Tuesday - we arrived at the airport early in the morning, it had long night and the day ahead seemed really long. After getting our bags, visas, and going through customs we walked out into the pick up area. There was a large group of people with cards and flowers waiting for people they knew. We moved off to the side with our mountains of baggage and started searching for a person who was looking for us. Minutes started to pass and by that time two different women had come up to us asking if we wanted to use their phones. We tried calling and we were simply told that our ride was on the way. The women kept asking if we wanted a taxi and we couldn't figure out how to tell them that someone was coming for us. One of the women told us that the doors are closed to visitors after nine. Looking around at the doors we saw soldiers guarding the exits and entrances. A few minutes later a man on the outside pushed a paper against the window, it was Abel. We were so excited to see him. The thought of being lost the first few minutes on African soil was terrifying. Abel apologized  for being late and grabbing one of our bags we followed him out into the parking lot of taxis. It felt so good to sit down and not be on a plane! The ride to the orphanage was something I will never forget. Seeing the people, animals, stores, markets, new buildings, and atmosphere so unique. Abel our guide told us that we would be seeing Terefe that afternoon.

We turned of the main road on to a pothole covered gravel road. We were so close to him. Every corner we took made my heart pound harder and harder in my ears. The Toyota van came to a stop in front of a blue and orange checkered gate. I remember following Abel through the gate and ducking underneath the lines of cloths. The clothes were so small.  We took a left were the clothes ended. I could hear the television, smell the dampness on the ground, and the old brick walls on either side of the path. We took another left into the the room with a big carpet. The kids turned towards us. They ran over shaking our hands and smiling. Hannah, Abel's wife and our social worker, told the nannies that we were hear to see Terefe. The nannies went behind the swinging doors to go get him.

- Lauren