Counting the Blessings: After Fleeing Political Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Face the Closure of USAID - I Am Still Grateful
2025. What a year it has been. No one could have predicted all that has happened in the last six months. Even if you told me ahead of time I wouldn't have believed you.
In January, while serving as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I fled with my family of 7 in the middle of the night from the DRC due to political violence. We left by boat with one backpack each to a neighboring country. While I was supposed to report for work in Washington, DC, I pleaded with senior officials to allow me to go to Benin (a little country in West Africa) instead, where my husband is from. We have no family or house in DC, it was the middle of winter, my children go to the French international school and are not familiar with the American school system, it was easier to go to Benin than the United States for so many reasons. And there I started to count my blessings:
Blessing #1
When we arrived in Benin we were greeted by our old nanny who was there when my first 2 children were born and had helped me to raise them. Had we gone to the US my husband would have turned into an instant stay at home dad. Not his career of choice.
Blessing #2
Upon arriving in Benin is when the DOGE accusations started against USAID and I realized I could be put on leave imminently and face job loss. We immediately moved into our family home we had been building for years, it was an active construction site, but we were grateful to have a roof over our heads. Our family of 7 squeezed into a 2 bedroom with no AC, no hot water, and regular electricity outages. I jokingly told family and friends that we were living the "Peace Corps" life and not the diplomat life anymore.
Blessing #3
My children who have grown up in the Foreign Service for the first time experienced what it is like to live like their African cousins and friends. They slept on the floor, walked to school (no more car or driver in Benin like we had in DRC), stayed mostly at home, and ate mainly African food because I wanted to cut down on costs so no more eating out at restaurants or buying treats (ie. junk food). My husband and I believe that putting our children through some hardship is not a bad thing and better prepares them for life with all of its ups and downs. Without the sudden change in our own circumstance, I don't think my husband and I would have been creative enough to manufacture the living conditions we experienced over the past 6 months that I believe have made our children stronger.
Blessing #4
My children are mixed race (Asian and African) and we sent them to a Benin public school. That was an adjustment for them. My youngest son who is 4 would imitate the way all his classmates in his preschool class stared at him. He would open his eyes so they bulged out, stick out his neck as far as it could go, and then freeze. He looked like a turtle coming out of a shell. Cracked me up every time! The children had to quickly get comfortable in their own skin, adapt to their newfound celebrity status, and learn to be ok being different. Kids in general want to fit in so badly and not be different in any way from their peers. My kids got a crash course in developing confidence and a thicker skin - quickly.
Blessing #5
I had more time to practice coaching. With the influx of job seekers into the market and so many experiencing a career transition being a certified Executive Coach helped me to help others. I leaned into my passion for helping people. It required a lot of work logistically though. To set up for a coaching session: I had to tell the construction workers to stop banging for 1 hour, I set up my computer on plastic chairs (we had no furniture), I bought a desk lamp that I shined into my own face so the person I was talking to could see me because our house was dark, I rearranged the children's nap schedules and locations so I had a quiet place to talk (remember 7 people in 2 bedrooms?), and I had to have my computer and phone fully charged the day before in case there was an electricity outage the day of. All this for 1 coaching session. There was one time when the electricity did cut out and I had to coach while sitting on the toilet because the bathroom was unfinished and the only place in the entire house that had natural light. I had a special companion too for that session, a pesky fly that kept buzzing around and landing on my face throughout the entire call. Fun times! When I complained about these logistical challenges to my husband he reminded me that one day when I have "made it" I will look back at these humble beginnings and have a deeper appreciation for how far I have come. I do not doubt this and am chuckling now even as I write.
Blessing #6
I am grateful for my faith. Knowing that Jesus had a plan for me and my family helped take the burden off me as the sole breadwinner for our family of 7. My husband's employment depends on mine. This is how it works for Eligible Family Member appointments in the US government. Once I departed Congo my husband had to submit his resignation letter. While I worried about our future like any rational person in the same situation, I never panicked or lost sleep over it. I trusted that if Jesus is taking USAID away then something better awaits. The bible says (Romans 8:28), "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." I am grateful for the "peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) that I have had during this tumultuous period. A peace I cannot explain or justify but felt deeply.
It seems like everywhere I turn I see people struggling RIGHT NOW. I share my list of blessings in hopes it will help someone else to see the silver lining in their situation and start counting their blessings too. According to Emmons and McCullough (2003) study, people who wrote down 3-5 things they were grateful for weekly for 10 weeks reported 25% increased happiness, fewer depressive symptoms, and better sleep and physical health. I want this for you and everyone who reads this article. If you are job searching, remember, you only need 1 organization or company to say "yes" to you. It's a minority of people who stay unemployed forever. Most people will find jobs and it's only a matter of time. Until then, stay positive, and keep counting your blessings!
A little about me: I'm a wife, mother, author, diplomat, coach, and believer doing my best to walk by faith -- not by fear -- while raising five kids and building a life across continents. If you're going through a season of change, I hope this encouraged you to keep trusting and keep going. If this resonated with you, I'd love to connect.