May 1, 2010

Not Lost In Translation: Part 2 Day 2 with Kaleab

Thursday was supposed to be spent with our travel group touring some church that is very cultural significant in Ethiopia. We skipped the whole thing to be with:


I was unaware that people were staring at us everywhere we went. I didn't care. I had finally received what I had flown halfway around the world for, and he was holding my had. We had let our driver go for the afternoon, so when our two social workers asked if we wanted to see Kaleab's neighborhood, they almost choked when I said "yeah. Let's walk it." We took a cab. Eight people climbed in a cab and drove about four miles to the entrance to my son's "neighborhood." My son walks from home to his care center every day. I didn't think to ask him if it was his first time in a cab. I'm kicking myself now.


His neighborhood looked like all the others slums I had seen in Addis. Sheet metal, hay, mud and barb wire structured together like a house made of toothpicks. One wrong move or overturned lantern could be a recreation of the great Chicago fire. I ignored the open sewers, stray dogs and children who thought it hysterical to have two white visitors in their midst. Through all the stares and the outright comments, I felt so at home and at peace. This was my son's turf. He knew where we were going and I just wanted to soak in the company and forget that our relationship made no sense to most of the people who were observing it.

My son's story is tragic and heartbreaking. But it is his and only his to tell. But the woman in the picture below is his grandmother. She is my son's hero. She is my hero. She saved my son's life. Her goal for him is to be a good man, a good student and have a mama.

During our time with her, she told me about her grandson, her life, her love for Jesus. While we were talking to her through translators, she suddenly turned to Kaleab and asked him something. He nodded a response and turned to me and smiled.
Both social workers teared up and turned away from us. Incredulously, I kept asking "what did she say?" until they answered me.
'She asked him if he had finally found his mama.'





9 comments:

Amy said...

Oh, Good Lord, Lindz!! I didn't know sweet grandma said that!! Makes me wish I'd hugged her harder a few weeks ago (as if that is even possible)! I LOVE this post and love catching a glimpse of three of my favorite Ethiopians (your son and his social workers!! Thanks for inspiring my late night tears tonight! Love you and am praying tonight for sweet Kaleab who is waking up right about now.

Tracy said...

Oh, you're so right! Hollywood has nothing on this! God's story is so much more amazing!

I can't wait to hear how He continues to write this story.

Beautiful Mess said...

I would write something but I am too busy crying...

Megan said...

I had a hard time getting through this story. The picture of his grandmother is AMAZING. SHE IS MY HERO.

I love her.

Brandi said...

Heard the story before and STILL love it!!! And LOVE you being comfy walking the neighborhood. Precious thought. I love you sweet friend!

Laura Ferry-Jimenez said...

I remember when you first showed us a picture of Kaleab and I thought ,"how cool of she could adopt him, too!" and now I feel like an idiot for using the word "cool." :) there are no words to describe what you and Le are doing.

I can't wait to see your true trifecta coming together as one.... you have truly made my day!!

Beautiful Mess said...

had to come back to cry again. Praise God! Praying! I don't know the ins and outs...but just PRAYING!

Shannon Plumb said...

Oh Lindsey! What an amazing experience! What an amazing boy! What an amazing GOD! Praying that God brings him into your home soon!!!!

Jude said...

wow, this made me cry, especially what hi grandmother said! I LOVE the picture of you two holding hands!!!