Wednesday Jan. 21rst

The Orphanage was fairly smooth today. 4 babies did the projectile
vomit thing but no more hospital visits. I went to the US Embassy to
register there, so they know I am in the country. I went with the
families who were all getting birth certificates and visas for their
new children. Everything here just takes forever, their apt was at 2
and we waited till 3:30 even to be seen. Though it was super touching
to see these parents walk out with their paper work that made this
child officially theirs. And in the waiting room we were watching
Beyonce sing at the Inaugural Ball, At last, which seemed kinda
fitting for the parents

This evening I went to my first Vagina Monologues in Addis Ababa
meeting. It's group of very international women. Not only will they be
performing the original monologues but also they are trying to get a
monologue on female genital mutilation and/or one from Somalia.
Homosexuality is completely unaccepted and taboo here and there are
multiple monologues that talk about female-female sexuality in a
positive light. It already brought up stuff just in the room amongst
people. We went around and read the monologues out loud. I read
because he liked to look at it and the woman who loved to make women
happy.

I move into my apartment today and Gina leaves. I feel sad to see her
go and a nervous. I feel more on my own. Yesterday I took a taxi by
myself, which was an accomplishment.

Thank for all the love and support

I will be organizing all your offers to send support. Those who are
offering to send money and create fundraisers; I will be taking you up
on the offer.

Those who are offering to send stuff; I think we can get the parents
who are coming to visit their babies in the orphanage to take over
suitcases filled with stuff.

Gina is trying to hire more caregivers, and nurses so money will be
very helpful in sustaining that effort.

Diapers are really expensive here so those are things that parents
could bring over.

Ideally I would love to leave here with the Orphanage having toys,
picture books and pretty colors in the wall and stuff so it looks and
feels like a happier place.

My stomach hurts today and I have no appetite ……..everyone pray its
just nerves and not the babies' bug

Love
You
T