My daughter just got the flu, again. This will be the second time since October. In the middle of the night when she says, "Mommy I need water" in a tiny scratchy voice, I immediately wake, jump up, and get it for her. I take her temperature and give her medicine; I make her special food when she wants to eat. I kiss her forehead and rub her back and sit with her just because she feels lousy. My youngest just got it again too. She climbed up in my lap with her boiling hot body and said, "You are my mommy." My son just walked in with a temperature also. Yikes, but at least I am here for them.
If you live in an orphanage who does the mom's job? Who bandages knees and kisses you better when you fall down? Who helps you get ready for your first book report, your English paper, your big game? Who makes your dinner extra special on your birthday? Who reads to you at night and sings you a song and says prayers? I'm sure the people who work in the orphanage and care for the kids do their best, but they are not mom. If you live in an orphanage and know you have a mom who can't bring you home, are you even more lonely than if you had no hope? Are your fears compounded because now you have to consider that you may have been abandoned twice? Do you really believe that your mommy is your forever mom, that she really will come for you?
Someone wrote the words re-orphan in a post the other day. I think those are the worst words I have ever heard in my life. What it means is that a child has been legally adopted, but for some terrible reason the adoption can't continue; it must be terminated. In our case and the case of HUNDREDS of families and children, we can't be the moms and dads that BOTH governments have legally awarded us through years of work, and patience, and cost, because of the suspension that holds our children in DRC. But some are considering those terrible words because they have no choice.
People are selling their homes and engagement rings, getting second jobs and pulling their children who are home out of activities. They are slowly losing their minds in this horrible chess game that is using REAL children as the pieces.
These innocent children who want to be home, in their home more than anything in the world, are STUCK and being used.
Each government has fees for just about anything you can imagine and sadly makes money off of their suffering. Not only are there substantial fees for every step of the process, but since most of us have been waiting so long, many of the fees are tripled. Our visas are up in April and many families have renewed visas two or three times. More money for the US government. Fees in the DRC have gone up also, like medical fees to accompany Visas, and foster care, school, or orphanage fees. And even more devastating than that, while children wait, the emotional costs continue to mount.
I know that we are all trying to protect the children from the horrors of child traffickers and human slavery. Yes, I understand the systems that are in place to protect the innocent. But these systems put into place to protect the children are now hurting our children way more than helping. The US system is filled with officials who would love to help but don't want to lead, who are sad and empathetic but have their hands tied. Meanwhile children are growing up without the love of their mom. Without the security of home and family. Without their daddy for a SECOND time. Some days it feels like no one cares.
There is One who cares. The only one who can truly help us in our time of trouble. He cares. He hurts with us. He is for us.
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15
I am taking hold of this promise for our children stuck in DRC.
God,
We are screaming out to you for help. No human being can fix this mess we find ourselves in. Lord God, King of the universe, help us. Bring these kids home for your glory! Let all who are watching see that no one person, no matter how powerful could possibly undo the mess that our sweet children are in. Not one nation no matter how powerful is capable of ruling over another nation, changing minds that are dead set, or forcing situations that are hopeless. Only you, LORD. Only you have the power and the authority and the will to change this mess. Lord together we pray for your mercy for our children. We ask that you free them from the slavery of being an orphan. We join together in prayer asking for a mighty work. We know that it is your power. We know that it is for your glory. We know that these children are lost without family and without you.
Help us Lord. Make a way. Make a way for these children to come home to protection, love, and basic needs met. Help them come home so that their moms can be moms and their dads can be dads.
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.
If you live in an orphanage who does the mom's job? Who bandages knees and kisses you better when you fall down? Who helps you get ready for your first book report, your English paper, your big game? Who makes your dinner extra special on your birthday? Who reads to you at night and sings you a song and says prayers? I'm sure the people who work in the orphanage and care for the kids do their best, but they are not mom. If you live in an orphanage and know you have a mom who can't bring you home, are you even more lonely than if you had no hope? Are your fears compounded because now you have to consider that you may have been abandoned twice? Do you really believe that your mommy is your forever mom, that she really will come for you?
Someone wrote the words re-orphan in a post the other day. I think those are the worst words I have ever heard in my life. What it means is that a child has been legally adopted, but for some terrible reason the adoption can't continue; it must be terminated. In our case and the case of HUNDREDS of families and children, we can't be the moms and dads that BOTH governments have legally awarded us through years of work, and patience, and cost, because of the suspension that holds our children in DRC. But some are considering those terrible words because they have no choice.
People are selling their homes and engagement rings, getting second jobs and pulling their children who are home out of activities. They are slowly losing their minds in this horrible chess game that is using REAL children as the pieces.
These innocent children who want to be home, in their home more than anything in the world, are STUCK and being used.
Each government has fees for just about anything you can imagine and sadly makes money off of their suffering. Not only are there substantial fees for every step of the process, but since most of us have been waiting so long, many of the fees are tripled. Our visas are up in April and many families have renewed visas two or three times. More money for the US government. Fees in the DRC have gone up also, like medical fees to accompany Visas, and foster care, school, or orphanage fees. And even more devastating than that, while children wait, the emotional costs continue to mount.
I know that we are all trying to protect the children from the horrors of child traffickers and human slavery. Yes, I understand the systems that are in place to protect the innocent. But these systems put into place to protect the children are now hurting our children way more than helping. The US system is filled with officials who would love to help but don't want to lead, who are sad and empathetic but have their hands tied. Meanwhile children are growing up without the love of their mom. Without the security of home and family. Without their daddy for a SECOND time. Some days it feels like no one cares.
There is One who cares. The only one who can truly help us in our time of trouble. He cares. He hurts with us. He is for us.
"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15
I am taking hold of this promise for our children stuck in DRC.
God,
We are screaming out to you for help. No human being can fix this mess we find ourselves in. Lord God, King of the universe, help us. Bring these kids home for your glory! Let all who are watching see that no one person, no matter how powerful could possibly undo the mess that our sweet children are in. Not one nation no matter how powerful is capable of ruling over another nation, changing minds that are dead set, or forcing situations that are hopeless. Only you, LORD. Only you have the power and the authority and the will to change this mess. Lord together we pray for your mercy for our children. We ask that you free them from the slavery of being an orphan. We join together in prayer asking for a mighty work. We know that it is your power. We know that it is for your glory. We know that these children are lost without family and without you.
Help us Lord. Make a way. Make a way for these children to come home to protection, love, and basic needs met. Help them come home so that their moms can be moms and their dads can be dads.
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.