PART 3: I lift my life up. Meeting our Children and their Family

PART THREE:

If you have seen the video of our trip, you can probably see how extremely full our hearts were meeting our children. It was UNREAL. Heart Exploded.

When we arrived at the orphange, we were greeted with relentlessly beautiful singing. At the front of the crowd of children, was S and E standing there with outfits and their special little toys we sent for Christmas.

Having done foster care and taken teenagers into our house... we are aware of certain unfortunate bonding experiences. But I tell you what... God said "here Brittany, I am going to blow your mind in this way too!" And He did. Our kids, were beautiful. They were precious. They attached and we to them instantly.S reminds me so much of our Paige and E so much like Oliver. It was really neat to watch them. Also, you must know this, my husband has this teeny tiny hole in his head, next to his ear, our bio children have it (apparently it is a passed on trait)... guess which other children have this... Nope, I am Not kidding. Our children across the world, unrelated to even each other EACH HAVE this hole exactly where my husband and our bio children have it. Is that just Amazing! ONLY GOD!

Upon holding them for the first time, I had prepared for myself to fall apart, crash into tears, thinking "HOW AM I GOING TO LEAVE NOW"... but then I saw something amazing and realized it as the children were singing and dancing all around us, as the beds began to back in through the gate... Jesus was here in this orphanage. We had driven through town, seeing the brokenness in the eyes of so many and here within these gates, God was redeeming souls. Good heavens, I tell you people, I beg you to all find Jesus so you too can have these moments of complete and total amazement! He is so Awesome!
Sitting down and holding our children for a bit in the office talking with Gilbert and those who take care of all the children while the other children eat a meal downstairs, totally basking in their sweet presence. They had no idea what they were doing to our hearts I'm sure! E falls asleep on my husband and I begin sharing my lunch with S. Instead of shoving it all into her mouth she begins holding pieces off to the side in her fist. At first I am like "oh no, a food hoarder"... then she jumps down to a couple other little kids and starts popping the food in their mouths. Then throws some off the balcony to the other kids to pick up. Not a hoarder, it was beautiful. These children, yes, they all acted like children. The occasional spat, not sharing at times, giving the stink eye, you know, Typical kids... but then there was this other part... where they wipe each others noses, sharing their food, re-situate each others clothing, holding hands and oh how some of the older children took care of the younger. Bless their hearts.

Before we had left to come to E. Africa, a friend of mine told me ""You are going to meet people who have no one, experienced death of their children or spouses, sickness; starving, sleeping on the ground, abused and left to die... Touch them. Hold them. Pray for them. You might be the only one who dares to reach out and remind them they are alive and human."
So knowing God had used this friend (Katie) to really speak to my heart; the Lord prepared with with opportunities to touch, physical touch, to bless the time with these kids (and more to come I was no where prepared for). I had brought finger nail polish with me. At one point so many hands were reaching out to put their hands on my arm and leg to get sparkles on their nails that I couldn't breathe. Moving locations a couple of times to escape the fumes. Being able to touch each hand and hold each hand for a few short seconds, getting to see the face these hands belonged to; boys and girls both.Almost the entire time I had S in my arms above the crowd of her sweet family. Just hanging out on my hip. I don't even fully have words to explain how my heart grew that afternoon. God allowed this amazing connection to our children, but then extended the love to the rest of their family. 

Another beautiful testimony to God's work: When we arrived the first day, many of the children were lethargic and coughing; wiping many noses, a vast array of colours in the mucous dept... in the days that followed, less and less sickness. The last day, the children that had been sick were walking and dancing even, there was minimal coughing and not remotely enough boogers to wipe! Upon sharing this when we returned the question was "did you bring them medicine?" "Extra meals?" "Well what was it?" It was truly Jesus. We delivered the beds the first day, then just kept coming back to see them, hold them, play with them, take photos, attempt to sing with them. Our presence in God's work, was enough. Joy, Full. It was amazing.

On the first night after we visited the children, Gilbert looked at me across the table at supper and said "You're not like *a previous adoptive mother who came to her children*. When she came, she cried and cried and her heart died. She couldn't leave or stop crying. But you... didn't cry." I have to admit, I enjoyed the confusion in his eyes. Haha, we love Gilbert SO MUCH. But truly, I almost felt guilty for not crying. I had to peel S off me each day we were there and hand her to an orphanage momma and it broke my heart each time, but I believe God prepared me for these moments in giving me so many children under the age of 4 at the same time. Sweet E would wave goodbye smiling each time while an older boy would hold him near the car. 

Gosh, there are so many stories in between, I could just sit here forever and relive every moment spent there.
Someday when I write an outright book, you will know all the secret moments of my heart in Goma.

On the last day, we were across the road at the church pastored by Fidele. We met the congregation and prayed with them. Standing in a circle hand in hand, praying with these beautiful people is definitely a highlight in my life. (I just wish the photo of afterwards portrayed that! I look like such a hot mess that day!)  
We went back to the orphanage for the last time. The older children danced and sang for us. The most beautiful singing. Then the children shared Scripture and Faraja (an older girl, who hold a quite large portion of my heart) prayed for us. An older boy shares that he would wish this was not a one time visit but that we would come back to see them. And as soon as he said it, his face appeared to be let down instantly. My husband truly broke for this boy. I cant wait to see this boys face when we go back, wrap that kid right up in a hug. We were then gifted with beautiful Congolese outfits from the orphanage and church. The guys were able to put their shirts on over the shirts they were wearing. I, was taken to the water closet to put on my very own shirt and shirt. I am not sure if I have ever smiled that ridiculously in my life... and Then, the bawling happened. In front of Every single child and momma, American and Rwandan citizen, like a flash flood. Even better, I was addressing them in thanking them for being the most joyful and loving children I had ever had the pleasure of meeting; thanking them for being a light and welcoming us as Jesus would have. It was like my heart had died and was resuscitated in the same moment up in front of them all. We had found and allowed God to unleash a part of ourselves we did not know was there in such a profound way, love that reaches beyond your own children and touches all the others; I think so they too know what it is tangibly like to be loved unconditionally. While they are wiping their snot on you and coughing in your face; even while I'm being peed on and wiping down the child that peed before myself. God just took us out of it and put Himself there. And then we got to see the thankfulness in their eyes. God is just SO good. So so good.

Here are some photos to bless your heart. 

That little H was had the best smile on earth, I'm convinced!

Loved the photos Ian took of himself with the kids!

Seeing my Husband in a new light. 

Love in action.

Safety in a daddy lap.

Ian and Gilbert in their gifts!

Aww these boys. Joy.

Baba Loves.

Sparkly nails <3

Nope, havent showered in a week but I felt like the most beautiful woman alive!

Day 2. S runs and leaps into my arms. Be still my heart.

My God is full of Mercy and Grace, full of Peace and Joy. I am in awe.

We then said our goodbyes and headed back to catch a bus to Kigali to stay the night before continuing the journey into Genocide matters.

If you missed the video posting, you can view it here- enjoy. http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/precious-goons-adopt-congo-love-/64746