Charles

I was in Uganda 6 years ago for the first time with a team from Oregon.  It was such a great time and we met many new friends and ministry partners.  One of the special people we met was our interpreter, Charles Okiror.  He was a 19 year young man and we all enjoyed him and knew God had a great future for him.

But prior to that, Charles and Jeff had worked together. Here he is interpreting for Jeff in 2004!

Since then, Charles and I have been keeping in contact.  We email quite often and he keeps me updated on what is happening in his life.  He left his home town and came down to the capital in Kampala.  He is in seminary and is hoping to go back home to Soroti and become a pastor of his  church.  He was very excited when he learned that we were coming back to his country and that we were adopting an orphan.

He has told me that he looks to me as a mom because his mom died a few years ago and he does not have a father.  He calls me "Mama Erin".  I asked him one time why he called me that and he said any woman who is married to a godly man deserves such respect with the title Mama.  I told him that I would accept that anytime! 

We called him a few days ago to find a time to meet up. He was so excited when we chatted on the phone, he said that hearing my voice made his "heart smile" : )  So, after a busy day, Charles took a taxi across town last night to visit with Jeff and I and to meet the kids.

Jeff met him down on the main road and they walked to one of the only restaurants close to the orphanage. They grabbed some dinner for our family (they were told they would have to wait 20 minutes but it took over 90 minutes).  But that gave Jeff, Ranger and Charles plenty of time to catch up.

Eventually, I heard them open the creaky gate to the compound and ran downstairs to meet him.  I came around the corner and he ran to me and grabbed me into a huge bear hug.  There was dim lighting in the hallway so I couldn't see very well and he is very dark but... I could see his bright white smile as we met.

He came ate dinner with us and shared some of the things going on in his life with us.  Life is hard here in Uganda.  He is going to seminary and so when he gets a break he goes back home (8-9 hour bus ride) to see his younger sisters and to help take care of them.  So much burden on a young man to care for his family while trying to get good grades and finish his last year and a half of school.   He loves the Lord so much and he continues to walk faithfully and trust His plan for his life!

I hope one day you will all have the chance to meet him!

New Friends

I have to apologize for being absent the past few days.  We have been staying busy and by the time I put my 2 yr old to bed, I am hitting the sack as well!

Today, I wanted to introduce you to some of our new friends.  I'm sorry that we can't add pictures right now but to download pictures is very expensive so we are waiting until we reach a place where we can get free internet and then Jeff will go back and add pictures to all the posts.

Ok, back to our friends!

About 1 year ago I found this blog of a lady (Tonya) who adopted a daughter from Uganda.  She's married, has 4 older boys and her 3 yr old daughter from Uganda.  They live in Texas and she comes over to Kampala about 4 times a year.  Over the past few years she has been following God's leading about starting a ministry here that helps children who's parents have died from AIDS. 

I have followed her trials and triumphs over this year.  It has not been easy but her and her team have kept trusting God and pushing forward against the enemy to help these children have a home, an education and a place where they learn about God's love.

A few months ago, I emailed her to ask a few questions about Uganda and what things were like in the big city.  She emailed me back and we formed a friendship over email.  She vowed to help us find a place to live and get us connected to a trustworthy driver.  She also welcomed us to go to her home, "Kirabo Seeds" to eat and fellowship with her staff & children anytime that we wanted.

When we were supposed to travel in December, I was going to carry over all the Christmas presents for the children's home and we were hoping to spend Christmas with them.  Our trip was postponed with no immediate plans for January.  We were devastated and tried to understand why the change of plans.  But God in His awesome ways, has had us travel here at the end of January…the same time Tonya was here with two of her children. 

We got a chance to meet and have become fast friends!  She introduced us to her awesome Ugandan staff and the wonderful children in her home.  These kids are aged 6-13 and they have been here in their home almost a year.  Just recently, God brought in a little 3 yr old boy who was desperately in need of medical treatment and needed a home.  So sweet little Marvin has joined the family and is learning and growing along with the other children. 

We got to spend a day with them and then we all went to church together and we went back to their home to have lunch and let the kids play.  It has been a nice change for my kids to be able to play with children their age and have a break from taking care of babies all day.  The kids in Kirabo Seeds are so awesome! They are some of the most hardworking, respectful and caring children I have seen.

We have fallen in love with the children and staff at Kirabo Seeds are we are looking forward to making many more memories with them.  We are also praying to see if there may be a future here with the Berean Way as well. Jeff and Tonya have already been brainstorming through some pretty amazing plans. You will have to stay tuned!

Please, take a moment to hop over to the Kirabo Seeds blog and read all about the wonderful ministry and the awesome things God is doing amidst all the trials that have come across them!  There are also opportunities to help sponsor these kids to go to school and and get a good education.  Tonya is a great writer and she will captivate you and I PROMISE you will also fall in love with these as we have!

www.tonyalatorre.wordpress.com

Court today!

We had a fun and eventful day today!

This morning the rains came in. And being from Oregon we are used to rain but the Ugandan rain is intense!  We had a downpour with a thunder and lightning show from 8am to noon.  We were sitting out on our patio and couldn't help but get wet because of the intensity of the rain!

Later this morning, we had a visitor from our agency show up to say hello!  We had never met Josh but it was so fun to sit, share stories and pray together before we headed out the door for our first court date.

Our driver pulled into our driveway to pick us up and head into town.  There was a lady sitting in the van.  We all climbed in and filled the van quickly with our nervous excitement about what our day at court held.  I started chatting with this unknown lady next to me and something clicked in my brain and I said, "Are you the good Samaritan who found my son?"  And she said "Yes, that me!"  I was not prepared for this moment quite yet!  I had dreamed about meeting her and getting her picture to show Drew someday.  I was told there might be a possibility that I would meet her today but I had never dreamed that she would be riding with us the whole way in the court.

I can't quite describe that emotions that I felt.  I had so much love, compassion and appreciation for her.  We chatted and held hands most of the way into town.  Jeff and I shared our gratefulness to her.  She said that she felt proud that Drew was going to live in America with a wonderful family.  It was a very special time for the both of us!

We picked up a few more people once we were in downtown Kampala.  Another young woman climbed in the can and an older gentleman climbed up front.  I had no idea who they were but my new friend informed me that the young woman was another lady involved in finding Drew and the gentleman helped them search the area for any family around.

We got to court right on time.  We were told that you never know how long you will have to sit in the waiting room so be prepared.  I have read that one family had to stay there for 6 hours, oh goodness!  We were in there for 45 min and then we got the call to come in and see the judge to have our hearing.  That was so fast!! 

Basically, we met with the judge and our legal team told us that it went as best as it could have!  Praise the Lord!!  We will have our ruling on Feb 8th…so keep praying!

First few days…

How do I describe these first few days in a way that you will understand?

I don't really have the words.  If I could just open my heart and show you how it looks and how it fells then you may have a slight idea.

Drew is so easy to love!  He is very funny, goofy and at time detail oriented.  He likes to put things right where they need to be or if something falls or is out of place he is the first one to pick it up and make it right!

His favorite word is "Come!".  And that definitely deserves an exclamation mark!  When he says "Come", he means it!  He will grab  you by the hand and take you right where he wants you.  He likes to grab one of us and take us for a walk outside in the compound.  He talks about what he sees and he likes to sing along the walk!

Singing…he is unbelievable!  He will sing for hours a day.  He knows all the tunes to most song but he doesn't know all the words. Some of the words he sings are Luganda and some of them are his own language but the chorus is always English.  So funny!  He loves to sing, Old McDonald Had a Farm, Jesus Loves Me, Wheels On The Bus, ABC's, Happy Birthday and You Are My Sunshine…there are many more but I'm too tired to think of them!

He is the oldest in his babies home and it shows.  He likes to boss the other kids around and sometimes he will push them down and then pick them right back up:)  It is definitely God's perfect timing for us to be here.  It is time for Drew to leave this sweet place that has loved him and taught him all about God's love.  It is time for him to come home with his family who is absolutely crazy about him!

Where is he?

I have been planning this moment for a long time.  In my mind, it included a video camera, photos and an amazing emotional introduction, and probably all of it happening in slow motion.

We pulled into the familiar setting and it was prettier than the videos showed.  I couldn't believe we were here.  After all the pictures and video I've seen of this wonderful place we were here and our son was inside! 

So where is he? We're they going to bring him to us or did we go in?  We parked and waited. Then they started to unload our bags into the babies home. So we helped. Still no one.

I wasn't really sure what was going on and how we would meet him, so we gathered our things and walked inside.  It was dark and quiet…too quiet!  The staff were coming by greeting us with handshakes and hugs with their big Ugandan smiles. : )

We went inside and down a dark hallway.  Ranger had the video camera.

All of a sudden, Drew appeared from around the corner.  I knew instantly it was him!  One of his Aunties was carrying him and announced to him his mommy and daddy were here to see him!  I looked at Jeff and smiled …not believing that moment was here really here.

Drew looked at us and was VERY serious!  Not sure what was going through his mind.  I then realized that the Auntie had just gotten him out of bed and woke him up from a deep sleep…that's why it was too quiet in the home:)

She pointed to Drew and announced that mommy was here and he needed to come and see me.  I put my arms out and he allowed me to take him.  He was soaking wet from sweating during his nap and was very groggy.  But he did not resist and just sat there in my arms and listened as I talked to him and introduced  him to his daddy, brother and sisters.

We stood in the dark hallway for a few minutes and talked and just kept staring at Drew soaking in every detail of him.  I handed Drew to Jeff and asked him if he wants to see daddy.  He also went right into Jeff's arms.

My memorial video and photo session never happened.  It was too dark and none of us were in a position to make a good film anyways, but it didn't really matter.  It was perfect.  We were taken upstairs to our living quarters and were given a tour of the bedrooms, mini kitchen and outdoor patio.  This all work just fine.

We were told that the staff had lunch ready for us.  We sat at outdoor patio and were served Irish potatoes, minced meat with grilled onions, white rice (with something in it…not sure what!), and a Ugandan version of baked beans.  It tasted good.  Drew sat with us and I fed him…he LOVES potatoes.  After a little while he had a few bites and a few sips of water and then he came alive!  He must take after me, I need a few minutes to wake up and get my wits about me before I can engage in much conversation.

He sat in a chair next to me and let me feed him food and give him water meanwhile chatting it up with rest of the family.  He talks A LOT but most of what he says we can't understand.  It's either Lugandan or his own made up language, I'm not sure yet which one it is. : )

After lunch, we played and played!  He is so social and likes to take us around the house.  He wanted me and Andie to put on our shoes and go for a walk around the compound.  We walk and talk, point out different plants and objects and he says hello to all the staff as we go by. 

Later, after we ate dinner, we got Drew all cleaned up in a new set of pjs and brushed his teeth and then I filled him with lots of kisses and prayers and laid him in the crib right next to our bed.  I covered him with his new animal blanket and gave him his fuzzy puppy dog and said goodnight!  He laid there closed his eyed and fell asleep.  I stayed in the room and pull my exhausted self right into bed and fell deep into the oblivion of my dreams with my new son sleeping right next to me! 

It's pure heaven!!