This is how I want to be described, a friend of God. I want to be in conversation with God on a continual basis to share with Him my thoughts, issues, hurts, desires...and get His thoughts. He has an opinion and its worth while for me to listen.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Day 6 Frustration

We had a late start this morning, with a promise the passport would be ready. The water was (and is still) not working, there was a great amount of busyness and observation around the fixing of the water, to no avail as of yet. Fortunately, one of the workers here on the compound brought us some jugs of water so we could get the toilet flushed. So, we head into a nice hot Kinshasa day unwashed. We arrived at the passport place, and dropped off an additional document. They indicated we should come back in about an hour and a half, so rather than sit in the parking lot (since we had already been sitting there for an hour), Francis suggested ice cream. He took us to a very surprisingly good gelato restaurant downtown. Who knew gelato in Kinshasa? Anyway, we then returned to wait for the passport. We mostly sat in the car, with the assistant we worked with yesterday going back and forth. Finally, they came to get Enoch to have his photos taken (due to corruption, they do the photos at the place now). Francis took him in, and apparently due to the expediting fees paid, he was taken into the VIP photo place, much to the dismay of the others in the room, as generally children do not go there. Unfortunately, somewhere in this process, another group of people who apparently do something with adoptions for the Congo gvmt decided they needed to be involved in our process (although they do not) and they want an additional fee to make that happen. There was apparently kind of a fight in there, which Enoch was in the middle of. It pretty clearly affected him which is not good. End result, the man who is in charge of giving out passports came out to the car to tell what happened and indicate they will do what they can to get it to us tomorrow. Francis & Michael & Enoch will go back first thing tomorrow to deal with any potential additional expediting fees so they can get the passport tomorrow, in time for the interview. Please pray that this works. We left feeling very defeated, having spent a whole day that was supposed to be a big success and seemingly achieving nothing. We know God is greater than anyone in the passport office, and we know He will procure a passport, I guess we are just praying His timing for that is tomorrow? Enoch cooked us breakfast this morning, an omlette with onions and plantains, which was really very delicious. He did it all himself, short of lighting the gas stove (which I am sure he is capable of doing). He was very proud of himself. He also wanted to iron his t-shirt this am, however I have not yet located an iron so he was out of luck. We continue to be impressed with his resourcefulness, and his intelligence. He is working on his English, and was trying to teach Alan this afternoon. We have talked through many times that I am leaving tomorrow, and he and Dad are going home on Sunday after 7 more days. He is looking forward to flying home to California. We were running the AC when we got home, after spending the day in the baking hot car, and he got cold. I went and got his sweatshirt which he liked very much. After a few minutes he left and came back with his sweatpants on as well. Guessing that was a first, but he looked quite comfortable and pleased with himself. He is pretty fashion conscious, like his sister, so he will probobly have to shop with me to get clothes he likes. He is not big now, just up to my chin, and pretty thin, but we are guessing he is going to grow quickly. He has pretty broad shoulders, and his feet and hands are the same size as mine. It will be good to get him home. You will likely all be sleeping as our excitement tomorrow begins, Michael & Enoch off to get the passport, and me off to navigate the Kinshasa airport alone. Please be praying. I will be home after a scheduled 35 hours of travel, and what is looking like a bath from a bucket, so I should be pretty ripe! I will leave the blogging to Michael from here. Thanks for your prayers and comments here, it is nice to have the contact, we really appreciate it. Love you, Joanna & Michael Nate and Davina, I look forward to seeing you Sunday night. Please be praying that we can get Enoch & Dad home very soon. Have a great game Nate, have fun for your mom, ok? We love you very much!!

3 Comments:

Blogger Becky Laswell said...

Bummer about the long day, but I am confident, like you, that God is bigger than the passport office!

There's a Maui Taco in the Minneapolis airport. Not as good as in Maui (not like it's great in Maui, honestly...), and I'm sure you'll be utterly clueless what time it is when you arrive there, but it might be nice to pretend you're on the beach instead of stuck on yet another layover :)

We love you guys! I found some French to English crossword puzzles and word games -- I'll send those along in another week or so. (finishing up a little surprise for Nate & Davina, too...)

Love,
Becky

3:13 PM

 
Blogger Matt said...

We're praying for you. We're also praying for the poor souls sitting next to you on the flight home... :)

7:06 PM

 
Blogger Jeanette & Robert said...

Praying that GOD will walk through the yuck of this frustration, and that all of you will be home soon, Joanna looking forward to hearing more about Enoch once your home, he sounds amazing, we miss you both, can't wait to hear more once your home and Enoch is here Friday nights are just not the same, when were not all together.
Love you Robert & Jeanette

11:49 PM

 

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