Last One Standing

Back in September when we got our original adoption ruling there were six other adoptive mamas in the court room.  We all knew each other vaguely, but little did I know how much I would grow to love and appreciate some of these women and the trials we have endured.  One went home almost immediately with her child.  I hear they are doing well.  Another had to wait a couple of months to go home and we saw and encouraged each other a few times during that wait.
 
Another mama was adopting three children, but the judge told her that she could only take the older two children to the US.  She had to leave the youngest behind and pray and trust the Lord to protect her and to provide a way for her to bring her daughter home.  She made two trips this Spring to bring that girl home.  I got to hang out with them several times and grew to love them both.  This woman was such an encouragment to me and I feel like a real sister in the faith and in mommyhood.  I admire her, her family, and her ministry tremendously.  A couple of weeks ago I got to be with them just hours before they left town.  She was finally taking her baby girl home.  It was such a moment of rejoicing.

The other two woman in court with me that day were adopting girls that had been raised together.  These women go to church together and are neighbors.  Such a neat story.  We would laugh because we'd run into each other everywhere... court, the passport office, the Embassy, and even church.  They also got bad news the same time we did.  They would not be getting visas for their girls.  They finally had to make the heart-wrenching decision to leave them with foster parents while they went home and fought from the US-side to bring these girls home.  We've kept in contact this whole time.  We share the same wonderful adoption attorney in Washington DC.  We've followed each other's stories each step of the way.  About two weeks ago they got the amazing news that the girls' visas were approved.  One of the mamas and the other daddy came out a few days ago to pick them up.  They stayed with us and it was such a joy and a pleasure to spend time with them again.  I am so delighted to say that they are getting on a plane any minute and flying home with their daughters.  I cried as they left.  I am rejoicing for them.  I know the pain and suffering, doubts and frustration they've endured.  We understand so much of each other's trials like no one else can.  Our families will always be united in that way. Last night we held a big going away celebration for them at the house. It was so neat to see these families honor the many people that helped to make all of this possible.  And then at the end, they had a special prayer time for these families. They also included me and Mercy.  These sweet Ugandans and my friends prayed over us and our upcoming court date.  They prayed passionately and boldly for my family to be reunited.  I am forever grateful.

Six families in court exactly 8 months ago today.  Mercy and I are the last ones standing.  Lord, is it our turn? 

PS... Our other special friend, Lawrence (aka LoLo) went home last week.  Mercy and I are both sad and miss him and his infectious smile, but I also love seeing pictures of him with his new family and hearing funny stories of his new life there.  We love you LoLo!

The Others

A little over a week ago I was just hanging out at the house one day with no real plans.  Harriet was using my computer and checking her email.  She had a message from Beth asking about some of the homeboyz that they sponsor.  Harriet helps to take care of the details of the sponsorship.  Beth asked Harriet if she’d checked on Brian lately.  Harriet decided to check on him right then.  She grabbed her phone and called Brian’s dad.  His father told Harriet he was sitting at the police station right then picking up Brian.  Brian got caught stealing and the people that caught him beat him up very badly and then dumped him at the police station.  His father didn’t know what to do with him and felt like he was too out of control for him.  He told Harriet that he thought he’d put him at “M”, the children rehabilitation center where SixtyFeet began their work.  Harriet told him to please not put him there and then she handed the phone to me, quickly trying to explain what was happening.  I talked to the police officer and begged him to give me some time to find a better place for Brian.  He told me that I had until the end of the day. 



Brian, looking much better after his beating

Brian is 11 years old ( or 12, we’re not sure), but has basically been on his own for years. His mother died, he’s the youngest child and his siblings are all out of the house and on their own. His father works and drinks and does not have time to care for him. So Brian often roams the streets. He sells most anything of value that he can get his hands on. He’s been known to steal. It’s part of his survival skills. The Howards put him in school last year, but that was a huge adjustment for him and he had no one making sure he got up each day and went to school. He got so discouraged that he was so far behind t he stopped going.

What was I going to do with this boy? I put out a plea on Facebook for any of my UG contacts. I made a few phone calls. Then I went and met with a couple of people. No luck. Of the places I contacted either they had no openings or they would not take on a “thief”. Finally Harriet and I met with the father. We asked him if he could please watch the boy for the weekend, while I tried to find a more long-term solution. We needed him to stay with him 24 hours a day so that he would not run away or get beat up again. He agreed and we went to pick him up from the police station. When I walked in the room, I saw a boy sitting there eating, and I almost didn’t recognize him. He was truly beaten beyond recognition. The crowd had removed their shoes and hit him repeatedly in the eyes with them. His eyes were nearly swollen shut. I immediately grabbed him, hugged him, and told him that I was there and was going to take care of him. I tried to hold back the tears, while the police officer explained everything and his father signed for his release.

Thankfully that night a friend of mine told me she’d found a place with an opening. The next day we went to check out “Peace for Children Africa”. The place seems to be a perfect fit. They’ll make sure he stays in school, they offer counseling and mentoring. They have extra-curricular activities like music, art and sports. And they help kids like Brian learn to make wise choices and to accept responsibility for themselves. I moved Brian in last Monday. He was not excited about going and pouted a bit when I left him. Thursday I stopped by to drop off sponsorship fees. I saw Brian briefly. He looked great. His eyes were healing up and he had a smile on his face. Then on Sunday, I saw him at church. This particular ministry sends kids to the church I attend each week. He was grinning from ear to ear and seemed to be doing so well. He told me about his new friends and was excited to be starting his new school this week.  Oh, how I wish I'd had my camera with me to get a picture of this happy boy.

Director of PCA, B's dad, Harriet, Me, Mercy, and our new friend

I don’t know what will happen with Brian. I don’t know if this ministry will be the thing to straighten out his life and really make a difference, but I do know that Brian has a chance. For some reason, God led Brian to meet some mzungus on the street last September. They took it on themselves to sponsor him for school. Ten days ago God led Harriet to call and check on him during his time of greatest need. I hate to think of where he would be right now if she had not called. I knew about “M” and knew enough to take swift action to not let him go there. God led me to the right person with the contact at the perfect ministry for this boy. But the worst thought about all of this… what about the others? What about the thousands of other kids living on the streets, stealing and scavenging for anything to survive? What about the hundreds of other kids dropped off at “rehabilitation centers” every day? What about the ones that do not have a mzungu sponsor that will fight for them? I’ve read that poverty, orphan care, homelessness, and abuse take on a whole new meaning when you have a name and a face to put with it. I know Brian. I’ve hugged his neck, laughed with him, played with him, eaten with him. I can read an article in the paper about kids getting shipped off somewhere and not being moved to action, but not when it’s our Brian. It almost makes me scared to get to know more of them. But I will because every child deserves a chance.

For more information on Peace for Children Africa and to donate to help more kids like Brian, check out their website... here.



Happy Birthday

Today is Mercy’s 2nd Birthday. Can you believe that Cody and I used to think we’d for sure have her home by her first birthday? Kind of funny to think about now.

Getting ready for church



A glimpse of the birthday "do" and Mercy hiding in the closet.

We celebrated today by going to a preschool playground/pool place (that’s a lot of p’s) with a couple of friends. She was not so sure what to think of the pool and water slide, but at least she wasn’t crying. It’s a step in the right direction.

This is the "why are you making me do this, mom?" look.



She definitely preferred the playground, most especially the slides!

Every toddler loves putting sand on the slide

Such fun!

Such a big girl!

Then afterwards we had lots of the neighbor kids and some other friends come over to the house for some cake and punch. And she finished her day off by laughing and being super silly on Skype with her sisters. It was a good day.

Beautiful cake by Harriet and the girls!



They had fun with the balloons!

Two years ago today Mercy came into the world in a village in Eastern Uganda. Two years ago today Mercy’s mother passed away. My hope is that we will always take time to try to honor her mother in some way on this day. I wish her mother could know how much her baby girl is loved… that she has a family. I wish she could see her run and play. I wish she could hear her giggle. I wish she could know what an impact her girl has had on so many people around the world. I wish she knew that she helped inspire so many of you to give to help save the lives of other women in Africa.

I so often think back to the day that I met Mercy, when she was just three weeks old. I wonder what would have happened to her and to me if I had ignored God when He told me that she was our child. It seemed like such a crazy idea at the time that it would have been easy to turn away. My life would be a lot less complicated right now, but I also would have missed out on one my life’s biggest blessings. I don’t know exactly why God put Mercy in our lives, but I know that she is a perfect fit. Even in the midst of the storm, I can say that I would do it all over again. She is worth every bit of it.

Mercy Monday Praise

Thank you so much for all of your prayers.  I just wanted to let you know that I got our appointment scheduled for Thursday the 26th.  Please mark your calendars and continue to pray for us that all will go well.

Never Let Go

Ever have one of those moments when you unexpectedly get very emotional? That was me this morning in church. I was rocking along in worship singing “loud and proud” like I always do. Then the song “Never Let Go” started. I like the song ok, but I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorites. (no offense to Matt Redman) Today it hit me to my core. The message of it spoke straight to me and the tears started. It seems every day I’m working to “cast out fear” and telling myself to “fear no evil”. I am so glad that I serve a God that will “never let go” and that is always with me.

Here are the lyrics…
===================
Never Let Go by Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
====================
God also gave me a special verse this week. I love the way it reads in The Message… "But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me." -Micah 7:7

So as we enter yet another “Mercy Monday” I ask you to pray for us. The past couple of weeks we’ve had some highs and lows, but we know God is in all of it. We are waiting on a very important appointment to get scheduled. Please pray for this to happen soon. As you can imagine, my heart is aching for all of my family to be together.

Mother's Day Blessings

It’s been a great day. It’s another one of those milestones that I was not exactly looking forward to, but I made it through with a smile and many special moments to remember.
Earlier in the week I got a care package from home. Another family from our area is here adopting and they brought a few things for me. Emma and Avery made me these awesome Mother’s Day cards. I love to see their creativity and personalities even through their cards. Such a treat.




Emma's Fortune Teller Card

 

Avery's Card of hearts

Today, I woke up to an amazing email from my sweet husband. I’ll spare you all of the mushy details, but he always knows just what to say and his words are ones I will always cherish. Then a little later this morning, Mercy came running to me with an envelope in her hand. It was a Mother’s Day card that she worked very hard to “sign”. Then I realized that Lawrence had bought a card for Mercy to give to me and helped her with it. It made me teary-eyed that this sweet teenage boy took the time to make sure my Mother’s Day was special.

Mercy's Card

This week, we had a wonderful woman who happens to be a professional photographer offer to take some pics of Mercy. Here are just a few of them. She wasn’t super smiley (why did I do pictures right at nap time??), but I think the pictures capture her beautifully. I didn’t plan to be in the pictures, but I’m so glad I did despite my boda-tangled hair and sweaty face. Such a great Mother’s Day gift. Thanks Bekah!!

Another great gift this Mother’s Day… I now have enough money to buy at least 150 more Mama Kits. You people amaze me!! I’ve already passed out 500 of them (several asked recently how many) Thank you so much for your support in helping these Ugandan mamas and their babies. This really means the world to them.

Last year on Mother’s Day I wrote this post. This year I have many of the same thoughts and so many more. I laugh at myself a bit for the parts of our story back then that I thought were so hard. It’s all about perspective, isn’t it? I never imagined that I would spend Mother’s Day in Uganda this year, but really who could have imagined so many parts of this story. But today, I am choosing to cling to the good. I am blessed beyond measure as a mother. Here are just a few of those blessings.

• I have the joy and privilege to be the mother to three precious girls. I feel so honored that God has entrusted them to me and I take my job very seriously.

• I am grateful to have had the past 8+ months to pour love into Mercy’s life and to see the change that it’s made in her.

• I am grateful that Emma and Avery are so understanding and don’t ever question my love for them, even while I am gone.

• I am grateful for my amazing husband who supports me in every way and he makes my job as mother so much easier.

• I am grateful for my own mother and the many lessons she has taught me…. everything from faith in God to cooking. Lessons I use every day of my life.

• I am grateful for Cody’s mom… I love having a mother-in-law that I can laugh and cry with and that treats me just like her own.

• I am grateful for the many other special women who have mothered me over the years and have taught me how best to serve the Lord and my family with a joyful heart.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Progress, Protests, and a Pretty Girl

We made some progress last week and we pray for more this coming week. We are asking the Lord to move some major mountains. Pray for us that this will happen and that no matter we will glorify Him with our actions and reactions.


Also please pray for the people of Uganda. There have been some riots during the past few weeks over the soaring cost of fuel and food. Friday things came to a head and it got very ugly. Mercy and I were just fine, and as soon as we learned of the protests, we cancelled our plans and stayed home. Things seemed to have calmed down over the weekend, but pray for peace to continue, for political stability, and wisdom for all leaders involved.

And because you love it so much… here’s my latest hair attempt.