Sep 28, 2011

An Overdue Post

I know, I know. I owe the world final pics of all the renovation projects that we've endured over the past few months. Life has become a LOT busier these days.I promise to get around to that soon, but it's worth announcing...

We are moving to Ethiopia on November 15th!

Exciting, huh? We were very excited to learn that Mark has been posted to Addis Ababa and feeling very grateful for all of the support we've received along the way. It hasn't been without a few hiccups, and I'm sure there are more to come, but I thought you might enjoy a list of the things that we didn't anticipate learning/experiencing as a result of this assignment:
  1. Sure, Ethiopia is in Africa, but it's not hot. In fact, Addis rests about 8,300 feet above sea level and other than a short rainy season during the Summer the average high is around 73 and low around 50.  The weather doesn't change much throughout the year so it's kind of like moving to San Diego.
  2. Ethiopians are incredibly nice and sincere in their willingness to help.  DC has a large Ethiopian community and we've really enjoyed talking with so many people about what to expect, what to pack, and how to behave while we're there.
  3. Ethiopia is a hub for NGO's serving the horn of Africa since it's the only stable population and community.  Having Sudan and Somalia as your neighbors will make any country look good!
  4. Despite the large ex-pat community in Addis, there isn't a single Western grocery store. That makes Addis a "consumables post" which means that we get extra weight allowance to ship things we plan to consume over the next two years.  Learning what two years worth of toothpaste, Pledge Multisurface (what? I'm addicted. Don't judge), cake mix, and salad dressing looks like is both expensive and mind boggling.  I do hope that this experience will break of us our American attachment to consumption.
  5. Ethiopia is the cradle of humanity.  No. Really. Think Garden of Eden. It's where archeologists found Lucy's body. If people have been surviving and thriving there for millions of years, so can we. As a result, it has a rich and unique Christian history.  We're excited to see one of the few remaining countries where Christians and Muslims have lived together in peace for over a thousand years.
  6. Addis is safe. In fact, there are fewer homicides in Addis each year than there are in DC. The most common crime is pick pocketing. 
  7. Ethiopia is the easiest African country to adopt from. Doctor's have suggested for some time that having a biological child was not in our future - at least not without significant medical intervention.  After a lot of conversation and prayer, Mark and I both felt that growing our family was our own cross to bear and that we wouldn't challenge God's decision about a biological child. (Note: that's a personal decision and we certainly don't think it's for everyone. We would never judge anyone for their path to parenthood.) We were excited to adopt when the time was right. Learning how easy it is to adopt from Ethiopia opened up a floodgate of emotions and gratitude.  It was as if God selected Ethiopia as our new home so that we could begin our family. Then something amazing happened......a faint pink line appeared where the doctor's said it wouldn't. Only a few weeks after deciding to begin the adoption process in Ethiopia, we experienced a miracle and God is giving us a child. We are overwhelmed, excited, humbled and made speechless by the awesomeness of our God. He who gives and takes away has given plentifully and we are so blessed!
  8. Packing just got harder. Packing for three (plus two cats!) is no easy task.  How do I know what my baby will want to eat when it's 1.5? Peas? Carrots? Pickles? Pasta salad? ...wait, those last two are mine. Strict weight shipments have lead us to be particular about what stays and what goes and a pending October 17th pack-out date has forced us to purchase a nursery much quicker than most expecting couples do. Moving to Africa presents a lot of challenges but also a lot of unique opportunities to try otherwise odd or annoying parenting styles by American standards.  For example, we'll be using cloth diapers. Bum Genius Elemental All-in-Ones to be exact. Ethiopia doesn't have a waste management system and we don't want our baby's dirty dipes to end up in another baby's drinking water. We'll also make all of our own food at home and try our hand at organic gardening. Ethiopia is known for food borne illness and we would hate to pass a tummy ache on to our little one.
  9. Logistically it's not that easy to have a baby in Africa. I'll fly out with Mark in November only to return in February and wait-it-out in Georgia with my family. International flights are a no-no after 32 weeks. I'm due April 19th (Mark will fly back a week or two prior) and then after the baby is born we'll wait 6 weeks before receiving medical clearance and a passport for the little guy/gal to head back to Addis. Right now we're flying back-and-forth to Georgia for our OB appointments since I plan to deliver there. Buying two years worth of "stuff," preparing for a new baby, moving to Africa, and trying to spend as much time with family and friends prior to our departure keeps us both excited and exhausted (especially me - I would sleep for 24hrs a day right now if work would let me).
  10. God's timing is frustratingly perfect. I'll be in Ethiopia for less than three months before returning home and I'll then spend two months without Mark during an undoubtedly exciting and difficult time. Three months isn't enough time to start a job and it's pretty difficult to get a job with a big 'ol stomach. I envisioned our time in Ethiopia as a unique opportunity to go into the lesser served communities and help. Now that's going to be tougher to accomplish than I originally anticipated. This all sounds pretty miserable (imagine me. not working. sitting at home in Ethiopia watching my stomach grow with nothing to do. it may be a nightmare to even know me.) until you look at it like this: we get to raise a child in Africa, I get to deliver at home with my family near instead of in DC, I don't have to go straight back to work after the baby is born, we can afford a child much easier in Africa than we can in DC, we get to try out all kinds of creative parenting techniques because of our unique situation, having a baby is an easy way to meet people and we're going to want new friends in Addis, domestic help is exceptionally affordable (and recommended - it helps the local economy) in Addis so we'll have a nanny, cook and cleaner to make taking care of the little one easier, and then there's the Ethiopian culture.  In Ethiopia people don't talk about their children as their own. They talk about children as if they are on lend from God. It is His child and you are chosen to raise it - in fact, in Ethiopia the community feels responsible for raising God's child together. I can't wait to meet and befriend the incredible women that will influence our little one. It's God's perfect timing and we are perfectly pleased.