Before our girls came home, a dear friend gave me a book that spoke at length about Moses and the parting of the red sea.  This was a prayer of mine throughout each and every day... "Lord, part the waters and bring them home."  I prayed this prayer thousands of times (this is no exaggeration) throughout our waiting.  I also begged God to bring them home in such a way that I could stand back and say, "this is what the Lord has done for us!  There is NO other explanation!"  He answered both of these prayers.

My prayers since the girls have come home have been a little different.  They have mostly been for healing, attachment and strength to get through this.  I knew the first year would be hard but the first three months have proved to be much more difficult than I could ever have imagined.  Having said that, I am starting to see glimpses of sweetness.  I am starting to see moments where we are all molding into a family and where love is shown between all of us. 

This past Sunday, while attending our pre-k Sunday School class with Elysee and Eli, God reminded me of something I am very grateful for.  Ms. Karen was telling the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.  She explained that God led Moses and the Israelites right up to the Red Sea. They looked behind them and they saw Pharaoh's army rushing toward them and they looked ahead of them and could only see water.  Exodus 14:10-14 says...

"As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.  They were terrified and cried out to the Lord.  They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?  What have you done to us by brining us out of Egypt?  Didn't we say to you in Egypt, Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?  It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"  Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid, Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still."

I very clearly heard God's small whisper..."it looked like chaos but if they had not been in the spot that they were, if there was any other way out, they would not have experienced my miracle."

I have walked this road long enough with my God to be sure of a few things.  He is faithful.  He is good.  He loves me.  He has a plan.  And through all the storms, trials, waiting and apparent chaos, I want to see His miracle.  Our little family seems to be in the middle of another storm.  God in his mercy is beginning to show me that blue skies are on the way and we are perfectly positioned to see him perform another miracle in our midst. Thank you for your continued prayers.

To God be the glory!

This is hard.

I am beyond grateful that they are home.  I am crazy happy that my little family is all on one continent, in one house and mostly all in my lap at once (well not Adam, but the rest of them).  I am thrilled at the bonding that is taking place everyday in our home between all of us.

We are blessed...but this is hard.

For the first few days that Elysee and Etta were home, when friends and family dropped off food, we let them come inside briefly to say hello.  Both of the girls started to get really upset when this happened after a few days so we stopped doing it.  I have not left our house in 11 days except to take the girls to the doctor.  I am a people person.  I do not like to stay home so 11 days in our house is a LONG time to me! I knew that when we brought them home we would all stay home for weeks if  not months but this was not nearly as hard in my head as it has been in reality!  Thank you for letting me vent!

I had told Eva for days that she and I could go to Church on Sunday.  Eva and I were all dressed and ready to go to church and I sat down on the couch and told Elysee in Lingala that I was going away but I would come back in a little bit.  She immediately began to cry.  I could not leave her crying so I looked at Eva and told her we could not go to church today. 

I will be honest, I was really sad.  I started to cry even though I was trying really hard not to.  I looked at Eva and told her how sorry I was, fully expecting her to breakdown because of this unfulfilled promise but I was astonished at what she did next.  She looked at Elysee and told her we were staying home IN LINGALA and wiped away her tears.  She then went over to the closet and took her shoes off and came over to Elysee and started playing in the floor.

I could not have been more proud of Eva.  While I was being selfish and sad about what I was not going to be able to do, she immediately did the thing I should have done. 

I have asked God everyday for a long time to help me to see things the way he sees them.  I ask him to give me a compassionate heart.  Lately I have added that he would give me the ability to see things they way that Elysee and Etta do. 

Later in the day I was mowing (because I needed to get out of the house and exercise but I couldn't leave my yard!!! lol!) and God reminded me of my prayer to see things through their eyes.  I started to think about the three times I visited the girls in Africa and the three times I told them in Lingala that I was leaving but I would come back.  I started to think about what she heard this morning and that it was the exact thing I had told her every time I had to leave her and I started to think about how scared she must have been that I was leaving for months instead of an hour. 

I easily forget that even though they are doing really, really well, they are still scared and all of this is new.  I forget when they are smiling and playing and everything is going well, that they do not know that this is their home and we are their family because they have never had one before.

Please don't misunderstand me, we are all doing better than I even anticipated.  But this is still hard.  They both get really sad and really happy over and over and this is really hard to watch.  Please pray that God would heal their hearts and give them peace.  Pray for Eva and Eli and the sadness they are showing because their life has changed drastically.  Pray for strength and wisdom for Adam and I and that we would love them like crazy through it all! 

God is going to make something beautiful out of all of this brokenness.  His Word says "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28  This assures me that he will use every part of our past and every part of our present for our good. 

He is working all of this for our good and his glory, of this I AM SURE!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Happy Easter

I am still in awe of what God has done.  I find myself sitting and watching all four of my kids color at the same dining room table or holding hands while dancing in the living room and I cannot keep from crying at the miracle taking place before me. 

The last few days have been amazing!  It has gone better than I ever dreamed of and I am so grateful to God for blessing us with this amazing group of kids to raise.

Elysee and Etta had definitely never been down a slide!

First time on her own!

Loved it!

Elysee has been wearing Eli out with all the chasing!

Etta loves her Daddy!

A very sweet lady came to do their hair today!  They love the beads!

Two years ago on Easter Sunday, Adam and I were traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo to meet our girls for the very first time.  This Easter we will be praising Him together for all that He has done!

"Then many will give thanks for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."
2 Corinthians 1:11

They are finally home!

I could not keep my eyes off of the doors that kept opening and closing for people who had cleared customs...two hours went by and then...we saw their attorney turn the corner with Etta in a stroller!  My eyes darted back and forth looking for Elysee and finally a few seconds later, she came bouncing around the corner, eyes wide open at all the people waiting to greet passengers.  I started waving like a crazy mom!  I climbed under the rope that was supposed to keep us out of the walkway and got on my knees.  Our eyes met and she ran to me and jumped in my arms!

 

This is an answer to prayer!  I went three separate times to Africa to visit our girls and not once did she ever run into my arms! 

A few minutes later she began to scream and run from me but it only lasted a little while and then all was well again. 

When we got out to the car, I tried to put Elysee into the car seat and she clung to me so I just held her while Adam buckled Etta in and Eva and Eli buckled in and then she just got in on her own!  She was grinning from ear to ear in the car!  Etta still looked a little in shock and soon fell asleep.  We picked up chick-fil-a and Elysee ate all of hers and part of Eva's!  Then she fell asleep and both girls slept all the way home. 

When we got to the house we were welcomed with balloons and "Welcome Home Stultz Family" signs!  The girls love the helium balloons!  It took them a few minutes to wake up but then they were happy the whole evening! 

There were so many "firsts" last night that were incredible!  When we took them up to their room, I showed Elysee which bed was hers and she had the biggest smile on her face!  She jumped in her bed and was so happy! 

We let the girls open their Christmas presents last night.  When Elysee opened her doll and figured out what it was, she immediately stopped and there was an audible gasp!  She covered her mouth in shock and sat there for a few seconds before she started jumping up and down.  I will never forget that moment!  Eli helped Etta open her presents...he adores her! 

We gave everyone a bath and they were so happy!  We all went to bed at 8:30.  I slept in the girls room with them.  Etta whimpered a little bit at bed time but fell asleep quickly.  Elysee woke up at 3:00 and got into my bed and then got up at 5:30 to go to the bathroom but quickly went back to sleep.  We all slept until 8:30 this morning!  I never would have imagined this is how our first night would go. 

This morning, Eva, Eli and Elysee held hands walking down the steps to have breakfast while I carried Etta.  My heart is exploding with joy! 

I am so thankful for all of your prayers! 

I will post more pictures soon!  4 kiddos are busy!!!

Lynsey

Perspective in the Waiting

Adam and I had the opportunity to speak at our church this weekend and I thought I would share some of it on here.  One of our pastors was speaking on perspective and thought we might have a little insight into the subject!  We shared a little about where we were in our adoption journey and just a couple of things that God has done while we are waiting...

So this is just a little back ground on us. We have been going through the process of adopting two little girls from the Democratic Republic of Congo.   This process was supposed to take 9-12 months and we are in year 4.  They are legally adopted but the DRC will not issue exit visas for them to come home.  This has been the hardest journey of our lives.  We thought the endless paperwork and government red tape was difficult the first year but it paled in comparison to what was to come.  I have traveled to the DRC three times and held these little girls in my arms only to have to give them back over to other people to raise in our absence. 

It has been excruciating. 

But even through all the heartache and pain, God has shown us he is working in big and small ways every day. 

When I think of perspective, my mind always goes back to one conversation. About three and a half years ago, I was in ladies Bible study here at Summerdean Church and I was really upset about our adoption process not going as I planned.  I asked the ladies there to pray for us and they did.  A little while later that evening Debbie Ronk walked up to me and shared a scripture she had read that week about Peter walking on water.  She talked to me about Matthew chapter 14.

Jesus has just finished feeding the 5,000 and had sent the disciples on ahead of him.  Starting at verse 25 it says,

 ^"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.

“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  

“Come,” he said. 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?"

Debbie reminded me that Peter only began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus.  This has been a constant reminder over the last few years.  When I begin to look at our circumstances, it never fails, I become overwhelmed.  But the moment I call out to Jesus he gives me his peace and I am able to keep going.  I ask him every morning to help me see every person and every circumstance as he sees them because perspective matters. 

In November of 2013, I was up early praying for a little boy named William and his sister Elisa that were living in an orphanage in Kinshasa.  I really wanted to send them a Christmas present so I sent our agency an email asking if we could send them gifts.  About an hour later, I received an e-mail back saying that we could not.  Our agency rep, Debra, said that they would have to send fifty-five other presents for the other children in that orphanage if we did that and it just wouldn’t be fair.  After reading her reply, I just sat on the couch and cried.  I know that sounds silly but I just needed to send these kids something.  The thought of the two of them without a family just broke my heart.

Well, a couple of hours later, I received a phone call from someone and it started out as most phone calls do, with the person asking, "How are you?"  Well, instead of giving the normal, "I’m fine,"  I was truthful and told them I was having a rough morning.  I explained the e-mail that I sent asking if we could send those two children a present and that the agency said we could not because they would have to send fifty-five other presents and then the coolest thing happened!  The person on the phone said, "Go ahead and tell them we will send all the presents to the orphanage."  I went on to explain that it would be very expensive, like thousands of dollars, to send that many presents, that we would have to buy all the presents and then pay the shipping and the person on the phone just said, "I have the money.  Just tell them we will send the presents."  Well, you can imagine what I did, I am crying so hard at that point that I can barely tell Adam what happened so he called Debra at our agency and she could not believe it! She actually asked Adam if he was serious!  She was astonished that a person would do that!  She told Adam how appreciative she was and that this would be a huge blessing to these children. 

God has reminded me of this a few times over the last couple of years.  If our agency had said "yes," that we could send those two children a present, there would have been fifty-five other children there without one.  I feel like the Lord reminded me that He is sovereign.  That even when it looks like he is saying "no," sometimes the "no" is because he sees the big picture and he knows what will happen if we are just patient.  Sometimes the "no" is because he has something much better planned!  This continues to be a message I need to hear.  I don't know why Elysee and Etta are not here yet but I know our God is sovereign and He is STILL working all of this for our good and His glory!  I feel like he continues to remind me that I would choose his plan if I had all the information…if I could see the future and I could see what was coming, I would choose his plan EVERY single time. 

In December 2013, Adam and I received all of Elysee's translated court documents giving us custody of her in the DRC and telling us that her name changed to Elysee Stultz :-)  Adam and I both sat down on the couch that night and read through all of the documents detailing what they were able to find out about her past and in all of the information one line read...."she is an only child."  It was really a bittersweet moment.  We were excited to finally get all of the documents and to have custody of her but I really had been praying for siblings and it did not look like this was going to work out that way.
Well, the next morning, I was sitting in a Bible study when I got a text message from Adam and it said, "She has a half-sister."  Well I literally gasped!  A friend of mine, Sarah Stultz was sitting next to me and asked if I was okay and I showed her the text message and then both of us just started crying.  I quickly texted him back and asked, "How old is she?"  And Adam replied, "Born last night :-)."

If we had met our timeline for this adoption journey we may have never known about our sweet Etta.  We received Elysee’s referral in April and we should have had her home with us in October but God had other plans.  I will never know if this is one of the reasons that God has stretched this thing out so long but this is what I do know… in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

During this delay we have had the opportunity to go to the DRC three times.  Each time we travel we have collected and delivered items to benefit the Congolese people.  We have taken infant formula, medications, toys, clothes, money and water filters.  It has been very interesting to see how those items have benefited not only orphans but the Congolese people in general.  In November 2015, we were able to collect money to take 84 water filters to the DRC.  Each of these filters will provide a lifetime of clean water for an average family.  We have received pictures of these water filters being installed in schools, orphanages, medical clinics, churches and people’s homes.  This has a made a difference and will continue to make a difference for years to come.  Through this process we have made contacts and friends with people who are serving the Lord there.  Through these people we hope to help orphans and the people in the DRC from afar for a very long time.  This would not have happened if this had gone according to our plan.  It is really overwhelming to see all of things God has allowed us to take part in and all the ways he has blessed people through the waiting.    

We have  also been taking part in these prayer conference calls for a couple of months now.  An adoptive mom who has a child waiting in the DRC arranges these conference calls and she sends out a time and a phone number and little code to put in and people from around the world call in and pray together for our children.  Moms, dads, grandparents, just whoever wants to can call in and one at a time for about an hour we all pray together.  One of the really cool things God has taught us through these prayer calls is that the President of the DRC, President Kabila is a child of God too.  Now, we know that but when someone began praying for him it really changed the way we prayed for our children.  We had of course been praying for their release but we started to boldly pray that President Kabila would come to know the love of God.  That he would accept Jesus as his savior and in turn see that these children are loved by God and need a family.  We believe that this adoption is about way more than just our little family and our two girls in the DRC so we have started to ask God to use this in President Kabila’s life and in the government officials lives both here and in the DRC to point them toward Christ. 

Over a year ago, I read a verse one morning.  One I had probably read before but for some reason that morning the Lord drew my attention to the words.  “On him we have set our hope, that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.  Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.  2 Corinthians 1:10-11

The scripture is out of a letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians and he is speaking of the hardships they faced during a missionary journey.  He realized that they could do nothing to help themselves, they simply had to rely on God.  We are in the same place.  We can do nothing to help ourselves or these two precious girls, we simply have to rely on God.  I felt the Lord speak to me through this scripture…”Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” So over the last month,  I have contacted 975 churches asking for prayers for our girls and the over 1,000 legally adopted orphans in the DRC to be released and for the salvation of President Kabila.  The response has been really cool!  People have written us back from all over the nation telling us they are praying for us.  Giving us words of encouragement and sharing their own stories and asking us to pray for them.  On Friday, we received an email from a Church here in Roanoke, Soveriegn Grace Church and they said they would love to pray for us and they have asked us to come tonight to a prayer and communion service at their church. 

PRAYER IS A POWERFUL THING! 

I have a saying hanging up on the wall in my kitchen that says “No problems equals no miracles.”  Well we have some problems so we need a miracle and my God is a miracle worker!  The Congolese government has said they will be releasing some of the children this Wednesday February 3^rd and we are praying that Elysee and Etta will be on the list.  We are not only praying they will be on the list but we are asking for the release of all of them because our God can do that! 

I will ask him for their release everyday as long as I have breath in me but I am confident that no matter what happens on Wednesday, MY GOD IS GOOD and I can trust that if they aren’t on the list, he has a better plan. 

I believe that he will work this all out for our good and his glory. 

This perspective has not come easily but we are so thankful for the journey. 

Amen

"...in answer to the prayers of MANY."

I believe prayer is very POWERFUL and that our God is a miracle worker. 

I have contacted over 800 churches across this nation asking for prayer for the release of over 1,000 legally adopted children who are waiting on exit visas from the DRC.  The response has been amazing!  I have received words of encouragement and promises of prayer from around the world!  Would you be willing to join us in our prayers? I have written out the information below detailing the situation and specific prayer requests. Would you be willing to put this information on your church's prayer chain? Give it to your pastor? Share it in your small group or Bible study? Send it out to your family or friends willing to pray? If you would like for me to send it to you in a pdf to forward along, email me at aclmstultz@gmail.com and I will make sure you get it!  Thanks for your prayers!!!!

Dear Prayer Warriors,

My name is Lynsey.  My husband and I, along with two of our children, Eva (6) and Eli (4) attend Summerdean Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Virginia.  We need your prayers.  In Janurary 2012, our family felt God calling us to adopt a child internationally.  After many months of prayer and confirmation from the Lord, we began the paperwork and approval process to adopt from the beautiful Democratic Republic of Congo.  We completed our adoption of our 4 year old daughter, Elysee, in September 2013.  During the same month, the Democratic Republic of Congo suspended issuing exit visas for legally adopted children.  This was done so that they could re-write their adoption laws to better prevent any Congolese children from being mistreated.  In December 2013, we learned that Elysee’s mother had given birth to a little girl and wanted to know if we would be willing to adopt her as well.  We immediately began the paperwork and Etta’s adoption was completed in December 2015.  Meanwhile, two years and three months have gone by and the visa suspension continues.  We have made three trips to Africa to visit our girls and God has given us a love for these children that is indescribable.  We have missed years of their lives. 

God directed me to this verse…

"On him we have set our hope, that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.  Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."  2 Corinthians 1:10-11

The scripture is out of a letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians and he is speaking of the hardships they faced during a missionary journey.  He realized that they could do nothing to help themselves, they simply had to rely on God. We are in the same place.  We can do NOTHING to help ourselves or these two precious girls, we simply have to rely on God.

I felt the Lord speak to me through this scripture..."Then MANY will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of MANY."  I am asking MANY of our brothers and sisters in Christ to lift these children in prayer to God...not just our children but the many orphans waiting on families to bring them home. There are over 1,000 children who have been legally adopted and are not allowed to leave the DR Congo.  During the visa suspension, 29 legally adopted children have died of preventable diseases. 

Please be in prayer that President Kabila of the DR Congo would come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Pray that God would soften his heart and that he would release all of the children to their families.  There is a delegation of Congressmen traveling to the DR Congo in January to meet with DR Congo officials about the release of these children.  Please pray they will be able to meet with President Kabila and that their meetings would be successful.  Pray for God to make these families complete.

I am sending this information to churches around the world.  I believe in the power of prayer!  Please share this information with your congregation.  If you have a prayer chain please put this information on there.  If you have regular prayer meetings, would you please ask your prayer warriors to add this to their list? If you are willing to join us in prayer, please reply and let us know at aclmstultz@gmail.com .  We promise to let you know when God performs a miracle!

We are very grateful for your prayers.

Adam and Lynsey Stultz