Good Morning my friends-
I am sorry for the delay in my updates but we have had sporadic power and water for the last two days. The city rations both at them anytime they want. It appears today is going to be okay. Just the trials of living in Uganda.
We have done many things since my last post. We attended the service at Ggaba on Sunday and it was great. I was aware that Pastor Robert wanted me to speak just a few words to them but Steve wasn't aware that he would be called on to speak as well. He looked for a moment as if he was going to throw-up but when this culture asks you to speak or eat you do it. He did a great job and Derrick thought it was so funny that he got to use a microphone. He just giggled. For the rest of the afternoon Derrick used a water bottle as a microphone and said at the top of his lungs (like he had seen at the service) Hawawuyah- Amen (Hallelujah) It was so funny to watch him. He raised his hand and closed his eyes...at least he was listening!
The service is held at Mercy Orphanage temporarily until we can build the church on the property. Mercy Orphanage is a horrible place where mostly boys are housed. It is really a blessing to them that the service is held under their shelter so that some adults will at least be there on a regular basis. This is the home where Edith's oldest brother, Asharaf, lives. When they saw each other both their eyes lit up and Edith ran to him. She didn't leave his side the rest of the afternoon, holding his hand the whole time. Steve and I both cried..it was the sweetest but saddest moment I have seen since we arrived. He has a great smile and gentle eyes. He is determined to be about 8 years old but I feel like he is more like 10. He went into his "room" area and was searching through piles of clothes to find something that he could wear to the service. Ugandans believe like the US used to, that you need to dress up to attend church. He was just looking for two socks that matched. His room is drab tan moist concrete and there were 8 bunk beds in there with very very thin mattresses and clothes hanging from a string across the ceiling. There is no power or water. There was a man cooking them a lunch in the metal part of a shovel ( which conducted the heat of the coals) in the corner. They were eating poshu (grit like substance) and what they were not eating the chickens, dogs and kittens were getting off the floor. I can hardly stand to look at this sight. I had visited here in December and I thought it was important for Steve to witness what some of these orphanages look like. It is unbelievable that there are children that actually live here day to day. Even more remarkable that they can have any sort of smile or positive attitude under these circumstances. Asharaf followed us to our car where they said goodbye. We gave him some food we had in our backpacks and he seemed very grateful. We will also need a sponsor for him as well. We have made sure to confirm to Edith that we will take care of him and make sure he has food and clothes. She was very sad when she left him. We will get to see him tomorrow when we participate in a VBS for the kids of Bweya village. She asked me while putting her to bed if we could send an airplane here to get him so that they could all be together..even Eddie. It is hard to imagine that in her 4 year old mind that she can even understand this but she does because she later told me that she had really nice clothes and he was looking and looking for something to put on. She said "Mommy he had a girl shirt on." I am not sure who felt more sad, Edith or us, for having to leave him there. We have identified him to Pastor Robert so at least someone can keep an eye on him and his condition.
We attended the worship with O'Brien, a college student that we sponsor. It has been nice to spend time with him and get to know him. He is so serious about his education and then returning to do social work in Kampala. He is hoping to work with the orphanages. He took us to meet his mother. She cried and hugged Steve and I like we were long lost family. She kept saying bless you bless you. She has raised 5 children alone and O'Brien has commented several times how strict and hard she was on them. Her discipline and love has apparently worked. Three of the five kids have attended a University and one is in the Ugandan service. They all went to school from grade school to University level through sponsorship programs. They live in Uganda and visit her regularly. She invited us into her 2 room cement home and immediatly fell down on her knees to the floor. That is a cultural response but one that makes you want to do the same. I joined her and she spread out a mat and served us sim-sim, nuts and black tea. We had just eaten lunch but it didn't matter. It reminded me of my dear MawMaw, when she said here eat this you just did it. What is so endearing is the "mom" was serving us something that is special and a treat to them. She didn't partake and sent the rest of the sim-sim home with us. Sim-Sim is a very tiny seed that almost tastes like sunflower seeds. They were actually delicious and I have eaten the rest of them. "Mom" kept telling us how thankful she was to have her son be able to finish school and then when we left she called me "Mom O'Brien" and hugged and kissed us again. She was wonderful and I told O'Brien I would like for her to be my grandmother. She had a gentle spirit and a puffy body that was easy to hug.
I am going to visit her tomorrow after we finish our VBS. I will take her picture so I can put her on the blog.
Monday we visited the US Embassy for our final interview. We arrived at 1:30 and left at 4:30. It went well and we can pick up the kids visas on Wednesday. We are trying to find out information about a flight home and how quickly that can happen. I almost can take a sigh of relief knowing that I am seeing the end of this part of our journey. Now that the ekissa team has arrived it has made our stay more enjoyable. We are not able to join them on all the missions opportunities because it just wouldn't work with the kids. We are all getting to go tomorrow so we are looking forward to that.
This morning I received a much needed sign from God. I was talking to Sarah about adoption and how it had been as well as what our future will look like. Her advice is priceless with two adopted children of her own. As we were talking Derrick woke up and called to me from the other room..."momma." I knew it wasn't Edith and Derrick has called me that when Edith has, but not to actually call FOR me. It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard. I knew in that moment that this would be okay and that I can do this. I have to admit that these days have been hard on many levels. We are really beginning to learn about the kids and their likes and dislikes. It has been tiring to say the least and at times I have wondered what in the world we were thinking. But there are moments now that I know why we have adopted these two sweet children. They make us smile, laugh, look at life differently and will definitely keep us active. Besides I have realized that when God asks you to do something specific it is for an amazing reason.
It is not about Steve or me anymore but about giving these two children an opportunity to have a good, secure life in a family where people love them and take care of them.
I will post, if I can, as soon as we know flight information.
We are almost home!!!
Love-
Steve, Debbie, Edith and Derrickey
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