The transactional component of adoption is stunning when you stop and give it some thought.  An orphaned child has no one in the world intimately invested in his life.  Without the charity of others, an abandoned baby wouldn’t even survive.  And then, with the crack of a judge’s gavel, the orphan becomes a cherished son or daughter complete with an extended family, unique traditions and celebrations and many people devoted to his or her well-being.  The whole trajectory of a life is radically changed.  It is similar to our adoption into God’s family – when our present and future life is irrevocably transformed.

Two baby boys and a baby girl are now adjusting to the routines of a new family.

Sifan was the first of the trio to drive home with her proud, new mother on May 29th.  This beautiful baby girl came into our care when she was estimated to be 19 days old.  Coming home from shopping, an off-duty policewoman found the newborn infant crying outside an apartment complex.  She immediately took the frantic baby to the nearest hospital and had the honor of naming her; Sifan means ‘for yourself’.  The little miss was still very weak when she entered Joyful Place, but quickly put on weight and thrived.

Meanwhile, Tewabech, a business owner, had been looking for a child to adopt.  She never married but adoption had been on her heart for a long time.  We are grateful God blended Tewabech and 4-month-old Sifan into a family – a large family with aunties and grannies competing for her attention.  Selam, which means ‘peace’, became Sifan’s new name.  Tewabech is a strong Christian and cannot stop giving thanks to God and Mana Gammachuu (Joyful Place) for the wonderful gift of a child.

Amen had a mother who loved him but was in desperate need.  When Amen was 3 months old his mother begged for food from a kind lady.  Frehiwot took her and her baby into her home, fed them and gave them a place to stay.  One day, Amen’s mother slipped out of the house and never came back knowing Frehiwot would take good care of her baby boy.  For three days Frehiwot searched for Amen’s mother, but finally had to report the abandonment to the authorities who then placed the child in our Joyful Place orphanage.

May 30, 2023, when Amen was 10-months-old, he was placed in the grateful arms of Setu and Genet.  They have been married for 15 years and have no children.  With arms and hearts full, they give thanks to God, naming their son ‘Kiduse’ meaning ‘sent’.

Nimona was either born early or had medical issues because he spent the first month of his life in the NICU.  Shortly after giving birth, his mother disappeared from the hospital leaving him in the care of nurses.  His main caregiver named him, tenderly caring for him until the fragile boy became strong enough to be released to Mana Gammachuu (Joyful Place). For the next 11 months, Nimona gained weight and successfully met all the normal milestones for his first year.

May 31^st was Nimona’s adoption day when his new mother, Yetnebersh, surrounded by her large family, welcomed him to his new home.  Yetnebersh never married but yearned to be a mother.  After a long search she found our orphanage, about a four-hour drive from her home in Adama.  Fittingly, Yetnebersh named her precious son Sitotaw that means “His gift”.

In the midst of all the activity these adoptions generate, a baby boy was found lying on the ground by a woman walking home.  He was estimated to be about 4 days old when he was brought to our care facility in a weakened condition.  With good formula and TLC, he has perked up and will grow strong and healthy ready for the day he, too, will be welcomed into a family he can call his own.

God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell.  Psalm 68:6