So here we are with Nettie ready to head out of the orphanage and back into "the real world" of Ethiopia. It was well past 2:00 and we were very, very hungry. Lsanu, our driver, agreed that we should find some food before continuing on with our day.
Now let me tell you what we knew about Lsanu at this point in time. He was a gentleman. He opened doors for us, carried our bags for us (or in my case offered and was denied). He spoke pretty good English and drove a very run down car. No air conditioning is normal for the cars there, lack of power windows and locks... all normal. Black sooty smog, again... normal. But this car was boardering on not running as we later found out, the boardering part was even optimistic. And yet this was the key to his career and to his future. He lived alone in an apartment which was down the street from a Turkish restaurant that he had us frequent. And underneath this tough, protective, and gentlemanly exterior, was a BROKEN 7 year old boy. "Whatever do you mean?" you ask. He confessed to us that he was placed into an orphanage at the age of 7. He spent 4-5 years there before being told that he needed to go and make it on his own and was turned out. That is all he would say. When asked more questions about it, it was never clear to me if he didn't understand what we were trying to ask him or if he just didn't want to talk about it. So we still have more questions than answers about his time in the orphanage. But this was not a tall tale, and I can assure you of that. Though Lsanu aged in appearance, he still struggles to not be that validation seeking, lonely and desperate young boy that he was back then.
When we went to the orphanage to get Nettie, he was quiet at first. And his emotions hit all ends of the spectrum the longer we stayed. He cried at times, laughed at others. He obviously connected to the children and loved them while he was there... and then would be in deep thought at other times. Toward the end of the trip, he was virtually lost into this deep and solemn thought. When asked why he was quiet and what was wrong- he never had much more to say than he "is thinking about what he can do, and he is sad."
So we left for food. We drove down the intensly dirty and rough road. Hit the main drag, passed along wher goats had once gathered but now which was just hides, and we were on our way to food. This would be the first meal Kim or I had since leaving Arizona that we would really count. Those of you who have had plane food know exactly what we mean when saying that. Anyway, we pull over to a restaurant located within a motel type thing. We pick a table in the back yard area under an awning. The waiter is a nervous and young man. He is trying to look professional and not make any mistakes. A shy server, and slow to make eye contact.
We order. Kim and I get pizza as it is the only recognizeable food on the menu. We don't even know what it was that Lsanu orders. The waiter brings us our drinks of Coke and Fanta in the bottle and empty glasses to pour them in. We are just grateful to have something to put into our stomach. I reach for my soda, noticing the dirt on the outside of the bottle but justifying it that "atleast it is on the outside" and Lsanu grabs it away from me- motioning to the waiter. He asks the waiter to bring us colder drinks and then smells the glasses. He declines the glasses as well. WOW! Are you kidding me?? In a country where people have nothing, I was completely prepared to just be glad for what I got. And yet this man wanted nothing but the best for us. Sweet. Really sweet... but also really sad. My poor waiter! What he must have thought.
We enjoyed our meal. Lsanu helped translate with Nettie and Nettie laughed, smiled, and played with us. She also ate. Have I told you how that girl can EAT! Really... she likes food.
After lunch we needed to change money and Kim wanted to get some clothes for Nettie that would actually fit her. The clothes she packed were much to small. Lsanu took us to the bank, changed our money, and counted it to be sure that we were not taken.
We only used Lsanu for the first 3 days. We grew comfortable with him, almost too comfortable. When the prearranged driver that was to take over had his time coming up, I was ready for the change. Not because Lsanu wasn't great, because he was. He was wonderfully helpful to carry our bags, play with Nettie, make us feel safe and secure... but the child in him was also very apparent. His car was not running by our last day and even required a good old fashioned push start, and his issues from his past weighed more and more on him with time and it made me feel more and more uncomfortable. A little good ol' fleshly greed was also showing color...
Anyway, I look back and what comes to mind to say about Lsanu is this- we missed him as of the very next day. His spirit of love and of giving was apparent and truly appreciated. And I was too hard on him. Too quick to judge when I am not supposed to judge at all. And when what he needed the most was unconditional acceptance and love, that not unlike a 7 year old orphaned child, I wanted to turn away and did. I ask the Lord for forgiveness here. And Lsanu, I ask for that same forgiveness. I pray for him, then and now. He knows the Lord. He has asked for prayer, knowing that he needs it. How humble of him. He was a part of the culture, the past and present. And I am a richer woman for my time with him. God bless my Lsanu!
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