and a child on the cusp of puberty.
I knew it would be complicated to pursue the adoption of Tamer, but I also knew that the Psalmist says, “God sets the lonely in families. He leads out the prisoners with singing.”
The tedious year-long process of paperwork became a dim memory when I witnessed the girls, who thought they would never see each other again, reunite at Dulles Airport in April of 2010.
“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.”
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring you children from the east and gather you from the west.”
“I will say to the North, ‘Give them up!” and to the South, ‘Do not hold them back.'”
“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth–”
“everyone who is called by My name…”
“whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43: 4-6
7 Comments
beautifully written Sharon – a beautiful story – so glad to have a front row seat in your adventure (side row?)
LikeLike
I’m glad you have been such a part of their lives Kim. These pictures make it all come alive again for me!
LikeLike
Sharon honey …it was medicine for me to see the ‘whole’ story as you laid it out…sometimes when we are too close to events we can lose track that God is always weaving together the threads, making a tapestry, turning what seem like isolated events into God stories…Love You (Now I am off for a cup of “buna”…:)
LikeLike
Hi Sharon, As I sit here in my apartment, tears are splattering in big drops on my table. I think God is stirring in me to adopt. I’m the single, 20something (introvert) 🙂 you met at Marti’s house. Obviously I’m not married, and *so* not there when it comes to children, but I wanted you to know that the seeds you’re planting that whisper (“maybe it’s possible, maybe you can do this Ruthie”) have been really valuable to me. Thanks for sharing a real picture of what it’s like. I can only imagine the story behind the story (the year of paper work, etc.), but I so appreciate even a glimpse of that through your honesty. Thank you, Ruthie
LikeLike
Oh Ruthie, don’t despair. There are so many single women who experience the joy of adoption. Pray and press on. I have a feeling that if God is tweaking your heart, He has an adoption plan for you. I’m praying.
LikeLike
Oh Sharon – I can TOTALLY remember when they first got here – what a blessing to look back at those pictures and think of how far they have come, how much they have grown, and how faithful God has been. Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!
LikeLike
Yes, Jen. It brought back such sweet memories of our time at GCPC! Hopefully we will be living a similar story as Sergei joins your family. I’m praying.
LikeLike