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!

Garage Sale - Adoption Fundraiser

	We've had lots of great donations: a drum set, a toddler-size doll house, canvas umbrella with stand, decorations, refinished dresser, antique chair, clothes, purses, shoes...and much more (seriously, we are bursting out the garage door! Our girls will be selling baked goods and handmade headbands, hair clips and I Spy Bags. Saturday only 8:00 - 3:00!

D.R. Congo

There are millions of orphaned children worldwide due to wars, natural disasters, AIDS, marlaria and other diseases. Less than 1% of foreign orphans will ever be adopted. (From:http://www.africanorphans.com/)

AT-A-GLANCE

• DR Congo is struggling to recover from Africa's ''world war'' in which millions died between 1998 and 2003
• Former rebels joined a power-sharing government
• Eastern regions are still plagued by army and militia violence
• DR Congo hosts the UN's largest peacekeeping mission

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1076399.stm 

We're on our way!

We've got our application in and we are right in the middle of our home study. We are so clueless...I don't know what happens next. We'll update as we learn more. Something exciting though - we were sent a link to our adoption agency's website. It has a slideshow of the new orphanage there!

Here is a link to our agency's site. The slide show is about half way down:

http://oneworldorphanage.org/DRC.html