| President Obama is admired in DRC. His face appears on grocery bags. |
POWER. Where does it come from? Here in the US the power of the President comes from the people. In the Democratic Republic of Congo power also comes to the president by the people. Both President Obama and President Kabila were elected by their citizens. Both leaders have and have had countless opportunities to make the lives of their citizens better. Both leaders use their power to make choices that have pleased some and angered others.
Right now, each of these leaders has the power to change the lives of hundreds of children, to not only change their lives, but in some cases, save their lives. But neither seems to want to oblige. Neither, to date, has been willing to take the time to do something that would absolutely transform the lives of hundreds, and ultimately thousands of children. President Obama could pick up the phone and acknowledge President Kabila. He could quite simply and respectfully ask for him to lift the suspension allowing hundreds of legally adopted children to come home to their loving families. If President Obama called him, he might consider it.
President Kabila wants to be acknowledged as the President and ruler of an important country. He is the ruler of a very important country. The DRC holds vast resources--diamonds, minerals, copper, coltan, tin, zinc, silver, gold, cobalt... But most importantly, beautiful, loving, intelligent people. People who are being ravaged by invaders, investors, and impostors. His country has been raped and pillaged. It has been exploited by numerous other countries. It is a wonder that the Congolese trust anyone. I understand that. I am sorry for that. I hope and pray that the exploitation stops and the Nation of DRC grows up into all it can be.
President Obama has the power to pick up the phone and ask President Kabila if he would please end the suspension allowing all of the children who went through rigorous steps in the adoption process to come home to their legal families. But he has not.
I realize that in the scheme of things this problem of hundreds of children living in orphanages instead of loving homes seems small, unimportant, and maybe even insignificant. President Obama and President Kabila have bigger fish to fry--rebels and terrorists, finances and foreign policy, votes and vetoes.
But both have the power; how will they use their power? Does the life of one matter? What is the mark of a good leader? Does a powerful leader care about the suffering of one? hundreds? or is it only thousands or millions? Does a good leader do everything he can for the benefit of each and every citizen?
As we contact our Senators and Congressmen, send petitions and make phone calls, tweet, post and wait, I hear God whisper...
"What did Jesus say to Pilate? Pilate, who held His life in his hands?"
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. " Don't you realize I have power either to free you for to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." John 19:10-11
Those who are in power must consider others before themselves. Jesus knew that more than anyone. The most powerful person who ever walked the earth bent down, took up a towel, and washed the dirty feet of those who attended him. Jesus knew that the master is the servant of His people.
Please sign and share the petition Asking President Obama to help bring Sarah and Isaiah and HUNDREDS of other children home to their families.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/end-drc-exit-letter-suspension-children-legally-adopted-american-families/GF9Qrb5L
Right now, each of these leaders has the power to change the lives of hundreds of children, to not only change their lives, but in some cases, save their lives. But neither seems to want to oblige. Neither, to date, has been willing to take the time to do something that would absolutely transform the lives of hundreds, and ultimately thousands of children. President Obama could pick up the phone and acknowledge President Kabila. He could quite simply and respectfully ask for him to lift the suspension allowing hundreds of legally adopted children to come home to their loving families. If President Obama called him, he might consider it.
President Kabila wants to be acknowledged as the President and ruler of an important country. He is the ruler of a very important country. The DRC holds vast resources--diamonds, minerals, copper, coltan, tin, zinc, silver, gold, cobalt... But most importantly, beautiful, loving, intelligent people. People who are being ravaged by invaders, investors, and impostors. His country has been raped and pillaged. It has been exploited by numerous other countries. It is a wonder that the Congolese trust anyone. I understand that. I am sorry for that. I hope and pray that the exploitation stops and the Nation of DRC grows up into all it can be.
President Obama has the power to pick up the phone and ask President Kabila if he would please end the suspension allowing all of the children who went through rigorous steps in the adoption process to come home to their legal families. But he has not.
I realize that in the scheme of things this problem of hundreds of children living in orphanages instead of loving homes seems small, unimportant, and maybe even insignificant. President Obama and President Kabila have bigger fish to fry--rebels and terrorists, finances and foreign policy, votes and vetoes.
But both have the power; how will they use their power? Does the life of one matter? What is the mark of a good leader? Does a powerful leader care about the suffering of one? hundreds? or is it only thousands or millions? Does a good leader do everything he can for the benefit of each and every citizen?
As we contact our Senators and Congressmen, send petitions and make phone calls, tweet, post and wait, I hear God whisper...
"What did Jesus say to Pilate? Pilate, who held His life in his hands?"
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. " Don't you realize I have power either to free you for to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." John 19:10-11
Those who are in power must consider others before themselves. Jesus knew that more than anyone. The most powerful person who ever walked the earth bent down, took up a towel, and washed the dirty feet of those who attended him. Jesus knew that the master is the servant of His people.
Please sign and share the petition Asking President Obama to help bring Sarah and Isaiah and HUNDREDS of other children home to their families.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/end-drc-exit-letter-suspension-children-legally-adopted-american-families/GF9Qrb5L