The first part of our trip was plagued by mishaps with the airlines, including canceled flights, lost baggage, and just plain chaos. We stayed up the night before, desperately needing rest, trying to figure out how to get Neha to us after her entire trip was canceled by a United gate agent. God showed up in a mighty way through each of those steps, including a kind person on the phone who spent 8 hours with United Airlines sorting out her trip. She ended up traveling alone to meet us in Addis Ababa. So thankful she is brave and well-traveled enough to handle that on her own.
Our family made our way through Chicago, and when we got there, our bags were lost in the airport for about an hour with bags that had all of Tamir's clothing for the trip. But in true Tamir fashion, she simply did not care. It was so refreshing as a parent to watch these two wonderful adults we've raised just take things in stride. We boarded the plane not knowing the outcome of the baggage situation and headed on. We arrived in Ethiopia with everything intact, thanks to another angel at the Chicago gate who waited for our bags and made sure they got loaded on the plane. We traveled a little heavy on this leg of the trip, bringing supplies and goods for our Lifesong for Orphans friends.
Landing in Addis Ababa after 15 years was nothing short of glorious. Seeing a city that has become so modernized, with tremendous investment and development, was stunning. The city was unrecognizable to all of us. Watching Tamir take in her home country was incredible and seeing it through her eyes was something special. She loved being in a flourishing city, where everyone looked like her. She felt so at home in so many ways. We toured the presidential palace, and she got a real sense of pride in where she came from and heard so many stories of her people. Now we know why she is never really cold and does well in higher elevation. It's beautiful here and the weather is so temperate unlike the muggy heat of Houston. Today Sammy spent some time telling her about the topography of her country and how there is so much to see with such a rich history of the Ethiopian people.
We had to eat, of course, and knowing we'd be indulging in traditional Ethiopian food for the rest of the week, we started the first day with some Indian food. It is absolutely delicious here in Africa and spicy just the way our family likes it. Our guide and advocate for this trip, Sammy, has already been nothing short of amazing and so patient with our family as we ask all our questions.
Tomorrow is a big day. We're starting at church with Sammy and his family, then heading off to formally meet Tamir's family, who just arrived in Addis Ababa from Mekele and the Tigray region. We are not able to go to Tigray for many reasons that you can read about on the news right now.
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