Most people who adopt internationally usually live in the U.S. and travel to the adoptee's country. The adoption is finalized and they travel home with their child. Not usually that smooth but that was the scenario 15-20 years ago.
We were missionaries living in Kandi learning Fulfulde. As we made our way 3 hours north we made two important stops.
Pastor Daniel Gassary, a very close friend lived in N'Dali and we stopped to say hi and to show off our new daughter.
Although his wife Elise, was not there he sent his sons out to the market to get something to eat to celebrate. Daniel was the first to pray a prayer of dedication for our daughter. Daniel played a very important role in our daughter's life and continues to be an important member of our extended family.
Traveling with us was our pastor's wife and I remember stopping to buy yams along the way. She got out of the car to pick out some yams and came back to the car laughing. I had taken advantage of the stop to feed Alicia. I had formula to make up and filtered water. So I just poured it into her bottle and shook it up. The kids in the village were talking about us and saying things like, "White women can't breast feed so they give them this milk stuff in a can." I was quite the entertainment for the kids!
Second stop was Bembereke Hospital. Dr. Chris Healey, a pediatrician who had treated Alicia two weeks before for an infection and thrush, did a pediatric exam and declared her healthy with good reflexes. Mary, Chris' wife gave me a special little quilt she had made for Alicia. A purple giraffe!
I remember arriving in Kandi and being welcomed by everyone. Over the next weeks friends would come by to greet Mama Alicia! Along with the greetings, students would stop on their way home from school to see why Alicia had been crying as they passed by in the morning on their way to school. The honey moon phase was about to end and the stress was building.
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