It has been about 4 months since Amy returned from Uganda to help my sister adopt Lucy and to visit orphanages. She visited these orphanages to see if there were some that would need our help and that would be a good fit for our family. There was one that she wanted to make sure she got to see. It was in a town called Jinja and it was very hard to find. She about gave up but she finally found it. She thought it was amazing and loved the children and the atmosphere. They are adoption minded and they even place older children. These were two things we were looking for because that is what we were called to help with in Uganda. A few days later, she visited them again and spent the night and her feelings for them were even more confirmed. Upon hearing about this orphanage, I was super excited because we had spent so many months looking for a place to serve that was in line with what God called us to do.
When Amy returned home, we were excited to pursue this opportunity. We were told we would receive an application to fill out. We waited. After a while, we skyped the director and she said she was excited about us and that she would talk to the board and send us an application. We waited. After a while, we sent emails and phoned and then waited some more. About a month and a half ago, we finally talked to a couple people on the ground in the U.S. affiliated with the orphanage and the conversation went well. They said that they would send an application and they did. We sent it in... and waited. About a week ago, we agreed that if we didn't hear anything from them by this Sunday, June 24th, that we would not work with this orphanage. Here it is, Sunday June 24th as I type this, and I am hoping and praying we will hear something... get some kind of email... or some kind of phone call.
After church today, we did what we try to do as a family on Sundays - Family Forum. It's a time where we can all bring up something we want to talk about without fear of getting into trouble. Most of the time it's about getting something, buying something, or doing something. Today was no different, but then we started talking about Uganda and that we may have eliminated the only real option that is on the table. I asked them what they thought about it. This was when it got difficult. Brandy said that maybe God doesn't want us to go. Brandon said that maybe we should give them more time. Cody thought the same. I told them that if we are supposed to go through them that God will allow us to hear something but that we have to be open to what God has in store for us. Maybe that it's not to go or to wait.
Then Cody said, "It just seems like a waste." I said, "What is a waste?" He said, "That we did all of that work, and packed all of our toys, and gave away a bunch of our toys to just not go. We have come this far. I think we should go." Cody started to cry. I did too. Brandon brought up that God promised Abraham a son and it took a long time for Abraham to get his son. Cody said, "Yeah, and Paul didn't give up when he was a missionary." Brandy also said that she thought we should still go. Brandon then quoted Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." NIV
And then Isaac said something about Disneyland and the Toy Story ride and we all laughed.
We left it that we are going to pray and fast one day this week about God's role in our lives in Uganda. There are so many unanswered questions - and we desperately need guidance. Please pray with us.
When Amy returned home, we were excited to pursue this opportunity. We were told we would receive an application to fill out. We waited. After a while, we skyped the director and she said she was excited about us and that she would talk to the board and send us an application. We waited. After a while, we sent emails and phoned and then waited some more. About a month and a half ago, we finally talked to a couple people on the ground in the U.S. affiliated with the orphanage and the conversation went well. They said that they would send an application and they did. We sent it in... and waited. About a week ago, we agreed that if we didn't hear anything from them by this Sunday, June 24th, that we would not work with this orphanage. Here it is, Sunday June 24th as I type this, and I am hoping and praying we will hear something... get some kind of email... or some kind of phone call.
After church today, we did what we try to do as a family on Sundays - Family Forum. It's a time where we can all bring up something we want to talk about without fear of getting into trouble. Most of the time it's about getting something, buying something, or doing something. Today was no different, but then we started talking about Uganda and that we may have eliminated the only real option that is on the table. I asked them what they thought about it. This was when it got difficult. Brandy said that maybe God doesn't want us to go. Brandon said that maybe we should give them more time. Cody thought the same. I told them that if we are supposed to go through them that God will allow us to hear something but that we have to be open to what God has in store for us. Maybe that it's not to go or to wait.
Then Cody said, "It just seems like a waste." I said, "What is a waste?" He said, "That we did all of that work, and packed all of our toys, and gave away a bunch of our toys to just not go. We have come this far. I think we should go." Cody started to cry. I did too. Brandon brought up that God promised Abraham a son and it took a long time for Abraham to get his son. Cody said, "Yeah, and Paul didn't give up when he was a missionary." Brandy also said that she thought we should still go. Brandon then quoted Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." NIV
And then Isaac said something about Disneyland and the Toy Story ride and we all laughed.
We left it that we are going to pray and fast one day this week about God's role in our lives in Uganda. There are so many unanswered questions - and we desperately need guidance. Please pray with us.
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