Quick Update from D.C.

Just a quick update on the trip. I am writing from the hotel that Ethiopia Airlines is putting us up in as we wait for our flight which departs tomorrow around noon EST at which point the weather shouldn’t be too bad (up to 23mph, clearing up in afternoon). Hit some turbulence on our descent to Dulles International this afternoon, but was good for our prayer lives ;) The wind hasn’t been bad since we’ve been here, but the atmosphere feels very much like Hawaii, I guess that’s why they call it a tropical storm. More importantly, had some good gospel conversations with a lady sitting next to me on the plane, sharing my story and what the gospel did in the Congo years ago (Tuesday 8/23 post below). I even got a 15-20 minute nap, periodically interrupted by the 21-month-old next to me tapping me on the arm. He was sweet. Thankful to be getting a good night sleep tonight and a clean shower and then a full day of flying tomorrow, 13 hours D.C. to Ethiopia, then a few more to Lubumbashi.

Do you think we have enough bags? That's Gabe on the right.

The Layton Family History in Congo - Next Chapter

The Layton Family History in Congo – the Next Chapter

When I wrote the below post Tuesday about my family’s history in Congo, I would have never expected or written the next chapter in this story this way. But I know God has written all our days before there was one of them, as I quoted in my sermon last Sunday (Psalm 139:16). And I know He is and will be always with us as the same Psalm says, and has good purposes that are far bigger than us and what we’re going through in His manifold wisdom and grace, as I also shared last Sunday. The pain is real and deep but the precious promises of God’s Word are as well, and I am so thankful for what God has already taught me through His Word, and will teach me.

Lord-willing tomorrow I leave early to fly to D.C. with our friends the Wilmarths, then to Congo Sunday or the next chapter in God’s story for our family in that country. I say “the next chapter” because I know this is not the end of the story which God is writing, but it is the next chapter and I have to go one page at a time. We don’t have God’s “Table of Contents” for our life, but as of right now, the outline for next few pages is:
- Arrive Monday noon (please pray for God’s grace in the weather on East Coast which could affect or delay our travel, which God is of course sovereign over as well)
- Tuesday will be busy around town doing whatever necessary to get the exit visas for the Wilmarth’s twins, #1 objective of this trip, which we’re all eager and prayerful for God’s grace in
- Wednesday 8/31 at some time will be a small private burial for our son that I will share some things at. This will not be a public or church event. In God’s providence, there are less than 10 of us who know the situation and Didier feels it best to keep it that way, at least for now. In their culture, if the church knows of this loss, they will be at Didier’s house 24/7 for a week and would need to be fed and would prevent us from getting much else done. I trust his wisdom and God’s and don’t want attention drawn away at all from the #1 object of this trip so am thankful for that as well.
- Also I will be delivering a couple suitcases full of gifts and practical things from our church family here to the orphanage and Didier’s family in the spirit of 2 Cor. 8-9, which is my great privilege to try to be for them as Titus was for the Corinthians
- Lord-willing my friend Gabriel Wilmarth and I hope to have time to also build a raised garden for the orphanage
- Didier has asked me to preach at their church 9/4 AM through him as an interpreter, which I am honored to do and ask your prayers that I would have time and ability to do adequately without normal preparation time. He said I don’t need to share anything about my son but to preach a message on the importance of God’s Word in the life of a Christian. This will be a great privilege and honor to seek to minister to the Congolese people that my great-grandfather had such a heart for, and who I wanted to minister to in some way after meeting Didier last summer. I pray God will help me minister to them and especially Didier and his wife for the good God intends, to borrow words from another Joseph (Genesis 50:20).

Thank you for your continued prayers and love and we look forward to see what God will write in future pages and chapters of our story, for His glory.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away

We were informed yesterday morning that our son Mark Joseph Waleza Layton has passed away. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Mark started having a hard time breathing. He died on the way to the hospital in Pastor Didiers arms. He did not appear to be sick before this began. Although we do not understand God's plan we trust and love Him. Our hearts are heavy, but we praise Him for He is good, all the time.

Please pray:
-for our children to comprehend God's grace in this
-for Pastor Didier and his wife Annie, and the family in Congo, who have loved Mark as their own for 3months

We love you and we are so thankful for you all, we treasure your prayers on our behalf!

'And he said, "...the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.' Job 1:20-22

"God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

Below is the update we also sent out today by email

Dear church family and friends,

It’s been less than 24 hours since the sudden news of our son Mark Joseph’s death was shared with many of you. God’s grace and comfort has already been abundant and though we can’t respond to every person who has expressed love and prayers to us, please know how thankful and blessed we feel and how merciful our Sovereign Savior is and has been to us already through you.

I (Phil) am still leaving this Saturday for my trip, arriving in Congo Monday, with a different type of ministry and mission in mind than originally planned (humanly, but our God is big and good and has His wise ways which are not ours, He has planned this before there was time). My mission is to travel with our dear family friends the Wilmarths as originally planned to support them in the adoption of their twins and to be of ministry to the family of Christ in Congo and the orphanage in any way I can. For those who have asked how you can help or pray, here is the update for now:
- Thank God with us for His mercy in so many things, that we want to remember, rehearse to our hearts and our children, and recount for others for the glory of Christ
- Pray for God’s manifold grace and purposes in my son’s funeral/burial I will get to be a part of in the Congo next week.
- Pray that I would be of great encouragement to Pastor Didier, his wife Annie, and his family, in the spirit of 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 7, 11, 15, 2:4, 8, 3:5, 4:7-10, 15-18, 5:7-9, that they would not lose heart in doing good and that God would heal them in every way from the trauma and tragedy of witnessing the loss of one who was a son to them as well
- Pray that I would be a good ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20) and to comfort the depressed with my coming (7:6, 8:6-12), that even with the language barrier the love of Christ would come across
- Pray that I would be able to express the love of our family and church to our church family in Lubumbashi in some way on Sunday, Sept. 4th (Saturday evening our time)

We do have some room to still bring a few things to Congo, and it may be easiest if you drop them by the church for now and I will pick them up sometime tomorrow. Lord-willing I or Jaime will be sharing updates at our blog as able.

http://lifeatthelaytons.blogspot.com

We continue to treasure your prayers and care and love and we rest in the sweet and Sovereign hands to whom we give all our children and all things, and pray God will use us weak vessels to magnify our Strong Savior.

Love in Christ,
Phil and Jaime

Layton Family History in Congo

At the turn of the 20th century, my great-great-grandfather Edwin Layton was a pioneer medical missionary to the Congo (then under Belgian rule, referred to as the Belgian Congo). That’s him on the upper right of below newspaper article, Chicago Sunday Tribune April 10, 1904. My grandpa’s sister is the baby. Here are some excerpts from his diary memoirs, written this very month 109 years ago (August 1902):

‘For fifteen years, the work had its “ups and downs” – mostly “downs” … it was a dark hour … We hope for a spiritual awakening but we must ‘learn to labor and wait’ [August 8th letter to mission society]
“… The outlook is indeed hopeful.” [August 29th] “… To us, the present condition and outlooks is exceedingly hopeful. For the past 6 months … there has been a growing interest in our meetings …”

[How did it start? An earlier letter to the Mission Society explained]
“… Turning from this dark picture, however, there are some visible results of the work here which seem like light amid darkness. The life and labors of a boy called “Josefa” is an example. His name is appropriate for, as a child, he was sold into slavery and carried to foreign parts of the very land where ancient Egypt was situated … He is a hopeless cripple…this “poor, broken vessel” was chosen by the “Lord of the harvest” rather than the “wise” and “mighty” of us whose “calling” was [missionary] … Josefa as a child was carried into captivity by the Bankundo, a strange tribe and tongue. Seen by an early English missionary, he was set free from slavery and at that Mission heard the Good News and found salvation from sin.
… a hopeless and helpless cripple was destined to be the most important factor in the establishment of a native church … Violent contracting muscles broke the diseased bones and the body was covered with boils and ulcers.

He suffered excruciating pain and bent and broken, his body is beyond repair and he remains as uncomely as a leper. Yet Josefa did not “curse God and die.” Through long years, no comforter was found among his own people for he was the only one who knew and trusted God. The medical missionary ministered to him; the Unseen Comforter was there … [unable to make it to the missionary meetings, he heard others at night] around the campfires, they rehearsed the events of the day and Josefa, the stay-at-home, would hear an accurate account of all the white missionary had said and done. He never went to church or school in those days although he could hear the singing at the services. But he came to have the reputation of knowing well “the Words of God”. He held a meeting every night even though but one or two might come. There in that grove in darkest Africa was held a primitive prayer meeting. There indeed many members of the Church today [in Congo] sang that first Lunkundo hymn, “Yesu andango” – “Jesus Loves Me” …

… In the early days of our work, Josefa was overlooked – and no wonder! He was an invalid, unable to move or be moved. Moreover his tongue was partly paralyzed and his vocabulary was a mixture of three dialects. He stammered an almost unintelligible speech … Not without pain, he was carried in a deck-chair by four …[to] meetings … he would say but a few words but his presence in the “pulpit” was essential. The house was packed night after night, and the interest became intense. The beginning of 1902 saw a spiritual awakening up and down the Congo. Locally, it came at a time when least expected, five of the seven missionaries had gone home for health … many [of the Congo natives] were asking “What must we do to be saved” and some had “brought forth fruits worthy of repentance” …

[back to August 9th letter] As many as 23 have asked to be taught the WAY more perfectly [desiring] baptism. These are men and women who have listened to our message from the first. For many “moons” they have professed to love God and have desired to serve Him. There is evidence that they are earnest and sincere. These inquirers meet regularly every day. The outlook is indeed hopeful.”

[Letter at end of August 1902] “… Our little chapel which seats perhaps 200 is always filled to overflowing. For some months we have had to have a meeting in the morning and again at night.”

[The missionary’s annual report called this year] “a great awakening … One day a large crowd came from another town seeking “Baoi ba Nzakomba” – the “Words of God”. After that, a hundred or more in number… attended all our meetings. Bolenge itself awakened at the same time. Meetings were held twice a day and the meeting house was packed. The interest was intense…”

… Another…spectacular scene, was when the delegation of a hundred or more appeared suddenly from the interior [of Congo]. When this long line of savages darkened the palm walk leading to our bungalow, it was like a black thunderbolt out of a clear sky. There had been no intimation of such a movement … The leader, an eloquent and earnest man, stated their purpose as they all stood attentively before our veranda. They were deeply concerned about their “baoi babe” (“bad words” – which might be called their conception of sin) and had come as a delegation to get the “Baoi ba Nzakomba” (Words of God) in their “botema” (“stomachs”, their seat of feeling and intellect). “Where was our [church]”? – And we led the way to the church. They were certainly earnest inquirers. Our village folk were impressed by it and stirred up. They were ashamed to “sit down” and not heed “the wonderful words of life.”
[As they got saved, their version of tithing was each believer gave 10% of earnings so that every 10th believer could be supported and] set aside as evangelists, to tell the Good News, so there was one preacher from the first ten and ten out of the first hundred and so on, supported by the remaining number.

So the saying was fulfilled in Darkest Africa, “The people which sat in darkness saw a great light”. The day came for the first baptisms. We went down to the beach and before a large crowd on the bank–Josefa, in his hammock, among them … loved and respected by all. The Christians see in him their father in the Faith. He [went] in his hammock even to villages beyond the swamps to preach the Good News … He lived to see hundreds, even thousands, turn from darkness to light. He died February 8, 1907, but his “works live after him.”’

-- Memoirs of Edwin A. Layton

The story is also told in Bolenge: A Story of Gospel Triumphs on the Congo, by Eva May Dye, published in 1909

One Down, One to Go...

The first appointment at the US Embassy in Congo was today. The representative, Danielle, has been helping us for the past few months getting appointment dates and all our documents in order for Marks Visa approval.

She got to meet him today. This is what she said:

"The baby was asleep, and wrapped up for a winter storm... sweater and wool hat... it is a cool 85 degrees today!" :)

I don't know if they feel cold, but they always have the baby bundled up ridiculously (at least to me). I'm sure on top of the sweater and hat he was wrapped in a blanket too.

We have tickets!

We just purchased Phil's ticket to go to Congo to get Mark Joseph. Phil will leave August 27th and be back on September 9th. We are busy getting all the paperwork ready and preparations done for him to go!

We have the huge blessing of knowing the other adoptive family, the Wilmarth's. We met Gabe and Josie Wilmarth about 14 years ago at the first Bible Study we ever attended at Grace Community. They moved up to N. CA a few years before us and attend a local church that has become like a sister church to us. In March they decided they wanted to adopt the twins that had just arrived at the orphanage. We were overjoyed to be able to share this experience with them. Now they actually get to travel together, with Phil to Lubumbashi to get their children!

Right now Pastor Didier has taken Mark and the twins to the capitol of Kinshasa. They needed to go there to get passports and to go to the Embassy for their Visa appointments. It would be like us traveling to Texas to get a passport. But it was the only way.

They have Embassy appointments August 18th and 22nd to turn in all the required documents for the Visas. We are so thankful to Pastor Didier, he is doing all of this for us so that we don't have to spend so much time in country.

Pastor Didier is such a faithful, hardworking, committed man. He is so dedicated to getting these children adopted that he never stops. Right now he has malaria, typhoid, and an ulcer. Please pray for him. Pray that he gets better and has the strength to endure.

We recently got Mark's passport picture. It was the first clear picture we have seen of him. (There is nothing on his chin, just a dirty lens.)

So the long awaited day is finally coming. We see the light at the end.

And yet, it is all just beginning... :)

Adoption (part 2)

More details on the adoption and our experience...

Last June 2010 a native pastor from Congo (aka DRC) came to share with our church. He was (probably) one of few "black" people to ever walk through our doors.

His accent was thick.

He was hard to understand.

He spoke for only 15 minutes.

It was riveting!

It was life-changing.

He spoke of the despair and devastation in his country. He came to ask for help to build a well. They had to walk 4 miles (one way) to fill their water jugs...every single day! And we complain because ours isn't purified?!

The life expectancy is 45 in DRC.

They do not have more than one meal a day.

Babies are discarded on the side of the road.

Life is bare and hard. But this mans hope is not in this world. His hope is in the Lord. He lives each day for the hope of glory!

His name is Didier Mutkoshi. He is a pastor of 2 churches, father of 6, and has opened his heart to orphans. When he came to visit our church he asked for help with the well because it was necessary to have it to open the orphanage (by January 1, 2011).

I knew I could take a baby from the other side of the world, give love, home, family, care... the Gospel. I knew this was not beyond our physical and emotional capabilities. But I did not know how.

We started the process of a "Independent International Adoption." It took tons of time, research, reading, questioning... to understand what that is and how we were going to do it. There were only about 10 adoptions in the DRC in 2009.total.

Our goal was to have the American homestudy process done by January 1, so we could take the first baby available. We did! We had all the piles of paper and requirements ready. We had prayed about age, sex, number of children to take... We felt a boy, under two would be best for our family.

So we waited. First a little girl came to the orphanage, then another girl, then twins! (boy and girl). Praise the Lord that almost immediately these four children were wanted, spoken for, and loved! They were being adopted! (By two families in a local church!)

On May 23, Pastor Didier wrote and said, "There is a baby boy who was abandoned at the hospital. Do you want him?"

**It was the email we had been waiting for, praying for! Do we want him? We had wanted him before he was even born! YES!**

His mother went to the hospital to deliver him. Then, later fled. This is common in DRC. When we told the girls the story about the baby Ella said, "I would never leave my baby!" It was a great opportunity to explain a little about the desperation of life in DRC.

His mother loved him enough to have him at a hospital, where he would have the best care, and food. Things that she could not give him. She did not leave him where he may, or may not be found. She wanted him to survive! I am thankful I can share this with Mark someday.

The Lord blessed greatly. We were able to name him on his original birth certificate he is Waleza Joseph LAYTON. He will never have another name, he will never have another father, he will never know another family.

He was taken by Pastor Didier and his wife Annie into their home. She told Didier to assure me that, "she would love and care for him as if he were her own, until he is in my arms". He will never know unloving arms. We know where he has been every.day.of.his.life. What a blessing!




Pastor Didier, Annie, and Mark

The children at the orphanage. Pray for Zephanie (4) on left that God will bring a family for her.

Our prayer requests:
-Pray for Stuart who is in DRC right now getting his two little girls (liveoakhome.blogspot.com)

-Pray that they will be able to get the passports and required docs to apply for Mark's visa.

-Pray for the health and strength of Pastor Didier, he is battling malaria right now.

-Pray that Phil would be able to travel with the Wilmarth's (parent's of the twins) to DRC.

Adoption part 1

What is adoption? Why do people adopt? Should we adopt? These are just a few questions that most people would answer differently.

Phil and I have thought, prayed and struggled through these questions, coming to the conclusion that just as our adoption in Christ was with great sacrifice, so we too can have a earthly glimpse of the Father's love through a physical adoption. Why would we deny opening our hearts and home to another blessing?

We all want blessings, right? Should blessings only come in pretty, little packages? Or do they also come with sweat, tears, and sacrifice?

A earthly adoption is a sacrifice... time, money, fear, tears, unknown... Was not Christ's sacrifice on the cross SO MUCH more?

It's hard to put ourselves in a vulnerable place. Which basically means, "Do I really trust God, like I say I do?" With all the children God has given, I constantly have to remind myself, these little people are not mine! They are God's, I am just responsible to raise, train, and care for them. Is it any different with a child I have never met before? This little one with no future, no home, no father... is still His.

I want him. I want to know him. I want to hold him. I want to stroke his soft checks. I want to love him.

This is our son... MARK JOSEPH WALEZA LAYTON

We don't know him, but we love him.
We can't touch him, but he has touched our hearts.

In God's sovereign plan He did what only He can do, before there was time, earth, or life, He ordained this child to be one of our own.

WE ARE SO BLESSED!

Forever

I know it's been so long since I've written. This was supposed to be for the benefit of my children. To document and remember their lives. Oh well, I can only do so much! I don't even think I have taken a picture of them since Christmas.
Speaking of which, we had ALL the Laytons with us for almost two weeks. It took me almost two weeks to recover! You can tell by the picture, they are a crazy bunch! It was a great time. Lots of laughing, games, food, kids, stories! It will be a Christmas we will always cherish.

Now we are back in the swing of things, well after our post-Christmas/winter break, break. We took a trip down to So. CA. Phil and I attended a conference at The Master's College, and my mom took the kids. Best three days ever (well, you know, without kids). Then Phil and I drove down to San Diego to join them. We even took a trip to the Wild Animal Park, which I did not have a camera for. :0 But, it was a most beautiful day and a great visit with my mom and step dad.

Ella Mae

Yes she is 7 going on 8, but it often feels like 18. She wants to be so grown-up and since she is the oldest it is hard to remember that she is only 7! She still draws a hundred pictures a week (which amazingly disappear in the recycling bin) and she writes lots of stories. But she would say her favorite subject is Science because she loves science experiments. We have a kind lady from church who comes over every week and teaches her a sewing lesson. It is such a blessing to me and so fun for her.

Annalee Joy

She loves her new glasses. She has become a great reader and will be our child who probably hides a flashlight in her bed so she can read all night. Her favorite subject she says is "Math". I think it's because I let her have a recess after it. It is fun to have her and Ella learning together at home. Today she asked if she could wear her uniform (from Kindergarten). She has started to draw a lot and write "stories". She is my best babysitter and always loves to play with Adam.

Georgia Grace

Her name fits her so well. She is so fun. Always laughing and making others laugh. She is in pre-school and loving it. She tells the other girls she gets to go to "real school". I guess she doesn't think homeschool is real school. She loves going to Cubbies. Her favorite song is "Jesus Loves Me" which she asks Phil to sing every night at devotions. Her favorite past-time is annoying her brother and making him scream, for some reason she finds much excitement in this even though she doesn't like the consequences she receives from it.

Adam Timothy

Yes, 730 days have passed since his arrival into our lives!! It has gone so fast, and has been so fun. He is loving his trains and cars. Which Phil is really glad that he has some "boy toys". He is fun to be around, but he is also 2 which = lots of work! He loves helping in the kitchen and often pushes the stool over to the blender (for a smoothie) or the mixer and points at it which basically means lets make cookies!

Adam turned 2!

I need to update this blog, as usual!! But just wanted to send this little video. Adam had a fun and uneventful second birthday!

Sun Protective Wear - giveaway

I am entering this giveaway, and said I would post it to my blog, so, here it is! http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/07/20/natural-sunscreen-review-do-mineral-based-sunblocks-work-2/