The train is moving again...Consent

We have Consent to Adopt...which means it can go to court in the Congo. Hopefully we'll have a court judgment in two weeks. Then we can start a 30-day wait period. This is a time where a family member could claim him. After this wait period, he will legally be our son! Pretty exciting!!

We also have a name for him. He will be called Matthias Patou Gibson. His first name is pronounced Mah - ty - us. He was the disciple that replaced Judas. We may call him Ty for a nickname.

In a few weeks, another gal that is adopting from the same orphange will be going over. She will take a small care package to him. The girls and I picked out a t-shirt and a couple of matchbox cars. I can't wait for him to get them. I know they have so little there.

Please pray for him. I can only imagine what must be going through his mind. And please pray that we don't have hold ups...God willing. We know that all of this is for a purpose and we trust Him to continue to lead the way. We are just thankful to have the privilege to do this.

The papers are in Nigeria!

Wednesday I mailed our huge stack of papers to the Congo. I've been praying they'll get there. It took some convincing to get every address line on the package. I'll admit it is long, like 5 or 6 lines long. The guy behind the counter said it didn't look like a normal address. What is normal when it comes to addresses in a 3rd world country? He was young. Anyway, it's in Nigeria and could get there as soon as tomorrow. Amazing how fast it can travel. Wednesday - Iowa, Thursday - UK, Friday - Nigeria. We sent a photo book to Patou also. It has our family pictures, individual pics of as all (complete with notes in Lingala from big sisters!), and pics of our house. Oh, and flip flops. I know that sounds lame for a gift, but toys can be a problem at the orphanage and we don't know what size clothes he wears. I just hope they fit him, or at least someone.

Tuesday our facilitator will go visit the children at the orphanage. We hope to find out more about him (his health, personality, maybe more info. as to how he was abandoned). She will also check on his age. They said 3, but he looks 5. We are ok with whatever...God put him on our hearts many years ago. I remember praying specifically for him about 4 or 5 years ago. Isn't that cool to think God had him in mind long before we could and put him on my heart to pray? Love God!

Patou

On July 18, we finally got to see him for the first time! Patou, who is MAYBE 3. He looks like he's 5. But we are thrilled beyond words! We are so thankful to God to be part of a much bigger story. Adoption is His idea after all. We get to journey through this process, albeit long and hard at times. But simple compared to the journey Jesus took for us, all so we could be adopted. I know that God is working out our story for many reasons. I have thought from the beginning that I hope we end up with a cool God-story when this is all said and done. Does he disappoint? Never. :) Do I misunderstand and whine and complain...ummm yes.

We do know that Patou was abandoned, brought in by a stranger off the streets, but is now at an orphanage. Please pray with us for him to feel God's presence, love, and hopefully the friendship of another little boy too.

God put the dream in our hearts many years ago. We began in March of 2011. For several months we gathered paperwork and prepared. In August 2011 we were put on the "wait list." In June 2012, we left our agency (long story, God's in control). After many years of "waiting in line" and watching many others get on the roller coaster ride, we finally get to join them. Can't wait for the wild ride, scared, excited, some butterflies, exhilarated, defeated at times...God's still in control. For that I am happy and thankful.

#3

We are #3 on the wait list. Word has it that many more children came to the orphanage a couple of weeks ago. After talking with our adoption agency it could still be a couple more months until we get a referral (our picture). They have to "process" each of them (medicals, etc.) first and it must take some time. They also do not know how many kids are in each age group. I am hopeful there have to be at least 3 little boys in our age range, so he could be there now! I pray and picture him there. Here' s a link to a recent video of the orphanage. A couple went to pick up their little girl and post the video on utube. 

The video is broken down into two parts, but it’s the same visit. 
Congo Orphanage video 1:http://Video Part 1
Congo Orphanage video 2:http://Video Part 2 


Thanks for sharing in our journey with us!