Do or do not do, there is no "try"

I have put together a little Do and Do Not do list for anyone traveling to the Congo to bring home their two year old son.

Do buy a hot-pot... They really are the Leatherman Tool of the Congo! You can get a hot shower, wash your clothes, purify water and get a cup of coffee!

Do bring lots of snacks. You may need to snack your way through a meal or two (or six) that doesnt quite agree with your appetite

Do not show your two year old son the deliciousness of wasabi peas... He will eat them all. And you can't replace them here, go figure.

Do try the local favorite food, FuFu. It tastes like an underdone dumpling made of corn and wheat flours.

Do not try the local favorite food, FuFu. It tastes like an underdone dumpling made of corn and wheat flours.

Do not eat an entire bag of almonds. Ever.

Do eat at the Swiss/French restaurant in the Congolese super market.

Do not eat the Sushi at the Swiss/French restaurant in the Congolese supermarket.

Do bring Immodium

Do not worry about the rebels who just took over a city on the other side of the country and are bent on toppling the current government... Nobody here is.

Do worry about the rebels who just took over a city on the other side of the country and are bent on toppling the current government...  cause nobody here is.

Do stay at St. Anne's guest house in Kinshasa.

Do not assume that because there are two faucet knobs and one of them is red, that there is hot water.

Do assume that the congolese like to tease.

Do teach your two year old son what the garbage can is.

Do not give your two year old son the key to your room.

Do bring mosquito spray.

Do WEAR said mosquito spray.

Do use the provided mosquito net at night

Do not get malaria

do enjoy the shade of the giant mango trees in the yard

Do not get pooped on by the giant Congolese magpy that is also enjoying the shade of the giant mango trees in the yard.

People, cookies and Range Rovers... Oh My!

So I know I have been a little down on the DRC lately in my posts so I thought I would share a little about what I enjoy here.

The people are great! Mostly very kind and polite, greeting you everywhere you go. And that is not just because I am foreign, they greet each other in the street, in the always, and as they enter the room with a cheery "Bonjour"! Sometime when I am somewhere with a lot of people, it reminds me of the opening scene from Beauty and the Beast! "Bonjour... Bonjour... Bonjour, bonjour, bonjour!" 

Yes, I know the words, in fact I know every word of that song and every other song in that show for that matter! It's only one of the Top 5 animated movies of all time!!! Don't get me started.

S I love the people... I also love the baked goods! As most former European colonies, the Congo has kept some of the best parts of it's colonial history in its food! Thank God for Belgium, I would be hard-pressed to find a chocolate croissant here I didn't like... And I have had a few in my day! The cookie aisle at the market is lined with many of my favorite breakfast foods, ie: European Cookies. I almost went "True Grit" on a bag of cookies just now in fact! (True Grit referes to one night when my bro and sis inlaw and I were watching True Grit while on vacation. I opened a bag of Oreos to share and by the time the three hour movie was done, I had polished of the bag... By myself.) this comes as know surprise to many of you. They served beignets with dinner the other night and they were good too, Blessing first donut(kind of).  The  baguettes are good here as well. 

The people, most of the food and... They have a few cool car models that can't be found in the USA. I swas one today that was the Toyota Noah. It was like a boxy, 6 seater that was less like a van and more like a.... Hmmm. Not sure what to compare it to! They also have killer Range Rovers here (and actually need them) one of my dream rigs for sure, these Landy's are not playing around, they have the full upper exhaust system, roof rack and tires that would take you pretty much anywhere, including Boise River Street.

Our power hasn't gone out nearly as much here as the last place, one of the benefits of being on the same grid as the embassy's I guess. Of course that last place had hot water in some of the rooms......

There is a French classical sextet staying here and yesterday and today the French horn player was warming up in a room down stairs and it made me miss my wife super bad. A not to widely known fact about Kate is that she plays the French horn! There are no ends to her talents! Anyway, the horn music filled the hallways and was really great! Everything is tile, stucco and brick so it has killer accoustics!

The building and grounds were built in 1922 and have a decidedly art deco feel. Really pretty red brick buildings, the main one (where we are staying) reminds me a lot of Richardson Springs, CA and the hotel building there. We are very near the Congo river and can see the shipping cranes in the harbor just above the security wall. Blessing really wants to go over there! We played soccer for quite a while after breakfast, then we walked to the market, just outside the compound and got a couple of necessities. I just discovered that there is an espresso shop in the market... So will be going back soon! Man cannot live on Nescafé alone!

Washing Taxis in the Rain

Today we were walking around the compound (we do a lot of that) when we noticed a taxi/van driver outside washing his vehicle... In the pouring rain! What a picture! Much of the Congo is like that really... No hot water in most of a super-hot country that sits on the Equator... Imported fruits/veggies in one of the most fertile places in the world... and washing taxis in the pouring rain.  But my favorite dichotomy yet has been the interview on the African version of MTV where a singing duo challenged viewers (in english) to embrace and take pride in being African, an interview they followed up with a music video where they sing a love song in English and woo the heart of a Caucasian lady. Classic.
I am attaching a few pics from the balcony just outside our room. I am super thankful for the space because when I opened the blinds to let the sun in, I discovered that our "window" looks into the hallway! So thank God for this balcony or I know one little claustrophobic boy (and his son!) who might go nuts! So pics from the balcony, as you can see, we have a Jesus here too, just not pink!  I couldn't get Pink Jesus pics to upload so you will have to wait til I return and I will do a special follow up post.
Blessing (we are still using his name because it is already tough communicating and we have bigger fish to fry for now!) has discovered socks! I finally gave them to him, mainly because we can have our laundry done here! Mock me if you will, but I hate doing laundry in the states where we have a super-nice, super- large capacity washer and dryer, so imagine my disdain for it when I have to do it by hand...with cold water... In our shower! Yes, socks had to wait til today for sure. Because I'm dad and I say so.  Some loves socks! Mainly because the "go with" shoes. And this boy loves himself some shoes! He is already like me in so many ways, it's scary!
I have met a bunch of families here at this house, many have been here for weeks and some a month... Ackkk! No bueno!
I will post news from the embassy later today, thanks for praying!

One week down...

We have moved! Across the Gombe region of the city to Saint Anne's guest house. It is a much larger compound, which is great because Blessing left no rock unturned at the last place. This is an old(1922) catholic guesthouse with beautiful grounds and it is next door to the U.S. embassy  and a large supermarket. All good things. We could have been going to the dentist for all I  care though,  we have been cooped up for days and it was nice just to get out!
If you have never been to Africa, (or a war torn third world nation) then you may not have experienced "compound living". Where every home or business of any standard is behind no less than 8 foot walls and iron gates. Not so bad at first, but as days wear on and you are not able to leave, for safety reasons(or because you just adopted a super-curious, two year old-ish boy!) it can get a little claustrophobic and monotonous. All those who know me are aware of how "well" I deal with monotony. In fact, today at lunch when someone commented on the lizard in the courtyard, I heard myself say "oh yeah he's been out there for an hour and 45 minutes or so and hasn't moved.  Wait... Is that really what I just did with an hour and forty-five minutes of my time? Watch a lizard?!?!
I suddenly see the path to seeing imaginary friends... and it starts with a lizard.

Blessing had a good day. He smiled a lot today and only cried a few times, like when I said "no, you cannot have a Powerbar" ( thank you Jan, you have made a lifelong congolese friend)
Speaking of friends, I am amazed at how many amazing friends and family that Kate and I have.  As I tell the other families about our road to getting here, the giving, the prayer, the support, the Postal Service craziness and yes, the Powerbars, they all comment on what a cool support system we have. I tell them yes, we have the best family, friends, church and life group on the planet!!!  I am a little emotional as I type this part but, I really wish you each could understand what it feels like to be here and to know that people back home and all over the world are praying for you, pulling for you and helping your wife and kids still at home. It's humbling.

*deep cleansing breath*
So,  we are still here, waiting to hear something from the embassy and we are praying for good news from them in the morning.
Oh, I almost forgot... Blessing had his first piece of pizza tonight and liked it! It was actually, relatively good pizza too, unlike some of the "pizza" that you run across on this continent.

Your Own..., Personal (pink)... Jesus

It's Saturday which means I have been here nearly a week... Mercy... And been shut up inside this compound since Wednesday night, save our Thanksgiving Dinner outing. The wall are getting a little higher and the square footage a little less around here everyday.
This morning Blessing and I went up to the fourth and highest floor of our building. From there you can see all the streets below, in clouding the construction happening on Boise River Street.(see earlier post) they are installing a 6 foot deep by 6 foot wide cement canal beneath the street to help alter its class 5 rapids status. That should take care of some of it anyway.
We also noticed in the church courtyard next door an 8 foot, relatively pink-skinned statue of Jesus. It was fascinating and a tad creepy at the same time! when i see depictions of Jesus like this (well... I've never seen one QUITE like this) I always wonder where the artist thinks that Jesus was born? Connecticut? Anyway, I will post a picture of Pink Jesus soon I promise!

Blessing is sleeping now, after our trip to the fourth floor and a few laps around the other floors, I think he's worn out, well maybe he's not, but i am!

Two other families from our agency arrived last night, it is nice to have some company. They have been making the rounds today all over the city, but it will be good getting to know them while we are all here.
I believe we move to a different guest house tomorrow, maybe with better internet!

Cause there is no such thing as Turkey Nuggets

Last night we went to a Swiss chef's (say that three times fast) French restaurant for our Thanksgiving Celebration! We tried explaining the tradition and holiday to Jules, our local connection, but really, how can you explain what we TRULY do on thanksgiving.... We eat, too much... Blah blah blah.

It was fun to watch Blessing have chicken nuggets and frites, as well as his first ice cream! He went to sleep full and happy with family, on this day that's pretty much the idea right?

I had a nice filet and ice cream as well, hello.  Blessing needed to use the restroom three times during dinner and on the last trek I realized that I was supposed to have been paying each time for him to use the leu! So I handed the 3 men at the door (yes  three, i guess no job is too small for a supervisor) a wad of bills on my way past and hoped it would cover it. I'm not yet used to the monetary conversion here yet, besides, what do you pay three guys that watch the bathroom?

We laid low today and took lots of walks around the increasingly small compound here.

It was Congo-Hot again today, ending after sunset with a flurried electrical storm. Mosquitoes are bad tonight. They don't seem as bent on biting me as they do just buzzing around and as I am all dosed up on malaria meds, I'm not sure which is worse at the moment the buzz or the bite!

Blessing has loosened up a lot today, relaxing and just being a kid, until he notices someone watching him, then he is straight faced. Twice now he has pushed for me to make him cup-o-soup, and I reluctantly have agreed. Both times he hasn't even tried it! So now I am not making it again for him! He is eating the same meals I am so I know he's not hungry!

He was crying today for an extended period because I had told him no about something else (God forbid) and a little while later, two sweet French ladies that are staying next door stopped by to see if I needed anything! They sounded so nice with they're sweet little accents and broken English, but I know what they were really saying was "should they be letting you take home a kid?" after entertaining they're niceties for a few minutes, I excused myself and went inside to bring out our family photo album. Oui, oui ladies! Not only are they letting me take home this little guy, but here are pictures of the tribe waiting to initiate him when he gets home!

We have colored, played, walked, eaten, cleaned, played made cup-o-noodles and walked some more and now it's off to bed with him! And me too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving America!

I feel blessed today to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave (especially since I'm not there now!) and I can't wait to bring my son home and raise him in our great country! Spending Thanksgiving Day in a nation like the Congo is an effective way to restore my thankfulness for all of the freedom , blessing and opportunity we know in the USA.

Anywho, Moses is making good progress and our meeting at the embassy went well... All 60 seconds of it! It's amazing that you can fill out paperwork, wait for two years, fly for two days all to have them ask you THREE QUESTIONS then send you on your way! Joking and frustration aside he was really nice and said he was going to try to wrap this up as quickly as he could. So now they do an investigation of sorts into the area where he was found, make sure its all ok, then issue him a visa and then we have to get our travel docs to leave from the DRC. That's where it's at. It feels slow but I know I am not the only case that is happening. On a side note, ten (10) French couples arrived yesterday as a group and brought all of their newly adopted kids to the guesthouse! Some 15 kids or so. It was pandemonium until they realized that these rooms are a bit tight for four or five ppl each so... They all just moved out to a hotel! 

I know some have mentioned the unrest and military action here in DRC. I can say that it is happening in the eastern part of the country and that I feel quite safe here. We are located in the same area as the embassy's in Kinshasa so they have increased police here. Police or no police, We are under God's protection so I am trusting Him. The Congo is a nation in change and transition, from poverty and dependence on leaders to individual success and freedoms. These transitions come slowly and can be messy. We are as safe at present as we can be in the DRC, but I am not longing to stay any longer than I have to! Besides the whole "safety thing" i could really use a hot shower! Actually i would settle for luke warm! Thanks for your prayers for continued safety and a speedy end to our stay here, I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Brent

Ambien... and other vitamins

It has been an interesting 24 hours as I have taken custody of Moses Blessing and had him all by myself.  I picked him up at the clinic where he was receiving his vaccinations for travel and while it may not have been the most joyful of days it was made better by the fact that I took him after he had received the shots and therefore i "rescued" him from those terrible-mean doctors! Daddy points!

He had already had a low grade fever (not uncommon here) so the shots aggravated that and needless to say we had a Looooong night. I did get a few hours of sleep before we had to be up and ready for our embassy appointment first thing.

 Part of my morning routine in most foreign countries is to pop a Zophran under my tongue on the way to breakfast to stop motion sickness. ( a few of you have witnessed what happens when I do not)  Zophran is a kind of sweet, fast dissolving little white pill... I call it a wonder drug! 

So imagine my surprise when the little white pill I popped under my tongue was not dissolving very well and started to taste nasty! Spitting it out i discovered that instead of Zophran I had taken the surprisingly similar looking AMBIEN!!!  While AMBIEN is a wonder drug of its own right, it is definitely not what I needed just before our appointment with the U.S. Consular General for the DRC! I downed an extra Nescafé at breakfast, just in case I had left it under my tongue too long!

So, I suppose a day could always be worse.

It is the rainy season here so it has been pouring on and off since I arrived. So much that yesterday the street outside our compound looked like an extremely muddy version of the Boise River, no joke. As we pulled up to the cross street I thought "oh great, we are gonna have to walk all five blocks to get to the gates of the guest house" I was wrong, because right about then our driver (in an very small Mazda mini van thingy) gunned it and drove us upstream and up to our door! We must have floated part of the way because there is no way that car could do that! I have seen RAFTS that couldnt do that!  

So yes, the weather here has been damp to say the least.... That is until today when the clouds broke and the blue sky opened up so the sun could shine! This was fantastic as I was feeling the need for a little vitamin D.  The sun is great, the only problem is that when the sun comes out here in the DRC, it gets what I now call "Congo-Hot". I been to a few tropical regions in my short life, but this Congo-Hot is truly something!

Yes, is been a very interesting 24hours or so. Moses Blessing is doing pretty well. There are the challenges that come from being handed over to a complete stranger, but he is warming up to me. Today at lunch he ate all of his steak and most of mine. I use the word steak very loosely here. It was kind of tasty and tasted like beef most of the meal, but it had its moments. And as always in situations like these.... It's better not to know. Some meals you would just rather call tasty instead of the proper name for it.

So that's all for now, thanks for all of your prayers for a speedy wrap up on this end. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and since no one here cares, I thought Moses and I would hit the Chinese Buffet here(I've heard it exists) cause there sure aren't any turkeys running around here and I figure the Chinese Buffet will give me that sickly full feeling just as well as Thanksgiving Dinner can!

Today is the day

This is it! In just an hour or so I will head to the clinic where Moses Blessing is receiving his yellow fever shot :( and bring him with me... Forever!  Woot woot!
Yesterday I met him, snuggled him and spent time at the home where he has stayed and today I take over his custody officially.
I am excited... Nervous... But surprisingly calm. Of course that may be from a lack of caffienation.
I miss Kate and my girls and so wish they were here to see all of this.
I love the Congo and in fact it set in as I drove the streets yesterday, I really love Africa! Each time I come it sinks in a little more! Thankfully this trip I get to bring home Africa with me!
It so humid today, it's the rainy season which basically means that the humidity increases until droplets form in midair and bingo, rain!
My skin loves the humidity, my hair, not so much.
I have been thinking a lot about the last two years and our process to get here and bring him home. There have been mountains around every corner it seems, hurdles that have looked too high to clear. But I sit here today amazed at God's great faithfullness, mercy and love, that has led us, encouraged us, challenged us and allowed us to see a glimpse of God's heart of love through adoption.
Sorry, that sentence had more commas than a jr. High poem!
Anywho... I am trying to upload a picture of the view from my room, hope it comes through.
So, I bring him with me today, we have our embassy appointment tomorrow and then I am waiting for our exit papers. Thanks for praying me home quickly!

Journey of a Lifetime - bringing home my boy

The  journey of a life time has begun and my heart rests in the truth that God is truly in control.

An unbelievable week of preperation culminated in 24 hours of absolute pandimonium!

It's a good thing our life as a family is already pretty wild from day to day or I would start to seriously doubt my own sanity.

So... Boise to Chicago, Chicago to Brussels and then On to Kinshasa DRC... 

Thankfully i like a good adventure because based on how this all went this week, this trip is going to be anything but normal.

Oh yes folks, make sure that your seat belts are buckled and seat backs are in their full upright and locked position cause this is gonna be good!