Pastor returns to Ethiopia with adopted sons

Renaut Van Der Riet took his two adopted sons on a two-week boys trip last month, but it was so much more than a fishing excursion — it was a life-changing visit with their Ethiopian birth family, whom they had not seen in more than a dozen years.

For Birhanu Van Der Riet, now 26, and Mehari, 22, it was a reunion full of joy that included their birth mother, grandmother, five siblings, and several nieces and nephews. The last time the men were in their home country, they were 14 and 10.

“It was really profound for my boys to experience how deeply this family of theirs loved them and longed for them,” Renaut Van Der Riet said. “I was talking to them, in the living room of like 20 people in this circle, this extended family — they’re just pulling out the stops for us. Homemade wine and popcorn and honey, things they’ve stored for years. I said, ‘Most kids who end up in a different home because of adoption, they often wonder if they’re loved. Look around; you know how much you’re loved here.’”

The reunion actually was four years in the making. The COVID-19 pandemic and civil war in the men’s birth country delayed the trip several years. About a year ago, the two families began connecting via Facetime, and the men saw and spoke to their loved ones in Ethiopia.

“To actually go and physically see them was incredible,” Renaut Van Der Riet said. “I was curious to see how this would turn out. The boys are very connected with us and in a good place.”

STAYING CONNECTED

Upon arrival, as they disembarked the plane, they were met with several family members, including their birth mother.

“They (wore) their traditional hair done perfectly,” Renaut Van Der Riet said. “It was so neat to see this family that has next to nothing pull out all the stops. This mom probably thought she would never see the kids again. … It was a super big deal. Their older brother said it was the best day of his life.”

Renaut Van Der Riet, pastor of Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, and his wife, Brooke, adopted the two boys and two of their biological sisters in 2012, after meeting the four in an orphanage during a church mission trip. At the time, the Van Der Riets didn’t know their parents were still alive.

Mosaic helps support the town of Axum in Ethiopia, and church members have been making regular visits to the poor community to love on the residents and share resources and God’s love.

During the church’s recent two-week trip, participants also supported mission partners in Ethiopia and spent time with children in the small town.

The Van Der Riets’ Ethiopian children are from a small village about an hour outside Mekele — made up of seven huts — in a little valley in the mountains. Renaut Van Der Riet explained the living conditions as abject poverty.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Van Der Riets have been supporting their children’s biological family for more than a decade. On this boys trip, the two brothers were able to give back to their community.

In Axum, young children wander the streets selling small trinkets such as homemade crosses and rocks from the river that, when split open, reveal sparkling crystals.

Renaut Van Der Riet recognized many of the boys from years past, still trying to support their families. In the last two years, because of civil unrest, there have been few tourists to sell to.

“They are businessmen,” he said. “I’ll buy 100 crosses I don’t need.”

On this trip, however, he witnessed his own sons buying the crosses and rocks. While watching them interact with the children, a thought crossed his mind.

“If (our) story hadn’t happened the way it did … I would be there with Birhanu and Mehari selling me crosses, he said. “But they are the ones playing the part of making a better life for these folks. … It was interesting to see the both of them; they’re going to change the world, but in different ways with different personalities.”

On another day, the trio witnessed poor people lining the streets leading to a Muslim mosque, hoping to receive food or money from the more-affluent Muslims. The two brothers asked their father if they could buy food and hand it out.

“Two hundred birr is $4; I gave them wads of birr,” Renaut Van Der Riet said. “If you see someone in need, give it away, if you want to buy something, buy it. I want to go home with no money.”

They heeded their father’s advice and bought out a cart of sugarcane and handed it out to the hungry.

Renaut Van Der Riet’s sons know they are fortunate and plan to live a life that incudes giving back. Birhanu Van Der Riet recently graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a master’s degree in global development. He has joined the Peace Corps. Mehari Van Der Riet is at the University of West Georgia on a cross country/track scholarship and will finish his business degree in two years. His goal is to build businesses.

“What I observed, my boys’ love for Ethiopia grew, their love for their birth family grew, their love of America grew, their love for us grew,” Renaut Van Der Riet said. “Mehari said on this

trip … ‘God has perfectly timed us coming back because I would have never been ready to understand what I understand now.’”

IN THEIR WORDS

MEHARI VAN DER RIET

“Seeing my family was definitely the highlight of this trip, as it had been around 15 years since I last saw them. Words cannot describe the first time we saw them in (the) airport, but it was such (an) amazing and sweet time for my brother and (me).”

“This particular trip really showed me the need and the poverty of people in the region that I lived in. Seeing that with my eyes on the ground has birthed in me a desire to one day help the people in need in whatever God allows me to be a part of.”

BIRHANU VAN DER RIET

Birhanu Van Der Riet kept a journal during his trip. He wrote, in part:

“Reuniting with my Ethiopian family: I felt nervous and uncertain about how I would react when I saw my family in just a few hours. The anticipation was overwhelming. As soon as the plane landed in the land of my childhood, I was flooded with memories, and tears flooded up in my eyes. The most emotional moment came when I saw my family waiting for me. With my backpack still on, I ran towards them and embraced them with hugs and kisses. The joy and excitement were so intense that I started to cry on the side.

“These emotions were unlike anything I had ever felt before. As we drove to the place where we would stay, I looked through the car window, silently soaking in all the memories of my childhood. The newly plowed fields brought back vivid memories of working alongside my father. Arriving at the youth program, we shared a coffee, and our minds were filled with thoughts and memories. The freshly cut grass, scattered as a sign of respect for guests, reminded me of our deep-rooted traditions.

“The two greatest encounters: Standing in front of hundreds of youth who attended the program, I felt a deep connection to their struggles and helplessness. Their poverty mirrored my own past and created a sense of gratitude, making me realize how far God has brought me. It also filled me with hope that God could use me to change their lives in the future.

“Traveling through the countryside of Tigray, our group got out of the car for some fresh air and to enjoy the beautiful view of the grand mountains surrounding the city. Just a minute away, I saw a small hut and approached it to greet an old lady in the native tongue. Immediately, I felt a powerful connection with her, sensing both her suffering and her joy at seeing me. She blessed me in her soft and quiet voice. This brief stop held the greatest meaning for me because this lady had been waiting for the day she could see me, bless me and send me forth to be a blessing to others.”