Our Mountain-Moving Miracle-Working Red-Sea-Dividing All-Providing God

Yesterday I shared with you how Didier finally received very important papers for his land that he has been repeatedly trying to get for 15 months now. If you haven’t been to the D.R.C. to know how this country works, you may not to be able to appreciate what a work of God that was that he got it yesterday, but Didier said this was a “very big miracle” as far as he’s concerned. He was very happy and very encouraged and very much praising God yesterday, and I was very joyful and even tearful as I joined in.


After I sent my update yesterday from the internet café in town, we did a couple more errands in town and on the way home we stopped by another office to see if equally important papers of mine were ready. Praise the Lord they were as well! Both of these documents are huge evidences of grace from our mountain-moving miracle-working red-sea-dividing all-providing God. Some theologians would define “miracles” technically as supernatural acts of God that defy natural laws and would classify what we experienced Wednesday as extraordinary acts of Providence instead. But whatever way you define it theologically, logically these documents we hold in our hands can only be ascribed to the favor of the God who holds in His hand all things, including the hearts of kings.

On September 8th, I was not in the best mood after being caused to miss my flight back home because I was with friends who had a crying baby (and didn’t have a newly required document). But our God who moves in mysterious ways used that occasion for us to meet with a number of top officials face-to-face, and in His providence Didier now has a personal connection with them and so do I. What happened in September with the “baby-crying-Papa-Didier-on-the-tarmac-incident” has made Papa Didier now a household name with many of the airport personnel, and some of them remember me, too. In fact, when Jaime was here and I was buying a cell-phone in town, two ladies waved hello and came across the street and said they remembered me from the airport and asked how the twins were doing. I showed them a picture of the twins and a picture of Matteus and they were very happy and said they would see me at the airport.

When I saw the man yesterday, he remembered me and smiled and he helped us get a very important document. Didier said this is a huge favor shown to us by our faithful God who works all things together for God’s adopted children (Romans 8:28, 15). This includes things that are not good, like missing your flight, and includes even our attitudes that are not good, as our God mercifully works together His good purposes despite us.

Today I was in the same office and a lady who knew English asked me, “So why do you want to adopt a Congolese baby?” I was caught a little off-guard and wasn’t sure of her tone or intent, but I explained, “Why? Well, God has adopted me, even though I was not His child and I am different than Him, but He has brought me into His family, and His love in my heart is what makes me want to adopt a child to show His love to.” It was a great gospel moment. The lady didn’t seem to know what to say but a few moments later she asked if I would adopt her, too!

One other evidence of God’s clear providence and grace that Didier shared with me yesterday … Didier has known for 5 years and been praying for the salvation of a key Catholic man in the orphan community who helped Didier get the 3 new foster children he has now, the Wilmarth twins now in California, and Joel Cowley who is now adopted in Idaho. I spent a lot of time with him the first time I came to Congo. He helped me with the funeral arrangements for my son and was very touched by meeting me and I was praying I would be a good witness to him of my hope and faith in Christ in such a hard time. Yesterday Didier told me this man has said he has been talking with his wife and would like to leave the Catholic church and become a part of Didier’s church instead!! Please pray that God will draw this man to fully understand and embrace the gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and be willing to follow Him, even if it may cost him in relation to his past religion, relationships, and even resources.

I began the last paragraph with “one other…” assuming that was the end for today. I was just about to save this file on my laptop which is just about out of battery and then to head into town with Didier. Didier came over hurriedly and said it was Danielle from the embassy on the phone. When she began with “Mr. Layton …” I didn’t know if there was a problem, but she went on to tell me that my file was approved and ready and all the documents could be picked up this afternoon! I didn’t know what to say other than “wow, that is amazing,” and she said, “yeah, this one went really fast, you’re very lucky.” I was quick to clarify, “I think God has heard the many prayers for this and answered them.” She said, “absolutely.” I thanked her again and as soon as I hung up I tried to tell Didier the good news but I couldn’t get the words out, only tears for joy. He knew what I was trying to say and then called his friend who will meet her at the embassy today to bring the documents to me. As I send this praise report Didier is wiring the money to his friend in Kinshasa and we should have the embassy documents this weekend that we need to leave!!! From here we go to Ethiopian Airlines to change my flight to the earliest available one. Didier, myself, and Matteus will be landing on U.S. soil Lord-willing in less than 6 days!!!

Normally this embassy process takes a minimum of 10 days and an American who even works at the embassy who adopted warned how difficult the process can be when a parent is living but to pray because God can work miracles. I was just praying for today that the medical results would get there before the end of the day and that Danielle would have time to get to my file by Friday afternoon … and basically everything was done before lunch on Thursday! All I can do is give amazed praise to the God who is able to do exceedingly beyond all I ask or even think to pray, to Him be the glory (Ephesians 3:20-21)!!!