Brian Campbell, Holt Creative Productions Manager
Addis Ababa—The road is rough and dust fills my nose as we move from the asphalt to the dirt construction of the expanding roadway. This is Addis Ababa. A bustling city that is growing by leaps and bounds. It is here we first meet up with Dr. Fikru (pronounced, fook-ru). 
Today we go to the childcare facility where Holt has two children, one of whom Holt has matched with a family for international adoption. This is where Holt will care for children and administer adoptions from Ethiopia. I meet a little boy, and I crouch down before him as he snacks on the peanuts and barley that have been roasted for an afternoon snack. At first he simply views me with a sidelong, shy stare. Holt International’s president, Gary Gamer, comes over and kneels down near the boy, we’ll call Ingus. I pick up the video camera and tape the interaction. Gary, with his arm around Ingus, begins talking to the camera. I forget to watch Gary and watch the little hands as Ingus picks up a portion of his snack and places it in Gary’s free hand. Ingus leans into Gary’s chest a bit and begins to smile. Gary graciously accepts the offering of the snack and tastes it, to little Ingus’ delight. After the shot, Gary gets up from his place next to Ingus. I have a couple of shots to take and move closer for them. After a bit I cannot resist and reach up and pat his little head and bring my hand around to his cheek. He turns his face to me and presses his face into my hand. Looking back at me with his deep dark eyes, I see myself and Holt’s work in Ethiopia in a new light. The responsive touch from Ingus reflects the loving touch of the people and caregivers I have just met here in Ethiopia.
It is late in the evening of our first day and my eyes refuse to close. I am so looking forward to witnessing the new sights and promise of Holt’s work in Ethiopia.
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