From time to time, stories take a life of their own. They clamor for your attention and demand to be told. The first part to this story was told in the fall of 2022. At the time, Jesse and Joshua Williams were heading out on Mission as many of the members of their church had done before – one towards Delaware, the other to Ethiopia on the East Coast of Africa.
This, in itself, is not out of the ordinary for Gilbert families as many of them have travelled south of the border to help other families by building homes, or help with safe potable water projects, or assist communities to become self-sufficient by helping to grow their own food. What made this story so very special is that Jesse and Josh were born in Ethiopia, but grew up in Gilbert. One of them was going home!
So here we are, two years later, Jesse and Josh are back and the story has become even more incredible than how it came to our attention. From running into an old friend after COVID and realizing that, nearly thirty years ago, he had served in a Bolivian village neighboring one where a member of my family was serving at the time to learning about the Williams and the story of how Jesse and Josh grew up in Gilbert and were heading out to serve.
The number of incredible coincidences, near misses, and amazing twist of faith make this story so unbelievable that one would not be surprise to see it turned in to a movie.
This particular one would be the story of two mothers, two sisters really: Bizumesh in Ethiopia and Jamie in Arizona. One, a young mother having to face a horrible decision twenty years ago; the other answering a call to reach out and make a lifetime commitment.
When Kaleb and Eyasu Terefe were born, only one child was expected. The birth having been difficult, Bizumesh soon became ill and was unable to tend to her newly born twins. With limited resources in a country faced with food insecurity, few medical resources already strained by epidemics, and an uncertain political future as Ethiopia was trying to rebuild after years of droughts and civil war, Bizumesh and her husband Terefe decided to place the children for adoption.
On the other side of the world, another young mother became aware of the conditions in Ethiopia and was Immediately moved to reach out and help the best way she could. With the support of her husband Tarik, they sought information about helping some of the children by seeking to adopt. As anyone who has gone through the adoption process can relate, weeks and months went by filling out forms, navigating administrative labyrinths, and undergoing evaluations until, eventually, the call came and they made their way to Ethiopia where they met Jesse and Joshua.
As part of the adoption conditions, the Williams faithfully reported every year to the Ethiopian agency as the boys grew and provided pictures that would have been shared with Bizumesh and her husband. Unfortunately, the agency folded after ten years of operation, leaving the Ethiopian family without any words as to the location of Kaleb and Eyasu. Following years of research, one of the family members, a cousin, turned to social media in the hope of learning the fate of their family members. Posting some of the old pictures they had received before the agency closed, they posted and re-posted all they could find on Facebook, not knowing if they would ever know.
This is how, a year ago and in a country of 132 million inhabitants, one person recognized Joshua while he was on Mission and shared the link to the original post. This is how, Jesse and Joshua William, Kaleb and Eyasu Terefe were finally found.
What followed was the incredible journey of the two young men and their American parents to reconnect with their now extended family in Ethiopia. Finding a community that welcomed them with open arms, a new mother, a new father, an older brother - Mullet, an older sister Hamame, and four other younger siblings: Mezkerem, Mulatu, Tenaye, and Tariku.
Needless to say, and as Jesse puts it," this was a lot, all at once". The Williams are now back in Arizona, Jesse and Josh attending ASU this fall. As Jesse and Josh navigate their college years, they do so with a profound sense of their unique journey and the two families that shape their identity.
The Williams family's journey continues to unfold, bridging two worlds and two families across continents. Jamie and Tarik Williams have embraced their expanded family wholeheartedly, organizing video calls to keep everyone connected. They're planning a trip to Ethiopia next summer, this time bringing their other children to meet their extended family. Meanwhile, Bizumesh and Terefe are working with local officials to obtain passports, hoping to visit Gilbert and see where their sons grew up.
The story of the Williams family has sparked conversations in both communities about adoption, cultural identity, and the power of perseverance. As their story continues, it is a testament to the enduring bonds of family, the surprises life can bring, and the healing power of reconnection.
A Joyful Homecoming in Gimbichu: Bridging Continents and Cultures
The small village where Caleb and Eyasu were born is located in the Gimbichu district, south of the capital Addis Ababa. Only a short 13 hours flight from the United States and an 8 hours drive through dirt roads. As Jesse would put it: only a two day ride from our capital. The whole town came out to celebrate and welcome the two young men and the parents back into their new extended family. Gifts of milk and honey were exchanged, new friendships were forged.
The Williams family was honored with a special naming ceremony, where they received Ethiopian names chosen by the village elders. This symbolic gesture represented the blending of their American and Ethiopian identities.
It is a lot, all at once!
Having that love and that connection was just the most incredible experience of our lives.