Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
39 Years, 50 1/2 Weeks To Go
Abby and I have had a ton of joy playing with the kids. They smile a lot and are ticklish and tackle each other (Silas uses the Sumo approach, but Mercy usually wins). When they laugh, cuddle, and smile I often think about how my family and friends back home will love meet them and how their lives will be filled with so many more smiles as they are held and kissed in the days and years to come. We are so so so thankful God put them in our family, even though I'm still getting used to wiping the foulest smelling butterscotch and pistachio pudding off their rear ends at all hours of the night.
That's the fun side of our trip.
The other side is one of waiting and waiting and waiting. On one hand, I know the end will come. We'll go home eventually and this will all be in the past and it's all good. But on the other hand, it's easy to get discouraged or ticked off when paperwork is promised to be done and then it turns out to not get done. So we wait here largely confined to the guest house. It's not hostile or super unsafe in the streets, but it's not Mr. Roger's neighborhood either. It's not really the best idea just to meander around in the streets because we stick out so much and people come up and try to ask us about them in French of Lingala--and I just say "ING-LISH", and they laugh.
Thus, we're kinda stuck here, just hanging out.
So today I thought about Israel. I was eating Ramen noodles for the second time today and it occurred to me that the Israelites waited 40 years and ate the same stuff as they awaited to go home to the promised land. It's really hard for me not to complain. Even at times when complaining isn't coming out of my mouth, it's definitely going on in my head. I'm pretty sure that if I was an Israelite, I would have been struck down in the wilderness. I think I would have been in the first batch to get struck down. I'm about 39 years and 50 1/2 weeks short of the Israelties, and here I am with my "Woe is me" attitude.
Home is a great place, and I long to be there and by the grace of God we'll be home soon. I can't wait to see that other little girl of ours and for her to meet her brother and sister! But for now, we must wait.
We did get to leave the guest house for a bit today to go to an orphanage called Georgette's. There were thirty or so kids there and we got to give them some gifts and play games with them. It was a highlight for us. A sweet woman who was in charge welcomed us and we prayed together and the kids sang, and then we enjoyed playing checkers, legos, soccer, and catch with them. We looked around the orphanage and saw that they have some major needs. The word "orphanage" it may conjure up an image of a big building with lots of little dorm rooms, but this was more like a 6-7 room concrete block building, with rebar across open-air windows, concrete floors, block and mortar walls, and just a few bunk beds crammed into a few rooms. One room had colorful paint, and there were two tiled bathrooms, but there's no running water. We hope to use some of the money that some of the folks from church have donated to meet some of their needs.
That's all for now, time to try to sneak into bed without waking up the kiddos next to me---so far I'm about 0 for 10!
Andy
That's the fun side of our trip.
The other side is one of waiting and waiting and waiting. On one hand, I know the end will come. We'll go home eventually and this will all be in the past and it's all good. But on the other hand, it's easy to get discouraged or ticked off when paperwork is promised to be done and then it turns out to not get done. So we wait here largely confined to the guest house. It's not hostile or super unsafe in the streets, but it's not Mr. Roger's neighborhood either. It's not really the best idea just to meander around in the streets because we stick out so much and people come up and try to ask us about them in French of Lingala--and I just say "ING-LISH", and they laugh.
Thus, we're kinda stuck here, just hanging out.
So today I thought about Israel. I was eating Ramen noodles for the second time today and it occurred to me that the Israelites waited 40 years and ate the same stuff as they awaited to go home to the promised land. It's really hard for me not to complain. Even at times when complaining isn't coming out of my mouth, it's definitely going on in my head. I'm pretty sure that if I was an Israelite, I would have been struck down in the wilderness. I think I would have been in the first batch to get struck down. I'm about 39 years and 50 1/2 weeks short of the Israelties, and here I am with my "Woe is me" attitude.
Home is a great place, and I long to be there and by the grace of God we'll be home soon. I can't wait to see that other little girl of ours and for her to meet her brother and sister! But for now, we must wait.
We did get to leave the guest house for a bit today to go to an orphanage called Georgette's. There were thirty or so kids there and we got to give them some gifts and play games with them. It was a highlight for us. A sweet woman who was in charge welcomed us and we prayed together and the kids sang, and then we enjoyed playing checkers, legos, soccer, and catch with them. We looked around the orphanage and saw that they have some major needs. The word "orphanage" it may conjure up an image of a big building with lots of little dorm rooms, but this was more like a 6-7 room concrete block building, with rebar across open-air windows, concrete floors, block and mortar walls, and just a few bunk beds crammed into a few rooms. One room had colorful paint, and there were two tiled bathrooms, but there's no running water. We hope to use some of the money that some of the folks from church have donated to meet some of their needs.
That's all for now, time to try to sneak into bed without waking up the kiddos next to me---so far I'm about 0 for 10!
Andy
Monday, June 27, 2011
Visiting the orphanage that our babies came from...
Here is a video from the orphanage, which we visited yesterday. This is the orphanage that both of our children came from. There are close to 100 children, 2 sleeping rooms with about 10 bunk beds in each room, and very little food. We brought lunch for the kids, which consisted of peanut butter sandwiches, porridge, and bananas. We are going back tomorrow to drop off rice, beans and fish for the orphanage before visiting a second orphanage.
It was very sad to visit the first, but it also put our trip in perspective. What is 2-3 weeks at a decent hotel compared to a life there? What is the challenge of raising 3 kids under 2.5 when two of them would have been living/dying at this place.
Despite the trauma there...the kids danced. They laughed. Children, by God's grace, are amazingly resilient. Some were horribly sad and wouldn't eat, but the majority of those kids are survivors. Though they will never have moms and dads. The need is great...not just for adoption but more so for orphan care. Adoption affects a few children, but sustained orphan care support helps so many more.
I've been trying to load a video of them dancing for hours but it won't. I may try again another day!
It was very sad to visit the first, but it also put our trip in perspective. What is 2-3 weeks at a decent hotel compared to a life there? What is the challenge of raising 3 kids under 2.5 when two of them would have been living/dying at this place.
Despite the trauma there...the kids danced. They laughed. Children, by God's grace, are amazingly resilient. Some were horribly sad and wouldn't eat, but the majority of those kids are survivors. Though they will never have moms and dads. The need is great...not just for adoption but more so for orphan care. Adoption affects a few children, but sustained orphan care support helps so many more.
I've been trying to load a video of them dancing for hours but it won't. I may try again another day!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sabbath Day of Rest
Well it is Sunday in Kinshasa, and we are certainly resting this Sabbath. Pastor Loma, who we work with here, is preaching at a new church that is far away, so we were not able to attend his service. Instead, we are hoping to log on to the First United Service at 3pm our time.
One of the families that was here with us left this morning. I was sad to see them leave (and jealous!). They arrived a bit before us and their process went really quickly.
Mercy has been really really ill with diarrhea and some vomiting. After a day of pedialyte only we are slowly adding a bit of formula back into the diet. It has been so sad to see her sick. It will be so good to get her to the doctor and fix her discomforts and nurse her back to full health.
Silas, on the other hand, is a bruiser. He has eaten enough for 2 children since we've been here...including waking up every 3 hours on the dot at night time to eat (grrr...) It's a bit to early to make him cry it out, but I am certain that he doesn't need the calories! ha He is twice the weight of Mercy I believe and has been spoiled. He isn't sure how to self-soothe and requires a lot of rocking and holding to get to sleep etc...The wonderful news is that his diaper rash is getting lots better and he is beginning to play on his own and smile and giggle like a normal happy baby. He is doing much better than I had expected attaching to us.
Andy and I are entertaining ourselves however we can...we lost one of our dice, so our farkle game cannot continue. We are planning to have a small workout session later (ha!), have listened to music, read books, played with the babies, eaten snacks, walked around, and try to watch at least one episode of season 1 of 24 per night.
We have a few outings planned over the next few days. Tomorrow we plan to go the Embassy to get Silas's visa. Apparently there was an issue with the printing of it on Thursday, so we are hopeful that it will be done, so that we can start the DGM process. Tuesday we are dropping food off at the Lisanga orphanage, where we delivered lunch yesterday, and then we will proceed to Georgette's orphanage for a visit. Georgettes is where the majority of our donations will go, including all of the fitted sheets.
We do not know how long we will need to stay. It totally depends on when our DGM process starts and how long it takes...it could go really quickly if the pastor can push for ours to go with the other family's who is here...or it could take longer. There currently isn't a great likelihood of us making our flight home next Sunday. The next few days should at least give us an idea...no timeline is guaranteed though.
We are hanging in there and will hopefully get good news from the Embassy tomorrow. Update soon to follow.
Love and miss you all-- A&A
One of the families that was here with us left this morning. I was sad to see them leave (and jealous!). They arrived a bit before us and their process went really quickly.
Mercy has been really really ill with diarrhea and some vomiting. After a day of pedialyte only we are slowly adding a bit of formula back into the diet. It has been so sad to see her sick. It will be so good to get her to the doctor and fix her discomforts and nurse her back to full health.
Silas, on the other hand, is a bruiser. He has eaten enough for 2 children since we've been here...including waking up every 3 hours on the dot at night time to eat (grrr...) It's a bit to early to make him cry it out, but I am certain that he doesn't need the calories! ha He is twice the weight of Mercy I believe and has been spoiled. He isn't sure how to self-soothe and requires a lot of rocking and holding to get to sleep etc...The wonderful news is that his diaper rash is getting lots better and he is beginning to play on his own and smile and giggle like a normal happy baby. He is doing much better than I had expected attaching to us.
Andy and I are entertaining ourselves however we can...we lost one of our dice, so our farkle game cannot continue. We are planning to have a small workout session later (ha!), have listened to music, read books, played with the babies, eaten snacks, walked around, and try to watch at least one episode of season 1 of 24 per night.
We have a few outings planned over the next few days. Tomorrow we plan to go the Embassy to get Silas's visa. Apparently there was an issue with the printing of it on Thursday, so we are hopeful that it will be done, so that we can start the DGM process. Tuesday we are dropping food off at the Lisanga orphanage, where we delivered lunch yesterday, and then we will proceed to Georgette's orphanage for a visit. Georgettes is where the majority of our donations will go, including all of the fitted sheets.
We do not know how long we will need to stay. It totally depends on when our DGM process starts and how long it takes...it could go really quickly if the pastor can push for ours to go with the other family's who is here...or it could take longer. There currently isn't a great likelihood of us making our flight home next Sunday. The next few days should at least give us an idea...no timeline is guaranteed though.
We are hanging in there and will hopefully get good news from the Embassy tomorrow. Update soon to follow.
Love and miss you all-- A&A
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Bonjour
It's Saturday a.m. and we just finished up the usual breakfast of eggs and bread. It's not too bad. The kids are smiley, but mommy and daddy are a bit groggy after a night of cleaning poopy diapers. Both of the kids have some digestive issues (probably parasites) and they have provided our room with quite a distinct smell.
Today we will get to go to an orphanage and feed the kids lunch and drop off some items that people back home donated. Other than that, we will be passing the time by taking care of the kids, playing farkle, reading, and working our way through season one of "24", which we watch on a laptop.
It's fun to see the kids' personalities beginning to come out. Silas is still in a lot of pain from a wicked diaper rash and scabbies. Thanks so much for the prayers!
Andy
Today we will get to go to an orphanage and feed the kids lunch and drop off some items that people back home donated. Other than that, we will be passing the time by taking care of the kids, playing farkle, reading, and working our way through season one of "24", which we watch on a laptop.
It's fun to see the kids' personalities beginning to come out. Silas is still in a lot of pain from a wicked diaper rash and scabbies. Thanks so much for the prayers!
Andy
Friday, June 24, 2011
Quick Update
Greetings from Kinshasa!
It has been "cold" here according to the locals, which has been loving! It's perfect weather and we have had electricity and water fairly consistently.
The kids are doing well, though we look forward to bringing them home and visiting the doctors. Their tolerance for pain and discomfort is much greater than ours.
We got Mercy's visa yesterday and Silas's was misprinted, so they were supposed to have it corrected by this morning. If that is the case, the Pastor should be dropping our documents off at DGM (Department of General Migration in Congo), who will hopefully issue us exit letters to leave the country. In a few days, they will request our passports and a fee for each child and we will wait for a letter that says we have the go-ahead to get on a plane and head home. The pastor that we work with says that this has been taking only a week lately, so we are praying that is the case as our return flight is Sunday. (The other woman traveling with us has a return flight for Saturday, so if ours comes through with hers, we could switch to a day earlier, which would be lovely :)
All is well. Silas is sitting up and close crawling, believe it or not. Mercy is scooting all over on her belly. These babies are going to be moving in no time and this mama is going to be tired.
Ways to Pray:
-Quick DGM process!
-Sustained health (healing for Mercy's tummy...pedialyte has been the steady diet...and healing for Silas's diaper rash
-For me to be able to sleep...the grace of rest
-Continued good bonding with the kids (it has been great so far)
-Safe travel for the 2 families coming home this weekend
-For us to be a blessing to the orphanage that we visit tomorrow, where Silas and Mercy came from
Thank you for praying alongside with us!!
It has been "cold" here according to the locals, which has been loving! It's perfect weather and we have had electricity and water fairly consistently.
The kids are doing well, though we look forward to bringing them home and visiting the doctors. Their tolerance for pain and discomfort is much greater than ours.
We got Mercy's visa yesterday and Silas's was misprinted, so they were supposed to have it corrected by this morning. If that is the case, the Pastor should be dropping our documents off at DGM (Department of General Migration in Congo), who will hopefully issue us exit letters to leave the country. In a few days, they will request our passports and a fee for each child and we will wait for a letter that says we have the go-ahead to get on a plane and head home. The pastor that we work with says that this has been taking only a week lately, so we are praying that is the case as our return flight is Sunday. (The other woman traveling with us has a return flight for Saturday, so if ours comes through with hers, we could switch to a day earlier, which would be lovely :)
All is well. Silas is sitting up and close crawling, believe it or not. Mercy is scooting all over on her belly. These babies are going to be moving in no time and this mama is going to be tired.
Ways to Pray:
-Quick DGM process!
-Sustained health (healing for Mercy's tummy...pedialyte has been the steady diet...and healing for Silas's diaper rash
-For me to be able to sleep...the grace of rest
-Continued good bonding with the kids (it has been great so far)
-Safe travel for the 2 families coming home this weekend
-For us to be a blessing to the orphanage that we visit tomorrow, where Silas and Mercy came from
Thank you for praying alongside with us!!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Just Passing Through
Abby and I got the kids this morning around 830 a.m. and have enjoyed being with them today. Their foster mom, Therese, was sad to let them go and Abby and I are so thankful for her love and care. I made a quick trip to the U.S. Embassy to check up on our Visas, and they said that they would finish them today. If they weren’t just feeding me a line, then it looks like tomorrow we’ll be able to start our final step in the process, which is getting exit letters from Congolese Immigration.
This afternoon, I met a young guy—25ish?—from Canada who is staying here before he heads out to the jungle for 9 months to study chimpanzees. He was super interesting to talk to and I learned that he has studied bears, coyotes, and birds in the past (I now know what to do if I’m attacked by a Bear and I’ve also learned that Coyotes are beginning to make their way into cities like raccoons). Anyhow, he was wanting to go out on a walk to look for some food, so I strapped Mercy on in a baby carrier and he and I and another guy went outside the walls of our safe little hotel. The guy had taken a little French in high school and since he wasn’t afraid of wild bears and had a thick beard, he seemed like a trustworthy tour guide out in the streets.
We walked around for about an hour and a half and hundreds of people stared at me. We saw no other white people and there were definitely no men holding babies. A white guy with a black baby tends to be a bit out of place around these parts. One time when my “guide” stopped to bravely buy some food, a small crowd gathered around and some pointed and giggled. I could never understand what people were saying, but I did see pointing and laughing on more than one occasion as we walked down the bustling streets.
The cool thing was that after a while, getting stared at started to feel more normal. I remember one time when I was sitting outside a grocery store at home and I saw a white family with two black kids walk in and it caught my attention. I stared. It’s noticeable. It’s different. When we get back home, we’ll have to adjust to being different. Most of the comments and stares will be innocent, but even if they’re not, I pray that Abby and I (and the kids someday) will be gracious instead of defensive and that we will be secure in the Lord. Maybe it will never feel completely normal to have people stare, but that’s o.k., we’re just passing through.
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Phil. 3:20
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Congo Bound!
The day is here. We leave for DRC and will be there until we can bring our children home!
Our flight leaves O'Hare at 6am, so we will be leaving home around 2:15am for the airport.
Our bags are packed and filled to the absolute brim!
Prayer Requests:
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
-Please pray that God's grace abounds in us so that we are prepared to do this good work of caring for and parenting Silas and Mercy.
-For safe travels and protection over us during our stay in Congo. It is common for travelers to get sick, so please pray that God protects us from illness and sustains our strength as we care for our babies.
-For Silas and Mercy as they are permanently placed in our care. Their worlds are forever changing, so we ask you to pray that God gives them the grace to adjust quickly and feel secure with Andy and I.
-For Silas and Mercy's health. That we will be able to assess their needs and use the meds that we are bringing to address minor issues. Also for God to sustain their health until we can get them home to doctor.
-For Elly as she is on vacation with my parents and sister's family this week. So far she's been doing great, and we are very thankful! Pray also for her transition this upcoming weekend into Andy's parents' care.
-For Silas and Mercy's visas to be issued early this week so that we can start the second phase of our wait to bring them home. The sooner they are issued, the sooner we can get home and can have a more accurate timeline of returning.
-For good attitudes despite the lack of comforts that we are used to and for Andy and I to really enjoy these weeks together and with the kids.
Thank you for going to the Father on our behalf! We have been so blessed by the community of friends and family that God has given us. We covet your prayers over the next few weeks!
We will update as often as we are able, depending on the availability of electricity and wi-fi.
God is faithful to finish what He starts. We are so thankful to see this adoption process finish, so that we can begin the good work of parenting these two sweet babies.
Our flight leaves O'Hare at 6am, so we will be leaving home around 2:15am for the airport.
Our bags are packed and filled to the absolute brim!
Prayer Requests:
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
-Please pray that God's grace abounds in us so that we are prepared to do this good work of caring for and parenting Silas and Mercy.
-For safe travels and protection over us during our stay in Congo. It is common for travelers to get sick, so please pray that God protects us from illness and sustains our strength as we care for our babies.
-For Silas and Mercy as they are permanently placed in our care. Their worlds are forever changing, so we ask you to pray that God gives them the grace to adjust quickly and feel secure with Andy and I.
-For Silas and Mercy's health. That we will be able to assess their needs and use the meds that we are bringing to address minor issues. Also for God to sustain their health until we can get them home to doctor.
-For Elly as she is on vacation with my parents and sister's family this week. So far she's been doing great, and we are very thankful! Pray also for her transition this upcoming weekend into Andy's parents' care.
-For Silas and Mercy's visas to be issued early this week so that we can start the second phase of our wait to bring them home. The sooner they are issued, the sooner we can get home and can have a more accurate timeline of returning.
-For good attitudes despite the lack of comforts that we are used to and for Andy and I to really enjoy these weeks together and with the kids.
Thank you for going to the Father on our behalf! We have been so blessed by the community of friends and family that God has given us. We covet your prayers over the next few weeks!
We will update as often as we are able, depending on the availability of electricity and wi-fi.
God is faithful to finish what He starts. We are so thankful to see this adoption process finish, so that we can begin the good work of parenting these two sweet babies.
Monday, June 13, 2011
"How Boys and Girls are Different"
Elly has two little boyfriends, Sam and Finn. It is common to see Elly daintily pushing her babies around in the baby stroller and then for one of the boys to come up and ram the stroller into a wall or slam it up and down. Even from a young age, "Boys and Girls are Different." (That was the title of a book that my parents got for Sarah at the same time that they got me "How Boys and Girls are Changing" HA...oh I am not looking forward to having to have those talks with my kids)
I digress...
This video makes me laugh because regardless of the culture, age, etc...God made boys and girls differently. Studies have shown that women feel the need to say well over twice the number of words per day that men do. Mercy apparently fits this mold. Similarly, boys seem to have an innate desire to hit/wrestle, use everyday items as weapons and in general appear more gruff than their female counterparts.
So enjoy...Mercy chatting away while Silas silently slams a bag around.
I digress...
This video makes me laugh because regardless of the culture, age, etc...God made boys and girls differently. Studies have shown that women feel the need to say well over twice the number of words per day that men do. Mercy apparently fits this mold. Similarly, boys seem to have an innate desire to hit/wrestle, use everyday items as weapons and in general appear more gruff than their female counterparts.
So enjoy...Mercy chatting away while Silas silently slams a bag around.
Tickets Purchased!
For a quick update, we have not received Silas and Mercy's visas yet; however, Andy and I went ahead and booked tickets for Monday (20th) with a tentative return date of July 3rd (arriving in Chicago on the 4th).
We could get their visas this Wednesday, next Wednesday or anytime in between, so our timeline is very sketchy. Nevertheless, on Monday at 6am (woohoo...leaving our house around 2am...) we will go to D.C. then take a plane that looks like this:
And head to our final destination here:
Ways to Pray:
1. For Silas and Mercy's visas to be issued quickly and smoothly.
2. For Elly to be comforted by our wonderful families who are stepping into our shoes while we are away. And for God to prepare her little heart for the changes ahead.
3. For Silas and Mercy to remember Andy and be able to transition quickly into our care. For the Lord's protection over their health until we can get them home.
4. For our time in DRC to be positive. For our minds to be focused on "things above not on earthly things" (like miserable heat, bugs or lack of running water!). For great bonding with the kids, tangible ways to serve in orphanages and fond memories for Andy and I.
We are praising God for His faithfulness and provision. The long wait is nearly over...and then the real craziness will begin! :)
We could get their visas this Wednesday, next Wednesday or anytime in between, so our timeline is very sketchy. Nevertheless, on Monday at 6am (woohoo...leaving our house around 2am...) we will go to D.C. then take a plane that looks like this:
And head to our final destination here:
Ways to Pray:
1. For Silas and Mercy's visas to be issued quickly and smoothly.
2. For Elly to be comforted by our wonderful families who are stepping into our shoes while we are away. And for God to prepare her little heart for the changes ahead.
3. For Silas and Mercy to remember Andy and be able to transition quickly into our care. For the Lord's protection over their health until we can get them home.
4. For our time in DRC to be positive. For our minds to be focused on "things above not on earthly things" (like miserable heat, bugs or lack of running water!). For great bonding with the kids, tangible ways to serve in orphanages and fond memories for Andy and I.
We are praising God for His faithfulness and provision. The long wait is nearly over...and then the real craziness will begin! :)
Friday, June 10, 2011
5 years down, 50 to go (if the Lord allows)
Not sure how optimistic that title is, but I am thankful for my husband of 5 years and look forward to many more anniversaries ahead. As I look back on the last five years, a lot has happened: We worked together at Cornerstone, Youth pastored, renovated a home, got free burritos at Moe's for a year, drove many a mile from Normal to Gridley and back, made the decision to move to Gridley to pastor at First United, had one child and are almost done adopting 2 more. A nearly full minivan in five years seems like either an accomplishment...or insanity!
Through thick and thin, Andy has taught me much, encouraged me and been my best friend. This truth was highlighted the week that he was away in DRC. I missed having my best friend around, but was also really thankful that I have a husband who is sacrifical and capable of surviving 4 days alone with two babies...and not just surviving but caring for them and loving them well.
The following video made me giggle. This is Andy: Up for a challenge, never complaining, and much more organized than myself.
Please pray for our marriage today. That God will bless it and strengthen it. That adding two more children will build our marriage and give us joy rather than stress and frustration. That God will use Andy in ministry and show me how to be a good helpmate. That our children will walk in obedience to Christ and grow to know and love the gospel and that we will have wisdom to train them well.
Through thick and thin, Andy has taught me much, encouraged me and been my best friend. This truth was highlighted the week that he was away in DRC. I missed having my best friend around, but was also really thankful that I have a husband who is sacrifical and capable of surviving 4 days alone with two babies...and not just surviving but caring for them and loving them well.
The following video made me giggle. This is Andy: Up for a challenge, never complaining, and much more organized than myself.
Please pray for our marriage today. That God will bless it and strengthen it. That adding two more children will build our marriage and give us joy rather than stress and frustration. That God will use Andy in ministry and show me how to be a good helpmate. That our children will walk in obedience to Christ and grow to know and love the gospel and that we will have wisdom to train them well.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Covenant of Marriage
5 years ago tomorrow, Andy and I said, "I do."
This video, which was posted on Justin Taylor's blog at the Gospel Coalition, is a great reminder that "I do" is forever. We may change, our emotions may ebb and flow, but the covenant of marriage is sustained by faithfulness over a lifetime. Enjoy the thoughts of these three godly, wise men in this video. To view click here.
Stay tuned tomorrow for a tribute to my husband, which will include a video that I find quite humorous from his week in Congo.
This video, which was posted on Justin Taylor's blog at the Gospel Coalition, is a great reminder that "I do" is forever. We may change, our emotions may ebb and flow, but the covenant of marriage is sustained by faithfulness over a lifetime. Enjoy the thoughts of these three godly, wise men in this video. To view click here.
Stay tuned tomorrow for a tribute to my husband, which will include a video that I find quite humorous from his week in Congo.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Quick Update
We learned today that the US Embassy expects to take at least 2 weeks from the interview date (Andy's was June 1) to issue visas for children. For clarification, the visas that Silas and Mercy will receive will allow them to enter US soil. These 2ish weeks are spent researching their abandonment stories and reviewing court documents to confirm that they are in fact abandoned orphans and not children who were bought off the streets, etc...
I would ask you to pray with us that our visas will be issued by next Wednesday (or sooner!). The timing would work out really well for Elly if we can get our visas by then as well. Please also pray that Sarah will process our documents and that they will not stall our process unnecessarily.
Elly has had a difficult past week, so we would also appreciate prayers that God, in His grace, will cover her during this time. That she will have peace with us being gone and that she will be filled with an unexplainable love for Silas and Mercy rather than jealousy, anger, etc...
God has been good, He has called us to this task of adoption, and He will see it through. He will see Elly through these changes, and He will strengthen and prepare Andy and I for the difficulties ahead as well. We covet your prayers and are so thankful for your support and encouragement!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Hooray for Power In Kinshasa!
Andy sent me an email for the first time on his trip. Apparently the entire town of Kinshasa has been without power and water for these several days. Crazy...the capital city of a huge country with a population of over 8 million is without power and water for days. Well...in his e-mail, he sent me a few pictures! So here's a glimpse at our babies.
Fun, I Think.
It's about 1030 local time and the two little bundles of joy are sleeping on a mattress on the floor next to me. Tonight is the first time I've had internet this week, and saw I thought I'd tap out a few thoughts from the week. I suspect they won't be that coherent, but I don't want to forget this experience, so I'll try to memorialize it in cyberspace.
-God has been so kind to me. I love the fact that the church is praying for me and the kids and there have been numerous times that it's almost like I've sensed it. (My air conditioner just peed on the floor!-it does that all night and and sometimes splashes on me. Speaking of pee, I was changing Silas today, or yesterday maybe, and I bent down in front of the desk he was laying on to throw something away and all of a sudden it started raining! Changing boys is new territory for me and I learned never to stick your head in the line of fire.) Anyways, back to prayer . . . I KNOW that the Lord has been pleased to answer prayer this trip. My arms have been full of two babies for three days and he has made them so well behaved, has given me joy, and has helped us to bond really well.
-Speaking of bonding, Silas cries when other people hold him, but when I pick him up, he stops. THAT'S MY BOY!
-Mercy is the jolliest little booger I've ever met. I think she'll give Edie Stauter a run for her money on the "laid-back" factor. Sure enough, as soon as I typed that she woke up! Time for a bottle.
-I'm back with Mercy on my lap rockin' a bottle. I love it! I think it's time for a list of things to be thankful for: Paved roads. Striped roads. Stoplights. Stop signs. Seatbelts. People not driving by and hitting your car with their hand. Fresh air. Sewers. Protein bars. Electricity. An economy that allows people who want to work the chance to go find a job (There are hardly any jobs here and part of the reason that everything takes so long in the adoption is that many of the government jobs are simply given to family members who are unqualified,but who can earn a decent wage and milk foreigners for bribes).
-When I landed at the aiport and and hopped in a taxi (i.e. "car that is so beat up I can't think of any functioning car in the U.S. that would be worse") it was the scariest ride of my life. We drove for about 45 minutes and there were thousands of people walking along side of the road in the dark with little stands set up alongside the road trying to sell stuff by candlelight, thick smog/smoke in the air, vans loaded down beyond capacity with people which would swerve every which way and we would be jarred from time to time by potholes that would we 8 inches deep and 3 feet wide (seriously--today there was a guy in the road who charged people to put down a board over a pothole so that cars could drive across "his" pothole). We've used the same taxi driver the whole time, but every time I get in a taxi, I'm thinking I'm moments from seeing Jesus. I'm not kidding, multiple times today, we almost got in an accident. Thankfully, there's no need for airbags, because we generally ride with so many bodies crammed in the car that there's no room to move.
-I love it when Silas and Mercy wrestle over the same toy or the other night when I saw them touching hands while they slept. They are really comfortable with each other. Silas is really comfortable in the baby carrier. Today he was in for four hours straight! Let me explain. The main reason I made this trip was for an appointment at the U.S. Embassy so they could see me with the kids. Today, that journey took four hours. The journey began with another death-taxi ride. Then at 1130 our translator told us that we should go to our airline office before the appointment (which was scheduled for noon). Pretty much the sole purpose for making this trip was to be at this appointment at noon, so when he said that we were going to "swing in" by the airline office at 1130, I'm thinking this is not a good idea. Sure enough, he gets a call that they need Mercy's passport ASAP at the Embassy. So we speed over there, he drops me off with two kids in my hands, holding a bottle with my chin that's in Silas' mouth in the baby carrier and we head into the Embassy. In the Embassy, we repeated get called into a series of rooms behind doors numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. Every so often, they would call your name and tell you which door to go in, and then I'd go in and try to get money or a passport or who knows what out of my pockets all while cramming milk down the throat of one of the two kids. There were about 15 Congolese people in the waiting room who were looking like me like I was an absolute moron. I've often felt socially awkward on this trip (the white dude with the chick-like baby carrier with a one little black baby in it and another in his arm). Like I said, I KNOW people were praying for this, because I'm sitting here reflecting on it and I'm absolutely baffled at how good the kids were and all the i's got dotted today.
-For the kids, I think this is like a long Thanksgiving weekend. I've been giving them a ton of milk and sometimes they pass out almost like they are drunk after the bottle.
-The place I'm staying at is like a guest house and a restaurant. It's kind of like the place in the movie Hotel Rwanda. In the afternoon or evenings, some people come to eat dinner in the courtyard and one thing that I love is that they take a long time to eat. They sit there and talk for hours. The African pace of life is slower, which is great thing. I was thinking to myself as I observed them, why do I think I need to be so busy. Why in the world should anyone have trouble scheduling a date with his wife?! One of the workers here wanted to practice his English with me so we were talking and I was trying to explain to him life in America. I told him it was fast paced and that everyone has calendars on the phone that they use all the time. I know that my calendar on my phone is a good thing, but it sounded like a silly way to live when it came out of my mouth to a man who has no conception of that kind of life.
-Speaking of that man, he really wants me to get him an official invite to America (and place to stay I think). He's a computer science major, a younger man, who has been working at the guest house for two years because he could find no work anywhere else. He said he was saving money to come to the U.S. and would work at any job. When I told him what minimum wage was he literally yelled and turned around to a guy a bit behind him and said something in French and the two of them about fell down on the ground. He turned back to me in English and said, "So you mean if I work ten hours in a day, I will make over seventy dollars in ONE DAY?!" I said, "Well, Obama will take some first (they love him here)!" I then explained the cost of living was different, but nevertheless, he can't wait to come to America and work.
-I think showering is overated. Maybe we'd have time to sit down and talk for a while at meals if we stopped taking showers every day.
-There's another man adopting through the same organization that I met yesterday at a dr. appointment for the kids. His daughter screamed like crazy whenever he'd hold her and she only wanted to be with her foster dad. I think when we get adopted into the family of God, sometimes we come kicking and screaming. It's hard to leave our old way of life because we can't see the life that lies ahead (citation: Abby Huette).
-It's going to be hard to give the kids back to their foster mom tomorrow. I love them and it's been the weirdest fun I've ever had. I don't know if fun is the right word. It hasn't really been fun--it's been . . . wonderful. That's the word. It's a great wonder to me that God placed these two little creatures into my life and that I get the privilege of being their dad. It's truly a wonder. The past couple days have been really hard, but God has often reminded me of the privilege it is to care for Silas and Mercy. When I consider the privilege, it is fun.
-God has been so kind to me. I love the fact that the church is praying for me and the kids and there have been numerous times that it's almost like I've sensed it. (My air conditioner just peed on the floor!-it does that all night and and sometimes splashes on me. Speaking of pee, I was changing Silas today, or yesterday maybe, and I bent down in front of the desk he was laying on to throw something away and all of a sudden it started raining! Changing boys is new territory for me and I learned never to stick your head in the line of fire.) Anyways, back to prayer . . . I KNOW that the Lord has been pleased to answer prayer this trip. My arms have been full of two babies for three days and he has made them so well behaved, has given me joy, and has helped us to bond really well.
-Speaking of bonding, Silas cries when other people hold him, but when I pick him up, he stops. THAT'S MY BOY!
-Mercy is the jolliest little booger I've ever met. I think she'll give Edie Stauter a run for her money on the "laid-back" factor. Sure enough, as soon as I typed that she woke up! Time for a bottle.
-I'm back with Mercy on my lap rockin' a bottle. I love it! I think it's time for a list of things to be thankful for: Paved roads. Striped roads. Stoplights. Stop signs. Seatbelts. People not driving by and hitting your car with their hand. Fresh air. Sewers. Protein bars. Electricity. An economy that allows people who want to work the chance to go find a job (There are hardly any jobs here and part of the reason that everything takes so long in the adoption is that many of the government jobs are simply given to family members who are unqualified,but who can earn a decent wage and milk foreigners for bribes).
-When I landed at the aiport and and hopped in a taxi (i.e. "car that is so beat up I can't think of any functioning car in the U.S. that would be worse") it was the scariest ride of my life. We drove for about 45 minutes and there were thousands of people walking along side of the road in the dark with little stands set up alongside the road trying to sell stuff by candlelight, thick smog/smoke in the air, vans loaded down beyond capacity with people which would swerve every which way and we would be jarred from time to time by potholes that would we 8 inches deep and 3 feet wide (seriously--today there was a guy in the road who charged people to put down a board over a pothole so that cars could drive across "his" pothole). We've used the same taxi driver the whole time, but every time I get in a taxi, I'm thinking I'm moments from seeing Jesus. I'm not kidding, multiple times today, we almost got in an accident. Thankfully, there's no need for airbags, because we generally ride with so many bodies crammed in the car that there's no room to move.
-I love it when Silas and Mercy wrestle over the same toy or the other night when I saw them touching hands while they slept. They are really comfortable with each other. Silas is really comfortable in the baby carrier. Today he was in for four hours straight! Let me explain. The main reason I made this trip was for an appointment at the U.S. Embassy so they could see me with the kids. Today, that journey took four hours. The journey began with another death-taxi ride. Then at 1130 our translator told us that we should go to our airline office before the appointment (which was scheduled for noon). Pretty much the sole purpose for making this trip was to be at this appointment at noon, so when he said that we were going to "swing in" by the airline office at 1130, I'm thinking this is not a good idea. Sure enough, he gets a call that they need Mercy's passport ASAP at the Embassy. So we speed over there, he drops me off with two kids in my hands, holding a bottle with my chin that's in Silas' mouth in the baby carrier and we head into the Embassy. In the Embassy, we repeated get called into a series of rooms behind doors numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. Every so often, they would call your name and tell you which door to go in, and then I'd go in and try to get money or a passport or who knows what out of my pockets all while cramming milk down the throat of one of the two kids. There were about 15 Congolese people in the waiting room who were looking like me like I was an absolute moron. I've often felt socially awkward on this trip (the white dude with the chick-like baby carrier with a one little black baby in it and another in his arm). Like I said, I KNOW people were praying for this, because I'm sitting here reflecting on it and I'm absolutely baffled at how good the kids were and all the i's got dotted today.
-For the kids, I think this is like a long Thanksgiving weekend. I've been giving them a ton of milk and sometimes they pass out almost like they are drunk after the bottle.
-The place I'm staying at is like a guest house and a restaurant. It's kind of like the place in the movie Hotel Rwanda. In the afternoon or evenings, some people come to eat dinner in the courtyard and one thing that I love is that they take a long time to eat. They sit there and talk for hours. The African pace of life is slower, which is great thing. I was thinking to myself as I observed them, why do I think I need to be so busy. Why in the world should anyone have trouble scheduling a date with his wife?! One of the workers here wanted to practice his English with me so we were talking and I was trying to explain to him life in America. I told him it was fast paced and that everyone has calendars on the phone that they use all the time. I know that my calendar on my phone is a good thing, but it sounded like a silly way to live when it came out of my mouth to a man who has no conception of that kind of life.
-Speaking of that man, he really wants me to get him an official invite to America (and place to stay I think). He's a computer science major, a younger man, who has been working at the guest house for two years because he could find no work anywhere else. He said he was saving money to come to the U.S. and would work at any job. When I told him what minimum wage was he literally yelled and turned around to a guy a bit behind him and said something in French and the two of them about fell down on the ground. He turned back to me in English and said, "So you mean if I work ten hours in a day, I will make over seventy dollars in ONE DAY?!" I said, "Well, Obama will take some first (they love him here)!" I then explained the cost of living was different, but nevertheless, he can't wait to come to America and work.
-I think showering is overated. Maybe we'd have time to sit down and talk for a while at meals if we stopped taking showers every day.
-There's another man adopting through the same organization that I met yesterday at a dr. appointment for the kids. His daughter screamed like crazy whenever he'd hold her and she only wanted to be with her foster dad. I think when we get adopted into the family of God, sometimes we come kicking and screaming. It's hard to leave our old way of life because we can't see the life that lies ahead (citation: Abby Huette).
-It's going to be hard to give the kids back to their foster mom tomorrow. I love them and it's been the weirdest fun I've ever had. I don't know if fun is the right word. It hasn't really been fun--it's been . . . wonderful. That's the word. It's a great wonder to me that God placed these two little creatures into my life and that I get the privilege of being their dad. It's truly a wonder. The past couple days have been really hard, but God has often reminded me of the privilege it is to care for Silas and Mercy. When I consider the privilege, it is fun.
Musing from Travel To Congo
-I think God’s goodness was on display in a small way when I boarded the bus in Pontiac to head to O’hare. I sat next to a man from Brussels who was on the bus with his wife, his 3 year old daughter, and his twin 9 month old babies. We talked for about an hour and he seemed sane—an encouraging picture of my new life.
-From Montreal to Brussels, I sat next to a single man in his twenties from Albania. He was very friendly and talkative and after we had talked for sometime he mentioned that he was a Muslim. He looked like a typical Midwestern guy, so my Muslim stereotype was shattered. When I asked him if he practiced the Five Pillars, he said that he did not and it seemed as though he was Muslim by family heritage only. My struggle in such situations is that I feel relatively comfortable spouting off about taking the Gospel to all nations from behind a pulpit in largely Christianized small-town America, but I have a hard time talking about Jesus to a Muslim sitting next to me in an airplane. I thought—like any good Christian raised in youth group culture in the later 1990’s—“W.W.J.D?”, but it was to no avail. I know Jesus would love the man sitting next to him, but I’m not sure what he would say.
-It’s 7:56 a.m. CST, which means that the worship band is warming up in the sanctuary at First United Church. Hopefully Duane Otto is awake and planning on coming to preach. If not, maybe the Lord will deconstruct the way that church is normally done and someone will stand up and freestyle preach the Word that’s on their heart. Anyhow, as I’ve been sitting on this planning thinking about Church at First United this morning, I have realized that there is no place I’d rather be than there. Sunday morning at 9 a.m. is my favorite time of the week. It’s when I’m with my family and it’s when I intentionally consider the greatness of God. Church isn’t perfect, but I love it.
-I’m looking out the window and I still see sand. We’ve been over the Sahara desert now for a few hours! I am in awe of how enormous and desolate the Sahara is. It’s amazing to me that God thought it good to put a gigantic wasteland right in the middle of the inhabitable world, which makes me think that it must serve a purposeful function. The hypothesis that I’ve been mulling over is that the Sahara might be the Earth’s version of eye-black, like professional baseball players wear to keep the sun out of their eyes. Maybe the Sahara attracts and retains heat from the sun that serves to regulate ocean temperatures and weather patterns, which allows for the necessary climate for rainforests to thrive in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hmmm. . . maybe the “deserts” in our lives allow us to thrive in other ways.
-I sat next to an African dad and his little boy who was 9 months to a 1 year (my motherly guess) on the flight across the Atlantic. The little guy was a champ—no fussing, just sipping his bottle and napping on daddy’s lap. I got a vision of what it will be like to bring Silas and Mercy home—because I’m sure that they won’t fuss at all.
-Sat next to a guy from Texas in the airpot getting ready to fly to Angola to work on an oil rig. People from Texas like to talk about Texas.
-From Montreal to Brussels, I sat next to a single man in his twenties from Albania. He was very friendly and talkative and after we had talked for sometime he mentioned that he was a Muslim. He looked like a typical Midwestern guy, so my Muslim stereotype was shattered. When I asked him if he practiced the Five Pillars, he said that he did not and it seemed as though he was Muslim by family heritage only. My struggle in such situations is that I feel relatively comfortable spouting off about taking the Gospel to all nations from behind a pulpit in largely Christianized small-town America, but I have a hard time talking about Jesus to a Muslim sitting next to me in an airplane. I thought—like any good Christian raised in youth group culture in the later 1990’s—“W.W.J.D?”, but it was to no avail. I know Jesus would love the man sitting next to him, but I’m not sure what he would say.
-It’s 7:56 a.m. CST, which means that the worship band is warming up in the sanctuary at First United Church. Hopefully Duane Otto is awake and planning on coming to preach. If not, maybe the Lord will deconstruct the way that church is normally done and someone will stand up and freestyle preach the Word that’s on their heart. Anyhow, as I’ve been sitting on this planning thinking about Church at First United this morning, I have realized that there is no place I’d rather be than there. Sunday morning at 9 a.m. is my favorite time of the week. It’s when I’m with my family and it’s when I intentionally consider the greatness of God. Church isn’t perfect, but I love it.
-I’m looking out the window and I still see sand. We’ve been over the Sahara desert now for a few hours! I am in awe of how enormous and desolate the Sahara is. It’s amazing to me that God thought it good to put a gigantic wasteland right in the middle of the inhabitable world, which makes me think that it must serve a purposeful function. The hypothesis that I’ve been mulling over is that the Sahara might be the Earth’s version of eye-black, like professional baseball players wear to keep the sun out of their eyes. Maybe the Sahara attracts and retains heat from the sun that serves to regulate ocean temperatures and weather patterns, which allows for the necessary climate for rainforests to thrive in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hmmm. . . maybe the “deserts” in our lives allow us to thrive in other ways.
-I sat next to an African dad and his little boy who was 9 months to a 1 year (my motherly guess) on the flight across the Atlantic. The little guy was a champ—no fussing, just sipping his bottle and napping on daddy’s lap. I got a vision of what it will be like to bring Silas and Mercy home—because I’m sure that they won’t fuss at all.
-Sat next to a guy from Texas in the airpot getting ready to fly to Angola to work on an oil rig. People from Texas like to talk about Texas.
The Final Night of Trip 1
"Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?' For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:33-36
While it is easy for me to get wrapped up in the details and the supposed timelines, it is appropriate to sit back and praise God for His goodness. On a large scale, He has adopted us as His children. He has given us a hope and a future. He has placed His Spirit within us and has given us Jesus as a Savior and mediator. In the small stuff of our lives, He has placed just the right kids into our family. He has sustained Andy through long days. He has brought us through rollercoaster after rollercoaster, always walking with us, deepening our faith and trust in Him. He truly deserves all the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Final Trip 1 Congo Update:
I have spoken with Andy twice today, and he is doing well. Despite the lack of showers and being so hot that he just wants to drink water all day, he said that we have great kids and he's sad to return them to foster care tomorrow morning.
He told me that he feels like people must be praying for him around the clock because he has made it through some wild days. He said that the Lord hasn't given him more than he can handle, but He has given him as much as he can handle!
Silas slept through the night last night, and Mercy only woke up once. Andy spent a few hours this morning just playing on the bed with both babies. Mercy just smiles and giggles and never fusses. Silas was more giggly today. His health isn't as good as Mercy's (though it certainty isn't terrible) and he has really bad diaper rash, which makes him uncomfortable...poor guy. Overall, the kids have been great but Andy's been so busy and hot that he's hardly had time to eat!
The Embassy interview was quick, and all 3 adoptive families were told that the kids' visas would take 1-3 weeks (This is the visa that will allow them to enter US soil). Please pray that ours are on the shorter side of this timeline. I know that God will command the timing and that I have no control, but I would appreciate prayer that the Embassy would not hassle us over paperwork and will issue the visas quicker than expected. However, Andy said that if they say 1-3 weeks in the Congo, we should expect 4. Ugh...I am ready to meet my babies and would ask you to pray for God's mercy in giving me peace in the waiting and His covering over the visa process.
Andy's flight leaves Kinshasa at 10pm tomorrow night (4pm CST), and I will be picking him in at O'Hare at 6:30 Friday night.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer through this wild journey.
Expect to see pictures of the babies in the next few days! Woohoo!
Ways to Pray:
1. For Silas and Mercy's visas to be issued quickly, so that we can return to Congo and bring them home.
2. For the Embassy to issue visas without unnecessarily scrutinizing documents or hassling us.
3. For Andy to travel safely home.
4. For the children to adjust back to foster care for a short time and to not be too confused over the change of settings.
5. For them to remember Andy when we return and especially Silas to not be as scared on trip 2.
6. For God to prepare Elly's heart for the changes ahead...specifically for her to have an unexplainable, deep love for Silas and Mercy rather than jealousy. For the timing of our travels to work out so that she can go on Lovejoy family vacation while we are gone (this will hopefully be a better distraction than being in our home for 2 weeks without us).
7. For God to prepare Andy and I and Silas and Mercy for the changes ahead. For us to get a good glimpse of the Congo and to be a blessing to the orphanages that we visit. That God will show us to how to die to ourselves as we raise 3 little children.
While it is easy for me to get wrapped up in the details and the supposed timelines, it is appropriate to sit back and praise God for His goodness. On a large scale, He has adopted us as His children. He has given us a hope and a future. He has placed His Spirit within us and has given us Jesus as a Savior and mediator. In the small stuff of our lives, He has placed just the right kids into our family. He has sustained Andy through long days. He has brought us through rollercoaster after rollercoaster, always walking with us, deepening our faith and trust in Him. He truly deserves all the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Final Trip 1 Congo Update:
I have spoken with Andy twice today, and he is doing well. Despite the lack of showers and being so hot that he just wants to drink water all day, he said that we have great kids and he's sad to return them to foster care tomorrow morning.
He told me that he feels like people must be praying for him around the clock because he has made it through some wild days. He said that the Lord hasn't given him more than he can handle, but He has given him as much as he can handle!
Silas slept through the night last night, and Mercy only woke up once. Andy spent a few hours this morning just playing on the bed with both babies. Mercy just smiles and giggles and never fusses. Silas was more giggly today. His health isn't as good as Mercy's (though it certainty isn't terrible) and he has really bad diaper rash, which makes him uncomfortable...poor guy. Overall, the kids have been great but Andy's been so busy and hot that he's hardly had time to eat!
The Embassy interview was quick, and all 3 adoptive families were told that the kids' visas would take 1-3 weeks (This is the visa that will allow them to enter US soil). Please pray that ours are on the shorter side of this timeline. I know that God will command the timing and that I have no control, but I would appreciate prayer that the Embassy would not hassle us over paperwork and will issue the visas quicker than expected. However, Andy said that if they say 1-3 weeks in the Congo, we should expect 4. Ugh...I am ready to meet my babies and would ask you to pray for God's mercy in giving me peace in the waiting and His covering over the visa process.
Andy's flight leaves Kinshasa at 10pm tomorrow night (4pm CST), and I will be picking him in at O'Hare at 6:30 Friday night.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer through this wild journey.
Expect to see pictures of the babies in the next few days! Woohoo!
Ways to Pray:
1. For Silas and Mercy's visas to be issued quickly, so that we can return to Congo and bring them home.
2. For the Embassy to issue visas without unnecessarily scrutinizing documents or hassling us.
3. For Andy to travel safely home.
4. For the children to adjust back to foster care for a short time and to not be too confused over the change of settings.
5. For them to remember Andy when we return and especially Silas to not be as scared on trip 2.
6. For God to prepare Elly's heart for the changes ahead...specifically for her to have an unexplainable, deep love for Silas and Mercy rather than jealousy. For the timing of our travels to work out so that she can go on Lovejoy family vacation while we are gone (this will hopefully be a better distraction than being in our home for 2 weeks without us).
7. For God to prepare Andy and I and Silas and Mercy for the changes ahead. For us to get a good glimpse of the Congo and to be a blessing to the orphanages that we visit. That God will show us to how to die to ourselves as we raise 3 little children.
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