Home at last!

That is the worst "labor" I've have ever experienced!  We returned late last Sunday night from Africa.  I was starting to feel like we would never make it back to the US.  It all started out with us being evicted from our hotel on Saturday afternoon (our reservations had expired) and sitting outside waiting to hear whether we were to go to another hotel or leave on an airplane to come home.  We already had plane tickets booked but didn't have our exit letter yet.

To the left is our friend, Heather, who unfortunately still remains in Africa with her baby awaiting an exit letter.

So our attorney/guide/friend, Etienne, arrived around 4pm and stalled on telling us whether or not we got the exit letter.  He handed us our passports and went to the car and pulled out our file with the exit letter!  I hugged and kissed him crying.  It was bittersweet because we of course wanted to go home, but we hated to leave our new friend and her baby.  We really enjoyed spending time and sharing pizza with them.  Since her husband had to return to the US the week before we had been helping watch her baby while she showered and washed clothes.   We said our goodbyes and went to the agency office where we helped Etienne make copies of our file.  The agency was closed since it was Saturday, so he needed our assistance.

Our flight was scheduled to leave at 8:25 pm and it was now 5.  We were nervous knowing it is advisable to be at the airport 3 hours before departure.  We still had to drive to the airport which in real time takes 20 minutes but in the countries traffic could take up to three hours.  And, by the way, now we had to check our baggage at the airport which was an added stress.  We finally had everything ready and left for the airport at 5:45.  Well, we almost had everything ready....in the car Etienne had to call the US Embassy to talk them into bringing Della's immigration packet to the airport. 

The reckless taxi cab driver caused me to become very ill about 1 hour into our very hot and diesel fumed journey.  I rolled the window down (which I was always told NOT to do for the past two weeks because it's not safe), and was so afraid I would vomit on the people walking by.  Fortunately, I hadn't ate much so I only dry heaved for the next 10 minutes as we continued to drive.  We continued to the airport as the sun set.  We finally made it 2 minutes before they closed the baggage check!  Our attorney was now relieved and was not worried about us missing our flight.  It wasn't easy after that,  three more times I thought, "we aren't going to get out of here".  Finally, we made it through immigration (they said we were missing a paper, Doug had to go get Ety to straighten that out) and we ignored the man at security asking for "money" and walked to the airplane shuttle.   

For the next 28 hours Della was wonderful, she didn't cry or scream once!  I vomited continuously due to motion sickness, didn't eat, barely drank and was pretty much useless.  And that left Doug, who hardly got a wink of sleep and had to care of the Della the entire time.  We didn't care though because we were going HOME!!  (Hence no photos of the trip home).  We arrived in the US Sunday evening at 7:30 and our immigration officer happened to be from our area and was very familiar with Nutter's ice cream.  It was sooo  nice to be in America, the air smelled so fresh, everything was so clean.  My brother drove us home and he was so afraid his driving would make me more sick.  I told him it was like heaven to have him drive! 

After roughly a 36 hour journey from start to finish.....we made it home!!

I, Sarah, was vomiting continuously from motion sickness for 30 of those hours, therefore Doug had to take care of Della.  And he's had almost no sleep.  Della was great the whole trip home, lots of smiles and talking and a little sleep, but no crying at all.  I will write more after we catch up from jet lag....

Getting close!

Internet is back up and running. It went out Monday night, and yesterday we learned that a couple from Canada had a very poor connection on a different network that gave access on only their laptop from only their room. They were kind enough to let everyone invade their room and send a few emails.

You haven't missed much here.  We were to go to immigration Monday, but Ety called and said it would be Tuesday at 10:30 instead. Tuesday he kept calling and said that the director was not in, we would wait....at 3:30 he finally picked us up. We went upstairs at the immigration and waited in the hallway while Ety talked to someone in an office. He told us that we will see the director.......and we did....he walked past us down the stairs and out of the building. Yesterday was more of the same, except it was us calling Ety, asking when we could go. He picked us up late in the afternoon and took us back to the immigration. We actually got to see the director this time. He looked at our passports, asked us our names, pretended to look at our file, and then said that we would have our exit papers on Friday after the "high director" looks at our file. Ety told us to trust God that we can leave on Saturday. I told him that I trust God, but I don't trust the immigration.

We ordered pizza again tonight, so delicious! More families have arrived this week to start their exit process. We are the first of our agency to go through this changed process since February. So all eyes are on our cases (our neighbor's file is moving at the same time as ours).

So, as of right now we are scheduled to fly out of here Saturday night.  That will be a 29 hour trip in real time.  Hopefully we get our papers early on Friday and avoid any drama, but that's not usually the way things work around here.  We will be sure we are headed home when the wheels are up on the plane.  

Doug

One family, worlds apart

This week we have missed our other four children.  We can't wait to reunite with them and finally be a family of seven!  We are so grateful that so much family has stepped in to take care of the four still in the US.  I miss Emma spouting off little facts and Eli showing me a beautiful drawing.  I miss Wyatt showing me his lego creations and Josey talking and talking and talking.

                              Eli, Emma, Wyatt and Josey scooping fish at Myrtle beach

                                            Sarah and Della at the pool (in Africa)

Retiring so soon?

We feel like we live in a retirement village.  We hardly ever get out of the compound unless we need to go to the grocery store, we jump up to see who's coming into the gate, hoping it's for us.  We check the phone our agency gave us to make sure the battery hasn't gone bad or we haven't missed a call. 

Our internet has been out so I'm using a neighbors computer.  At this point, we are "patiently" waiting to be seen by the immigration director so our file can be passed to the guy who will actually sign the exit docs.  Yesterday we went to meet with him, but he left shortly after so we are to go today....or sometime....in the near future. 

Della is doing great, loves to horse play and giggle, eats very well.

Corn Chex

The second day we had Della we offered her corn chex cereal which she really likes now.  She liked this one so much she took it with her and held it in her hand as she looked at her toys....then sat by the pool....then napped....for a total of more than 2 hours.  (When she first had the corn chex it was not folded)

Been having trouble getting things to post on blog, you may want to check previous posts if your interested.

"The place God calls us to is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet" Frederick Beuchner

(Doug's writing, Sarah's writing in bold.)

This afternoon we went to the orphanage Della lived in for a few months.  Foster mama Josee was our babysitter, as kids could not make the trip.  It was probably the dirtiest part of town we've seen.  Trash and, of course, people were everywhere.  People selling anything you can imagine.  Food, car parts, lumber, furniture, clothes, and water in plastic bags (yes, to drink).  I saw a woman along the street with a funnel, pouring water from one container into liter coke and water bottles.  The tire shop was an umbrella for a store front, an air hose, and 3 tires that were all the same size, and all wore out. 

As we entered the town where the orphanage is, I felt my heart and my stomach getting sick with the reality of what these people endure.  I knew this would be hard but I didn't know if I could handle it.  We saw children with tattered dirty clothes, men sitting on the ground breaking rocks with other rocks, trying to find stones to sell.  We turned off the main road and into a crowd of people who slowly moved out of the way for our vehicle to pass.  I started to cry.....

We saw piles of corn, probably a bushel or so, lying on sheets on the ground.  Women were sifting the corn by hand through a screen and then grinding it, I assume to make meal.  We stopped in front of the orphanage, I had to pull myself together, I wanted the children to see joy not tears.  

Everything is concrete and dirt.  They told us there are 106 kids there from infants to 17, and 12 employees who work in shifts.  There were maybe 4 people working when we were there.  The older kids were holding the babies.  We gave school supplies to the director, and our friends had brought stickers and bubbles to hand out.  Inside it literally smelled like a barnyard.  I picked up a little child who looked to be less than 1 year old.  His clothes were soaked with urine.  My heart broke like it's never broke before.  The kids loved the gifts, but you couldn't help but feel a little foolish, they need food, clothes, beds, sheets, everything.  

I tried to communicate with the children.  We exchanged names and I showed them the stickers, teaching them how to say things in English like cat, dog, cars, Sophia the Princess.  A little girl brought an older girl to me and said "Sophie", we all smiled and laughed.  The children had to hold their own ground, making sure no one took their stickers.  We were led to another room where we had to pass through a very dark hall.  We could not see, just feel.  At the end of the hall was a very dark room where they kept the small babies, some were napping on the bed or the couch under beautifully draped mosquito nets.  We made our way back through the dark hallway.  Etienne (our attorney/guide) said, "dark, very dark".  As we came out of the hallway he asked me "Do you know what the Bible says about the darkness?  It says Jesus will drive away the darkness!"  

"The God who said, "out of the darkness the light will shine!" is the same God who made His light shine in our hearts, to bring us light of the knowledge of God's glory, shining in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

Waiting....waiting.....

Slow day on Thursday.  Some days you just have to wait.  Ety came late in the afternoon to take us to the artists market for souvenirs.  We were able to take the kids there, it wasn't very busy, and they of course want tourists there.  I think there were easily 100 or more booths, selling all kinds of cravings, paintings, jewelry, etc...beautiful!  It would have been nice to just walk through and look, but every vendor would yell "Mommy" to me, and "friend" at Doug.  And if you showed any interest at all they would follow you around.  We found a few things for Della's room, and after the ride home my body finally gave in to the accumulating motion sickness..... I was done for the rest of the day.  Doug says "You think my driving is bad?", over here you have to drive like you're crazy, plus a lot of the roads are as rough as a cow path.  

We found out Della likes to feed and try to bath herself, it's so cute.

Out on the town!

We had a very good day today.  Della is feeling much better.  No fever, lots of smiles, and still quiet as a mouse.  

The other family next to us watched her so we could go to the market where Sarah bought some fabric.  There were so many it was hard to choose.  The room was large and filled from floor to ceiling with every color and pattern you could imagine.  Sarah wanted to take photos sooo bad.  We didn't stay long, but it was an experience.  Crowded, loud, and busy, but Ety told us to ignore the crazy people, and follow him.  It's always fun to get back in the van, because then Ety will tell us what the people were saying.  Nothing really mean or threatening, there are plenty of cops to prevent any problems, they just want our money.  

Tonight we went to a restaurant with Ety in the town of Bandal (our hotel is in Gombe).  We are getting used to the traffic.  Just imagine any major city with no traffic control whatsoever.  No stoplights, no turn lanes, nothing...just honk and go.  One of those smashed up vans that carry people inside and out did (their version of a bus) was trying to cut across traffic in front of us.  A cop was yelling at him while smashing the barrel of his AK 47 into the hood trying to get the driver to back up.  Ety paid no attention to it continuing his conversation with Sarah as she stared at the scuffle.  He calls those vans the "Spirit of Death".  Says they cause lots of accidents.  

The restaurant was interesting.  It is family style and you can use utensils or your hands or both.  With Ety's help we ordered chicken, and some traditional Congolese food.  Our server had us wash our hands with soap as she poured water from a pitcher in a basin to rinse them, this is what the congolese do before they eat.  Two men sang and played for us while we ate.  Della was swinging her legs to the music (yeah, that's right, she can use both legs!).  The chicken was great, and everything else was pretty good too.  It cost $120 for 5 of us, but it was worth it for the experience.  

We're really enjoying Ety's company.  His english is good, and he says that his job is to take care of us.  He is a lawyer, and an excellent guide.  He deals with the DGM trying to get our exit papers along with babysitting us.  He says that the DGM asked him why we give birth to our own children?  He told them we have four.  If they have four why to they want another to make 5?  His answer was it does not matter what the answer is, we don't need to know that.  He says that they are just curious, because they don't understand adoption.  He will check on the progress of our papers tomorrow.  He has no idea if they have even moved yet.  

Ety was asking us for advice on finding a wife.  We asked him how old he was, and he said he's 28.  He said in DRC a man is rich if he has lots of children.  We told him he was young and he said that "in the Congo you don't expect to live to 50, so I'm not young."  He also told us that we shouldn't let our girls eat at McDonalds (he pronounces it "MacDunewds"), because "African women get very fat if they eat at McDonalds."  I asked if he has ever been to a McDonalds, and he said no, but he's had hamburgers.  Ety is a lot of fun.  He likes to joke, and when we teach him a new word in english he asks us to write it down for him.  He tells us he likes his job, he likes to help children to come to a another country where they can have a chance for education, and doctors and a good life.  He tells us a lot of children will not live to make it out of an orphanage.      

We were talking about church and Sarah asked him if he knows Jesus, he said "Yes, do you?", she said "Yes, we do!".  He praised God and said "Thank-you God for finding another brother in Jesus!" as he raised his arms into the sky.  

Ety says he will take us to Della's orphanage tomorrow.  I'm sure it will be another interesting trip.  Until tomorrow...

Bittersweet

I added some more photos to previous posts so check those out (I even took a photo of a guy wearing capri pants).

We recieved a wonderful gift today, a glimpse into Della's life for the past year!  We were able to meet Della's foster mama Josee this afternoon!  I was very excited but a little nervous about how Della would respond once Mama Josee left.  She greeted me with a hug and asked to hold Della who was asleep.  We, of course said yes!  Della woke while we talked to Mama Josee and she didn't make a peep the whole time.  This woman loved our daughter so much, even knowing she would have to give her to us.  She told us almost everyday she showed Della our photos and told her we are her family.  That meant so much to us.  We told her we will make sure Della always remembers Mama Josee.  She is so selfless for giving us this gift, words cannot describe what this woman has done.  We talked for almost an hour and then we said goodbye.  Della did not cry at all as she left.  We hugged and she kissed each of my checks then on my lips and we thanked each other repeatedly in French "merce, merce".

In the late afternoon we went to what we thought was the market where you can buy African goods such as fabric and handmade goods but our staff, Etienne, thought we meant the grocery store (we'll do that later this week).  Doug stayed on with Della, we can't go out with the child, it's not safe and not at all well received.  The people of this country don't understand adoption.  Photos are not allowed to be taken in public, the government doesn't like it.  But I snuck a couple.....

This is the typical vehicle we travel in.

This woman did not have a full load of oranges like most we see, but still impressive!

This is one of the more "quiet" back streets.  While we were waiting here a man came up to the window with two huge basins of peanuts (which didn't look very fresh or clean) and stood for a short time, obviously trying to sell his goods.

When we go to town, there is usually several other stops being made, some of which are not discussed with us, others we find out after we leave what the purpose was.  It's all such an adventure, with a definite twist surprise.  We feel safe, there is always someone in the car with us who is agency staff.  This trip ended with a couple who just flew in last night meeting their child for the first time in the back of the vehicle.  They didn't even know it was happening until they saw  her being carried to the car by another woman. 

At the store there are guards at the doors to make sure only certain people enter such as UN workers or foreigners like ourselves.  The cashiers speak some english and are very nice.  And the store has everything you could ever need, like a mini Walmart.  Except the prices are a little different.  Our butter was more than $5 US dollars, more than 5,000 congolese francs.  Our friends bought two large oranges for the price of $15 US dollars!

Della has not had a fever since this morning but she has slept a lot.  We are hoping she's all better tomorrow.  I love her tight curls of hair, they look like tiny springs.

She cracked!

Monday night Della finally cracked.  I brought a laminated photo of our family, which she also had while in her foster home and all of the sudden she smiled!  She started to jabber as she pointed to our faces on the photo.  I tried to give her a book with a monkey on the front, she yelled and threw it.  She is sharing a little bit at a time :).  We'll have to be patient with her.  

We've prayed all along for God to plant our love in Della's heart.  We know He has already done this.  What an amazing God!

Her fever came back last night and even though she's eating and drinking, she's sleeping a lot and not wanting to play.  The plans are to meet the foster mom today and possibly visit the market. 

Hardest nut to crack!

Some say the macadamia nut is the hardest to crack, others say the Brazil nut.  I say I just found it here in Africa!  The name of this peculiar specimen is Della Price, commonly called Della.  Her allusive shell will. not. crack.  She refuses to share her inner "meat" with us.   She still hasn't smiled, cried, talked, crawled, or uttered hardly a single sound.  She does reach for us and likes to be held, but if she has any opinions she keeps them to herself.  We were told today that she really likes milk, and will sometimes not eat, just drink milk all day.  We had hoped to meet the foster mom today but nothing around here is certain.

She's feeling better today, fever is mostly gone and she's eating & drinking more.  She's looooves milk!

 

Do you see Doug in the background looking like a caged animal?

We went to immigration today to start the process of getting the exit docs.  Ety (our adoption agency staff) took us, and before we walked into the office he said that many do not like or understand adoption.  He keeps saying "be strong".  The office was crowded and dingy.  They didn't try to hide that they didn't like us.  There was arguing in french between Ety and the immigration ladies.  After it was over Ety told us what was said.  The ladies asked to have the parents say the child's name on the passport without looking at it first to make sure we memorized it and actually knew it.  They argued about do we know how to take care of children, why do we want this orphan and is he sure we are married?  Also, why don't these people have their babies covered, it is a cool day outside, and why couldn't we speak french.  We were told to stand, move, sit, and stand again.  But, a man did give his chair up for Sarah as we waited in the hall.  Ety said it went well and we'll hear back from DGM in about four days.  We still have no idea how long this process will take.  We ordered pizza along with our new friends next door who are also adopting a little girl.  It was delicious!  Doug said the man who delivered it was using a cart that he pushed along the road.

(These are the friends we met next door and shared pizza with, their little girl is 9 months old.)

We aren't allowed to take photos in public, but I'll try to describe to you some of the things we saw.  There are hundreds of people everywhere, in the street on the sidewalks.  Some of them carry heavy loads on top of their heads, we saw ladies skillfully balancing more than 50 oranges in bowls as they walk.  The women's clothing is beautiful.  Every color you can imagine with beautiful bold prints, the more professional dresses look like taffeta and sound like it as they walk past.  The bodice on their dresses are fitted with a flair at the waist and a fitted skirt gathered in elegant waves reaching down to the their ankles.  Their heads are wrapped mostly in matching fabric.  A lot of the men are very well dressed, nice slacks with a button down shirt & fancy shoes.  When the traffic signals turn green everyone goes at once, it's very stressful to be a passenger.  

Here is our hotel...

  

Labor pains of a different kind

This morning we were told Della would come after 10.  So we nervously waited, listening for the sound of a vehicle horn "asking" for the gates to the hotel compound to be opened from the inside.  I got my camera ready...we heard the horn....we peered through the window and waited to see if it was Della.  A man who worked for the hotel walked from the car and came to our door asking "Price?".  This was it, the time to meet her finally.  We walked to the car anxiously and looked in.  She was wearing one of Josey's old jackets and was asleep.  As I took her in my arms she looked at me and held onto my arm.  She didn't make a peep, just looked.  

After 2 more minutes we were alone with her, so beautiful.  We checked out her beautiful long, curly eyelashes, her puff balls of hair, her dark chocolate skin.

  

As I write this I pause to hold her hand while she tries to sleep, reassurance that this mama will NEVER leave her.

She had a fever today since the time we got her, was only awake for 2 of the first 10 hours.  She ate and drank little.  We learned later on while the doctor came to see her that Della's housemate had a fever also and they believe it is the flu.  Doug insisted that I not pack my otoscope (yes, I have one.... I have 4 kids and no time to waste going to the doctor for no reason).  Guess who needed it?  The doctor!  He was impressed, calling me "mama doctor".  We were not impressed that he didn't carry doctor's tools!  Della's fever has come down but she's still sleeping. 

We also learned she has been getting physical therapy 3 times a week for her legs since we took on her referral last August.   

As I held her today, it engulfs me like a flood, I have a glimpse of how God looks at me.  He has adopted me into His family.  He loves me no matter where I've come from, unconditionally.  His love is so unbelievably deep.  

Well, we are to possibly go to immigration tomorrow morning for our exit document appt.  We also plan to meet Della's foster mom "Mama Josee"!  Thanks for your prayers!

Surreal

(above: waiting to flight to Kinshasa a Brussels Airport in Belgium)

Surreal, that is the best description of this experience.  We flew into Kinshasa in the dark and after 2 hours left the hotel with our luggage in tow.  The smells are of people (because most congolese don't where deodorant), and fumes (because most cars are old and well-used).

There are thousands of people everywhere, walking down the middle of a 6 lane road, or on the side, or hanging onto the back of vehicles or out the side doors of vans.  Our agency staff member informs us the buses are called "Spirit of Death" because they cause so many accidents.  I found out what vehicle horns were made for, the DRC.  If you want to go somewhere the driver just honks and goes.  It's like playing chicken the whole journey, no traffic rules.  

We arrive at the hotel we were hoping to stay at, but were told there was only 1 room, the problem was there was another couple with us.  So after some arguing among the DRC men we both got separate rooms.  By this time is was 9:30pm and we were so tired.  We can't believe we are finally here, blocks away for our little Della.  Not much sleeping tonight, too many butterflies in my stomach :).

Brussels, Belgium

On our flight to Brussels, we were served dinner at 8pm (eastern time), they turned the lights out for three hours, and served breakfast at midnight (eastern time), and the sun was up!

There are many beautiful things in Brussels like the Gothic buildings at Grand Place 

and the delicious food at the cafes along the street (their version of hamburger and fries),

and the cobble stone roads and side walks.

There are also many interesting things like street musicians

 

and belgian pigeons (haha)

and interesting choices in clothing such as men's capris with long socks, 

 and a store where they sell shoes and postcards?.

  Brussels is 6 hours ahead so we've only had 2 hours of sleep in the last two days.   On to the next leg...hopefully after some better sleep :).