Worship - Uganda Style

Today we got the oppotunity to worship with fellow believers in Uganda at the church at GSF. All of the kids, aunties, staff, and people from surrounding villages came to worhsip together. In additon there were people from at least 4 different countries.

Heidi and I enjoyed singing, clapping, and even dancing to songs in both English and Luganda. Sometime is was difficult to know which language we were singing. Gene, who is part of the other couple adopting from GSF with us, spoke. It was fun to experience a different style of worship than we typically experience back home in Iowa. Probably the highlight was having Caleb in our arms during the whole service with other GSF kids on either side of us.

Heidi and I also got the chance to experience dinner and bed at the baby house. It included eating, crying, pottying, singing, dressing in PJ's, g-nuts, playing, and finally bed. We were amazed at how the Aunties do that routine each night for 8 toddlers. I guess we will have 7 kids in our family bedtime routine. Thankfully only 3 of them will be that age.

Tomorrow we head back to Kampala for physicals and TB test readings. It should be easier than Friday since it will not include any shots. Convincing the kids of that might be difficult though.

A Big Day

Today was the day we’ve been waiting and praying for a long time. There was a beautiful fog in the valley this morning as we waited for the kids to be brought to us at the guest house. It’s hard to describe the emotions we felt as their forms became clear through the fog. The auntie was carrying Hannah, and little Caleb was toddling behind. It felt like the first day of the rest of our lives!
We changed the kids into the special clothes we had chosen for this occasion, and then we took off in the van for the two hour journey to the city. We had great and high hopes for a flawless court appearance and quick ruling. The judge heard our case and has asked for more evidence of their story, but he also said he would have our ruling available on Friday, December 16. That is really quick for a wait for the ruling, so we are thanking God.
The rest of the day was spent getting the kids ready for their medical exams and visa processing to come. We were all exhausted when we arrived back at the guest house. Even now, I’m falling asleep at the keyboard.
So, I ask you to please pray for clarity for Chad and me about whether or not to expend our stay to try to finish things up. We miss our five kids at home so much! Also please keep praying for a Christmas miracle for the kids to be able to come home with us before Christmas.
I’ll try to post some pictures of our adventures (including eating a fried grasshopper) later. And now I need sleep….

Court Tomorrow

Thank you for praying for us while we are here in Uganda. Heidi and I would like to specifically ask you to pray for us tomorrow as we go to court in Kampala. We are scheduled to be there at 10:30 AM (1:30 AM CST). We ask that you pray for the following:
- Sleep tonight for Heidi, me, Caleb, and Hannah (and another family that is here adopting)
- The car ride to and from Kampala (2-2.5 hrs each way) with our kids
- Everyone who needs to be at court would show up
- The judge would provide a favorable ruling to both us and the other family with us.
- The judge would issue his ruling on the same day (rarely ever happens but we will need it in order to have an chance or bringing Caleb and Hannah home with us in 2 weeks
- God would be glorified through this whole process

As for an update, we got to spend some time today with Caleb and Hannah at their baby house. We were able to hold them, read books, play games, take them on a walk (with the rest of the kids in the house) and I even got pottied on by Hannah. We also met a ton of kids, helpers, and one of the missionary families. There are names of kids swirling around in our heads and we are trying our best to keep them all straight.
Thank you again for your prayers and we hope to have good news to share with you tomorrow.

We Have Arrived

After 4 flights, 18 hrs of airtime, an 8 hr time change, and a 2 1/2 hr car ride we safely made it to Good Shepard's Fold (GSF) near Jinja, Uganda. All our flights were on time, our baggage made it safely through to Entebbe airport, and the 4 blocks of cheese we packed stayed cold.

However the highlight of our trip was arriving at GSF around 7 PM and having Caleb and Hannah placed onto our laps as we pulled up while the other kids greated us with song and welcomes. We got to spend about an hour with Caleb and Hannah and we have fell instantly in love with them. (pictures to come in the coming days)

After taking them back to their house for bedtime, we enjoyed some dinner with another couple that is also adopting from GSF, one of their set of parents, and Claudia. After much awaited showers, we are now settling in under our mosquitoe nets and listening to strange new animal calls outside as we quickly fell asleep.

Thank you for all who have prayed for our safe arrival.