Progress!

Another important step has been made in our adoption process--our dossier has been sent to D.R. Congo! The dossier is a collection of documents required by the Congolese government to be used in the adoption proceedings. It is a very important step in the process.

Now we wait for the court proceedings to be completed, which will make our little boys officially a part of our family. This should happen within the next three to four months. (After that, the US embassy in DRC does an investigation to be sure that everything is legal, which will take several months. Then, we can go get them and bring them home!)

As has happened at every step in this process, we are faced with raising funds for the next fee on the schedule (which is just over $10,000). Where these funds will come from we have no idea. We are not doubting that God will provide; He has provided throughout this process, and always just what was needed at the time. He has begun this good work in us and in the lives of these little boys, and we trust that He will be faithful to complete it.

(If anyone has any creative fundraising ideas they would like to share, feel free!)

As time goes by and we pray each night for our little ones in Africa, our hearts are becoming more and more knit to them and we find ourselves thinking and talking of them often. They are already becoming a part of our family, even from the other side of the world. We so look forward to the day when we can get on that plane and fly to them, hug them, and tell them we love them and that they will be ours forever. What a precious day that will be!

Great Need in the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest African nation. Located in central Africa, it is a nation in great need as a result of decades of civil war, political instability, and immense poverty.

D. R. Congo is located in sub-Sahara Africa and is extremely bio-diverse, with many rare and endemic species of animals, such as the common chimpanzee, the bonobo, the African forest elephant, mountain gorilla, okapi and white rhino.  It is also greatly varied in geography and climate. Within the Congolese nation can be found lush rainforests, large plateaus, vast savannas, dense grasslands, and high glacial mountains. The Congolese rainforest is the second largest in the world. The nation itself is named after the Congo River, which snakes through the country and is one of the world's longest rivers. 

The Congolese people have a rich and interesting cultural heritage. They are known for their very distinct musical style as well as their traditional art.

Although one of the most poverty-stricken nations in the world, D.R. Congo is one of the richest nations in terms of natural resources such as diamonds, cobalt, and other minerals. Control over these natural resources has been the cause of much of the civil unrest within the nation in recent years. DRC is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and children. Abuse against women and children (in all forms) is common.

In recent years, efforts are being made to bring stability to the political climate in the DRC. As a developing (or third-world) country, there is very little infrastructure in the way of roads and access to much of the rural areas is limited.

There are an estimated 5 million orphans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These children are orphaned because of war, famine, poverty, and diseases such as malaria. Many of these orphans will loose their own lives as well. The ones who make it into the orphanages are the blessed ones. Orphanages are privately run, many by churches or other Christian organizations.

Our hearts yearn to help those in need in this country. One very small way our family can do this is through bringing two little orphaned children into our home and loving them as our own. As we learn more about this country which our little boys are coming from, we are filled with compassion for the people of the Congo. These people need the prayers and help of God's people. The orphans of this country need an advocate. The women of this country need a voice to cry out for them.

God is calling--will we answer His call?