They stood at the doorway as Henok knocked. A huddle of children had formed a half circle around them. He said something loudly that Michele did not understand. Moments later, an old woman’s voice said something in reply.
“She said we can come in.”
It took several moments for Michele’s eyes to adjust. When they did, what she saw broke her heart. The room was smaller than her laundry room back home. Dark and dreary. Low ceiling, dirt floor. “This is where Ayana lives?” she whispered to Allan. He nodded.
From the shadows, a short, elderly woman emerged, holding her arms out toward Henok, a smile with very few teeth in her mouth. They hugged and exchanged three kisses: on the right cheek, left cheek, and right cheek once more. After, the woman turned to face them. She smiled politely at Michele, but when she saw Allan, her eyes widened, and so did her smile. She reached for him the same way she did for Henok. She looked at Henok, said something, and Henok replied. Then she gave Allan a big hug.
“She remembers you,” Henok said.
He said something else to the woman, none of which Michele understood except the mention of her name. The woman reached up both hands and grasped Michele’s and squeezed gently. “Tell her I’m very happy to finally meet her,” Michele said. Henok did.
Allan looked around. “I don’t see Ayana anywhere. Is she at the dump?”
Henok spoke with the grandmother, who nodded her head as she replied. “She has already left with some other children to find food. But it’s probably just as well, so we might speak with the grandmother in private.”
“You’re right,” Allan said. “It wouldn’t be good for her to overhear this conversation. Do you mind if I explain the situation to her and you interpret? I know you could do it fine without me, but I think it might help for her to hear it coming directly from me.”
“Not at all,” Henok said. “Just begin talking.”
Allan stepped closer to Michele but looked at the grandmother. “The other man who was with me the last time hurt his leg and couldn’t make the trip. But he wants you to know he wishes he could be here, and his prayers are with you. I have come representing him and the people of many churches back in America.” He let Henok interpret. “Has Henok mentioned our plans to establish an orphanage here?”
Through Henok, she said, “Not directly to me, but I’ve heard exciting rumors. He’s made several trips here since you left, and each time he’s come in to see how we are doing.”
“Well, the rumors are true. We have just signed the papers with the government and with the landlord. The orphanage is ready to open . . . today.”
After Henok related this, a startled look came over her face.
“This is why we’re here, why I’ve brought my wife here all the way from America to help me. We have permission to welcome six children from Korah into the orphanage.”
The words had barely left Henok’s lips when the grandmother started trembling. Tears filled her eyes. She backed up until she reached her tiny bed, where she braced herself as she sat down.
Henok asked her something, probably trying to find out what upset her. She said something back in Amharic. Henok listened, a serious look on his face. He nodded and said something in reply. At that, the grandmother’s smile returned even wider.
“What’s going on?” Allan said.
Henok briefed them. “Ayana’s grandmother said God must have sent us this very day. Since the last time we were here, her health has deteriorated badly. She’s been concerned she could die any day and has been terrified about what would become of Ayana. She asked if we would consider letting Ayana come to live at our new orphanage.”
“What did you say?” Michele asked.
“I told her it would be my honor to take her in. That I’ve been praying about that very thing.” He looked back at the grandmother. “Now she is very happy,” Henok said.
The grandmother dabbed her eyes with a cloth from a small table. Still crying, she managed to say some things that Henok understood. “She said God has been very good to them, bringing you back here to Korah. She has prayed for this very thing every day since you left. She asked how long before Ayana can come to this orphanage?”
“As soon as she is ready,” Allan said.
“Today?” the grandmother said through Henok.
“Yes,” Allan said, wiping tears off his face. “I would love to bring her there today.”
She said something else. Whatever it was, it took Henok a moment to regain his composure. He turned to Allan. “She wants to know how far away is this orphanage, and will she ever see Ayana again after today?”
“Go ahead and tell her whatever you want to say, Henok. You are the orphanage director.”
Henok took a deep breath, took a step toward the grandmother, and squatted down to be at face level. He said several things through many tears, and when he finished, the grandmother leaned forward and hugged him. She looked back in Henok’s face, said something else, then cried even harder.
When the grandmother stopped crying, she let go of Henok. He straightened up again.
“What did you say?” Allan asked. “And what did she say back?”
“I told her the orphanage is not far from here. It’s in the city but as close to Korah as we could make it. And I told her, of course she will see Ayana again. I will have many occasions to come back here. I can bring Ayana with me to visit her when I come. She said again that God has shown her that she will die very soon, but now she can die in peace knowing Ayana will never have to go to the dump for food after today.”