Well November 30th we passed court... To give you an idea of what that was like here is Grandpa Daryl's description:
We got to court a little after 9am and went up to the 3rd floor to a waiting room. The room was about 25 x 25 feet, a few chairs around the sides and lots of people waiting. We waited for at least a half hour. While we were waiting the "lawyer" or substitute lawyer, told us he had a document from the Mati Police stating that they had tried, by posters and asking around, to find the parents of Ayantu. This might be asked for by the judge. This was to confirm that she was really abandoned and an effort was made to find the parents. No doubt the parents, or mother, was just too poor to care of a child and hoped that life in the orphanage would be better.
When we were called in, we walked into a long office that was the length of the waiting room and about 8 feet wide. I don't remember seeing anything on the walls. There were 4 chairs at the end of the room where we walked in, we stood in front of the chairs, and the judge (she looked to be in her early 40's, but really hard to tell) was behind her desk at the other end of the room. She looked up at us from her papers, without a smile, and told us we could be seated. She then began to ask Aaron a series of questions. It seemed obvious she wanted a short one word answer to the questions. The judge spoke fairly good english , rapidly, and just loud enough to be heard down the long room. She began:
'Have you been studying about Ethiopia?'
-yes
'Have you been in contact with other families adopting from Ethiopia?'
-yes
'Have you seen Ayantu?'
-yes
'Do you want to adopt Ayantu?'
-yes!
'Do you know the adoption is binding and she will always be your responsibility?'
-yes
'Do you have other children'
-No
'You know that the adoption cannot be canceled?'
-yes
'Have you taken classes on parenting?'
-yes
'It is very impotant that the child learns about their heritage and culture. Now Ayantu is your child.'
And that was it. The assistant opened the door and we walked out. The judge looked back down at her papers and never smiled. We walked back through the waiting room and the "lawyer" shook our hands and expressed words of congratulations. Aaron came up and put his arm around my shoulders and I congratulated him... but I was sort of in "wonder/shock" from what just happened. Not sure what we expected it would be like, as far as the hearing, but I know that was not it? We thought Aaron might be asked why Sarah was not there, or question the lawyer about the possibility of parents, but nothing of the sort.
Some of Aaron's thought about Sophie Ayantu from emails he's written me:
We just came back from the foster home. I love being there. I love that everytime I go there, Ayantu opens her eyes when I walk in. She is such a little busy body. She needs to watch everything that is happening, very curious! She was cuing a little more and has been more talkative. We gave her some tummy time today. She seems to like that but lets us know when she is done. This girl is quite amazing. We are the 'lucky' ones (her name means lucky).
From another email:
I have been having such a good time with Sophie. I have realized that Saturday is going to suck. Every time I leave her it gets harder and harder. Yesterday she was sleeping and looked very cute. I had to do a couple double takes. I would leave the room and then come back in again and do it again. I am hearing great things about the US embassy. Is it possible that we will get her in January? I hope so!!!!!
Grandpa Daryls' thoughts on the parents having to say goodbye to the children they have now met and love:
We left the foster home somewhat late as Aaron was with Sophie in her room. She was almost asleep or sleeping in his arms when he laid her in her bed and then she opened her eyes. Of course when she did that Aaron could not leave!
Mark and Krisy were leaving at 2 am to go back to the states (another family adopting). Krisy said she had an emotional barrier at this time to their child, so leaving was not hard. She said once it was official and they had the child in their arms heading for the states she would let her emotions go and cry her eyes out...
Everyone said how much they thought Sarah must be sad not to be able to come. But one aspect of her not coming is that Sarah will miss some of the agony of having to leave Ayantu, here at the foster home until she can be picked up to go to the states. That is the moment of unspoken dread that all who are holding their babies have in the back of their mind. Aaron has mentioned it several times. To spend a week with their new babies and then have to leave them in the foster home, without the care they long to give them, is a heartbreak. All speak of the fact that they have the child that God designed for them, and a real gift beyond measure, and no matter what the difficulty with agencies or other circumstances, they have the child they want, love and is just right for them.
With just the 8-10 couples we've seen come and meet their kids, for the first time, it is a real joy to see them bond with them. Most, if not all, have seen pictures of them and have some basic facts of weight and approximate age, but to hold their child for the first time is, of course, totally different! And in a flash they have the whole new wonder and excitement of holding their child. It will be the same for Sarah, but just a little longer wait.
Aaron has mentioned this many times on the phone or in emails... He is so frustrated just thinking about having to say goodbye on Saturday. Please pray for peace and comfort for him and little Sophie Ayantu as they say goodbye and over their time appart!!!! And pray that our embassy date comes in January like they are indicating so we can bring little Soph home!!!!
