Hello from Uganda!!!

While I would love to hear from everyone this is only the 2nd time I have been able to access the Internet so I apologize I haven't been emailing back. Thank you thank you for your well wishes.  I won't be emailing until I get back, they charge by the minute here!

We are still battling with the court system but consistently making progress. At this point there is no answer to when I will be back yet but we're hopefully not more than another month.

Africa is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The sunsets here are something I cannot describe.

The most beautiful is our daughter Abigail. What an amazing little girl. She has made an instant bond with me and I'm so excited for her to meet Jason when he arrives tonight. She loves snuggles, tickling and kisses and everything you could imagine in a little girl. Although she is learning English we haven't understood each other since being here yet somehow we've made it work. :) She's more than I could have imagined.

Nobody in the southern part of Uganda speaks her native language yet she doesn't seem frustrated by that. She's just such a good girl. And LOTS of energy.

I did find out that she's actually 4 and not 5 so we had a little change with that. She talks about America all the time and she points to the sky as she's expecting to fly there. She talks mostly about Nolan. I'm not sure what she's saying but I hear his name in her sentences.

I've been able to spend time with 2 other Americans here and fellowship with them They have been a great source of comfort to me. The Africans who own my guest house have taken me in like their own daughter and they won't stop feeding me! The food here is amazing. I am very blessed to have them to keep my company while I've been away from Jason and Nolan.

Culturally it is a very sad place. I see poverty everywhere I go, somethings you just want to look away, it's heartbreaking knowing people on this earth live like that everyday. I can't even begin to describe the emotions that come with that feeling. It's too difficult to talk about but someday I will share everything. These people are trying everyday just to survive. They can't even consider their emotional status because they aren't even sure where they'll get their next meal. I feel very sad for the animals here, they don't take in dogs as pets and they are left to die on the streets. However, Going to a church in mid Africa is AWESOME. Those people know how to dance!

I am SO anxious to come home, mostly to see my son. It's too painful to think about, I just miss that little guy so much. I've also VERY anxious for Jason to arrive tonight. We'll be going on a safari sometime and getting to see all the sites of Uganda. Mostly I'm just anxious for him to be here to experience this all with me. He's my best friend and I miss my other half so badly. Life's just not complete here without him. Only 8 hours!!!

I thank you all SO SO much for the prayers. We needs lots of them! Please pray that our judge will here our case swiftly and quickly! We need the Holy Spirit to work through her to bring our Abby home!

Here's what I have learned in Uganda

Internet is really not that important
Internet is definitely not fast
Electricity is a blessing when you have it
The organic food here is the best!
The weather feels like I'm cooking in small oven
The rain here is the most beautiful rain I've even seen
The sunsets......oh my, indescribable
Hand washing my clothes is not fun. But it's a way of life here
Everything is cooked over an outdoor charcoal pot
Family is most important here
Community is 2nd important
I've learned to be humbled
Poverty is not a "situation" it's a way of life here
Getting a tan here is next to impossible. Instant burn
Pothole means large pit that if you get your car stuck in it will never come out
Traffic jams means 2+ hours
Traffic signs are not necessary here, they just drive where they want.
The hills here are so beautiful
You sweat every minute of every day. Constantly.
People are Unbelievably grateful and nice.
Hot showers are only available when there is electricity
Everyone, I mean EVERYONE here has a cell phone.
I need to donate more and keep less, a lot less.
Corruption is everywhere
When you drive on the highway there are more people walking and riding bikes than in cars.
Children will walk up to 10 miles one way to get to school.
I will never again complain about what I don't have, for when I am in need it is far more than they have here.
You can eat grasshoppers, snakes and monkeys here. No thank you.
I learned how valuable my family is and how very much I miss them
I learned how naive and sheltered I have been living not knowing the needs of the world.
I learned how powerful and mighty God is and he will be steadfast in his love and deliverance of eternal life.
I will never be the same and I will definately be back.

Ahhhhhh, I really would like a McDonald's cheeseburger right now.

I miss you and love you all and I can't wait to be home to share this experience with everyone! I am truely a changed person and I am eager to see how God will use this experience in me when I come home.

God Bless.

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’





—Deuteronomy 15:11

God Moves Mountains

Major things happened in the last two days and we praise God for every moment of it.  After a month and a half and many families waiting in Uganda to get their children, the U.S. Embassy and Uganda have opened the path to Legal Guardianship back OPEN!

Once again, His timing is perfect as I leave for Uganda, Africa today at 1:30 p.m. from Kalamazoo.  By 2:00 p.m. on Friday I will have Heather and Abigail in my arms.  It should be quite a moment. 

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers.  God listens and moves mountains with your prayers.  Yesterday's mountain was just one of many He has moved in this journey to bring Abigail home.

The Power of Prayer

In the last two days, I have received many phones calls and had several people, around town, tell me they have been praying for our adoption of Abigail.  It has been very overwhelming to think about the love our daughter continues to get from so many.  She has no idea that her very existence has united a community in prayer. 

Praise God for bringing our focus, mine included, off ourselves and direct it towards our Him to help bring Abigail home to Mattawan.  Paise God for the strength Heather and I have received to be patience, trust, and lean on Him.  Praise God for moving mountains as we have received word that mountains are being moved and we expect a great week.

Stay tuned to see what God does next.  : )

Possible Options : )

On Friday morning, around 8 o'clock Ugandan time,  there will be a meeting concerning our case and it being tried in High Courts of Kampala.  This is one option that has been presented to us inorder to possibly proceed with getting Abigail's legal guardianship.  Please pray that this meeting bears fruit and all parties think about Abigail needs.

Another option has been tossed around about officially putting her into an orphanage in Kampala.  This would clear up some "red tape" concerning where this case should be heard and possibly get our court case with another judge. 

In other news, I have had a chance to talk to Abigail several times and she likes to say "I love you, Daddy".  I melt everytime I hear it.  Heather and I speak everyday and we are counting the days until I leave on the 18th of March.  She is my soulmate and I miss her dearly.

Thank you for everyone's continued support and prayers.  We love you!

Prayers Needed!

Heather got word today that we received the Judge we had hoped NOT to get.  Apparently, this Judge likes to play games and did so by promptly tossing out our application.  Please pray for this Judge and her heart.  Pray that God will soften her soul and let the joy of the life fill her.  Pray that we will get back on track swiftly so Abigail no longer remains stuck between two worlds. 

I believe this is a great chance for growth in our prayer life - but it is also an awesome opportunity to witness God step in, as he has so many times thus far.  Blessed be His name!

Jason

Flowers & A Hug

After over twenty hours of travel time, Heather arrived in Entebbe, Uganda safely.  Unknown to her at the time, her greeting party was stuck in a traffic jam attempting to pick her up.  Finally, the greeting party arrived and she saw Abigail for the very first time.  With a handful of flowers, Abigail headed towards Heather and gave her new Mama a hug.  Praise God!

I will keep you informed of any more news. - Jason

Africa or Bust!

I am completely, utterly and unbelievably exhausted.  I am so emotional these days I can't contain myself.  Sleep?  Well I haven't had any of that either. :)

Tomorrow at 3:30 pm I will be flying from Kalamazoo to my life's dream in Uganda and Betty with have our Abigail with her to pick me up at the airport on Wednesday night.  Can you believe it?  She will be AT the airport!  I just want to hold her so badly.  My poor husbnad won't be coming for 2 weeks so he has an agonizing wait here in the United States until then.  Abby's big brother is also dying to see her. 

I am once again brought to my knees in gratitude.  God has so blessed me and and my family so richly.  We could not ask for anything more.  We have prayed and asked for prayers faithfully and he has answered them in his perfect timing.  I sometimes feel so undeserving of his unconditional love.  He has shown me grace when there were times I couldn't forgive myself.  He has loved me through every heartache and sin indefinately.  What have I done to deserve such a loving God?  I know that he has AMAZING plans for Abigail, I just know that he will work through her and this experience.

I am also a little overwhelmed with sadness of leaving my other baby.  In Nolan's 6 years we've never been apart more than 3 days so the thought of leaving this little guy is tough.  My heart aches when I think about it.  But as my husband reminds me, we must sacrafice in order to grow.  So I am giving this to God.  God will be sitting with me on that 18 hour flight and he'll be sitting next to my family at home keeping us all strong.  And for that reassurance we will continue to give him our fears and remain steadfast.

Nolan however doesn't seem to concerned.  He's just so excited Abigail is coming home that I'm not sure the time thing has sank in yet.  I pray that he will continue to be patience and comforted.

I got some new pictures of Abigail today, they are so beautiful.  I want to post them so badly but I cannot until I have guardianship.  He has the most amazing smile I have ever seen.  We spoke to her again the other night and Jason got to say I LOVE YOU in her language.  We heard giggles on the other side.  So precious.  I can't explain it.

Well here I go again, sobbing trying to write this.  I thank everyone for their continued prayers in this process.  Please keep us in your prayers over the next few weeks.  I also request prayers for Abigail's mother, her stength is simply amazing.  I will get an opportunity to spend the weekend with her and I can't wait.  The more time I can get to know her the better it will be for Abigail.  We also plan to go to Abigail's village to be blessed by them, its important to us that Abigail always be able to return and visit and be welcomed. 

And once again our African family is welcoming me with open arms.  They are having a welcome dinner for me on Sunday with Betty's entire family.  I can't wait!  Abail's family is now my family and we're honored to be a part of that. 

For now, I say farwell and I will see you when I get back.  Abigail in arms, family whole and all praises will go to our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.

In Him,

Heather

Deuteronomy 31:6



Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.