They NEED Our Help

Sometimes you just don’t know what’s truly going on. In my head, when I picture our adoption, I imagine sweet, angelic faces with big tooth-less (sometimes 6 little teeth) staring out and longing for families. I see them crawling around on a big blue/yellow/green shag rug (sometimes my imagination is detailed!). I see them crawling on top of each other – much like I used to do with my triplet sisters (and younger sister!). Everything is bright and cheerful. But then the reality slowly creeps in. Today it crept in, in the form of a few emails.

There are five families from our agency currently in Ethiopia for court. This morning they visited two orphanages and one just broke their hearts. Please read the following emails from them. This is where our little man will be coming from (or maybe he’s there now!?). It kills me to read this. But it’s a REALITY for these kids.

EMAIL #1

Hey, everyone-
We (the five families in Eth for court right now) visited KVI orphanage today. We all walked away with broken hearts, stunned at the reality of life for the kids there.

They do not have any diapers. Yes, you read that correctly. An orphanage full of babies and toddlers, and there are no diapers. They have rags and ripped pieces of sheets that the wrap around their bottoms, and keep them in place with onesie t-shirts. Every single baby we held today was soaking wet (or worse), their entire outfit. They lay on the floor, soaking wet, and get changed on the floor...where they all crawl around and play with the few toys that they have.

In addition, they had no mattresses in many of the cribs. Babies sleeping on a the wooden bottom of a crib. I don't know that I would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

So...we pooled our money and they helped us find a place that sells crib mattresses. All well and good...except for the fact that they are NOT vinyl covered mattresses like we get at home. Cloth covers.

So, while it's great that they at least have crib mattresses, they're going to be ruined in short order with none of the babies having diapers. We've searched high and low, and cannot find any waterproof crib pads here in Addis.

CAN THE FAMILIES THAT ARE TRAVELING FOR COURT THIS COMING WEEK PLEASE BRING AS MANY WATERPROOF CRIB PADS AS POSSIBLE? The best would be the kind that can just be wiped clean, and if possible have the fitted sheet edges to wrap around. But anything waterproof will work! Even if they have the cotton top over vinyl, if we have enough of them at least they can be changed.

The other obvious need is diapers. Even cloth diapers and plastic pants to go over would work. Just something.

We're finding that yes, the Transition Home is an orphanage. There are still conditions there that are hard, as parents, to see. But, it's the Hilton of orphanages. We would just recommend, based on what we saw here today, that you split your donations up...if you bring one tote/suitcase of donations for the TH, bring one or two more for KVI and Kids Care orphanage. Just our two cents! Thanks for the help with crib pads and diapers for KVI!

EMAIL #2:

We are here in Ethiopia for court. We visited 2 orphanages today and one broke our hearts and needs URGENT help!!!! KVI orphanage. There were no crib mattresses in the cribs and no babies had on diapers! Pieces of ripped up Sheets in the place of diapers!!! we were so disturbed that we went out and bought 6 crib mattresses for KVI and delivered them. Problem is they are NOT plastic covered so they will get ruined quickly! Babies are soaking wet because of no diapers. We all bring donations for the TH and yes they need stuff but take as MUCH as possible to KVI!!! Please traveling familes try to bring this trip if you can!! these are thier urgent needs:

PLASTIC CRIB COVERS
CRIB SHEETS
BLANKETS FOR CRIBS
DIAPERS
WIPES
DIAPER CREME

This is the list they gave us:
Bed sheets twin and crib
bath towels and hand towels
blankets for toddlers
crocs
clothes for toddlers( a definate)
tooth brushes/toothpaste
kids dvds
tylenol
antibiotic creme

PLEASE tell all traveling soon!!! I am not saying do not give to TH because they take good care of our kids and do so because of our donations but KVI is in major need!!

Paige and all the families in ET right now

I wanted to give you a glimpse into the life/conditions of what our child(ren) might be dealing with. It's not pretty. Please pray that we're able to come up with money to send over there, or to send with other families who will be traveling soon. Our kids need you. If nothing else, please, PLEASE keep these little ones in your prayers. Pray for the conditions of the orphanges, for the help needed to run these orphanges.