Adoption Journey – Page 3 – words from wick

You May Have Heard…

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Wick

You may have heard that recently we returned from a last-minute, unplanned trip to the DRC to visit the daughter whom we’re still in process of adopting. You may have heard that in early 2012, we began the process of reaching out through adoption to change the life of an infant who needed a family, to change our family, and to open many hearts and minds to a new experience of a globally-connected faith. You may have heard that journey has taken many different roads, and much longer than originally expected.

You may have heard that while I was at class a few weeks ago, we learned it was urgent for us to visit our sweet girl. To help give her needed care, and help the early process of transferring her into foster care locally until we can bring her home for good.

You may have heard that even after 3 years, we had hundreds of family and friends who responded quickly and loudly, “WE HAVE FAITH!” by their donations, prayers, and encouragement in our adoption process. You may have been moved to tears by such love.

What you may not have heard, was this:

You may not have heard, the trip went amazing. We learned so much about the Congolese people, the culture, the present struggles and the hope many have for the near future.

You may not have heard that our daughter was released into our care for the week. For almost an entire week, she was with us from when we cuddled in bed every morning, until the moments we tried to calm her natural wonder and excitement enough to sleep every night. We were able to give her individual attention and love, filling her heart and her little tummy – as she filled our hearts to overflowing. How she gained a few pounds even during our time together. How the doctors at the clinic couldn’t believe her size for her age. We wish her sisters were with us, but we look forward to having all 4 girls at home someday.

You may not have heard, how we hope to move her into local foster care, even within the week. We were able to meet with foster parents, and prepare the paths she will take hopefully very soon. The orphanage she lives is amazing, and does so much for the community – but they are very limited in their resources. The hope, and love shown not only by the women who work there, but the young men and women who have grown up there and now care for the younger children – was beautiful.

You may not have heard about the giant traffic robots, invented by Congolese women who are engineers and very proud of their invention that helps attempt to keep drivers safe in a very unsafe overall driving environment. How a single apple can cost about $5, and the cost of a driver and translator are worth every penny.

You may not have heard how difficult it was to release our daughter back into the care of an orphanage in the DRC. But we took small comfort in her smiles and laughter as she played with her friends, even as our driver slowly eased backward out of the compound…

We realize that it was ultimately into the care of God that she was released. This is the same for each of our girls, and is required on a daily basis. Yet still, it is hard. Thank you for your prayers, and encouragement. Continue to pray for so many who are like us – stuck and waiting to bring their child home. We met some incredible American families who have made DRC their home, and live with their children in-house, until allowed to return to the US. Pray not only for adoptions to begin moving again, but pray for the DRC as a whole. There are many who recognize now is an important time (Kairos) for their nation. There is hope for a rebuilding that the people have desired for many generations, but it will still take some miraculous work by God in the hearts and minds of many in leadership.

You may have heard that in the DRC, as in the US and many other places – sin has caused damage beyond repair.

But you may not have heard the words of Jesus: “Behold, I am making all things NEW.” (Rev. 21:5)

May our lives and our homes begin the proclamation of Christs’ New Creation, as we love and live in the name of Jesus…for the sake of the World…

Adoption Journey, Different Moments, Different Scriptures

Oh, be quiet Larry…

Posted on April 5, 2015April 5, 2015 by Wick

I remember back in late high school or early college: There was this short Christian classic on sale or clearance or something and I wanted to get it. A small part actually wanting to be the kind of person to read such books, and a larger part wanting to seem to be the kind of person to read such books, I snagged it. I read through it a bit. I smiled. I even understood a few sentences.

In college, it was mentioned here and there. I knew the topic vaguely, and smiled and nodded whenever someone mentioned it in conversation. Yes, that is quite a good book. Yes, I do so enjoy practicing the presence of God, just like Brother Lawrence did in “Practicing the Presence of God”. Whether doing the dishes (as he did) or other menial tasks that my day to day existence brings me, I love the fact that Christ always offers to be very near. God truly is with us, closer than we often realize.

I was a bit surprised then, when reading the book more closely for my current course on Spiritual Formation, to find so much in the book I didn’t like. When the author writes Brother Lawrence (let’s call him Larry) to tell him of a friend who loses a close friend to death, Larry tells him to advise his friend to use these moments to his advantage. “What a great opportunity to give the part of your heart previously given to your friend back to God where it belongs!”, he seems to say. Or when the author himself is aging and enduring intense suffering of some sort, Larry refuses to pray his suffering would be taken away. Instead, Larry insists on praying that God would strengthen the author to endure the suffering that is most likely God’s way of refining his heart and soul. No, I do not like this guy much at all. I don’t think I would have written him as much as the author seemed to. A man who neurotically spent at least 10 years of his life anxious that he shouldn’t be distracted in thought or feeling by anything that might take God’s place, finally ending up with peace (albeit alone, and without much pleasure it would seem beyond the “presence of God”). No, I do not like this guy much at all.

Yet…I can appreciate his heart. A heart that yearns for the presence of God so much that everything else – even the extremely important things in life – melt away. An experience of God’s presence, even in suffering alone, that gives him a sense of complete and udder wholeness that so many empty people in our world are hungry for.

I’ll admit, wrestling with his message comes at a poignant time. Last week was the final week of Lent. The season of preparing for Easter. It was also a week of waiting for an important update in terms of our adoption. This journey that has taken over 3 years, it finally feels like our boat has spotted land. So it takes a bit of humility to confess that I, a pastor who was allowed to even baptize several people this morning, was distracted most of my week by checking my e-mail for an update that never came. That dotting my week of anticipating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I was experiencing the brokenness of a human whose heart is not at complete peace in this broken world.

Part of me realizes that’s probably okay. Jesus was certainly not often “at peace” in this world. Another part of me realizes, there’s something to all this stuff Larry was talking about.

But before you or I go out and leave our family, secluding ourselves in monasteries away from our spouses and children, aiming to live like Larry and push away anything that threatens to occupy a place in our hearts – I don’t think that is required. But we can be reminded in powerful ways, the truths found in Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 15. That Jesus died and was resurrected. The truth of this powerful statement impacts us as individuals, and puts every anxious thought, every deep-seated need/emotion, and every well-intentioned prayer in a wonderfully redemptive context.

The Truth of a resurrected Jesus Christ releases us from serving the state of our situations. Even though there are times (like this past week, and probably again in the future) we don’t want to hear it, the words of Brother Lawrence come as important reminders: Even really important and good things are not “foundational” the way Christ and His resurrection are. We can have Peace, even in the midst of needing peace. That is something the world considers foolish. That is something scripture considers faith.

That is something my daughters need from their father. Something my wife needs from her husband. And so, not as an individual but as a family – we work to shape our heart to seek pleasure only in the things that please God. We seek to walk with Him as the center of our being. We confess that this is not an easy road, and we sometimes lose focus. But we return to this walk and practice – together.

(and really really pray that our boat would draw a big step closer to “land” this week) 🙂

Adoption Journey, Different Thoughts

Awaiting the Child…

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Wick

It’s everywhere right now, and at times becomes difficult. “What Child Is This?”, “Away in a Manger”, and plenty more continue to remind us of the precious baby boy that was born to Mary. We celebrate Christmas, and love the gift our world has received in Christ.

But with so much emphasis in Advent being on “Waiting for the Child”, it has a few hard moments.

Moments where we’re reminded of the long journey we’ve been on. Moments we’re reminded that on the other side of the world is a little girl who has no idea yet, the road that is leading our family to bring her home.

We’re still praying for the DRC to work on new laws to better protect Congolese children. We pray for Government and Village stability, for peace, for a revival in human rights, children’s rights, and emphasis on the importance of family planning and care. Ultimately, pausing to better protect Congolese children and implement laws that will deter human trafficking is a great thing. It’s just hard timing for our family and many others, as well as the many children in need of a family and a home currently living in extremely poor conditions.

It’s hard to see the great needs, and feel like because of the pause in exit letters we cannot do anything of value right now. But there are still great things we can do, and we invite you to be a part of them. One way in particular has recently let us know they could use new support.

For only $30/month, you could help sponsor a child currently living in an orphanage in the DRC. If you have questions about specifics, we can help answer some questions, and so can they. Supporting this ministry is intimately connected to our journey of adoption. If you’re looking for a place to serve, or use money from your Christmas bonus – this would be another great option. Many of you have donated to our adoption already, and are bored of giving without much to show for it. We feel your frustration. If you’d like to give/support our adoption, but want to know the money is going directly to a child in need right now – this is a great way to do it. 🙂