Guess Who??

Guess who is coming to see me in 9 days? He’s tall, red-headed, sometimes bearded, really funny, and he’s married to me. It’s Cody! I am so excited that he’s coming for two weeks, and maybe just maybe, we’ll all get to come home together.


The past month or so has really been hard on me emotionally. I think the toll of the last 6 months hit me, along with the added pressure from the courts, homesickness, and mommy guilt. Cody and I had talked a few times about him maybe coming to see me, but we just didn’t know how we could make it happen financially.

Tuesday night Cody got a call from a friend of mine. This is someone Cody’s heard a lot about, but never met. This man told Cody that he and his wife have been following along with our story on the blog and then through Facebook. They had been praying about the best way to encourage me and decided that they needed to buy Cody a plane ticket to come see me. Cody was shocked and assured him they did not have to do this, but they insisted. What a gift! I tear up each time I think about it. God knew my need and decided to send His answer through this precious couple. I am humbled and grateful.

I am so excited that Cody is coming. I miss my man! And I am so excited for him to get more bonding time with Mercy. I can’t wait to see them together again.

Cody’s mom will be coming up to stay with Emma and Avery while Cody is gone. We are so grateful that she can do this for us.

9 more days!!!!

**Tomorrow we hope to find out about an upcoming court date. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Faces of Poverty

One of the things that I love/hate about my life here is that things always change. I can think I know my plans for the day, but they most always change and never go as planned. Yesterday was one of those days. I ended up spending most of the afternoon in a horrible slum. These were the worst conditions I’ve seen yet. This slum is next to or part of a garbage dump. Huge scavenging birds fly overhead. Children sit digging through the garbage and playing on the mounds. Many of the children were naked or half dressed. They had huge bloated tummies and ringworm on their heads. Trash was everywhere as well as the stench of raw sewage. I can’t even begin to describe to you all of the sights, sounds, and smells. I was there with some other Americans to see a child that hopefully will be adopted. Unfortunately, the baby did not look well. But today, I was able to take him to the doctor and get some better medicine and treatment.

After we saw the child, we had to wait in a field outside the slum while the lawyer with us interviewed some people. Children swarmed our van trying to touch us and talk with us. Some of the children literally hung on my legs. I shook their hands, gave high fives, and smiled and laughed with them. They were pretty fascinated with Mercy and I am sure they were trying to figure out why she had a mzungu mommy. Several things struck me about this moment. First of all, I had been upset earlier because Mercy had rolled around on the floor in her new clothes. Yet, running around next to these children she looked so clean and healthy.

Secondly, I kept thinking about how attention and affection starved these children must be to literally cling to a complete stranger’s legs. They just wanted to be loved. Thirdly, I saw the many children in need of medical attention. The need was overwhelming. Skin infections. Hernias. Rotting teeth. Bloated tummies from parasites. Open wounds. Hacking coughs. I wanted to take them all to the doctor. A pastor that was with us was telling me that his church does free medical clinics in this slum a couple of times a year, but the next clinic isn’t scheduled until May. That’s 3 months away.

Earlier in the week, I finished reading Richard Stearns’ “Hole in the Gospel”. Stearns is the President of World Vision. The book talks about his life story and the stories of thousands of people he’s met around the world. He talks about the great need for Christians to step up and take care of the poor and needy. It seems that lately there are “socially-minded” Christians that want to only meet physical needs and then there are the “evangelicals” who only want to share the gospel. Stearns points out that our job as Christians is to do both. Wow, this was a challenging book and I highly recommend that all of you read it. One thing that he talks about is how much more we as people connect with a personal story of a need than with just statistics. I can give you all of the stats on the orphan crisis in the world or I can tell you the story of Mercy. Which would move you more to give? I can give you mortality rates for women giving birth in Uganda or I can tell you about Mercy’s mother. Which would move you more? It’s challenging to me to realize that behind every stat I read in the paper or hear on the news are real people. Their lives involve fighting for clean water to drink, searching garbage dumps for food, walking miles to a doctor, hiding in the bush from a rapist, being forced to become a child soldier. It puts it in a whole new perspective. I have these things right in front of my face each day in Uganda. I know it’s harder for those of you that have never been to a third world country, but this is real. Look at their faces.

Thirty years from now do I want to look back and tell my children that I turned a blind eye to the hurting people in this world?  Do you?  Pray about how God would move you to help.  Sponsor a child.  Adopt an orphan.  Build a well.  Donate money.  Use your vacation time to serve.  Buy a book.  Do something. 

A Hard Day

Little did I know on Monday when I asked for prayers for my upcoming “Challenging” day, just how challenging it would be. My day began around 5 am with a text from my friend, Simon, saying that his wife, Kelly, was in labor at just 25 weeks and there was nothing they could do to stop it. I started praying for them and then I thought about Kelly. I knew if I was in her shoes I’d want someone with me, especially an American girlfriend. So I got up, threw on some clothes, woke up Lawrence to watch Mercy, and took off for the hospital. I’m so glad I got to be there with my sweet friend. It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to watch someone go through, but she was so strong. I was with her while she delivered and afterwards while the doctor dealt with some complications. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Bentley. He lived for about 30 minutes, but then his little lungs couldn’t do it anymore. Pray for my dear friends. Their faith through all of this has been amazing, but still they are grieving. It’s never easy for a parent to lose a child and my heart breaks for them. 

Unfortunately, after all of that, I still had to get some of my things done for the day. As I predicted, it was hard, I was asked lots of questions, and things continue to get more complicated. However, I did feel some compassion and understanding from people and action was promised. Sometimes I feel like I’m living inside a movie or something. I’m in the midst of these crazy experiences and think, “Did this really just happen to me?” or “Did they really just say that?”, but I keep reminding myself to give it to the Lord and to let Him fight my battles for me. Because really people, this story is nuts. I could not make this stuff up. But the crazier it gets, I think the more glory God will get for the victory in the end.  Keep praying for our miracle. 

Living in the Gap (a Cody post)

Genesis 16:16 & 17:1

16. Abraham was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.  1. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty….”

Have you ever wondered why God was so much more vocal in “Bible times” than He is today? He was so chatty in the Old Testament. Always talking; always giving commands; always parting waters…or so my frustrations would lead me to believe.

The reality is that God seems to have spoken sparingly. Take Abram for example. Abram’s story does not show God as overly talkative. Rather, He is unbearably sparse in his communications with Abram. My friend Steve pointed out that the writer of Genesis gives us snapshots of Abram’s key encounters with God, and for a man who lived well into triple digits his encounters with God were relatively few.

In the above verses Abram goes thirteen years from the time Ishmael is born to the time he next hears from God regarding the status of the promise for land and descendants. However, take note that Abram waited far more than thirteen years between his encounters with God. His last interaction with God before age 99 came at the beginning of chapter fifteen. It is there that Abram first tells God of his idea to have a descendant through his servant girl, and God quickly corrects Abram (15:4). So the question is, how many years passed between 15:1 and 17:1? It was at the very least thirteen years and forty weeks, and that’s only if Abram walked away from chapter 15 and immediately paid a visit to Hagar. So how long was his wait? Fifteen years? Twenty years? How do you think Abram handled those years?

Sarai: Abram, have you talked to God lately? Why aren’t we pregnant?

Abram: You know I haven’t honey. I don’t know why things aren’t happening like he said.

Sarai: Well did you tell him about Hagar?

Abram: Of course I did. He told me she wasn’t the answer.

Sarai: Are you sure? It was so long ago and your memory is getting fuzzy.

Abram: Just because I forgot where I parked the camel ONE TIME doesn’t mean I’m losing my mind. I know exactly what God said. But I’m starting to wonder myself.

Sarai: We’ve been waiting so long. And besides we’re so old. There’s no way this is happening. I think it’s time to visit Hagar.

Abram: I’ve been thinking the same thing. It has been such a long wait. I just want us to be happy and have a whole family. Plus I know God wants this for us also. It only makes sense…

I wish we knew more about what life was like for Abram and Sarai in the gap between their holy visitations. I find it so hard to live in this gap between God’s promise and the fulfillment of that promise. I’m sure I’m not alone in this struggle. Why the wait? Why doesn’t fulfillment come sooner? At the very least could we get a glimpse of what’s going on so we’ll know the wait is serving some greater purpose?

Abram may yet hold the answer for us. In 15:6 we’re told, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” It is more than coincidental that Abram’s faith comes into play at every encounter with God. From Ur to Mt. Moriah, Abram’s faith is formed, purified, solidified, with alarming intention on the part of Yahweh. The gaps are there for a reason.

God appoints the gaps. Perhaps that’s the harshest reality in all of it, because the formation of our faith is far from painless. It is in the crucible of suffering, the dark night of the soul, that we truly discover the depths of our unbelief. Here our faith is shaken to its core. Prior to these sorrowful moments faith came easy because we had what we wanted, like a toddler getting a piece of candy at the checkout line. However, in the gap we find that faith does not come easy, nor does faith guarantee safety. We have to wrestle with the seeming contradiction that God is good, and suffering is real. The gap is that place, where loneliness reigns, where bitterness rages, where doubts mock us, where anger seethes, where tears never stop. It is also a place where we share company with people named Abram, Sarai, Moses, Naomi, Job, Jeremiah, and Simeon. And as with them, it is a place where God meets us.

In the gaps we learn to treasure God above all else. Our faith becomes pure as we love him in sorrow as well as joy. The harshest circumstances drive us deeper in communion, rather than giving us reason to flee. What’s more, I believe the gaps will make heaven that much more amazing (Rev. 21:4). There, surrounded by our family of faith, reunited with loved ones, face to face with our Savior, we will worship without reservation our God who was present in the valleys. The time in between promises given and promises fulfilled is hard, but good, because God is our reward.

Thank you Father for your presence in this gap; for your infinite patience with me; for redeeming this time. Since I am not enduring this time gracefully, nor willingly, I ask you to bend my heart to yours. Reassure my feeble faith by your Word. May I wait in such a way that brings honor to your name, and credibility to your gospel. Amen.  

Challenging

Tomorrow has the potential to be a very challenging day. I really can’t go in to details on this public blog, but I have to take care of some of the things that the judge wants done. It won’t be fun. It may be hard. I may get asked a lot of questions. So if you think about it, please pray for me. Pray for wisdom and for the right words. Pray for my heart and love for Mercy to shine through. Pray for people to see me for who I am and what my family is like.

Thank you for your prayers during elections. Things were very peaceful here in Kampala. Wednesday is voting for the local elections, so that means another day of staying in. Praying for peace to continue.

And one more note... Cody's been getting on to me for not allowing comments on my posts.  A lot of you comment when I link to the posts on Facebook, but he thought that those of you who are not my Facebook friend might want a chance to put in your two cents too.  So, comments are turned on.  If I don't know you at all, I'd love to hear a comment on how you found out about our story.  It amazes me every day to hear about people I've never met that follow our story so closely and continually pray for us.  It means the world to me and my family.  Happy Commenting!

Good day for Ugandan Adoptions

Today is a good day for Ugandan adoptions. At least five families will arrive home in the US. The US Embassy worked hard to get these families out this week before today’s elections. The good news is that these families were here less than 5 weeks, three of them were here for less than 3 weeks. That is amazing! It shows that progress is being made, judges are working, the system is working, and children are receiving new families to love and cherish them. The new judges are very thorough and the embassy is working very hard to maintain ethical adoptions in Uganda. I know our story has scared some from international adoption or more specifically from Uganda. I want you to know that there are more than two million orphans in this country that need homes. The process is working for many, so please don’t let our story and our journey hold you back from what God may have planned for your family.

I’m so glad that I’ve got to spend quality time with at least three of these families getting to know their precious new children, hearing how God called them to adopt, seeing them start to bond with their kids, and sharing many laughs. I’m glad that some of my experiences were able to make their trip a bit smoother.

Over the last 25 weeks, I’ve seen many other families come and go. Each time they ask me how I can wish them goodbye with a smile on my face. I’ll admit that it’s not always easy. I just keep clinging to the fact that God is in control. He knew the path their adoptions would take, and He knew ours. I still struggle with “Why me?” and “When will our big day come?”, but I find my peace in the idea that God has purpose in all of it. A couple of these families this week tried to downplay their joy a bit in order to not hurt my feelings. I quickly tried to put a stop to that. Each time a child finds a new family there is joy and God should be glorified. Each time a child gets a visa to come home and officially join their families there should be joy and God should be glorified. This joy is the same whether they’ve been in the whole process for a few months with a couple weeks in country, or if they’ve been on this journey for years with months in country. Now don’t get me wrong, when Mercy finally receives a visa and we board that plane for home, there will be lots of shouting and praising going on. You may even be able to hear me from the US. It will be that same joy as the others, but my shouts may just be a bit louder. I am still holding strong to the promise I felt God gave me the day I met Mercy. I clearly heard that she was my daughter. I will fight for that as long as it takes. Our day will come, and in the meantime I will keep sharing in the joy of others and praising God through my storm.



Celebration Dinner... yes, I am cool with my sling with no baby.  Mercy is in Kristi's arms next to me.



Election Day

Tomorrow Uganda will hold elections for president and parliament. This only comes every 5 years. Campaigning has been going on for months. Posters are plastered everywhere with candidates photos and names. It makes me laugh that you will often see 20 identical posters in a row for one candidate. Everyday campaign trucks go by with music blaring, tons of posters, and people standing in the back yelling for their candidate. I’ve been told candidates often get people from the slums or villages to ride around in these trucks and they pay them a couple of dollars a day.

In the race for President there are 8 candidates. The current president, Yoweri Museveni, has been in office 25 years and is expected to win in a landslide victory, but the difficulty comes in wondering if the elections will be fair. Museveni appoints the members of the election commission, so many expect fraud. The US and other nations have been encouraging them to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

We do not expect violence and protests like that in Egypt, but there will be some outcry I am sure when the results are announced. Thankfully there is a lot of extra security with the police and army. There is also some threat of a terrorist attack like those that happened in the summer. Some of you may not remember, but during the final World Cup game last summer, two Somalian terrorists set off bombs in the city of Kampala. Since that happened in July there are now security checkpoints at virtually every public place. I get my bag checked and “wanded” each time I enter a major business. It can be annoying, but I am also grateful for the extra vigilance.

My plan is to stay home for the next few days. Voting for the Presidential and Parliamentary races is tomorrow. Results will be announced within a couple of days. Elections for the more local offices will be later next week. Most people say that the best thing for Americans to do is to stay home. I stocked up on cell phone minutes, movies, and extra snacks today, so Mercy and I should be good for a while. We hope that the power and phone services stay on, but there is no guarantee.

Please keep the people of Uganda in your prayers in the next couple of days. Pray for wisdom as they head to the polls, pray for peace, and pray for the coming leader to be a great leader for the people I’ve come to love so much.

Mercy and her "LoLo"

Mercy has this gift… she can wrap people, especially Ugandan males, around her little finger.  I don’t know if it’s her fabulous charisma, her twinkling eyes, or her piercing scream/cry, but she can have her way with people.  One of her victims, perhaps her biggest victim, is Lawrence, who Mercy affectionately calls “LoLo”.  Lawrence is a 15 year old boy that is in the midst of getting adopted.  Mercy and I met Lawrence, his adoptive mom (Carmen), and his big sister, (Val), back in December on the day I thought Mercy and I were leaving with a visitor’s visa.  I had heard about them online, and we arranged to meet up that day for a bit.  We talked a bit and I told them I was glad they could meet us on such a great day.  Then while all of us girls were getting pedicures I got the phone call that would rock my world…. Mercy’s visa was revoked and we would not be leaving.   Needless to say, I will always remember where I was the day I met Lawrence.  Lawrence’s family received legal guardianship of him in late December, but his mom had to travel back to the US to finish up some immigration paperwork.  So, Lawrence has been staying at the house with us.

Mercy got LoLo to walk her all over the beach

Mercy really loves Lawrence.  He gives her whatever she wants.  He’ll get a glass of water, she’ll look up at him longingly, and before you know it, Mercy drank all of his water.  He gets some food, he always shares with Mercy.  She wants to go outside, Lawrence will push her around in the toy car or on the tricycle.  He’s like her giant playmate.  And I think he kind of likes it.  When Mercy and I come back to the house, she’ll run to Lawrence’s room and say, “LoLo”?  He’s in the shower, and she’ll stand outside the door calling for him.  It’s adorable.  Last week, he got me in trouble at church.  Mercy was starting to act up, so I took her out and we were standing in the doorway.  But she realized that if she peered around the corner she could see LoLo.  He noticed too and started making faces at her, which led to her giggling, and got me dirty looks from the ushers.  And one of my favorites, Lawrence is convinced that Mercy is a happier child with her hair done.  We had to get it redone this week, and there was a couple of days in between taking it out and the new do.  Lawrence kept telling me that she missed her braids and would be much happier when she got new ones.  

Playing outside



LoLo thought Mercy needed to look cool, so he tied this napkin around her head. 
She left it like that for hours!

A couple of weeks ago he went to eat with me, Mercy, and Billy at the mall.  Afterwards we walked up to the new big playground.  He was so excited about going on the equipment with Mercy.  Later he told me that was his first time on a slide.  No wonder he was so excited.

Weee!



I’ve been trying to help Lawrence get ready for life in America.  His world is going to change tremendously.  So we work on learning the American English words for things instead of the British English. He cracks up over calling it a “bathroom” instead of a “toilet”.  Which really, if we’re not bathing in there why do we call it that? Why do we call them “pants” instead of “pant”, but “underwear” instead of “underwears”?  And did you know that in British English it’s a “ladybird” and not a “ladybug”?  Weird. We talk about different customs and cultural differences.  Can you imagine two teenage boys in America walking down the street holding hands? Ugandans often have some crazy ideas about life in America, so I try to clear up any misconceptions about our lives.  Even today, somehow we were talking about pets and he asked if it was true that some dogs in American can go to the store by themselves and buy something for you.  Someone told him that once. Where do people get these ideas from?  He’s learned to play Uno and Phase 10, and I helped him do his first word search.  He’s learned about bathtubs, washing machines, and microwaves.  And he’s getting used to some American food.  He really likes hamburgers and can’t wait to try out McDonald’s.  He recently tried ranch dressing, chicken pot pie made with biscuits, enchiladas, and iced tea.

Harriett showing Lawrence who is boss one day.  So funny!

Can you imagine taking in so many firsts as a teenager?  It’s got to be a bit overwhelming, but he’s done great so far.  He has a contagious laugh and always makes people smile.  And all of us love to hear Lawrence say “Oh yeah” and “Wow”.  He’s been a big help to some of the other families adopting. He often serves as translator or tour guide.  His new family will be blessed to have him as a part of their lives.  And I’m grateful we get to spend time with him in the meantime.  I love to see teenagers get adopted.  There are so many needing and longing for families and a place to feel loved.  I’m so glad for Lawrence that it’s not too late and he now has a real family.  But I hope that he’ll always be a part of our lives too. Mercy would be really sad without her “LoLo”.

And since you were all so interested last time, here's a couple of pics of Mercy's new do.

Bone Weary

Below is part of my devotional from Monday. This devotional has one reading for each day of the year. It always amazes me how well they correlate to just what I need on that day. It’s crazy how much this one matched up to my day… really my week.

Jesus said, “Come to me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.

Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.

This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My presence goes against the grain of “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of my choosing, so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you again praise Me for the help of My presence.” -- From "Jesus Calling"

The Lord knows that I am “bone-weary” and I can be ashamed of my emotions and exhaustion. Monday morning everything sort of hit me. I was scared, worried, tired, angry, frustrated… you name it. I was done operating in any bit of my own power. I had nothing left. But I am so grateful that He has renewed by spirit a bit. I am taking each day one step at a time. Monday, He put great friends in my path to encourage me and make me smile and a great husband who knew just what to say. I had a mini-miracle in obtaining one piece of paper. And God reminded me that He is in control. But this fight is not over. We have more hard days ahead. I am glad we don’t have to fight alone. I arrived in Uganda 24 weeks ago today thinking that I would be in and out of the country within 6 weeks. Oh, how naive I was, but oh, how many thingsI have learned in this time, and oh, how Mercy has grown and advanced. You almost wouldn't know it was the same child. Lord, I am not giving up , but instead hoping in You.

Mercy in July



Mercy Sunday night making a fish face. love her.



Set the Captives Free

I never thought I’d have to write a blog post about setting captives free and that I would be referencing children. Last week I got to visit the children’s “rehabilitation center” where the ministry “Sixty Feet” and others are working. I have so many feelings about this place, even days later , as I’ve had time to process all of it.

Let me start off with a bit of background… Three years ago a Belgian woman named, Nathalie, stumbled upon this center. She had heard Ugandans mention it a few times and was curious to see what it was really like. This is the type of place that many parents threaten to send their kids when they are being bad. This center is about 45 minutes outside Kampala up on a hill. When Nathalie entered the compound she did not see anyone around. So she got out of her car and started snooping around. What she found was hundreds of children (ages 10 days to 18 years), naked, chained to the wall with collars around their necks, and standing in their own waste. She could not find an adult anywhere. She went home that night and told her husband that they either had to get on a plane the next day and go to back to Belgium or she had to do something. She chose to stay. She discovered that the workers at this center had not been paid by the government, so they saw no need to work, which is why the children were chained. The next day she brought them soap to clean, and then realized they had no running water. If the children were fed the food was just thrown on the ground. The children were imprisoned in the worse conditions with no hope of any rehabilitation.

Fast forward three years and the progress is remarkable. Now all of the children have clothes (one pair of pants and one shirt). They get fed one meal a day, usually porridge, which they eat out of bowls. They get to drink water from a cup. They have running water with showers and toilets, which were provided by “Sixty Feet”. One-third of the children attend school. Others are receiving vocational training. Every Thursday they have a worship service led by the children and Nathalie provides extra food, such as beans or rice. About once a week several nurses come by and do basic medical care fo the children. Approximately 30 of them that are true orphans have been set free and are now living in homes provided by Nathalie.

They now have indoor plumbing...



Boys cleaning the tiles around the sinks.

Cooking their special beans for the day... and washing dishes at the tap.



Sweet boy drinking his daily porridge.



Cleaning the kitchen

Who are these children? Most Ugandans believe they are the worst of the worse and are horrible criminals. In reality, Nathalie says about 50% of them were dropped off by their step-mothers. Culturally, stepchildren are not respected or loved and many are sent away for being “stubborn”. Some of the kids lived on the streets. Some may have stolen food because they were starving. Some may have committed some violence, but usually out of self-defense. A few others were children forced to be soldiers by the LRA in Northern Uganda. Some were simply dropped at the gate, including infants. Nathalie says out of 300 she would trust all but about 3 with her wallet. The children I met were beautiful, respectful, and well-mannered. In order to leave this “center” a parent has to come pick up the child or they turn 18. Many times the parents have no idea where the children are, so they never know to come and pick them up.


During our visit, we attended their weekly worship service. One young man that the children all call “Pastor” led the singing. It was a beautiful thing to watch and take part in and it was obvious how this young man got his nickname. The children sang with all of their hearts, danced, and praised the Lord. They thanked God for His forgiveness and for their many blessings. I cannot begin to tell you how humbling it was to see. Here are children surviving with one outfit, one meal of porridge a day, no shoes, sleeping three to a bed, and they are praising God for His provision. wow. Nathalie led a devotion on “WWJD” talking about how in every situation we need to think before we act and speak and consider how Jesus would handle that situation. She also talked about God’s forgiveness and how it is for everyone, no matter what they have done. Some of the children said they did not think God could forgive a murderer or a thief. She beautifully explained that God forgives all sin. Some of the children had formed a choir and they sang a song/poem they wrote for Nathalie. It blessed me so much to watch her expression as they sang about her and how much they loved her and all she had done for them. They told her they once had nothing, but now they had things of excellence. Seriously. She glowed with pride watching them perform. Her eyes glistened and told so much of her love for these children.

Drummers for worship... they were amazing!




Humbled to see their love and devotion during worship




And their joy in worship.  It was fun!



Nathalie listening to her song.



 On our way to the center we bought a toothbrush and toothpaste for each child and a giant bag of rice.  So after the service we met the kids outside to pass out the gifts.  They were so excited and very grateful.  Then we got to watch as Nathalie told them the biggest news of all.  A while back an American woman donated enough money to replace all of the mattresses at the center.  The mattresses were 22 years old and were covered in urine and bugs.  Nathalie told them that their new mattresses were on their way and that night they would get to sleep on them.  They were overjoyed.  And one of the employees at the center told Nathalie that we were spoiling the children.  Really, a toothbrush, toothpaste, rice, and clean mattress is spoiling?  wow.

Some of the kids showing off their new toothpaste!



The old mattresses out to dry for the day.



A couple of the women I was with are nurses.  So they did a mini-clinic and passed out basic medicines and patched wounds.  Wound-care is one of their number one needs.  The children often get cuts or sores on their feet and legs that get infection.  Some of them had very deep wounds, which by our standards would need stitches, but that day they got ointment, a bandaid, and love and prayer. 

bandaging wounds and hearts

These are children with no one else loving them… no one else fighting for them. And it is a fight. Nathalie works so hard to keep the trust and respect of the center’s leaders. She has to often work in “baby steps” so as not to offend. If she worked any other way, she could possibly get kicked out of the country or the center would just be closed, and then where would these children go. Instead she chooses her battles and prays for God to open doors, which He has done time and time again in the last three years. God’s provided funding. He’s opened impossible doors for children to leave the center and for some to even be reunited with families. He’s provided land for Nathalie to build a boys’ and a girls’ home for the orphans. He even allowed one boy the chance to go to college in the US on scholarship. How did these things happen? He used one woman who was willing to step out in faith and plunge into a job that was scary, smelly, and hard… really, really hard.


Nathalie told us the question that will get you over and over again at this place is “Why?”. Why are the children allowed a bowl, but not a spoon? Why are some allowed to go to school and others not? Why would you spend thousands of dollars renovating a building to be a stable instead of adequate space for the children? Why would you imprison a child for defending themselves from a rapist? Why does the government allow this place to exist? The questions could go on and on. But the tough part is there is no answer, or at least no easy answer.

I went expecting to be horrified at the conditions. And I was. But when hearing the story of where they were three years ago, you look at the place with perspective. Yes, the children need so much more. Yes, it’s horrific and asinine to hold children in such conditions. It seems crazy to think that such places exist in our world. Yet in the midst of this tragic place, God is working. He is working in the lives of these children. He is working in the lives of the people who work there. He is working in Nathalie’s life and that of her family. He is working in organizations like “Sixty Feet” that are coming alongside Nathalie. He is turning their ashes into beauty.


Speechless.



Nathalie trying to befriend the newest child to the center. 
He must spend time in an isolation room before allowed to interact with others.

Isaiah 61:1-3

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.”

Nathalie is working on her own website and blog. The current one is in Flemish, which doesn’t do much good for me and you. She hopes to have it up and running in this next week.  Here is the link.  You may want to bookmark it now and check for when it's working.

A poem by Cody

UGANDA TOO MUCH DRAMA

or ODE TO TEMPORARY SINGLE PARENTHOOD

or HOW PLAYING MOM MAKES ME MORE OF A MAN

When Melissa to Uganda went,

for what we thought was an 8 week stint,

to single parenthood I was sent.

Uganda!

So household duties I undertook,

to wash, and clean, and sometimes cook,

without instructions from a book.

Uganda!

I’m wearing my beard like a manly man,

fuzzy and macho is what I am,

especially rolling in the mini-van.

Uganda!

At many of my ways Melissa sighs.

When we’re on Skype she rolls her eyes,

because toilet humor is on the rise.

Uganda!

“Time for school, go get ready!”

“Brush your teeth it’s time for beddy!”

“Dad, why’d you make four pounds of spaghetti?”

Uganda!

So many tasks, I will not fail,

I’ll perform them all ‘cause I’m a male,

except the dreaded ponytail.

Uganda!

Ugandan shops leave much to desire,

so we’ll mail some goodies to relieve her ire.

How big of a box does her dumb dog require?

Uganda!

I think of myself as rugged and rough,

of football and buffets I can’t get enough.

So could I be a mom? I’m not quite that tough.

Uganda!

When I’m with the Lord I thankfully pray,

for the chance to know my girls in a whole new way,

and when we’re all back together…what a beautiful day.

Uganda.

Not Our Day...

Geez, sometimes I absolutely hate having to fill you all in on the disappointing days.  Today was not our day.  We did not have an official hearing.  Instead the judge told our lawyer some of his concerns and asked for further documentation.  So, we are now scrambling to try to get these things done quickly and to his satisfaction.   I don’t know what all of this means.  I am frustrated and disappointed.   Please pray for us as we try to get these things accomplished in the next few days.   We need some divine intervention and some doors thrown wide open.

Our Big Day...

First of all, I had an amazing experience visiting “M” today and seeing the work of 60 Feet and the incredible woman, Nathalie, who stumbled upon this child prison and fights tirelessly each and every day for their rights and freedom. But this will definitely require a more detailed blog post than I have the time or energy for right now. I will say that it is mind-boggling the type of atrocities that go on in this world today unnoticed by most everyone. It is also mind-boggling what one woman can accomplish with a willing heart and complete obedience to the Lord. I promise to try to share more in the next day or two.

Tomorrow is our big day for court. To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’ve been quite busy this week, so I haven’t had a ton of time to sit and ponder it all, which is probably a good thing. We’ve been waiting since mid-October for this hearing. With all of the crazy things that have happened since then, it’s hard for me to believe that our case can really be heard tomorrow and much progress made. I’m not trying to a pessimist, but after all we’ve been through we’ve started to not really count on things happening until that exact moment. So, we are scheduled to have court tomorrow. I am hopeful that the judge will hear our case. We hope to find out when we can get a ruling and we would love for this to happen before elections here on the 18th. I am asking if you will join us in prayer for this hearing tomorrow. I am scheduled to be in court at noon tomorrow (**note new time**), which is 3 am CST. I know not all of you can wake up in the middle of the night to pray for us, but I would love it if you could lift us up as you go to bed. It still blows my mind to hear of the number of people around the world that know our story and continue to pray for us. Friend after friend tells me of co-workers, parents, cousins, etc. that follow our story and ask them for updates. Wow!! Thank you so much for thinking of us, praying for us, sharing our story, and supporting us these past 6 months. Specific prayer requests… pray for our case to be heard, for the judge to have a soft heart, for my lawyer and me to have the right words to speak, for Mercy to behave (why do they have family court right around naptime??) and for me and my family to be at peace no matter what tomorrow holds.

One other prayer request/shout-out today… I am praying and thanking the Lord for my darling, Avery Claire. She turns 6 years old today. I can’t believe how grown up she is becoming and I am so grateful for her, her snuggles, her laughs, her antics, and her carefree, loving, yet very independent spirit. She is a blessing and I can’t wait to see what God does with her in the years to come. It’s hard for this mama’s heart to be apart from my girl on her birthday, but I know Avery is getting extra love and care from her daddy, her teacher, and our dear friends. Mercy is truly blessed with two amazing big sisters.  Below is a picture of Avery in this week's "snowpocalypse".  As you can tell, there is never a dull moment with this child.  She cracks me up!

And I am thrilled to be able to tell you that because of your amazing generosity, I can now purchase not 100, but 196 Mama Kits next week.  WOW.  You people blow me away.  On behalf of the mamas of Uganda, thank you!!

Another day of blessing...

Yesterday was a great day. It was not easy, it was long and tiring, but I am so glad that I got to be a blessing to five adoptive families. I started off at my lawyer’s office. She briefed me a bit on the children I was going to visit. Then I got a driver and headed out to their neighborhood. First stop was the home of a woman ( I’ll call her “T”) who helps care for several children that will be adopted in the coming months. “T” is a community leader and works to help get kids off of the streets and to families. She is caring for two children. These children are waiting for their adoptive mom to come next month. I met these kids in December, shortly after they came to stay with this woman. I must say they look remarkably better, and I can tell they are getting good care. The little boy had been sick recently and his adoptive mom wanted me to check on him and see if I thought he needed to go to the doctor. Thankfully, he was doing much better. I just had to pick up some cold/cough syrup for him. I got to hang out with them for a bit, take some pictures, and love on them for their parents. Such a privilege!

From there, “T” walked me to the “home” of another child. This child stays in one of the worst slums in Kampala. The walk there was an adventure. It had rained yesterday morning and the roads were so muddy. We weaved in and out of vendors, animals, and children and somehow I did not fall down. Mercy and I really stood out in this crowd and we got asked many questions. We came to one point where “T” started to slow down. A crowd had gathered outside one of the shacks. She told me that a young woman died there that morning from a botched abortion. Family and friends were gathering to mourn the loss. On our way we watched as a police truck pulled up to retrieve the body and file a report. It was heartbreaking for me to watch what was probably an all-too-common experience for people in this slum. I saw tons of children walking around half-dressed, filthy, and sickly. Most of them should have been in school, but obviously their families could not afford to send them. I saw two of the most malnourished children I have even seen in Uganda. When an African child is malnourished their hair often turns lighter. These kids had hair almost blonde and big bloated tummies. One was naked and the other had on only a shirt. They sat playing in the mud, while people just walked around them never giving them a second thought. Heartbreaking! I can’t really share about the home of the child I was visiting. That is his family’s story to share, but it was not an ideal situation. I wished I could somehow take him from that situation right then. But all I could do was pray for God’s protection for him, pray for this process to move swiftly for him, and thank God for providing an adoptive family for him. As we walked out of that slum and back to my driver I kept thinking about all of the children living in that one small area. I wondered how many of them were hungry, sick, and without any one to love them. For me it was another powerful reminder of the great needs of people all around me. While here in Uganda, I stay in a nice house in a secure area. We have a guard, electricity, a refrigerator, microwave, hot water, and tons of food. Even in the midst of this third world country, it can be easy to forget the reality of those around me.

From the slum, I went back to the lawyer’s office. She wanted me to meet another family that had arrived just the night before. She told me they needed to talk to an American who could explain the whole process for them and help them find a good place to stay. So, I went to a very late lunch with this couple. Poor things were feeling a bit overwhelmed. They only had about a day’s notice to travel. They were totally jet lagged. They met their child for the first time at court. And they just needed some advice on the process. I was glad to be able to share lots of information with them. Anyone who knows me knows that I can be an information junkie and a bit of a control freak. During this whole adoption process I’ve soaked up tons of info, especially during the last 5.5 months here in Uganda. So I am glad to be able to share and help others out. After lunch I took them to look at a couple of guesthouses and we found a great place for them to stay.

Then late last night I helped the two adoptive families staying here at Herb and Ellen’s with me. I looked over their paperwork and told them what they needed to take to the embassy, questions to ask, etc. I gave them phone numbers, directions, etc. Just call me the adoption concierge of Uganda. 

Before bed I was thinking about all that had happened during the day. It was a long day. It’s been a long 5.5 months, but it was truly my joy to help these families. My goal is to be a blessing to others even in the midst of my own frustrating circumstances, but it’s funny how God always blesses me in the process. I know God has me here for a reason and I feel like part of the reason is to help other families. I would be totally miserable here if I just stayed home and wallowed in self-pity over my circumstances. Instead, I daily make the choice to walk with a smile on my face, accept my circumstances, find joy in the small things, and look for ways God can use me.

Tomorrow I’m going to visit a place called “M”. You can read more about this place at http://www.sixtyfeet.org/. Please take the time to look at their website and blog. The conditions of the children there are unbelievable. No person should ever be subjected to the treatment these kids have endured. I know it’s going to be a heart-wrenching experience. Pray for me and the team I will be going with. Pray for God to use us in a special way. And in case you are wondering or worried, Mercy will be staying home tomorrow with my friend, Kelly.

And one last plug… I am about $75 short of being able to purchase 120 more Mama Kits next week. Would you consider a $5 or $10 donation? Just click on the Mama Kit/PayPal link in the upper right corner.