What an Amazing Fourth of July…

It has taken some prodding to get the whole story from Don about what happened with picking the kids up from the Congo. He’s shared bits and pieces and he says what I’ve pieced together here is a lot of the story. We had some discussion about whether this was really the right forum to share some of the more spiritual aspects, but since only a few of you that we are very close to read my blog he gave the “ok” with the request that we treat it sensitively. So here it goes . . .

It has been an epic adventure getting Jenny and Bill here to Utah.  From the moment they sat down with Don,  February 2008, in the Congo begging for a chance to be taken into the TIFIE orphanage we have been linked at the heart with these siblings. When Don tried to get them into the orphanage he was told the budget for the orphanage was exhausted and that there were not enough funds to take in anymore orphans. He hung up and quickly called home and enlisted the willing help of his parents (Blair and Kathleen) and his sister & brother-in-law (Heidi and Rhett). They happily and generously committed to sponsoring Jenny and Bill and did so faithfully (they would end up spending thousands of dollars to keep them safe and cared for in the orphanage). Beyond the monetary support, they extended their love and friendship to them in letters and emails letting them know they were prayed for and thought of by unseen friends.

Even with their spot in the orphanage secured Don continued to watch over and feel a special connection to them. They moved him so much he began searching for a family who could take them into their home here in the states. My dad and step-mom, (Danny and Marilyn), began considering it and in September 2008 took their family to the Congo, after meeting Jenny and Bill in person they too were hooked and made that huge leap of faith to pursue the adoption. From the moment Dad asked Jenny and Bill if they would like to come live with him in America the work to get them adopted and here became an effort of many unseen heroes giving their time and money to make it happen. One of Don’s paralegals Preeti Mudliar (pronounced Pree-thee) was assigned to the long and often frustrating process of getting the Congo adoption paperwork completed and accepted (no small feat considering they were dealing with officials from a third world country who distrusted Americans and rarely let foreigners adopt their orphans), and clearing the hoops of the American Homeland Security (who incidentally, when finding out Jenny and Bill were teenagers bumped them to the top of the list helping the process go that much faster). All told, hundreds of hours went into clearing the way for Bill and Jenny to come to America. In the meantime, others stepped in to donate their time and money in other ways. Ryan Shepherd – the Tifie COO spent time with the kids while in Africa working on their English, Bernard Balibuno, (the Tifie-Congo General Manager) and Tifie employees in the Congo helped the kids get the school records & medical exams they needed. Robert Workman (Founder of TIFIE and Provo Craft) had already donated an amazing amount of resources to put Tifie in place – now he further bankrolled the burdensome costs of airplane tickets, and Congo governmental fees. Many times the process would stop as we waited to hear results of medical tests, interviews, paperwork acceptance…time and time again we would breathe an astonished and relieved sigh as things were approved and we could move forward once again.

Only a couple of adoptions are successfully made from the Congo each year and normally there is a family connection with a relative in the United States – and even then it is usually very young children. These were the oldest kids the embassy had record of being adopted out of the Congo. By June of this year it appeared that the stars were about to align. Don had heard horror stories about adoptions being derailed at the airport by Congolese immigration officials and he had other legal business to conduct in the Congo so he arranged to pick the kids up. As fate would have it the return date turned out to be July 4^th.

The pressure and weight of this final leg of the journey was felt heavily in our home for the weeks leading up to Don’s departure date and many prayers were said on his and the kids behalf. To keep the kids happy and occupied during the 24 hour flight and layovers (a 48 hour trip for Don…) Don came up with the brilliant idea to put together a workbook for them that had pictures of their new families (all the Raymer siblings did a fantastic job sending pictures to be included) and friends who have been watching over them, history lessons on America and Utah, pictures of typical American foods and sports, and tons of mazes and word searches. The day before he left, Don and the girls and I had fun shopping for a couple of new outfits for them and a backpack full of things they might need after leaving the Congo. We stayed up that night packing all the usual Congo things: large bags of candy for the orphans, malaria pills for Don, meal bars to eat in lieu of Congo food, clothes to last his four days and Jenny and Bill’s backpacks. Unbeknownst to me, Don was having severe chest pains (probably anxiety, but he was worried it was something else) and was concerned that it might further delay the process. The other counselor in the bishopric came over and gave Don a blessing the night before he left – one that he would need.

I said a mighty prayer for Don as I dropped him off at the airport, knowing he still had many obstacles in front of him but confident no man was better for the job and if anyone could get these kids out he would. I underestimated the role the Lord would play in all of this. 24 hours later Don was in the Congo and keeping the Raymer’s and I updated with detailed emails of the emotional and physical condition of the kids. Don is normally exhausted after the trip to the Congo and sleeps soundly (at least the first night) – but not this time. His prayer before going to bed was a petition that everyone had done all that they could do for these kids and that whatever unseen obstacles were left would require the Lord’s help. Later after this was all done Don shared a dream that he had that night – he joked that it might have been a product of the malaria medication which is known for causing weird dreams – I don’t think it was the pills. In the dream he heard two babies crying. It was dark and he tried to move toward them. He saw a lake of dark water with a row of hands poking just above the water. Two babies (which he understood to be Jenny and Bill) were being passed from one set of hands to another down the row. His view changed so he was much closer and above the hands. He noted that initially the hands were obviously those of African descent, but eventually the people emerged from the water and the skin tone of the hands lightened. The kids were being carefully passed from one set of hands to the next as the area around them got lighter.

At this point he woke up. First, his impression was something to the effect of “I (meaning the Lord) have been working on this a long time and My plan for them is not going to be frustrated. You are one set of hands – there were a lot before you and there will be a lot after you. Now, I have some information for you so pay attention.” A list of 4 or 5 specific action items followed – specific things like “you are missing some of the vaccination paperwork” and “when you get to the airport go to this security checkpoint.” The next day they quickly addressed the action items. And then came the email from Don to us: “Tomorrow at 11am, your time, pray for us.” The next day 11am came and went and then I got the emotional call from Don now sitting in the jet on the runway at the Congo airport telling me that they were aboard and officially on their way…I could tell there was more to it than that but could also feel Don’s exhaustion through the phone so was content for the moment just to know they were on their way. Days after their return Don recounted the scene of leaving the home where the kids were staying. The whole group posed for pictures with the kids and then most of the same group crammed into the vehicle and began driving through the narrow streets as the sun set toward the airport. Everyone was clapping and singing – except Don - he was dying in the front seat. “What if this doesn’t work? What if I have to get on that airplane and go home without the kids? How will I explain that to them? How will we regroup? Have I got all the paperwork?” Eventually his thoughts formed into a silent prayer and then came the reminder “I have been working on this for a long time – My plan for them will not be frustrated.” – and with it a feeling of peace. So this was going to be the big test whether the hours of preparation and the thousands of dollars spent would actually work and the kids could leave the country to start a new life.

It was night when they reached the airport and I guess the airport is not well lit. The group moved through the darkness to a checkpoint and then said their goodbyes. Now it was just the three of them – Don, Jenny and Bill without the benefit of a translator. They moved to the immigration desk – the one Don felt directed to – the security personnel examined the kids paperwork, and in confirmation of everyone’s worst fears they shook their heads “no” and sent the three of them back to the first checkpoint. After some discussion they walked across the airport, met with another immigration official who reviewed the paperwork and indicated that everything was in order and that the immigration ought to let them through. Back across the airport they went again – past the checkpoint and to the same immigration desk where Don felt like they should go. Again the immigration official seemed skeptical and began asking questions which Don could not field as they were in French. After some time another security officer stepped forward. There was a tense discussion between the officers. Finally the first officer in exasperation stamped the paperwork and waived the three of them through to be escorted by this new officer. He took the three of them to a VIP lounge and saw that they were seated where no one would bother them. There was some discussion between the officer and Don – the officer asked where they were going and Don said Utah in the United States – that caught the attention of the officer and he asked if Don was a Mormon – Don said that he was and the officer explained that so was he. Now, the instruction to go to this particular security checkpoint was evident. Another set of hands had passed the kids along. They soon boarded the plane and Don placed the exhausted call I got just after 11 am on July 3^rd.

The fourth of July came and yet another amazing show of support was coming. It started with my best friend, Crystal, coming and rescuing the Sunday meal I had planned for the Raymer’s and Jenny & Bill but couldn’t complete when I found that the flight would be arriving an hour sooner than we had thought. After arriving at the airport I found family and friends flocking to the international airport: Blair and Kathleen Olsen, Heidi, Rhett and Ashlynn Burnham, Kara Allen (who would be invaluable in interpreting Jenny and Bills French to the rest of us), Anna Fletcher and her newly adopted and sealed children, Aunt Phyliis, Robert and Ange Workman, Preeti and her mom and of course the Raymer’s and my girls. My girls and I had made a banner and Blair had bought little American flags for everyone to wave we were set and waiting on pins and needles…and then the media came – all of it. An hour and a half later Don sent a text that they were through immigration and on their way out, many teary eyes followed Jenny and Bill as they came out and were buried in the arms of their new family – the Raymers. Television cameras zoomed in, microphones were extended to capture a very joyous moment. Don came behind them and walked to me. I could see him protectively watch the kids as they made their way into the arms of their new family. His expression turned to pure relief and gratitude that he hadn’t failed Jenny and Bill. They were being showered with love. Another set of hands were taking hold of them – the hands of their new mom and dad and sisters who would in the days ahead have to provide a lot of heavy lifting for the kids. But for right now the moment was enough – the kids were “delivered” – they had become Americans upon entry to the country. Moments before they were Congolese orphans – now they were Americans complete with a family and a future full of opportunity. They were free. What an amazing Fourth of July.