Paul here...
Yesterday was a full day for us as we started out going to the American Embassy with all of the other families for our appointment that finalizes our adoption in Ethiopia. It's more or less a formality...and we were so anxious to complete one of the last steps in the process. We waited in line for two hours before we were called over the loud speaker, "Parents of Abatu Armitage (Abatu is Levi's birth name in Ethiopia), please report to window 6". We were met by a kind man who spoke fluent English and was actually from Missouri. He asked us a few questions related to Levi's birth mother, and then the official stamp came on Levi's birth certificate which he then gave to us. It was so satisfying to walk out of this room knowing that Levi was finally and legally ours. It's been a long process with lots of waiting but as we looked into the eyes of Levi throughout the day, we found ourselves being so grateful for God's provision and the special gift that He has entrusted to our care. God is good!
Following the Embassy, we were taken to the country's largest coffee factory. Ethiopia is where coffee originated and Robera Coffee (the factory we visited) is exported all over the world, including to Starbucks in America. That's right, next time you sip on a Starbucks coffee...remember that it may very well have come from Levi's homeland. We sipped on some coffee (boy was it sweet...extra sugar) and then we placed our orders for souvenirs to bring home.
We were taken back to the hotel where we enjoyed dinner as a family and then America World arranged a Guys Night for all of the fathers. Remember, earlier in the week, the women got to enjoy a massage at a spa...so now it was the Guys turn. We went out to eat and then we went to a Jazz Club in a very ritzy area of Addis Ababa. It was fascinating. When I had often thought of Ethiopia, I thought of poverty, famine and malnutrition. This has been my perception. I've learned that 85% of Ethiopia's population lives in the rural areas. So, although there are small pockets of wealth in the capital city, the extreme poverty in Ethiopia far outweighs the wealth I had seen (and is actually localized to just a few areas in the capital city).
What I experienced in the Jazz Club was the furthest from these pre-conceived thoughts that I had. People were well dressed, and the environment was very upscale (i kind of felt out of place). It made me think of the large gap between the rich and the poor in this country. It made me think that while people in this comfy and cozy jazz bar listen to this great jazz music, there are people less than 2 miles away that had no food today. This heartbreaking reality once again showed me how we can easily become entrenched and comfortable in our easy American lifestyles. Although I'm grateful for the blessings that have been given to me...I want to have my heart stretched and extended towards the poor and forgotten. While I sat in that comfortable Jazz Club, I imagined Jesus caring not only for the middle and upper class Ethiopians, but pursuing with a reckless love the downtrodden and malnourished people of Ethiopia. God, give me your heart...
Mandy and I are so excited to come back with Levi to our home in Warren. We can't wait to see Logan and Landon and for them to see Levi. Our hearts are so anxious.
Thanks again for caring for us and supporting us (and Levi) in this journey.
In His Grip,
Paul
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