Our bonding process is progressing better than we could have ever expected. Gavin is having a great time, Layne is enjoying a playmate her age and the “big” kids cannot get enough of either one.
We met the kids from two different orphanages yesterday and that experience has already had a profound effect upon our family. Stacy and Ellison were able to visit the orphanage that took Gavin in and met with the people who knew more about him and his family than we could simply glean from court documents. He grew up in a village more akin to a Kenyan lifestyle than that of Ethiopia and where many of the children have been relinquished to orphanages due to disease and poverty.
The happiness of the children in their state of need is amazing to us. It is so healthy for us, as Westerners, to see people happy in their lives although they have nothing. Things truly do not equal happiness.
The staff and owners of the orphanages are doing such a great job with what little resources they have. At the least, please pray for them; if you feel moved to do so, they need our support.
Remember, Ethiopia is the only remaining Christian country in Africa. These people are indeed our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Gavin is just precious! I can't wait to hear about how he continues to grow as part of your family and adapt to life in the US. You are so right when you say that thing do not equal happiness!!!
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