European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 25, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse When no one came to claim her she was delivered to the right now Mimi is a very excited Little girl. Through champs. The primitive artificial stick limb she now wears will be replaced with a properly formed one. She s so pleased that she will be Able to Wear two shoes said her Mother. Mimi and Abeba s older brother. 8-year-old John who also is adopted was the connection Between the Daus and the Smiths. He is one of the students at the school where i explained mrs. Smith. He came to school bursting with Pride when his Sisters arrived. It was All he could talk Lemming from the Maui experience the Smiths we Able to get through the adoption process More quickly than usual. Just five months after they filed the first paperwork the girls stepped off the plane. Though Mimi and Abeba Are legally their children they Don t yet carry the Dau name on their passports. The Daus must now adopt them under German Law and then readout them when they return to the United states says mrs. Smith. By petitioning the ethiopian ministry of labor and social welfare for a name change on our childrens ethiopian passports we have avoided All that hassle. They can enter the United states As naturalized she explains that a military lawyer helped them prepare the letter giving the reasons Why adding the Smith name was important. The officials in Addis were in agreement. Under ethiopian Law the children must carry one ethiopian name on their passport but we were allowed1985 left Sarah fat left jumps and watches her a ass Mafes in music class. Below the and her Mother Exchange a quiet moment together. Right Sarah yawns after an Energy consuming morning in a new school. Bottom Elizabeth shares her sleep with Charlie Brown and his friends. To give first names and after petitioning our last name the Smith s used the German juvenile Ollice to conduct the required Home study. In their letters asking to adopt the children the Smiths also stressed that they were a Christian family. Ethiopia is a Christian country and the orphanage we dealt with required that the parents be Christian. Some of the orphanages however do Sarah and Elizabeth quickly became acquainted with their new family at the Airport. Sgt. Smith walked them around the waiting room. He showed them How to ride the escalators and bought them apples the first they had Ever seen. Then it was time to head Home to Darmstadt. The woman who had escorted them on their 3,500 mile flight to their new Home worried that there might be last minute tears. Only mrs. Smith wept a Little from excitement and happiness. Holding their new father s hands the Little girls All smiles barely remembered to turn and give their flight escort a perfunctory goodbye wave. Later that afternoon after naps and a first Bubble Bath the transformation to two american girls was Complete. Dressed in pants and sweaters. Sarah and Elizabeth looked like any other youngsters in the american housing area. They loved their room and the baby dolls we gave them. They spent the afternoon combing and brushing out All the curl said mrs. Smith. Matthew taped the Little girls chattering together in Amharic As they played. When they heard the tape they doubled Over in laughter. We chose to adopt them together so ii by would have each other to talk to at said mrs Smith we hoped it would keep them from feeling too lost " the Smiths had been warned that it might be difficult to get the Little girls to eat what for them would be strange new food. Mrs. Smith went on to work after picking up the children. Her husband whipped up the dinner when she returned Home. Sarah was sitting on his Lap. Happily letting him feed her spoonful after spoonful of vegetables and meat. So far the Only thing either have turned Down is Orange juice. They found it too bitter he said. Sarah and Elizabeth Are now enrolled in school. Children learn languages very quickly. We expect that in three months or so they will be fluent in English said mrs. Smith. In the meantime there is yet another plane from Ethiopia to meet. Spec. 4 Michael Hackney and his wife Diane who live in Messel. Are also adopting an ethiopian child. They expect the proceedings to be completed by october. When the time comes. The Daus and the Smiths will be at the Airport to offer support. We Are planning to form an organization of parents of adoptive children said mrs. Dau. It will not be limited to those who have children from Ethiopia. We feel there is a real need for such an organization. Perhaps we can help other people who wish to bring such children into their the Daus Are hoping to adopt yet another child perhaps from India or sri Lanka. Slate writer Michella fik4c Contr louled 10 Hilt report. The stars and stripes Page 15
