Monday, August 29, 2011

Visits to the Children's Prison

We went to M one week ago.

A prison for children.

Yes. That's right. For children aged 8-18. Here in Uganda.

And I simply cannot get it out of my head...and heart.

I do not have adequate words to share with you what it was like being in this place. I have prayed, ached and wept over it for eight months.

Truly, I was astounded at what I found there. 

Not because of their stories--they (of course!) were heartbreaking. Not because of their conditions, I was already aware of what I might find. Not because they were a bit standoffish...I would be too if I had experienced what they had.

But I was surprised that JOY in Christ was there. I don't know why it surprised me, the entire book of Philippians was written from a prison!
I think this picture perfectly captures what I want to see done in this place. Jesus brought to the kids.
Sixty Feet is doing just that. Plus doing practical things too. Gotta love when both come together.

I am so blessed to be aligned with Sixty Feet. They are essentially bringing Jesus into the prisons of Uganda. Showing Jesus' love to children who would otherwise not know.

Here you see one of the older boys...genuinely worshiping a God who has met him in his darkest, most fearful place. He is not forgotten. He is loved.

And I am blessed to be with him.

You just had to be there.

I was honored to just greet the children. Brian and I introduced ourselves and I couldn't help explain my emotion...a mere eight months ago I had learned about this prison. I shared with the children how honored I felt to be in their presence. To be with the very people I had longed and prayed for. I told them to remember: God hears and answers your prayers. I have no idea if they were choked up, but I sure was!

No, we weren't playing Simon Says...he was translating my words into Lugandan, the common language spoken here.
The second trip to M I got to spend more time with specific kids. They were a true delight. I had promised to put a puzzle together with one girl in particular, and she was so happy I had remembered. It was pretty awesome to sit on a filthy floor surrounded by overly strong-smelling children and work on a puzzle. I was impressed by their ability to see it through to the end.

That second visit we also had time to sing and laugh and play while Moses (Sixty Feet Ugandan staff) worked on the car. (He joked that we might need to spend the night. I was wondering what God might have in store for us if that were the case! But truly, if they lived there each day, then certainly I could stay one night without my things. But he fixed the car eventually!) I delighted in hearing the kids sing and play and they LOVED being able to record themselves with my iPhone! We took this picture that still makes me laugh!


This is the little guy who greeted us at the gate on the first day. I love that I captured a smile on that precious face. It required taking a first shot, showing him what he looked like and then capturing the giggle on his face when he saw himself! Isn't he just precious????


And he sits in prison. Sigh.

When can I go back????


Sunday, August 28, 2011

Raw moment

Yesterday while we were outside playing, I commented to a fellow adoptive father, "I think they're all probably a bit older than we were told..." To which he replied "No, we have his actual birthdate."

Why did I ask??

But I did.

"When is his birthday?"

"December 29th."

I sucked in my breath. That was Oskar's birthday--well, it was the day I discovered he was no longer moving anymore. The day the nightmare began. A day that will forever be frozen in my memory.

And then I realized that his soon-to-be son was actually born on the same day, the very same year.

It was too much. I felt my legs go weak. My heart raced. Tears flooded and I got up to run off...but remembered the trauma of Zareb when I took a phone call away from the crowd so I could hear. (He flipped out thinking I'd abandoned him--his deep seated fear.) So I quickly bundled him up in my arms and ran off to find a quiet place.

I found some stairs that overlooked Lake Victoria. Gorgeous colorful flowers dotted my view. I sobbed. Zareb looked quite alarmed. I snuggled into him. And then I realized it.

We have BOTH had deep pain in our lives to bring us to this point.

Tears are not unfamiliar to my Ugandan son. It's not a happy childhood that avails a child to adoption.

"Please don't cry Mommy," he said lovingly later when we got back to the room. His tender heart had remembered me, so broken, on the stairs and he sought to bring me comfort. I thought it was interesting...one of the books that brought me great comfort during my grief after Oskar died was titled that same thing, Please don't cry, Mommy.

It may seem like adoption is merely paperwork and rejoicing, but there's a layer of pain and harsh reality that underlies it all. I am grateful to God for the pain (and great healing!) He has permitted in my life.

Perhaps I am better able to help my son with his past as well.




Thursday, August 25, 2011

We have a new SON!

It is with great joy and much excitement that we announce our new son...born in Uganda but forever in our family!


          Zareb Jeremiah Katongole Shaw
















Wednesday, August 24, 2011

I Can't Seem to Stay Out of Prison...

Today I was inexplicably drawn back to M. (It was an honor to return with the Sixty Feet team.) I cannot give up an opportunity to visit these children as often as possible.


I visited with the boy in the cell. 




I have no idea how much time elapsed. 

Perhaps time stood still.

My friend Kelsey and I sang "Jesus Loves Me" together with our new friend. As you might guess, I got choked up on the "Yes, Jesus loves me" refrain. But it is so true--Jesus loves this boy.


I am so drawn to these children. Their stories rip my heart out and I am literally compelled by the love of Christ to keep returning. Samuel Beja gets out of his cell tomorrow, but we won't be able to be there then (adoption proceedings!). I do however greatly look forward to seeing him at my next opportunity!











Monday, August 22, 2011

Those Who Sit in Dark Dungeons

I lie on a 3" foam mattress. Comfortably warm with a sheet and soft blanket, two pillows and a mosquito net to protect me from catching malaria. I am awoken at 3 am from the sounds of Ramadan at the mosque nearby. Dogs bark.

And then I remember him.

I lay there in the dark thinking once again how I have so much while he has so little. Soft, warm bedding for me...a cold hard empty cell for him. Clothed in my soft pajamas my mom gave me for my birthday... he sleeps half naked on the stone cold ground, most likely orphaned by his own mother. I have security in knowing I can get up and fix something to eat should I grow hungry, he must wait until they bring him something.

Some of you will be shrewd enough to see this is not locked. I photographed
the lock while the boy was out. Later when I walked by and had no opportunity
to snap an image, it was re-locked. The boy was back inside.
We both sleep behind a locked door. 

But I have the keys to mine. I have chosen to be locked in. And I am an adult. He is a mere child.

This is "M" the prison for children in Uganda.

I knew I wouldn't have words right away. And now they come in the form of comparison in the middle of the night. I give up sleep to share with you what this teenage boy suffers at the same moment my fingers click over the keys of my laptop.

He is new to M. His welcome is to spend 3-4 weeks in solitary confinement. In a small cell with just one window about 9 feet up, he waits. Not permitted any clothes but a pair of pants he has to be cold. He is forced to sleep on the ground, no mattress or blanket is given. The sole thing in his cell is a covered bucket for his waste.
It was Sixty Feet who provided the covered bucket for waste. Before that it was an open basin.

I know.

I can't believe it either. Yet I was there. They let him out long enough for us to see inside his cell. I saw him walk unsteadily, disoriented and scared. He shuffled past me surrounded by others before I had the mental collectiveness to even say a hello or offer a smile.

Remember Simon from my last post? He was in this cell too. They had captured him from the streets of Kampala and taken him to M. He escaped.

I now understand his reticence to smile.

At this time, I cannot make any sense of this, only pain fills my heart. Please visit Sixty Feet's website to learn more. This is really happening, right here, right now. Please pray for the boy I saw today.

I am going to return to my pillow and cry.

God have mercy.


You will open the eyes of the blind.
   You will free the captives from prison,
      releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
 “I am the Lord; that is my name!"
                                                   Isaiah 42:7

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Stephen is OFF the streets!!!

Ready for an update on Stephen? If you don't know about Stephen, click here and catch up!

                                              


Yes, REALLY!!!

So many of you prayed for Stephen. You wrote to me about him. His story broke your hearts too. I am so happy to tell you the rest of his story now. (That is...as much as is currently lived!)

Today we contacted our friend, Hamza. You might remember when I posted about his life transformation...he was a street kid who was given a chance and made the most of it. He's now working non-stop to help kids like himself get that same break. Review Hamza's story here.

Hamza read about Stephen on our blog and immediately told me he would like to help him. We arranged to meet this afternoon and waited through a downpour until we could go out and look for him. (We beat him at Bananagrams while we waited! ;) hee hee) We took a taxi back to the area where we met him last night. But Stephen was nowhere in sight.

My heart fell.

"Lord, please. Please help us find Your child, Stephen."

We didn't find him, but we did find the two friends that Stephen saved food for last night. They were just as he had said: clean and not into street drugs. When Hamza spoke to them in Lugandan they lit up as they realized we were the ones who had sent food back to them. We introduced ourselves and Hamza rattled on in their native tongue (or so I thought) about looking for Stephen.

Basically, Stephen was gone, but they might know where to find him.

Would they go with us to look?

Yes.

A good brisk walk and searching in many places, crossing railroads, climbing up a very long flight of stairs and searching through the slums we came up empty-handed. I was so sad. It had been 45 minutes of fruitless searching...but I had begun to fall in love with these friends too.

They were each about the same age, 13 or 14. Simon was actually from Kenya. His mother had already died and during the riots his father's legs were cut off. The rioters also marred his hands so he could not work. Simon had no way to be supported, so he fled here to Uganda. He had no choice but to live on the streets. He had been captured and taken to the children's prison M (where Sixty Feet works to improve conditions) but he was beaten and treated unfairly and after one month, he escaped. Oh Lord, please do your work in that place.

The second friend, Sunday, was from one of the northern tribes of Uganda. (So much violence has taken place there...rent Wardance on Netflix and learn about it!) His parents were shot and killed right in front of him. He got very emotional when he spoke about them. Can you imagine? He was an only child. He had just come down to Kampala last week. Sunday liked to walk next to me and I felt close to him. I said I was so sorry about his parents and hugged him. I couldn't help wonder when the last time he felt a mother's love.
Sunday (L) from Northern Uganda and Simon (R) from Kenya
Hamza was clear that today was Stephen's chance at a new life. That there would be a chance for them too, but first we had to find Stephen. The boys enthusiastically took us everywhere they knew Stephen might be, but he remained elusive. On the way down the long hill, Brian and I decided to buy some dinner for Simon and Sunday. We went to an outdoor restaurant and ordered two packets of chicken and rice. We visited more as we waited for it to cook.

Sunday wanted me to pay for him to get back in school. I told him I was not able, but that Hamza would be faithful to lead him to safety if he followed his rules: no drugs, be willing to work and active about studying hard. He was firm: he wanted the chance.

Simon said he wanted to go back to Kenya. He wanted to be back with his father. Hamza helped him think through it: "Can your father support you?" Sadly, Simon realized he could not. He admitted that he'd find himself out on the Kenyan streets. He then realized that he needed Hamza's help.

As we walked back to our taxi, there to my delight...STEPHEN appeared!!! :) He must have gotten sight of us from afar because he came running full speed across the street with a huge smile and embraced me! WOW! What a feeling! My heart was rejoicing!!

After some introductions and explanations we set off the 7 of us: Brian and I, Hamza, Stephen, Simon and Sunday. When we reached our taxi, Hamza reminded the boys that today was Stephen's chance. I turned away as I couldn't bear to watch Stephen hug his friends goodbye. He took out his cash and split it between them. More hugs between Simon and Sunday and us...and we were off.

As we drove along, Stephen was beaming from ear to ear. I can only imagine how his heart must have been racing and his tummy flipping! He couldn't resist waving at the other street children who were familiar to him--afterall, he was in a car with mzungus! (White people)

A nervous Stephen in front of his new home, with Hamza (R) and new housemate Frank
We reached a rented safe house where Hamza has 7 other boys who are newly off the streets. They have beds, meals, chores, daily praise and worship, Bibles and home education while the schools are dismissed for break. This ministry is called  Never Lose Hope Uganda. Each boy is sponsored for $70 a month--food, bedding, clothing, school and medical needs when required. If you are interested in helping support Stephen, please contact me.

Hamza will share a bed tonight, but have his own by tomorrow.
We settled Stephen in and as we walked inside, Hamza said, "Welcome home, Stephen." I cannot imagine. Another boy was there who was busy sweeping. The rest of the children were at church with the leader also named Brian. He provides supervision, spiritual counseling and love to the boys. Eventually they will transfer into a larger program called PCA (Peace for Children Africa--mentioned in the blog post about Hamza.) This is the organization that originally helped Hamza off the streets.

Both Hamza and our driver John talked calmly but firmly to Stephen in Lugandan. I have no idea what was said but I heard the word "street" every now and then. I assume they were helping him to recognize what a huge opportunity this was. As we walked out to the taxi, Hamza said to us, "I used to have 7 children, now I have 8...soon I hope to have 10!" All this from one incredible 18 year old young man.
The chore chart. I find it fascinating there are 8 chores...now 8 boys to share them!

Hamza, Stephen and "Uncle Brian" just before we left him at his new home.

So my heart is at rest tonight, my sweet Stephen is off the streets. Now to get Simon and Sunday off.








Saturday, August 13, 2011

I Thought I Was Ready...

I had packed. And packed some more. Checked off lists.

I was prepared.

I was ready.

Or, so I THOUGHT.

Until I walked into Z's orphanage at mealtime. Until helping put over 50 children to bed. Until watching children play with dilapidated toys. Until just holding our boy. But more about that another time.

I am compelled to write about what happened tonight.

Today was my birthday.
What a day! (More about that too another time.)

We went to a very popular place for a meal and it was nice. Along the way there were a few children begging. All in all, I have found Uganda cleaner, nicer and generally much easier than I had expected.

We had finished our meal and were returning to meet our taxi driver. I turned around and noticed Brian was far behind me. I figured he had stopped to give some money and love to the little boy who sat on the corner. Just about the time he caught up with me, I saw another boy sitting in the dirt along the sidewalk. About a step and a half after I passed by (saying to myself, "No, I will NOT pass him by!") I spun on my heel and knelt down.

"What is your name?"

"Stephen."

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"Today is my birthday and I would like a hug." (Stupid, I know, but I wanted to hug him. Who knows the last time he had one?) He gladly obliged me.

I asked him if he would go with us so we could take him to get something to eat. He quickly gathered his shoes made from leftover tires he had hidden in the bushes and I put my arm around him and we walked.

Suddenly street children came out of the woodwork. I don't know how it happened. But I was tunnel-vision focused on Stephen though asking him questions all the way.

"When did you eat last?"

"This morning." (it was 8:30 pm)

"What did you have?"

"A donut."

We found him a chicken filled bun, and a bottle of clean water. Brian bought two of them for him, expecting to fill his stomach. He politely smiled for 2 pictures and we sat down at the tables together. We had to pass through security to reach this location and my heart about burst when I told the guard with my arm around him, "He's with ME."


As he politely ate his food, he answered my constant stream of questions. His story came tumbling out...who was the last person who'd cared to hear?

An almost 14 year old orphan, Stephen had come to the capital back in January. He has avoided hanging out with most of the street children and blushed because he didn't know how to tell me...because they use drugs. (I have read a great book about life on the streets called It's Not Okay with Me and learned about their brain frying street-made drugs they take to lose consciousness.) He said it meant he had but only two friends. He said he felt lonely.

I asked him how he looked so clean and where he went to the bathroom. (Because I'm a sanguine and I don't always know the right thing to say!!) He pointed down the street where there is a public toilet and a place he can wash up. He washed his shirt recently. He looked good.

He continued to share his story beyond, "My parents are dead." And I learned his father was a taxi driver near the city but was killed when a bus hit him. His mother died back in their village (the name of which he told me 3x but I simply could not get it) in her bed when a loud shock of thunder apparently gave her a heart attack. Stephen is the oldest of 4 children. The others are back with other relatives (he only shared the same mother with them) and no one cares about him anymore. All of this was not told to me as a story or to pull on my heartstrings. Just answering each question in between his bites.

Stephen wants to be a doctor. He wants to go back to school. He used to attend a boarding school here before his father was killed. Now, he begs on the street for a simple meal.

Stephen did not eat that second chicken bun. I mentioned it, but he said, "oh no, I'm going to share it with my two friends." When we learned that, we promptly bought the friends their own bottles of water.

Our taxi had arrived and my heart fell and shattered all over the red dirt. We prayed a second time over Stephen, embraced again and I begged God for how we could help him MORE.

He asked me if I'd be by again and I assured him I would. I want nothing more than to put him on a plane with me and adopt him too...but that's not how it works here or anywhere. There are orphan investigations, legal processes on both sides of the ocean and time to be waited. But Stephen is sleeping on the streets right now. He cannot wait.

And my heart breaks...


Monday, August 8, 2011

BLOWN Clear Outta the Watta!

These are the posts a blogger LOVES to write! A post full of PRAISES!!!!

Assuming you read my post from last night, you'll delight in this picture from 10 am this morning:
This was only one of many, many donations for the three babies whose lives hang in the balance. And yes, this really was a donation from one person. (Our amazing doctor and his wife!! Love you guys, T&N!)

With everyone's generous we-love-Ugandan-babies donations, we were able to buy and fill not one but TWO extra footlockers of baby formula!!! I bought all the vitamin drops out of our entire town too! (Any idea how FUN this was for me?!?!?! I was telling everyone I saw--every cashier, every phone call, EVERYONE what God was doing!!!) HEY! We even have the overweight fees covered! ($400!!)

This all came together in less than 24 hours. Seriously.

HOW INCREDIBLE IS THAT!!!?!?

Um, ONLY GOD!!!!

Now if you remember, we are not just going to Uganda to feed babies (although I might do that sometime!!) but ALSO to adopt our little Z!!

Do you remember one week ago?

Do you?

I almost don't, because life has been a big whirlwind around here!! I posted actually only SIX days ago about our financial needs that we were facing to be able to attend this crazy God-given courtdate. (Truth be told, I am STILL in shock over that miracle!!! To read about that miracle, click here!) I talked about stepping into the water and watching God part it AFTER we step out.

I admit it, that post was motivated from a place of fear in my heart.

But fear is an interesting thing. You can have fear but still move forward. As you move forward, your fear lessens as God proves Himself to you. (Sadly, we humans want this over and over again--which is why God wants us to REMEMBER and TELL OTHERS about the miracles He performs! He wants us to TRUST HIM MORE NEXT TIME!!!)

So we stepped. And you guessed it, He parted the waters.

Our ugly giant with hair growing out of the mole on his chin...you remember him? The pricetag on his hat read $6,000. Remember?

Guess what? In 6 days time...

God has brought in a total of $6,381.13.

Wha...??????? YES!!! NOT LYING!!!!

So, as if we don't have enough things to do...we are working on this:

And we are diligently recording your names on the back...so it looks something like this:

It's a pretty cool thing.

YOU are a pretty cool thing. We are adopting a precious child from Uganda by your support, love, prayers and giving. It's truly amazing. God is doing this, we know. But YOU are responding. You are not hardening your hearts. You are choosing to act. You are not saying, "someone else will do it," but you are actively jumping into our story.

We cannot thank you enough.

And soon, I'll have tangible evidence of what all this has been for. Stay tuned!!! :)

Until then, just party on in rejoicing over God's miracles! And I'd be curious, how does our story impact you? I know I am encouraged by the stories I read on blogs of God's faithfulness! All these stories weave a stronger and stronger faith in us and we have more guts to step out in faith in what He's asking us personally to do. I'd love it if you'd leave a comment and share with us how God's faithfulness here is encouraging you there.

Let me leave you with a favorite verse of mine:


The One who calls you is faithful
       And He will do it.
                                                              1 Thessalonians 5:24


Sunday, August 7, 2011

The 11th hour--Saving babies' lives!

I'm not sure it could get any better than right now. (But it will--when we walk into that orphanage and finally meet our Z!) It's the 11th hour...we find out about an URGENT need to provide 3 babies living in a remote village in Uganda with what is for them LIFESAVING formula and vitamin drops.

Why do I say lifesaving? Because two of these babies are twins, abandoned in a trash pit when they were first born. Mama has passed away. They have no way to live without formula.

The 3rd baby was just born today. Her mama is HIV+ but not on the necessary ARV's (drug therapy) to keep the virus from developing into AIDS. Her newborn was hungry. She was told to hold on while someone ran for formula...but when he returned, the mother had already begun breastfeeding. (How HARD would that be? As a brand new mother ALL you want to do is love and care for your sweet child...to hold her new daughter close and NOT nurse? OH! I don't think I could have held off either...) But that nursing meant that she just infected her newborn baby with the HIV virus. 

We were devastated. But...then came good news! They were able to give the newborn a shot that would protect her! And she was drinking the formula!

Then the problem entered the picture.

The formula was being ravishingly consumed by the twins. They were "blowing through it like you wouldn't believe," they reported. Suddenly it dawned on them: they only had a 2 week supply. In two weeks, all three babies would die for lack of food!

HEL-LO, AMY!!! 


YOU ARE GOING TO THAT VILLAGE!!! 

God could use me.


My feet. (Yes, I'm a little slow at times. I remember that we named our blog "Feet 2 Our Faith!" DUH!)

So I put it out there on Facebook. The urgent call for formula and vitamin drops. And the donations came. People stopped by our house, people sent money through pay pal, I got emails and messages about the desire to help these babies.

And someone wrote the comment:

"For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat."
(Jesus' words to his disciples in Matthew 25:35)

And I burst into tears. Wow. Is THAT how that feels? (Why did I think it would be drudgery to do what Jesus commanded?!?!) I am having the time of my life coordinating all this: watching my husband pack and repack, weigh and reweigh so we can get MORE formula in. Hanging out with him with my phone blowing up with all the donations!!

So we have ended up being able to not only fill to the brim our own allotment of luggage but also to buy a footlocker (so cool--we can leave that in the village for the people to store things in and keep the rats out!) and fill it with MORE formula and vitamin drops! And we have the money (thank you friends!) to pay for that overage fee!!!!!!

All this has come together in a matter of hours.

(I cannot even finish this blog post because MORE PEOPLE want to donate! Will we fill a SECOND footlocker??? Only God knows! If you want to jump in on this (and it's not too late--you have about 8-12 hours after I finally post this!!) donate through the puzzle button to the right and note that your gift is "for the babies!" We won't use it for our adoption but to provide more life-giving nourishment for these 3 needy babies.)

Is this worth praising our God or WHAT?!?!? 









Saturday, August 6, 2011

It's coming together...

Just have to show you what the puzzle looks like...and MORE pieces are being lovingly written with YOUR names on the back and fitted into place!


THANK YOU!!!!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The Pathway No One Knew Was There

We are just days away from leaving. All the emotions are just SWIRLING. I am not sure I can even write a post that makes sense!! There is just so much going on in our hearts and heads (oh the packing details, oh the documents that must be prepared, oh the kid care instructions that must be made!) that I really shouldn't even try to write a post...but I simply can't help myself.

We are about to fly halfway around the world and walk up the steps into an orphanage. Inside there is a little boy who has been living there, day in and day out. He is getting older each day. He has watched many, many children be chosen and leave with their new families. He has wondered when it is going to be his turn. My friend who used to stay there would tuck him in at night and say a prayer with him whispered into his ear, "Your Mommy and Daddy love you." He looked up at her with wide eyes, "I have a Mommy and Daddy?!?!" Oh! It totally melts our hearts!

And yes, Z, you have a Mommy and Daddy. And we are coming. FOR YOU!!!

Brian was putting our little DQ to bed the other night and reading her toddler Bible with her. The story was about Joshua and Caleb scouting the Promised Land. The other scouts went back to the Israelites and reported, "Oh, we cannot take that land, there are big nasty giants living there!" (Amy version) But Joshua and Caleb went back and reported, "We can take that land! There are giants, but our God is bigger!" (also Amy version) At that moment, in the quiet of his heart, God spoke to my husband: "The giant in your adoption is the money."

We have been totally shaking in our boots as we have spent money like there is no end to the supply. All the things required for this trip, especially now that we are going for court and all, is phenomenal. We find ourselves edgy, short with one another because we are nervous about finances. Ever been there?

We have discussed how we have NO IDEA how in the world we are going to complete our adoption. We need money to pay our legal fees, money to pay for a visa, a medical exam (for Z), money to buy our malaria medications, money to stay in a guesthouse. We need money to pay taxi drivers, money to pay for passport pictures for Z, money to throw a going away party for Z at his orphanage. And then, we need money to buy that ticket H-O-M-E for Z!!! Is this a giant? ABSOLUTELY. And the closer we get to our departure date, the uglier the giant becomes. The pricetag hanging off his hat says, "$6,000 or more" on it. And ew! He's got hair growing out of the mole on his chin!

Brian has continually reminded me that we have prayed to live like one of our heros, George Mueller. Time after time, George saw God provide miracles. But the thing with a miracle is, you gotta be in the place to need a miracle.

We are in that place. Oh yeah, baby.

I absolutely love the stories in the Old Testament when God's people NEEDED to travel across the water (the Red Sea and later the Jordan River). God had full plans of parting the water for them, but it did not happen until they stepped by faith into the water. There WAS a pathway there, but they couldn't see it. They had to step out in faith, and then the water would part.

Whew. That's hard.

I love this picture. We obey Him with trepidation. But God holds our hands and never leaves us.

One of my favorite underlined places in the Psalms says this:

"When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled!  
The sea quaked to its very depths...
Your road led through the sea,
Your pathway through the mighty waters--
A PATHWAY NO ONE KNEW WAS THERE!!!"
                                                                ~Psalm 77:16, 19

This situation is just like that. We are stepping onto a plane in faith that our God will provide the finances to complete the adoption of Z. We believe that this was His perfect plan for Z's life and for ours. We trust our God to do the impossible.

I cannot wait to see how He does it!



Monday, August 1, 2011

Abundantly blessed for the orphans!


Oh just LOOK at all the kids of PMC brought just this past week! We are so excited to get to share these gifts with the people of Uganda!!



My happy little helper! ;)


And I hear there's MORE to come this week! WOW!!!! Just praising God to be used of Him in this!!

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