Ethiopia: Day 3

...still in Aleta Wondo.

We woke up to a bright and sunny morning, which seemed extra bright after being in our very dark tukul. I was really surprised at how well it kept out any amount of light. The Common River staff already had breakfast ready for us. We had rice with a spicy berbere sauce, scrambled eggs , homemade potato chips, bread, and tea. Immediately following our breakfast was another coffee ceremony with more popcorn. Once again, everything was so good, and we enjoyed the company of our generous hosts. It was very important to them that each of us, including our driver, signed their guest book. I noticed that most of the people that had visited before us were somehow involved in the coffee industry.

Breakfast

Coffee Ceremony

One of the staff members showing us the coffee field

When breakfast was finished, the staff invited each of us to plant some coffee in their garden. I have to admit, I was quite honored to do it. Aubree came from a family of coffee farmers, and it was nice to feel connected to them in this small way. The staff had already dug the holes for us, and we just had to place the plant in and cover them back up with dirt.  Then the staff poured water for us to wash our hands with.

Ashley

Me

Mom

The very sweet Common River staff

We decided to leave right after that since we still had a 7 hour drive ahead of us. I wanted to make it back to the guest house before dinner so Birtukan wouldn't be worried about us. On the way out of Aleta Wondo, we drove through some beautiful villages. They looked just like the pictures of Aubree's village that we have in her video lifebook.  Everything in Aleta Wondo and the surrounding areas is so lush and green. It reminded me of Aubree's given name at birth, Lemlem. Lemlem means verdant, or green, lush, and fertile.  She was not given this name for any particular reason, it was just a name that her aunt liked. But it so accurately describes the beautiful area of her birth.  Coffee and false banana grow everywhere. All of the green is complimented by the reddish/brown dirt, and the little tukuls and small homes that are scattered throughout the landscape.  We saw children everywhere. Playing in puddles, or walking alongside the road.  They would get so excited when they saw us, and would yell things like, "farengi!" (foreigner), and "you, you, you!" One older boy even yelled, "I love you!"  We were quite a sight, I'm sure, and a good opportunity for the children to practice English words.

There were cattle, goats, sheep, and donkeys all over, and women walking to the market or fetching water. We drove through a large market area at one point, which was cool to see.  Further up the road, we came to little roadside stands where we stopped and bought some nice hand-woven baskets.

It was a short amount of time to spend in such an amazing place, but I'm so happy I had the opportunity to experience it.  It helps me understand Aubree's background so much better, and I now have a much clearer picture of what her first years of life may have looked like.  Even Aubree's referral picture seems to make more sense to me now.  The dirty clothes, the bug bites on her face. This is the way all of the children looked. 

Aubree's referral picture

It really is such a remote area, even to our Ethiopian driver. So different from Addis Ababa, and even Awassa.  Without going into private details, I have gained more peace in my heart about Aubree's relinquishment. Though it is no less heartbreaking, I truly believe that she was relinquished out of pure love. Since I was able to learn more about the culture of this area and see it first hand, I know that it's true that she wouldn't have survived here once her grandparents passed away. I thank God that they loved her enough to choose life for her before that happened. I am humbled and more amazed than ever that God was able to knit our family together from two so very different parts of the world.  Finding Aubree would have been like searching for a needle in a haystack, but God always knew where she was. Only He could have brought us together.