Thanksgiving Precedes the Miracle

In the last week the adoption situation in the DRC has deteriorated significantly, to the point that our agency is asking families to postpone visits in the DRC with their children.  There have been small riots reported and the government does not appear thrilled with the US and other countries involved with adopting their children.

2 delegations from the DRC of high ranking officials have been scheduled to visit the US for months. Families who have completed their adoptions were asked to come to either D.C. or Minneapolis to visit with the delegation so they could see how the children were doing in the States.  Both delegations were scheduled to fly out over the past week.  From what we understand Stateside when they got to the airport in Kinshasa their passports were confiscated and they were not allowed to leave the country.

There is really no way to tell what is really going on, but to give perspective...
Adoptions are stilling being issued in the DRC. The office that handles those does not seem to have a problem with international adoption.  There is a separate office that issues a piece of paper that allows the children to leave the country.  This office does not want adoptions issued or children leaving the country.  They are the office that had the delegations' passport taken at the airport, at least from the reports we have received. There seems to be a power struggle between these offices, and having read up on my DRC history I'm guessing they are not the same political party, but I'm not totally sure.

In the DRC's defense a Belgium lady, apparently, tried to escape with her child recently. (Belgium Lady Tries to Smuggle Child)That is called smuggling and hurts so many children.  These reports anger me.  I realize that parents are getting desperate, especially as a lot of the children are incredibly sick and a few have even died. However, smuggling one child is going to cause many more to go without homes, families and possibly even die.

Practically...You can adopt your child, but there is no way to know when or IF they will ever come home.  Not a very healthy situation for children.

So where does this leave us...

Giving Thanks! I'm not sure I would have been here a few weeks ago, but the Lord placed a friend in my life who He has used to teach me about Thanking Him. Thanking Him in the ugly.

Brent and I have spent some time this week talking about where we are with this.  We know without a doubt that the Lord called us to adopt from the DRC.  We took the step to adopt in faith knowing our Caleb is there.  What we didn't think about was the timeline. It seemed cut and dry, for the most part, as much as any adoption is cut and dry. (Insert eyes rolling)  God never promised us when. He just asked us to walk believing.

The first of the week was difficult for me. Realizing that with the set backs the reality of our adoption moving anywhere in the next year or 2 would be highly unlikely.  Yet, as we sat to talk the Lord had already worked in Brent's heart weeks ago. He had already reconciled Brent's heart to the long wait. What a blessing because I don't think 2 of us would have done well at the same emotional place. :)


So, as I am understanding more of God I am learning more about giving thanks.  Easter is a great week to remember this. What did Christ do before His death? He gave thanks!  We give thanks because we believe God is working for our good. Oh, how I wish I really understood this. I am learning this so I choose to give thanks for this time.  For this waiting. This set back. The unknown.  For the miracle of Caleb that we cannot see yet.

I don't have answers to many questions that I know many have.  I like answers. I thrive on information. The more I know the more comfortable I am.  What we do know is that we will keep our paperwork ready for when it can be submitted. We will continue to work and save for the cost of the adoption.

If you have read to this point...Your truly are a dear friend.

As we wait, please pray specifically for this office in the DRC.

The office that is working through DRC adoptions and responsible for the suspension.
Pray for wisdom for them. Pray for their hearts to be moved for the children.
Pray for them to know how to care for the orphans of the DRC.
Pray they would not be overwhelmed by the tasks ahead.
Pray their hearts will be open to see the many blessings of adoption for those who do not have families.