While I'm Waiting

Have you heard the song, "While I'm Waiting"?

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
-John Waller from the movie Fireproof

I remember waiting. Waiting for the call that we were matched with a child. Waiting for the call that when they were sick with malaria they recovered from malaria. Waiting for the call which gave us our court date. Waiting to call home while in Uganda to say, we are now officially a family and we're coming home!

While you are waiting... would you consider working on behalf of the poor, the vulnerable, the orphan, the widow? What would I suggest? Thanks for asking!

www.hopemongers.org

Press release: http://tinyurl.com/yezukja

Together for Adoption

Right now the Together for Adoption Conference is going on. I am enjoying listening to the livestream... and thought you may as well!
www.livestream.com/togetherforadoption

Contact info

Please refer to the Monday, March 9th post if you need contact info for anyone.

Updates?

It has been so long since something was added. Maybe this is just for my benefit. Prayers are being answered as many families we've corresponded with are bringing home new family members. There is some adjustment on the court, according to our attorney, but for now things are flowing as smoothly as they can for African adoptions.

For those of you who have come home or are coming home with new family members, remember to send photos for Jena and me. We desperately want to put together an album of those we know who have been in correspondence and benefited from the site.

All of you continue to pray for Patrick (see the guest house info for the "who") as his daughter was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus, where the aorta and vena cava are joined and the blood mixes. Bad. We continue to look for a pediatric heart surgeon here in the States that may be able to do the procedure to correct it on a pro bono basis. She is being tuned up by a Ugandan cardiologist for commercial travel, but the surgery is through-the-roof expensive. Ask friends or colleagues for referalls and references. Let us know.

God Bless.

Sanyu Babies Home

We heard some things this week that made us concerned about using Sanyu. Some changes that didn't seem reasonable. We listened, prayed and then went right to the source. Barbara assured us that the rumors just weren't true. Nothing really has changed.

You can't show up to Sanyu without paperwork (starting the homestudy,etc.) and be matched with a child. Once you have your paperwork in order, which means you are serious about this legal guardianship process, then you can take the Sanyu steps to obtain a referral.

Getting through the homestudy and immigration process can take some time. I understand it's hard to wait. But once that part is complete, it is surely an appropriate time to rejoice when you get the gift of a referral!

So for all those sending emails asking if we still support using Sanyu... our answer is a big old YES!

All Done

That's right. I just got it in the mail. We are officially done with our adoption process. I got to call Jena on her way to a Uganda orphan care conference she organized in Raleigh. I made her cry while driving:) Our children are now U.S. citizens, as fully a part of our family as our biologic children according to the State of North Carolina. Congratulations on our two new ones! It's like it's new all over again.

Have you thinking? Want to try? You can make a difference for that one...

Keith

Court Update

This is an email from an attorney in Uganda. It is edited slightly, with the bulk of the content left intact to maintain the attorney's privacy.

Hello Keith,

The problem we have now is of Judges.

The Judge heading the Family Division is not sympathetic to these applications. The Second one, a Lady Judge is very complicated. After the hearing of the application she may adjourn the delivery of the ruling for months. The third one is quite sympathetic but she is overloaded.

One word of caution on the homes from which to adopt children; the home must have been approved by the Ministry of Gender to care for children and very few Homes have been approved to do so.