"His Birthday"

The last night we were in Kinshasa, as I was laying in bed heartbroken that we had to say goodbye the next day, I felt like God spoke something to me. It felt very vague and I have tried to make sense of it ever since then, but I mostly have kept it to myself.

As weird as it may sound, I feel like in my super dramatic anguish that night,  God whispered "his birthday".

Ummm, what? What about "his birthday"? "His birthday" isn't really even the actual day of his birth. He was abandoned, so that means we will never know his real birthday. This random date on his birth certificate, July 27, is only a guess (and probably not a very accurate one at that).

Soooo, what about "his birthday", God? What do you want me to do with that?

In the weeks that have passed since we flew out of the Congo, I still feel like I hear God reminding me of this. I have shared this with Mitch and only just a few other friends because mostly it sounds crazy and like maybe I made it up that night to make myself feel better. But, I feel pretty confident that I didn't and want to share it with you now so you will pray something very specific with me:

For Josiah to be HOME by HIS BIRTHDAY... July 27.

Do I feel like God promised me that? No. I am still not very clear on why He would choose those specific, but vague, words to speak to me. But, how could I ignore that there must be some significance in hearing that?

The news we received two weeks ago of the DGM's stubbornness and refusal to open until September definitely caused serious doubts about the probability of him coming home anytime before that.

But, I am still choosing to pray BOLDLY for "his birthday".  It is not impossible. Because He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20).

So, while we beg God to move mountains to bring him home by July, we now have the chance to advocate for Josiah and the other families who are STUCK in this mess as well through our own government.

While our Department of State has made some effort in helping this situation, they really honestly could be and should be doing so much more.

Over the next week, we have been asked by a notable adoption attorney and advocacy group, who has taken up the plight of the DRC families, to flood our state Senator's offices with requests to take our cause to Washington.

We would love for our friends to take part in this as well! Many of you already have and we are so grateful! It only takes a few minutes to send an email, fax or make a call. I will post the links below and then also give you basically word for word what you can say or write.

I believe that God can use this to bring our boy home by his birthday. Will you help us overwhelm our Senators and break their hearts for these children who are stuck without families? And then will you join with us as we pray for Jose to be able to celebrate his birthday with cake and candles and FAMILY around him right here in Boerne, Texas?

Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. {Mark Batterson}

Thank you!!

Links to Senators:

Write Senator Cornyn 

Write Senator Cruz

{SAMPLE LETTER}

Your name

123 Main Street

You city and state

Dear (Senator, Congressman, or Congresswomen __________),

My name is [Insert Your Name] and I reside at [Insert Your Address] in [Insert Your City], Texas.  My friends, Mitchell and Kathryn Fickey are adopting from Democratic Republic of Congo and have been waiting several months to bring their child home.  His name is Joseph Pambu and he is 20 months old. 

I am writing you to ask for help in uniting this family.  Currently the DRC has suspended issuing exit letters, (this is issued by the DRC government and is needed to leave the county). Their adoption is complete and Joseph is their child but cannot leave the country. The Department of State has sent a delegation to DRC and are planning a DRC delegation to come here but the officials who are coming are not from the DGM office, which is where the problems lie.  They are saying the suspension was put in place because they have concerns about the welfare of the children who are already in the US and want to see them and the parents.  Why is the DOS not addressing that issue with them?  At the present time there are approximately 130 children sitting in DRC with US visa but cannot cross any boarders to come home and approximately 500 children  are in the adoption process. Please we need a solution to get these children home. For everyday extra they stay is a day they may get sick and die. DRC is the second poorest country in the world, 40% of children  do not make it until their 5^th birthday, and most people eat only 2-4 meal a week.  Recently 31 children died of dysentery in an orphanage.  Please we need your help.

I appreciate your help and ask that you please send me a response letting me know if you have reached out to the Department of State and expressed your concern for the welfare of these children.

Thank you for your time and considering my request.

Sincerely,