(Continued from here)

Monday, June 21

I started off the day today by going to the ALERT hospital for lepers. Some of the missionaries took me out there. It was really amazing and touching to see how many people are still affected by leprosy. As soon as they diagnose it, they get treatment and are no longer contagious, but much of the time, the damage continues. It affects nerves and in fact, the first sign many times is an area of skin that has no feeling. Kind of like with diabetes, it can really affect the feet and hands, with loss of sensation, then subsequent damage, potential gangrene... more

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Saturday, 19 June 2004

After I talked to dh, I typed some more, fed the baby and got her to sleep, then left her with Lee Jr (not too close, though – she can't afford to get sick) and I took the other three kids out shopping. We went to get some money off the credit card, but I couldn't find it again. It must be the stress, because it's the second time in 48 hours that I have “lost” it and it takes Lee about 15 seconds to find it when he looks – in the same spot I already looked a half a dozen times.

Anyway, we went to the “Piazza” and found... more

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Saturday, 19 June 2004

When Greg called this morning, we talked a little about the details, etc, then I told him I think I might have seen a kidnapping yesterday. I would never have even thought of that if it were not for the young man at church. He is about 20 and speaks pretty good English. He translated for the Sunday school teacher 2 weeks ago. Of course, I noticed he was blind – there seem to be a lot of blind people here. Anyway, he told his story. He was kidnapped when he was 10 or 12, taken to Djibouti where acid was poured into his eyes, blinding him.... more

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Saturday, June 19, 2004

I'm starting to lose track of days over here. Today is one month since we left home. How sad for all of us except the four newest Richardson's. I talked to Greg first thing this morning and everyone is really struggling. Greg said that Rebecca and Ammon just cry all the time – it's the first time that either have been left for any significant period of time (well, since Ammon joined our family – he was “left” for over a year as a baby.) I suggested that he go buy a copy of “Return of the King” and let... more

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Friday, 18 June 2004

After spending the morning at the Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we went to lunch without Aaron. After we were done, we returned the the hotel, picked him up and took him to a clinic. He got a liter of IV fluid and a shot for nausea – it took forever, but then we finally got the OK to leave. We picked up his prescriptions – antibiotics and pain reliever, plus multi-vitamins. The total clinic visit, including the IV and all, was 96 birr and the meds were around 50, or about $17 total. Beats a trip to the ER in the States. I hope... more

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Friday, 18 June, 2004

I mentioned I could kick some behinds of parents who seem to think that adoption is a temporary thing and they can end it by returning the kids to Ethiopia. This consular officer does one better, though. She gets on the phone to the FBI, their local DCFS and someone else – the Dept of State? She tells the parents that they are committing federal offenses and they WILL be responsible for these children, or they will go to jail.

She said one family said to her “Don't go all 'moral' on us” while they gave all their 'moral' justifications for... more

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Friday, 18 June 2007

Since the visa approval process took so much time (1 ½ hours), the consular officer visited with me quite a bit. She told me that the terror alert here was “critical” and if I felt in any way threatened or at risk, to “get the hell out of Dodge” (her quote). Part of me was thinking “I've been here a month and you're telling me this now?!” and the other part was glad I didn't know it was as bad as that. I can't leave without the kids though.

She also said – especially now that Greg is gone – not to go outside after dark, that rape is a national sport... more

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Friday, June 18

The darn roller coaster ride continues. I got up after a sleepless night. I had a really bad headache last night and debated about taking an Excedrin Migraine, as I knew it would affect my sleep. But, I also knew the headache was bad enough to adversely affect my sleep, so I took the medicine. I slept from 10 pm to midnight, then was awake until around 6, then slept for one more hour.

I went to the Embassy at 9:30 and waited at least an hour with a whole flock? Herd? Gaggle? of butterflies in my stomach. I finally got called to the window... more

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Thursday, 17 June 2004

After dropping everything off at the Embassy, we went and had lunch. Aaron barely ate one bowl of soup, poor guy. We brought him back to the hotel while we did some more souvenir shopping. We have gotten most of what we want, I think.

Aaron is just so, so sick. I keep trying to get him to even take a little Sprite and especially this evening have not been successful. He is coughing until he throws up and is nauseated anyway. He is really pale and can barely stand, he is so light-headed. I am worried for him, so far away from US medical care. We just saw a baby die for lack of medical care, and while he's much sturdier... more

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Thursday, June 17, 2004

Another day with some big emotional swings – someone on one of my email lists called it “Space Mountain”, not just a regular roller coaster ride. Up and down and jerk you all around – IN THE DARK! So true . . .

Anyway, Greg called just before 9 am – almost midnight in Utah – and told me there was a BIG problem with getting the credit card here. He said the tracking showed it was in Frankfurt and had no movement all day, so he called FedEx and they told him they didn't even offer 3-day service to Addis – it would be one week and I would have it Monday morning. He was furious and upset – I think it's way harder on him... more