And so the STORY can unfold....

First family picture taken on Sunday June 30th.
We hope to get a better one this Sunday...

We have been writing, formulating, jotting down notes, and taking pictures of this journey however we were warned to be careful of what we post until we had the children’s visas in hand. There are so many factors that play into adoption and so many things that one must do to protect the process from those who seek to gain from it, seek a bribe, and seek to destroy the process. Sadly, there are many people as such out there and it takes a lot to protect a family from unnecessary delays due to selfishness and evil of others.

So be prepared for this blog to blow up now. Even though this post speaks of more current events, I will begin to post our journey chronologically for you all to see and read what has transpired in our family over the last 5 and a half weeks.

WOOHOOOO....
We can leave now for the States!!! Ugandan passports with USA IR4 visas stamped in them along with Immigration packets for immigration officer at point of entry!

Yesterday, Thursday the 18^th of July, we had our visa interview. The children’s mom was present as was the Director of the Children’s home, George Magera. The Consular of the Embassy actually did our interview as a courtesy to Jason’s military status so that he could be in country while the process was happening. She questioned us and she questioned the children’s mother.

It was a difficult afternoon on two notes. First, it was difficult once again to see the mother of the children. Not because I am jealous and not because I do not want them to know her, but because I want her to know the redeeming love of Christ . I hurt for her and the decisions she has made. I want her to know he same love that we are trying to display in her children’s lives. The kind of love that I wish she could have had for them in providing and nurturing them from the beginning, and yet as I look carefully at the side of Duncan’s face and detect a faint ‘street” scar, I am reminded that God’s plan in sovereign. He does indeed make beauty from ashes and as we seek to be an example of Christ’s redeeming love  over the years when we send updates and share the children’s lives with their birth mother, we pray that it would a tool used to ultimately cause her to turn from her current ways and seek Christ to be her personal Saviour. 

Secondly, it was also difficult  because the children practically refused to speak with her until forced.  I even asked Duncan if he would color her a picture to take home and he refused.I guess this is where controversy could come in and others could say, “why should they?’ or ‘you are causing more damage than good,’ however, I believe that if the children see that we unconditionally love even those that are in their past that they will see Christ’s love for them in those acts at some point in the future when they can begin to comprehend CHrist’s love is not for a few but for everyone. Mark may never remember, but Faith and Duncan will always remember from which they came.  We never want to be accused of “looking” down upon their past or even being told how wonderful we are for “rescuing them from Africa” because as I have learned you do not have to have a gazillion room house, thousands of dollars worth of things, or even the best of health and American citizenship to have JOY. Joy can come living in one room with only a roof over the heads of 7 people, pumping your water from a well for all of the needs that come with using water, living with no electricity,  and even never riding in  or needing transport in a car until teenage years. Joy comes from love of family, community, and most importantly from the Lord. 

We have chosen to update their birth mother of their progress as long as she is willing to accept the updates. Who knows, maybe she will choose a better life for herself or even better yet, choose LIFE more abundantly in the ONE who created her. 

Jason flies out Tuesday morning and the children and I look forward to flying out to Seattle next Thursday the 25^th to begin the Stateside adoption process. The first part of this journey is almost over as we begin to say goodbye to Uganda and H.E.L.L.O. Seattle, WA!!!! We hope that our stateside appointments move quickly so that we can soon be reunited as a complete family  in Naples sooner rather than later.