Our Journey to the Congo

Why are we adopting from the Congo?

Two years ago, Andy and I were able to spend a few weeks in Africa visiting two ministries. The first place that we visited was Lifesong for Orphan's school in Kitwe, Zambia. We didn't want to leave. We loved the kids. Our eyes were opened to needs that we had only heard about. We wanted to bring lots and lots of kids home. We met kids who had the responsibilities of adults, who dealt with the effects of "the virus" (AIDS) because their parents (one or both) had died, and spend time with a little girl Eleanor, who died of starvation a short six months after we left.

We had always talked about adopting and thought that we would at some point. But, when we felt sure that God was telling us that now is the time...we knew that we would adopt from the continent of Africa. The question was where. Zambia wasn't an option for us because you have to live there for at least 3 months. And there was some upheaval at the time in Uganda and a change in the adoption process in Ethiopia. It was during that time, that I stumbled upon the Congo. Our Family Adoptions, who handles adoptions but it a non-profit organization, partners specifically with an orphanage less than 100 miles from the school we love in Zambia.

The adoption process in the Congo is not as established as other African programs, such as Ethiopia, but the need is great. There are over 5 million orphaned or homeless children in the Congo alone. Our precious children, Silas and Mercy, were dropped off at an orphanage that has a 100 child to 1 adult ratio (More on that to follow). Small babies, if not placed in foster care, die there.

The more I've read about the Congo, the more I want to advocate. Not only are the number of orphans staggering, but it is also considered to be the "rape capital of the world." In fact, just this week, an article was published, which stated that on average 48 women are raped daily in Congo. And that is only women who report the crime. See here. These two statistics are most certainly related.
Additional Facts About the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
- At war from 1998 - 2003
- 1,500 people die per day in DRC because of the conflict
- Deadliest conflict since WWII
- Over 5.4 million people have died since 1998
- Life expenctancy is 46 years
-over 5.2 million Congolese children receive no education
-over 1.2 million people are infected with HIV-almost 60% of those infected are women
-Malaria kills 400 children a day

Adoption is not a solution to the orphan crisis. Our Family Adoptions was able to complete 20 adoptions in the year 2010. This is a much larger number than in years past, but compared to the staggering number of orphans, it is only a drop in the bucket. Adoption changes the life of that child. It visibly illustrates Biblical truths...that God adopted us as His children, not because of anything we have done but out of mercy. It brings awareness to the orphan crisis. It calls some to follow. I pray that all these things happen as a result of our adoption, but I pray more than that for peace to be restored to the Congo. I pray for Godly men and women to lead, for justice to be served, for the gospel of hope to be preached to women who suffer.