More Trip Stuff-Miskaye

In addition to accompanying my friend, Diann, to pick up her daughter, this trip was also a site visit to Miskaye. For those newcomers (all 1 or 2 of you), Miskaye is the orphanage in Ethiopia that is supported by the nonprofit organization a fellow adoptive mom (Dedra)and I formed.

Miskaye has been open for a few months and now is home of 12 children ages 1 week-12 years old. Before the actual opening, many months were spent on both sides of the globe visualizing, planning, fundraising and dreaming of what could be...what should be. Miskaye was born out of the belief that no child should have to live without proper food, shelter, medical care, education and loving care. My daughter, Brynly, and Dedra's three girls all came from an orphanage that was filthy and did not have enough of anything (food, clothes, staff, medicine, etc). the faces of those children left inside the gates of that orphanage haunted us and our Ethiopian collaborators. The children there not only lacked the very basics of life, they also lacked hope. You could see it in their faces as they said goodbye to the lucky ones who were leaving.

What I experienced at Miskaye was just the opposite. The facility was spotless...much cleaner than my own house. The babies were warm and dry and well fed. They are cuddled and snuggled and spoken to. The older children have space where they can have things of their own. They watch television for fun and have a little school room for learning English. They are fed fruits and veggies everyday and never, ever go to bed hungry. There are photos on the walls and toys to paly with.

It is an orphanage, but it is not institutional at all. It is very homey. The children laugh and play and are very comfortable. Although it is not the ideal situation (that would be a family), it is home for them. Miskaye is a joyful place. it truly felt as if wewere visiting someone's home. We were treated to a delicious dinner,a coffee cermony and dancing and singing by the older children.

The starkest contrast with Brynly's orphanage is the demeanor of the children. They are not hopeless. They go to school. They have people that love them. They will have productive lives whether or not they (or any of the future children of Miskaye) are ever adopted. We will make sure of that.

Truly, I cannot say enough about how moving it was to see a dream realized right in front of my eyes. I hope that each and every one of you out there who gave $5 or $10or gathered supplies or prayed for Miskaye, can understand the magnitude of what we are doing together.