My Journey to Ethiopia

By Laurie S.

As with so many journeys this one started almost 18 months prior to the actual travel. The decision to adopt is one filled with so many emotions, from excitement to fear and everything in between. My decision to adopt a child took shape over several years. My life was filled with many nieces and nephews who brought me great joy, but adoption meant, among many other things, that I could not return the child at the end of the sleepover weekend.

My social worker for WHFC was so kind through the whole process, gently answering questions more than once and allaying fears of the progress my application was making. In February of 2003, I was anxiously awaiting a referral from Guatemala when the adoption situation there changed and waiting families were encouraged to apply to another program. Already prepared to welcome a child into my home by then, I was quite disappointed. I brainstormed with my social worker and other WHFC program staff and learned that WHFC was about to open a program in Ethiopia that would allow single women to adopt. I could not have been more delighted. Originally, I had wished to adopt a child from Africa, having traveled there for work many times and loving it, but I wanted to work with WHFC. Now I could do both.

I resubmitted my paperwork within two weeks and then waited. It was on July 15, 2003 when I got a call from my social worker that she had the news of a 10-month-old girl named Hana waiting for a family. The picture of a tiny girl with the big pout was precious and I immediately asked when I could bring her home. Being a new program, many details had yet to be worked out and this was WHFC's first referral from their new Horizon House in Addis Ababa.

What comes next is the story of things going better than could ever have been expected. For a program in its infancy, the dedication of the staff involved was critical and unending. I traveled with a friend on September 24th with plans to spend two weeks getting to know Hana and her country before heading home. Our time in Addis was wonderful. Tsegaye and Yelfalem Berhe were both exceptional hosts and consummate professionals. From our first hours in Addis to the day of our departure, we were tended to with immeasurable care and consideration.

Meeting Hana, on a bright sunny day at Horizon House in Addis, I felt like I was visiting someone's home. Yelfalem handed Hana to me and invited me to feed her lunch. Shy at first, she eventually allowed me to give her a few spoonfuls. She had quite a sour expression but an infectious smile appeared after a week to my delight. Through it all were Tsegaye and Yelfalem with support, guidance and an education about Ethiopia and its wonderfully friendly people.

I cannot imagine a more reassuring and comfortable transition to a new family for both Hana and myself than the one provided by those at Horizon House. We arrived home on October 9th, 2003 to begin our life together. Hana is doing exceptionally well. She is healthy, smiling, and spirited like only a child of a year and a half can be. As our life together unfolds, Hana daily reminds me that the journey, not the arrival matters.

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