Day One in Lubumbashi (at least for Jaime)

ALL our flights went very smoothly! It is a LONG trip to the other side of the world!! Ours was Sacramento to Long Beach to D.C. to Ethiopia to Malawi to Lubumbashi!! All with long and short layovers in between.

Lubumbashi airport was no problem. Didier has a friend who met us and took us through customs. All 5 of our bags were accounted for and nothing seems to be missing. Praise the Lord! If you have been reading this blog in past weeks, you understand how big of a praise this is, for things like this we take for granted in America.

When we got to the car Matteus was waiting for us. He recognized Phil and said, “I go with them.” He was content to sit on my lap the entire way home. He talked almost the entire time, I wish I knew what he was saying, but for the most part it was a running commentary on every “moto-ka” (motor car) we passed. He loves them! A definite boy! This will be good when we get home, he will have no problem getting in our van and going away with us. We don’t know if he ever rode in a car before Didier picked him up a month ago. We wonder what he will think when Friday he and his dad go to l’aeroport to board one of this big flying things to go to the capitol?

He is a very sweet boy, I could tell he loved the one-on-one attention because when we got back into the orphanage he became very quiet. When we were leaving he started to cry, so of course I had to bring him with me!!

He sat content on my lap while we ate dinner (he had already eaten.) Didier told us to only give him small amounts at a time. The children were so used to being hungry that now they do not know when to stop eating. They are so well cared for here. Three full meals, and lots of love.

The children were enamored with my blonde hair, blue eyes and many freckles and moles on my skin. Each took a turn petting my hair and arms and giggling with delight and saying “soft”. They probably would have touched my blue eyes if I’d let them. They are a happy bunch, we held, tickled and just loved them. They all remembered Papa Phil and were excited to see him.

God granted us a good rest (minus the perpetual mouse sounds). Phil got up more than once after midnight with a big stick ready to smash any intruders, but alas … no sightings of the phantom rodent. He said the game is on, tonight! The guest house is actually quite nice, many more western touches than any other home in the area, and our gracious and hospitable hosts do such much to make us feel at home. We do feel at home here.

This morning we are going to meet with the judge at his office and later should receive the court judgment, at the end of the day Lord-willing. More on that later, but for now we know you’re anxious for us to stop writing so you can see pictures so here you go!

Sweethearts in the sky

Landing in Lubumbashi

First few moments with Mama Jaime

Matteus happy to sit on Mama’s lap for hours. We’re not sure who’s more happy – us to be with him or Matteus happy to see so many “motorcars”:)

Matteus giggling (last time Phil was here he couldn’t get him to smile … this time the sweet guy is smiling a lot along with the other new kids to the orphanage who have already changed so much with the loving environment here)