Fri, Sept. 2

Lubumbashi: This place is starting to feel like home, a little. We love Didier's family and their neighbors though longing for our high tech world in ways. You know, all those high tech things; like running water, valves, toilets that flush with a lever, a toilet seat that isn’t broken in half with no hinge that falls off if you don’t sit on it just right in the middle of night. 

We do love these people though. What humility and simplicity. Their expectations are very low and they are just happy to see you. The highlights of the day are things that we take for granted. This gives me lots to think about when I consider the life of luxury I live. I’m going to think about everything differently after this trip.

Fun with bubbles

Last night we gave the children, 10 of them, glow sticks that make bracelets. They’d never seen anything like that before. It was fun to watch them swinging their bracelet laden arms glowing with light and hear their voices laughing with glee as they danced around the dark central room in the orphanage.

Today we went to town again to run some errands. While there we received a call from the Embassy saying that the children’s Visas were ready for pick-up. What an answer to prayer. We should have them in our hands on Monday after they make a trip via DHL. All that should be required is one office visit next week and then we can bring the kids home. Please pray to that end.

We also got the garden beds started. Hopefully they will be near the end of construction in a couple of days. While working we had about 12 boys standing around us watching and “helping”. I think this was the most exciting event of the month.

Josie spent time today with Annie (Didier’s wife) teaching her to make jewelry. She had a fabulous time, was very proud of her first necklace and would like a second lesson tomorrow.

Brandon and Kara are extremely cute and run up to us every day exclaiming “daddy” and “mama”. We have been told that sometimes adopted children will cry a lot as they are adjusting to a new family. Kara will be one to fall into that category. Both children are old enough to remember quite a bit of detail. Maybe one day they will express it to us. For now we can expect to see more of what Kara did today.

On two occasions Kara sat in laps, first in Josie’s lap and then mine, and began to slowly break down into a full cry. We’ll be praying for her a lot as her parents. I feel bad for the poor girl.

Brandon fell asleep in Josie’s lap tonight, to her delight, leaning on her chest. I think he will respond differently to the changes but not necessarily with less heartache, just a different expression of it. He is a very analytical boy and seems to process information in a systematic way. He’ll make a very organized Wilmarth male, like the rest of us.

Soccer game

Tomorrow (Sat) we meet with Brooke from the U.S. embassy. I don’t know her title but she is an administrator of sorts over adoptions. [Jenn here: Hello, she's only the Consul for the US Embassy in Congo!! She is the Top  Dog and a Big Deal!! She doesn't deal only with adoptions, but rather with all affairs concerning US citizens in Congo, including issuing visas for children adopted by Americans.]  She wants to see the orphanage and meet with us. Pray that our interactions will influence future adoptions in a positive way. Also we will be going to dinner at the home of the Bourgemestre who is the district “overseer”, kind of like a mayor of a region within this big city. He was glad to know that the adoptive families of these children are real people and that we are Christians and that we have a desire to care for and love them.

Also, potential ministry idea. There is a new school that is almost done being built down the road. It is a Christian school and looks nicer that most of the schools in America. It costs $35 per month for a child to attend. There are no public schools in the Congo, so if you are too poor to pay you don’t get to go. Most people here are too poor. It would be fun to sponsor a child who would like to go to school.

An African sunset