Congo Part 2 (Thursday, the Big day!)

Thursday-We were supposed to leave for the orphanage at 11am, but in DRC local standard time, that means 1pm. While we waited, we were able to visit with our translator/liaison and learn more about Congolese culture. It’s been fun to talk about Congolese, Indian, and American cultural differences with her.

When our kiddo’s social worker arrived, he and our liaison took us first to the orphanage’s office. Driving through Kinshasa was very interesting. It’s a city of about 10 million, but unlike Indian cities where it feels like everyone is living on top of each other, Kinshasa feels a lot more spread out. It also has a feel of high security. Lots of government buildings, embassies, and housing communities hide behind tall walls with barbed wire and broken glass at the top.

Most people are walking for transportation and those that aren’t, are cramming into 3 row vans with the doors wide open and stragglers hanging off the side and back. These vans are the main local transportation and what our translater takes everyday to come to the Convent where we were staying. She's amazing! 

We were so impressed with all of the orphanage's staff. The director, social workers, and even the "mama's" at the orphanage were all so sweet and obviously passionate about caring for the children and finding loving families for them. While at the office, in the midst of our overflowing excitement, we got a vivid look at the flip side of adoption. There was one young and obviously extremely poor and grieved mother there with her young child, waiting to be counseled. There was a small group of about 5 very young and very scared siblings who had been abandoned and were waiting to go to the orphanage. Adoption is beautiful, but it doesn't necessarily start out that way. It's labored in pain, fear, grief, hunger, and desperation. But as my heart breaks for those 5 and for our 2, and the other 70+ kids we met that day...I find great comfort in knowing that God loves the orphan. He sets the lonely in families. He can make beautiful things out of dust. And I pray He does that for this group of precious children of almost 80. 

When we arrived at the orphanage (about 1 hour away), they were eating lunch so we waited in a small office at the front of the compound. We got to admire the pictures of families who had already come to bring their children home and looked forward to our family pic adorning that wall soon. 

When we walked into the main room, the kids were all lined up in chairs and singing a lively Lingala song. Several of the girls rose to dance, hands on hips, rocking back and forth. It was so precious! I wish I could show you a video of it. They went on to sing "Here I am to Worship" in English (ironically the same English song that is favored by some kids at an orphanage here whom we visit) and then ended with another Lingala song that basically says "Don't cry ____ you are going to America!" over and over again :) We didn't have the heart to say "actually you're going to India!" We'll cross that bridge when we get there :)

Our kiddos "J" and "F" (I'll share names after the court hearing) were right up front and we recognized them immediately! They were both being very shy and sweetly trying to hold each other's hand while the other pushed it away. They have very similar nervous mannerisms. They both kept looking down, fiddling their hands together at the hem of their shirt. When they would look up, they'd give a big smile with their tongue rolled between the sides of their teeth. 

We got a grand tour of the orphanage and had some time alone with our kiddos in the office to give them a few gifts and show them pictures of their new family. We found out they speak a different Congolese language than Lingala so even our translator could only communicate a little with them. They will learn quickly and probably be fluet by the time we pick them up and begin teaching them English. They'll be tri-lingual in their first few years of life!

It's amazing how you can love someone so instantaneously. It's like holding your newborn for the first time. You just see them and know in your heart they are yours and are just in awe of them. That God made this beautiful child and is entrusting us (in all our weakness) to not only meet their physical needs but to lavish love on them in a way that points them to God. It's such an awesome responsibility and an incomparable feeling. While J and F are coming into our family by a different means, we are just as much in awe and in love with them. I know bonding and attachment take a while on their part, but for me, it is love at first sight and I am all in! Just seeing the need in their eyes for parents to cherish and care for them, makes me so eager to rise to the task. No matter how challenging it will be. 

We left just as the new group of 5 siblings showed up, looking very frightened. Seeing them helped me to imagine how our children might have been when they arrived, only two months ago. So much for someone so little to go through. While we were encouraged to see where they live and who is caring for them, we pray the months are few before they can come home and we can lavish love and attention on them.

Having the blessing of visiting with two families who were there to pick up their kids, showed us what just a couple weeks can do for a child. Their personality comes out with the security of needs being consistently met; attention, encouragement, and affection constantly given. I can't wait to devote that time and attention to J and F and see their full personalities come out and to see them truly thriving, not merely surviving. And to see their brothers embrace them and welcome them into our family. They pray for J and F at every meal and before bed every night. And they even pray for families for all the other children at that orphanage who desperately need loving families. 

Since we can't show off pictures yet online of how amazingly beautiful J and F are (I might give sneak peeks to those who are really interested and send me an email), you'll have to settle for our cheesy pictures of giant avocado infatuation and mosquito tent beds.

Mosquitos are BAD in Congo. And since we didn't have time to get on anti-malaria drugs before this trip, we were so grateful for this baby! I'm loving it and seriously going to hunt for one for our bed at home. Dengue fever is the big one here and it's impossible to put screens on our windows. 

OH Man! I was so excited to see these babies! I miss avocados and Guacamole Dinner's (hola Cindy Ortiz!) so much! This baby made 3 sandwiches and would have made a fourth if I could have handled another one.

My handsome hubs chowing his avocado sandwich. That's right, that's how we roll in Congo- where the food prices are INSANE! We ate a lot of PB&J and bananas too.