Bittersweet (DRC Day 30)

We have visas!  And they have pictures of the cutest little kids on them. How did I get so lucky!?  And our stuff has been delivered to DGM for our exit permits, which should be ready by Thursday.  Maaaayybe by tomorrow, but it's unlikely that it would be done in time for us to catch a plane tomorrow night.  And my visa extension has been filed as well and should be ready tomorrow.

I never thought, after more than 4 weeks here, that I'd be one bit sad to leave.  But while I am SO excited to be headed home, and for my family to be all together on one continent (under one roof!), it's more complicated than you might think.

First of all, this is my kids' first home.  And while our trip to their new home is the start of a new and exciting chapter of their lives, living as a son and daughter instead of orphans, it comes at great cost.  Their homeland.  Their culture. Their language.  And they've already experienced so much loss in their short little lives, it's hard to see this one more piece go, even tho the rewards are great.

Secondly, we've made a bit of a family here.  Meeting Darren and Valerie and their precious girls has been the one of the highlights of this trip.  We would have gone crazy (crazier!) from despair and/or boredom long ago if not for the support we've had, and the time we've hung out, and the hours the kids have played and entertained each other.  And while we got good news this week, and will be headed home, they will be staying on for the time being.

The news they got at the embassy was less than stellar, to say the least.  The Embassy folks lost their I171 (immigration pre-clearance) paper, and just got the new one yesterday, only to find it was the old one before they updated it from Rwanda to DRC.  This means that they haven't even STARTED processing their case yet, and their interview was 2 weeks ago!  Valerie also talked to Andrew about how Josee's malaria is back, and he didn't seem all that concerned about it.  He basically said they'd get to it when they could, but depending how the investigation goes, it could still be a while.

This is so disheartening at this stage (or any stage) of the game.  So please keep praying!   For speedy processing for their girls' papers, and that the USE staff would show some mercy in their case, particularly since the girls have recurrent malaria and need treatment they are not going to get here.  And for safe travels for all of us, and smooth transitions as we go home.

Thanks, my friends.  We appreciate you all so much, and are so thankful for your support!

Our friends Darren and Valerie and their girls Josee and Natalie

(I foresee some trips to Colorado in our future!)