Saterday

Saterday:
I don't think I have ever slept 12 hours in my life- never too old to break records though right?  We wanted to have an early start today to call Hopechest and see if we can arrange a last minute visit.  So when I jumped out of the bed at 11:00 we scrambled to get ready, amazingly got a hold of Hopechest and arranaged the last minute visit, called a taxi, and inhaled breakfast while the cab was waiting for us.

We met Yemamu- the director of Hands for the Needy in Korah.  He took us to their offices where we dropped of a suitcase full of shoes, clothes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and games.  He is AMAZING.  We spent alot of time talking about his story on how he got involved in this.  He has such a huge heart and needs so many more people to come along side him and help the people of Korah.

Korah is a trash dump outside Addis.  People live there and raise there families in the dump- surviving on what they pick through.  I could not even watch the strong grown men do this- I litteraly had to look away because it was too much to see. Alchoholism and prostitution is a big reality here as they have no hope left.
Our church pattnered w/ Yemamu and helps him support over 200 children.  The kids of Korah come to the carecenter for food, clothes, and discipleship.  They are also given the ability to go to school and church.  He told us about the physical difference he can see in the children since the sponsorship program began.  This man has a big heart and big dreams....thankful we serve an even bigger God!   THere are hundreds  more children that need to be reached! If you have $34 a month to spare Please consider making a HUGE difference in the life a child in Korah.  Yemamu was actually a child raised in Korah himself- because of him being sponsored he has been given a 2nd chance in life and is now commited to helping as many children that he can.
Check out this listing!  http://www.hopechest.org/community/hands-for-the-needy/sponsor/  



The carecenter is nice- I cant believe I cant show pics now but I definaly will when we get home!
We are actually going back there tomorrow to go to church in Korah!  I am so excited!  We will be our sponsor child there too. 

settled :)

Wow- sometimes I wonder why Im giving updates when they seem to change by the hour around here!  But we only have 1 television channel w/ arrabic subscripts so it gives me a reason to come down to the guest house office :)

Here's the latest:
Mekele flights are booked this weekend.  Saterday the girls will be driven 24 hours south to Addis.  After they arrive we will let them sleep and then we will go visit on Monday afternoon.
Court is still Tuesday morning- I think they come w/ us BUT we bought flights to go north to Mekele (just mike and I) Tuesday afternoon with a return flight Wednesday night.  Ant then Thursday afternoon leave Ethiopia.  Phew- next week is crammed.
We could have waited to go up to Mekele on the 2nd trip but we didnt want to wait- I am so anxious to meet their birth-mother that I cant imagine waiting until the 2nd trip. 
Im am confident that there are reasons beyond our knowledge on why everything got all botched up.

We were planning on visiting Korah- Hands for the Needy site/ sponsor child at the end of next week...now we are trying desperately to get in contact their feild office to see if we can go this weekend instead.  Praying that we can get through to them this weekend!

THe director of the orphange up north was in Addis on business today and we were able to meet him.  He seem's like an amazing man.  He was able to give us more little tid-bits on the girls which was neat to hear.  He told us that he always see's them staying together- "you know because they are twins" he said- so funny  :) 
Im not sure if he telling us the truth but he said that the girls are very much excited- I looked at him like he was crazy and told him that we expect them to be scared and sad- not exactly excited...he said, no no no no- they are excited and greatful for this oppurtunity.  I still dont know if I believe him but I am certainly glad that this was all sorted out!

The guest house is in a small gated compound- I feel like we've been trapped in here the last 2 days and I and so ready to some real Ethiopia this weekend! 

Thanks for your prayers!

Day 2 in Addis

Well with keeping w/ tradition...always an adventure!

When we arrived it was a bit concerning to find the the agency here and our agency at home to not be on the same page where the girls were at!  What?! We expected them to be in Addis when in fact they are still up north in Mekele.  We still cant use the phone so I had to send an over-dramatic email to our agency expressing our frustrations...I will blame that on jet-lag and lack of sleep ;)

It's not too big of a deal- we will need to fly up there Saterday BUT we were told that every single return flight is booked for the next week!  We are now on standby for a return flgiht.  They want us to fly back to Addis with the girls but that would mean that 4 seats need to open up on Monday's return flight.

If this does not happen they will drive the girls to Addis tomorrow.  BUT a 1 hour flight is actually a 24 hour car ride because of the mountainous terrain.  I dont think the girls would arrive until Sunday or Monday and they will be exhausested.  So please pray with us that 4 seats will open up on a return flight!

It is so important for us to visit up north to see the girl's region- but if flights dont work out we would just fly up there to visit on our 2nd trip to Ethiopia.

I know everything will all work out just fine and our hope is knowing that God is in control of this whole situation- he know's what's going on and what is for the best for everyone. 

If we thought waiting to see the twins was hard at home- you can only imagine what it's like to be sitting in a hotel in Ethiopia twiddling our thumbs is like :)

Travel Day 1

Travel Day one:




It was a lot worse than I expected leaving the kids…I was a mess. I think a lot of that emotion came out because of being sick too.



Thank you for your prayers for our health- we are feeling sooo much better. Mike’s fine and I have a chest congestion and small head cold but compared to how I felt a few days ago I feel great!



The flight to Dubai was well…long.



Ate dinner, watched a movie, and then put on our snazzy eye/sleeping masks.

For several hours we tossed and turned (our necks that is- not much else to toss and turn when your belted into a narrow upright seat)

At one point I just hear Mike laughing. I slipped off my eyemask to see that crazy look in his eye. He just kept laughing saying, “Is everyone for real, are they all really sleeping or do we all just pretend?”

I pretended to sleep hoping I could trick my body into thinking that I really slept.

When we were above Moscow I gave up.



When we arrived to Dubai we had to wait in a 1 hour line for immigration.



We took a shuttle to our hotel. When we stepped out into the night air it was incedible. I really thought that there were heaters blowing on us from underneath the awnings- until I remembered that we were in the desert. It was so hot but felt so nice because it was so dry- if felt like a sauna! By then we complelty pulled an all-nighter and we in full swing into the next day. All I wanted to do was to sleep but Mike was hungy and wanted to use our free dinner vouchers 



We somehow managed to eat dinner and then thank the Lord we were able to sleep that night. Even though our wake up call was set for 6:30 am- we both were wide awake at 5am. I had that excited feeling and could not sleep a minute longer- plus the construction crew arrived outside our hotel window at 5am.



Had breakfast and set out for the airport. I am typing from Dubai and we should be in Ethiopia this afternoon! Tomorrow we meet our girls! Keep the prayers a-coming!

Itinerary

What a complete whirlwind!  We have waited for this to happen for over 2 years now- ya think we would have been more prepared.  Nothing like 13 days notice to fly to Africa!!!

INSANE.

BUT...we did it...even through this awful sickness.

 Luggage Packed, Donations Packed, Gifts Packed, 

3 kids packed for 10 nights of sleepovers, head attactched.

When we left for India for 10 days the boys were 2 and 5 years old.  I was terrified that Caleb would think that we left him- it was so sad. 

The kids are a bit older now so it's not as horrible.  Jacob (Mr. Social) is excited and see's this as his own personal vacation w/ friends.  Caleb is kind of quiet about it- but I think he's happy for an adventure.  Sova-Grace is quite vocal about how this is way too long to be away.  She does best on routine and structure...a bit worried about this one.

When I think about them being away from me I will cry...so I just dont think about it. (seriously)  I will pray for them before we go and while we are away but then I stop thinking :)

With that said:  I LOVE TRAVELLING!  I love long car rides, I love airports- even thought about working in one to just pretend Im travelling.  I love planes, I love reading magazines that I always wanted to pick up at the check out aisle but never do, I love bumpy dirt roads,  I love culture, I like nervous excitement jitters, love hotels and love having 10 days alone with my husband :)

So this is what our trip is gonna look like:

7/24   Tuesday night we fly out of JFK

Wednesday at 7:45pm we arrive in Dubai (United Arab Emrites)

What's the coolest is that  Emrites airline is going to put us up in a very nice and very FREE hotel for the night.  (They do this with all excessively long layovers)

I cant get over the fact that we will be sleeping in Dubai on the Persian Gulf.

Leave Dubai Thursay @ 10:30 am and Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia @ 1:30 pm after 2 days of travel.

Friday- Meet the Twins!  Aghhhh!

Sat-  Celebrate our 11 yr anniversary by spending the day with the girls again!

Sun- Mike and I will fly to the northern region of Ethiopia so visit their 1st orphanage, drop off donations, see the area where they grew up and take hundreds of pics. 

Monday- spend the day up north- in the evening we fly back to the capital.

7/31 Tuesday- *COURT*  2 new Turner's!

(* visa's will take at least 2 months after court...thats why we cant bring them home on this trip.  They will stay in the smaller orphange until their visa's are issued.)

Weds-  our church recently partnered w/ 'HopeChest' in Ethiopia- we sponsor almost 200 kids that live in a large garbage dump called 'Korah.'  (see how you can get involved!)  http://www.hopechest.org/community/hands-for-the-needy/sponsor/

We are thrilled for the opportunity to visit this amazing minisitry and to visit our sponsor child and bring over donations!

Friday August 3rd- arrive at JFK bright and early at 8 am- beyond ready to see our kiddos and prepared for a VERY long day dealing w/jet lag and emotions!

We are still battling sickness and are feeling pretty horrible.  We covet your prayers for our health and saftey, for our kids at home- for their protection, and for the twins- for their healing of their broken hearts.  Thank You!!!

Hopefully internet access will be good while we are there so I can keep the updates rolling!

 Yahoo!!  I cant believe this is happening!

Names

Names:

We didn't even buy a baby name book when we were expecting Jacob.  We both loved the name and it was that simple.  Jacob Michael ...done!  (Michael is hubby's name:)

When Jacob was a baby I read a book that had the name Caleb in it. (The 'Blessed Child'- sooo good!)

 I fell in love with that name and knew that if our next child was a boy- I'd want him named Caleb.  Mike loved it too.  Caleb Raymond...done!  (Raymond is both Mike's middle name AND my father's middle name :)

While waiting for Sova to come home- every time I walked by the refrigerator and saw that cute little face in the photo I just saw the word 'GRACE.'  I couldn't get past the name Grace. We already choose her middle name to be "Elliana"  (the Lord has responded) and it seemed so appropriate! Mike thought the name, 'Sova-Grace  Elliana Turner would be too long...I thought it was just too lovely and meaningful Not to have! (plus I loved those southern style hyphenated names!)

Christmas morning (the one where we promised no gifts because of the adoption...) Mike gave me a gift 'from Sova' and the tag read:  Love, Sova-Grace  Elliana Turner :)

Done!  (ya, I know he's awesome) 

We found out in India that 'Sova,' is in fact an uncommon Indian name but it means beautiful...

 Now the twins:

When we thought we were going to adopt a baby we were going to name her: 'Talia-Faith' and give her Ethiopian name as her middle name.  The kids especially loved that name and these past 2 years they would even pray specifically for, 'our sister, Talia-Faith.'

The girls birth-mother's name is Azmera.  The name means 'Harvest'  both our favorite season and well- our life's desire...when we hear 'harvest' we think of people coming to know who God truly is...what's not to love about this powerful name!  Defintly a name worth carrying on- it will be a special way for the girls to keep their birth mother with them.

So in keeping with the tradition of long yet meaningful names:

Helen-Talia  Azmera  Turner

Helen means  'sun ray- shinning light'  (Love it!  'you are my sunshine' is my theme song to the kids)

and   Talia means "dew from God" 

 And....

Jerusalem-Faith  Azmera  Turner

Jerusalem's real name is actually spelled, 'Eyerusalem.'

It is common in Ethiopia to spell it that way- but it is the same name as 'Jerusalem.'

We are not 100% on this but we are thinking it may save her alot of trouble/confusion in the future if we changed the spelling.

Jerusalem (Eyerusalem):  means  Possession Of Peace and is pretty much the coolest most important city on the Planet  :)

In each picture we have of Jerusalem she is wearing her cross necklace...so 'Faith' it is for her!  Done!