Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Abandoned..1 Year Later


Today is mixed with many different emotions. One year ago today our son was found abandoned in the marketplace of the capital city in the DRC. A scared and confused 3 year old boy with bright eyes and a sweet smile was left behind. At that moment, God’s kindness and sovereignty was displayed as our son was found by a street vendor. She brought him to the authorities and was told to watch over him for a month to see if anyone came back for him. No one did. As I type the words ‘No one did’, my heart sinks and aches for the great loss our son had to experience very early in his precious life. I wonder why he was abandoned. Were his parents sick? Were they too poor to feed his little mouth? Did they stop loving their son? Was his mother a single mother who struggled to care for her child? No matter what the circumstances I know that God’s mercy and compassion fell on our son that day. The vendor who found E had likely seen hundreds and hundreds of abandoned children around the marketplace peddling for money and food. By God’s grace she had compassion on this little boy. I often pray for E’s biological parents. I don’t know why they left him. I don’t know why he had to endure so much loss and pain in the short 3 years he has been on this earth. The child that I have prayed for was born to another woman thousands of miles away. I pray that his biological parents would have assurance that their son is deeply loved. I pray that they would know that their son is no longer alone. He has a family. He has a mother and a father and a little brother. Most of all I pray that they would know God’s love, kindness, and eternal salvation. We will never meet the woman who gave birth to our son but maybe one day when we are reconciled to Christ we will sing praises to the King of Glory together in Heaven. 

God has perfect timing. Romans 5:6 says, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” God doesn’t mess up! We can always rely on God to come through. From eternity passed God had the appointed time when Jesus would die on the cross to reconcile sinners to himself. We know ‘at the right time’ we shall be united with our sons! Continue to join us in prayer as that day approaches! 

 We have grown to love our sons more than we could imagine!
Our smart little guy! :)


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Introducing Weldon #2-Haddon Reddy Weldon!!


God has been so incredibly good to us over the past several months! We are so delighted to announce that our prayers have been answered! I know I have been a bad blogger and haven’t posted anything in a very long time! This blog post will hopefully bring everyone up to speed on what has been happening in our adoption.

Back in early January we were notified by our adoption agency that there was a 1 year old boy in the DRC who needed a family. Right away Kevin and I said, “YES!” The staff at the orphanage took him to the doctor to get a medical checkup. They began to compile all the paperwork we would need to get an official referral with pictures and his medical info. Once we received his referral packet then we were in LOVE. We quickly began praying specifically for our second son, Haddon. At his medical checkup they found that he was sick with malaria and quickly started him on the proper meds to get him healthy. We praised the Lord for His kindness and protection over our son. In the DRC, malaria is one of the leading causes of death. The Lord’s kindness and Sovereignty kept our son safe and he was treated at the right time. We have only received one set of photos of our second son. I wish I could share his picture! He has the longest eyelashes and cheeks that are destined to be kissed and squeezed by his momma! Please join us as we continue to pray that all his paperwork goes through smoothly and without any snags! 

Kevin and I have been overwhelmed by how much we love these two boys that we have never met. We pray that the Lord would protect them from disease, malnutrition, abuse, loneliness, and so many more unknowns. We fervently pray that they would both grow into men of God who use their lives to worship their Savior and serve other people. We laugh at the videos we have seen of our 3 year old singing ‘Father Abraham’ and naming animals. He smiles, laughs, dances, and kisses our picture. It seems that he has joy. He went from being a boy that didn’t smile to a silly, goofy, energetic kid! The Lord’s kindness and grace shines bright as we continue to see everything come together! 

We are ready for these boys! 
Toddler shower!
Where we are in the process right now:
Enock’s process is almost complete. We have been given provisional approval by the U.S. government to have an investigation conducted in the DRC. This investigation basically double checks and proves that he is a legitimate orphan. Once we get approved by the embassy in the DRC then we will be able to book travel. Please join us in praying that this would happen fast! This step in the process is part of a new law that was passed in February. There haven’t been any families go through this process so we are unsure on how much time this will add to the wait. 

Haddon’s court processes have begun and we have given him a new name and birthday. Please join us in praying that the Lord would be over his paperwork process and his health. Pray that the Lord would protect him and give him caregivers who will protect him and comfort him until we can be united. 

We need your support in prayer and finances! With the likelihood of traveling twice we are needing to begin fundraising for the first set of travel expenses. Our need in travel expenses for the first trip is approximately $6,000. Would you be willing to help us reach our goal? Would you be willing to make a tax deductible donation to our Lifesong account? Kevin and I know that the Lord has been faithful to provide what we have needed to accept the referrals of our two boys. He will be faithful to provide what we need to bring them both home! Thank you for your continued prayers and support throughout this adoption process! Please email me (debbie.debbielwrc@gmail.com) or facebook message me if you have any questions! 

Would you be willing to tap into your network of friends and share our story? If you are interested in sending a tax deductible donation then please follow the instructions below: 
Please make checks payable to: 
Lifesong for Orphans
Po Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
Please write our family reference number in the Memo of your check: Weldon #2638

Click here to make an online Paypal donation to our Lifesong account. (Please reference: Weldon #2638)