Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

in daddy’s arms {part 2}

Life is busy lately. But, it has also slowed. It’s a strange juxtaposition. I don’t quite know how to explain where we are right now. Slow and fast all at once. The move has thrown our schedules out of sync. We don’t have internet or TV at the farmhouse, so we are spending more time reading, talking, listening. We go on long walks when Dave gets home from work. We laugh. The boys color and I paint end tables. A new season has ushered in, a season of simplifying. Heart-changing. Re-focusing. Rest. Grace.

Meanwhile, I long to write down memories. Record moments. I have this desire to continually document where we are and what we are learning… things change so quickly, I don’t want to forget a single, sweet moment.

Before too much time passes, I want to document more of Dave’s recent trip to Congo. The precious time spent with our daughter was a gift. It feels like a dream now. Did he really go? It’s hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago, she was in his arms.

Friday, February 21st 


Before heading to the airport, we had breakfast together at Dave’s favorite – Dunkin’ Donuts.

This picture cracks me up. I’m not sure what Nate is up to and Ben’s expression is hilarious. I think the sugar is kicking in…
What? You mean, you don’t see Spiderman at DD too? Strange. 

Prayers were answered with our new friend, Joyce, working that day and able to check Dave and all of his luggage through to Kinshasa.

We were given the gift of two extra hours together in the airport. Dave’s flight to Chicago was delayed and we were able to spend the time laughing, praying, running through the terminals and eating lunch together. Dave still made his connection to Brussels and we were all so grateful for the unexpected extra time with one another.

Saturday, February 22nd






Dave landed in Kinshasa and was able to get through customs and retrieve all of his luggage in less than an hour! This was a huge answered prayer and in stark contrast to our experience last time. After a reunion with Laure, Dave was able to call me and it was SO wonderful to hear his voice. I had been tracking his flights on my flight tracker app and we had exchanged a few text messages but it had been a very long couple of days.

Dave’s words from his journal…

“I finally landed in Kinshasa after a calm and normal flight and entered the craziness of Africa. There is no order in the lines and getting your luggage feels like a rat race. But it is an organized chaos. Everyone moves when you need your bag. It was great to get out in the parking lot to see Laure and even better to talk with Jenny and the boys. 

We drove through the congested streets piled with trash, broken down cars and poverty to the likes of something I couldn’t even imagine before our first trip here. I couldn’t help but feel totally overwhelmed. Then, we arrived at Laure’s home. It truly is an oasis in the desert. The kids are smiling and happy, well fed and full of life. 

Finally, I was able to hold our S. Jenny, how I wish you were here. I have never been more sure of anything – she is our daughter and she is absolutely perfect.”


Sunday, February 23rd
“I woke up this morning staring at a sleeping S. It was so peaceful and nice… We all played for a while and then we were off to church. 


Piled in the van, on the way to church! 


We arrived a little before 9 am and the little kids, including S, headed off to Sunday School. We sit, sing a few songs and I am thinking this is just going to be a service I can’t understand in French. But, it wasn’t like anything I’ve ever experienced before. Everyone gets into the service- shouting for joy, praying out loud while pacing back and forth, shaking homemade tambourines and whistles – all during the service as they feel led. After the offering (you walk up in front of the crowd and place your money in the offering plate, no passing the plate!), Laure leaves to go up in front and sing. I’m not a little concerned because I don’t know if I’m supposed to stand, sit, sing, wave my hands, what?! 


Luckily, I was paying attention because I understood the word “American” when the preacher said it and everyone turned to me and smiled and laughed. I waved and then the service continued for the next three and a half hours…

Turns out, they were studying Ephesians 2 and the sermon was about putting your trust in God completely and He will always be with you and never fail you. The preacher used me as an example…how our family has put our trust in God and He led us to our daughter. Even though it seems impossible, and there are so many obstacles in our way, God will make a way and will never fail us. 

I guess what I learned from all of this is a new way to worship. Many of the people in this service have nothing, but at the same time, they are so spiritually rich. Each uses their God-given talents {drums, whistles, singing, prayer} to give all they have to our Lord. They worship Him with a fever. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices.

…Later that night, we were able to FaceTime… it was so wonderful to see your face and hear your voice. And, to see your face when you talked to S – just amazing! I just wish the boys could have seen her {they were napping}. She is getting such a personality. You would just love her. She’s a feisty one. She really likes me when I’m cleaning her face and hands.”

Monday, February 24th

“I woke up today to the kids singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Laure. It was a crazy, chaotic morning getting 12 kids ready and 6 of them out the door for school. After the older kids left, I was able to just relax with the younger foster children. I also got to feed S eggs and she loved them. She smiled at me and ate. That girl is after my heart and she owns it.”

Dave also visited the orphanage on Monday… there is so much to share about his time there and the work that has been done with Feed Their Tummies. I will share another post on all of the exciting things God has been doing with this program soon. 

Tuesday, February 25th


Sleeping on the cool tile floor.  



After a long day visiting with officials at the U.S. Embassy and friends staying in Kinshasa, they arrive home to find all of the kids outside because the power is out again and it is pitch dark inside the house. 

“I’m bitter, thinking to myself: another day without nearly as much time as I wanted with S. But, she is sleeping so I get to hold her without a protest. What happened next showed me how much God is in the lives of this family. They started praising God with blackness all around. Laure and the girls and young boys were singing, her brothers were praying out loud and I was holding my precious daughter, saying a silent prayer of gratitude.


…During this adoption process I seem to have failed miserably in singing my praises to the Lord, I seem to only focus on asking Him: why, why, why? Blaming Him for not changing hearts or moving mountains. 


I need to remember that He is a Father just like me. He loves me, with all of my faults, just as I am. Just as I love Ben, Nathan, and S. He wants to celebrate my successes with me and share in my grief when I am suffering. 


I went to bed that night with S sleeping next to me. I sat and watched her in the dark and thanked God for these few precious moments a father gets to spend with his daughter. 


My last thoughts before going to bed were mixed. I felt great sorrow that I most likely would not be bringing my daughter home. I also felt very thankful and blessed that I would get to spend my 35th birthday with my beautiful daughter in a loving home, halfway across the world.”


Wednesday, February 26th

“The kids woke me early with a Congolese rendition of ‘Happy Birthday.’ It was so thoughtful. I also received four gifts that I will treasure always – a Congolese shirt from Laure, two Congolese bracelets from Sylvia, sandals and a bag from Meme and a homemade hot pads from Grace. These gifts will always be very precious to me. 

I then did something I should have done on day one: I opened a package of balloons. S laughed and smiled at me for over an hour as we played with an entire package of balloons. I thought my lungs were going to explode as I probably blew up and deflated balloons a couple hundred times. But, I wasn’t stopping. I had a break-through with my daughter and she even looked at me and called me ‘Papa.’ BEST Birthday Present I have ever gotten!!!!!! Man, I love that little girl. 

We played together while we cooked lunch and she was exhausted so I started packing up and getting ready to go. That’s when she started to shut down again. I think she knew I was leaving and didn’t want to give me any more of herself. I felt absolutely awful. It felt like a cruel joke – I was able to love on her and play with her for five precious days and, now, I had to return home without her. 


I loaded up my bags and kissed her from her daddy and mommy. I told her how very much we loved her and that we would be back just as soon as we could to take her home. I hope and pray that part of her understood why I had to leave. 

The emotions started at the airport…at first, it was mostly defeat and anger. What kind of father goes to visit his child and comes home without her? I felt like a complete failure. It was such a relief to talk on the phone with Jenny and the boys. After talking with them, I realized that this trip was a blessed one and I truly believe it has paved the way for great things to come.”

One of many photos of laughter and encouragement we sent to daddy from home. 

I saw God before me all the time. Nothing can shake me, He’s right by my side. I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic. I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope. {Acts 2:25 MSG}

Comments

  1. BumbersBumblings says

    Oh jenny, so many tears. What a beautiful picture of Christ Dave is in S's life! Love and prayers to all of you. I am hoping and praying your family will all soon be together and that the Lord would move mountains quickly. "my saviour, he can move the mountains, my God is MIGHTY to save, he is Mighty to save".

  4. Tessy@Divine Moments says

    I finally got a chance to sit down and read about the trip and I'm in tears! I love the verse you shared at the end. I will pray for you and your family all through the wait. I'm thankful that Dave was able to spend this time with his daughter. His words on church/worship/praise were also quite convicting.