Emnatu is 20 years old. (His age is a guess at best. That’s what happens when you've been an orphan essentially your whole life in Ethiopia. He's not sure of even the month he was born.) He and his brother, Ayal, were orphaned around
the ages of 2 and 3.
As is common in Ethiopia, their biological Mom died due to a of lack of funds needed to treat an unknown (to our boys) disease. Dad was a soldier for the government, and either died as such, or was no longer able to care for them because of his profession. It has been at least 17-18 years since our sons last saw either of their biological parents. That is a pain that never quite heals no matter how much they try to ignore it.
This is my son, the young man God has placed in our hearts. His story reduces me to tears often when I focus on the things I have just told you. It is a sad story, heart breaking, seemingly without hope. No doubt he spent his life wishing, hoping to be chosen, picked from among the masses, to have a home, a family to love him, believe in him, tell him he was valued, that his very existence mattered... and yet, as sweet, kind and loving as our son is, his dream wasn’t fulfilled until it was too late for him to be officially adopted.
In the midst of his story is a bright spot, offering hope to this growing boy, about to emerge into the world of adulthood. Gladney Adoption Agency’s Humanitarian Aid Division, doesn’t help every boy at the orphanage. I am sure they would love to, but financially they just can’t. They evaluate each boy’s drive, determination, their will to overcome their odds and succeed in a culture that makes success so very difficult. The unemployment rate is at least 50%. Can you imagine??
It would be easy to give up... put yourself in Emnatu’s shoes for just a moment. You have no parents to love you, education in your culture is not a given fact, and even if you find yourself blessed enough with the opportunity for education, your chances of a job are pretty slim. What would you do? Would you find the inner strength to even try? I can’t answer that one myself... but I know what Emnatu did. He gave it all he had, and then some.
Gladney recognized a young man who had the potential to "make it" in his culture. Several years back, they believed in him and began to help. Schooling funds, transportation costs... provided by Gladney were his ticket to life, and a future, and HOPE.
When we met our son, he was attending two colleges, with Gladney’s help. The first was Selam Technical College (tuition based) during the day, where he studied Auto Mechanics. To increase his chances at a future, he was/still is also going to school at night, and on Sat/Sun at Menelik 2nd Health and Science College (government funded)
to become an X-ray Technician.
He graduated a year ago from Selam. I had the immense joy of being there for some of the graduation festivities. They are memories I will never forget. SO much joy, from ALL of the boys, that my son had made it that far. It is something they want and desire for themselves, and he had accomplished it, which gave them hope on the sidelines. In October, came the next blessing, when after months of searching all day, every day...
he began a full time job.
he began a full time job.
And yet, he still studies for that degree in X-ray, because his future in Ethiopia isn’t secure. He worries that with a 50% unemployment rate, someday, he may need to fall back on that second degree. The good news is that he will have it. Thanks to Gladney believing in a boy many years ago. Emnatu is a success story... but I can’t help but worry about the others... what of them, if Gladney is no longer able to support their dreams of a future. What then???
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