One more thing...

Remember how I wrote about Dorie's sweet prayers a few days ago? How she is so thankful for everything?

Here was last night's prayer:

"Dear Jesus, Sank you so much for paper no come for go to America..."

I started to giggle when she said that, and then I stopped. I thought about it. Yes, I need to be thankful that we did not get our visa. God's plans are better than ours. If God let me dictate the events in my life, I'd be in a heap of trouble. I am thankful that He is in control.

So thank You, Lord, that our paper no come!

Worries?

For those of you who have expressed concern over my mental state, thank you. :) I am fine. My faith has not waivered in light of this recent development. If anything, my faith is strengthened.

God does not guarantee an easy path in life. He just promises to be with us and to guide us along the path He has chosen for us. He is guiding me, and even though it's not so simple, I know He is with me. He can see what lies ahead, and He can see what is best for Dorie and for me. So I rest in Him.

If we had gotten the visa yesterday, I would have been singing of His faithfulness. However, the fact that we did not get the visa makes Him no less faithful. One of my favorite scriptures has always been:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

Disappointing Day at the Embassy

I am so thankful that my God is never surprised. That makes days like today bearable.

Our interview at the Embassy seemed to go very well, but the end result is that our file is going to be deemed "not clearly approvable" and will be sent to Nairobi for further review. The estimate is that it will take 30-60 days for a final decision to be made.

God is good and He is in control.

Big Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is THE day...our visa appointment at the Embassy. I am excited. I am nervous. I am overwhelmed.

Please be praying for us. Our appointment is at 2:30pm here, which is 4:30am in California. I certainly don't expect you all to wake up to pray for us (though you are welcome to!), but if you could remember us in your prayers before you go to sleep, we would appreciate it greatly.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day of waiting for the afternoon to roll around!

Jinja

We had such a nice time in Jinja! We had planned to stay for one night, but were having such a great time that we decided to stay for two!

We were able to meet up with some longtime family friends who were on a missions trip. We arrived on Saturday morning and got to spend all afternoon swimming! Dorie is getting so comfortable in the water and would swim every single day if she could. Sunday we went to church and then visited the Amani Baby Cottage. If you've been reading my blog for any time, you know I had originally applied to adopt from there. It was such a sweet time to meet everyone there, and for Dorie and I to hold tiny babies! When we got back to our hotel, Dorie told me, "Mom, you need two girls. Me and the baby." So cute! I told her that I hoped we'd come back and find her a Ugandan sister someday.

On Monday we enjoyed a boat ride on Lake Victoria and at the Source of the Nile. I definitely enjoyed all the birds and butterflies, but Dorie was more interested in latching and unlatching her life vest. We headed back to the swimming pool at our hotel, which overlooked the Nile. Wow! To top it off, they were playing familiar worship tunes!

It was a wonderful couple of days to just be "us." As we were swimming yesterday I looked at Dorie and was amazed at how far we've come. We can just be together and have so much fun!

Heard At My House

Me: Dorie, close your eyes. You need to go to sleep.
Dorie: (silence)
Me: Come on, Dorie, it's late. Go to sleep.
Dorie: Mom, my eyes is say am no tired.

Sweet Prayers

I love to hear Dorie pray. She has a raspy, deep voice. I love it. But the sweetest part is listening to what she has to say to Jesus.

She didn't know how to pray when I first met her. So every night, I would pray. But we had a conversation a few weeks ago, and I told her that praying is just talking to Jesus. I said that she could tell Him anything. Thank Him for what He has given her. Ask Him for what she needs. Now, we both pray. And I am so blessed by her prayers. They are becoming so much more personal and I know our Savior is enthralled with her.

Her prayers start the same every single time:

"Dear Jesus, Sank You so much. Sank you for papers coming for go to America. Sank You Jesus."

That used to be the end.

Tonight, her prayer was long. She just sat and thanked Jesus for every single person she could think of (even herself!). She thanked him for today. She thanked Him for a million little things. And I had a realization: she doesn't ask for anything. She only praises Him for what He's done and what He's going to do. Notice that she is already thanking Him for her visa?

Oh, how I wish I could be more like that with the Lord! I want to thank Him and to be constantly rejoicing in every gift He gives! I want to live in faith that what He has promised, He is faithful to give.

I'd love to hear how the Lord is blessing all of you...would you please post a comment and tell me one thing you thank Jesus for today??

Visa Appointment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I received the long-awaited email....we have a visa appointment for Wednesday at 2:30pm! Now I can feel nauseous for the next five days while we wait.

I am so excited but also so nervous! Please do not stop praying for us.

I know I said good news was coming soon, and I still believe it is...it just hasn't come yet. Trust that I will post as soon as I know something!

Dorie is in her final week of school before 3 weeks of "holidays." Out of 40 kids in her class, a whopping 4 showed up today! She loves school and with that ratio she's getting a lot of one-on-one attention. Tomorrow she goes for just the morning. I'm hoping it's a hot day so that I can pick her up after school and we can go for a swim. Last night in her bedtime prayers she asked God to let her go swimming!

This weekend we are headed to Jinja (the Source of the Nile) for a little getaway. The mother of one of my childhood friends is coming to Uganda on a missions trip, so we're going to go visit her. It will be a nice change of pace for us.

Thanks for all your prayers!

Another Heard At My House...and a little update

Dorie has been learning the word "obey." Yesterday she was listening to "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" on my iPod and she started belting out:

Dorie: "Yes obey the Name of da Lowd; yes obey Your Name...."

We are expecting some very good news early this week. Stay tuned!

Heard at My House

I'm borrowing this idea from my friend Keltie. Kids say the funniest things sometimes, so every now and then I will post some of Dorie's best.

Here is our conversation last night:
Me: Dorie, you have to go to bed early tonight. You have exams tomorrow.
Dorie: (gasp and smile) I LOVE exams!
Me: You do?
Dorie: Yes! I want big exams! So big! Big from Liana's house to here.
Me: Dorie, do you know what exams are?
Dorie: Yes.
Me: What are they?
Dorie: (pause) No, I don't know, Mom. You tell me?

Finding God's Rest

The sermon this morning was on finding God's rest. About His peace that passes all understanding. It reminded me that last week I wrote this in an email to one of my best friends:

I have to say that I can look back at my life and thank God for giving me so many opportunities to wait. He has taught me such patience. He has taught me to completely trust in Him. He has proven Himself faithful through so many circumstances in my life. And now, in this season of waiting in the unknown, I find that all of those experiences have prepared me. Don't get me wrong...it's not easy, but I have to say that it's not that bad. I am peaceful. I trust Him more than I ever have before. It is precious and I am so thankful!

Dorie is doing so well lately. She is becoming so obedient and well-mannered. She makes me proud. I love being her mommy!

Back "Home"

We are back in Uganda after a short (too short!) visit in Rwanda. Dorie is off to school today and the teacher informed me they are beginning their exams. Yikes!
We were able to visit at the ABC meeting...nearly 200 kids were there. I was so happy to see my "boy" Hassan! Look at how tall he is! I can't believe how much of a man he has become...17 years old! Wow! Dorie was so shy at first, but then kept asking me where Hassan was. She loved her "brother."








I was surprised that Dorie kept hiding her face, because although the room was full, it was all kids. She was pretty overwhelmed, poor baby. I felt bad for her, but it was so important for me to see all the ABC kids, and for her to meet them too! Once I asked her to help pass out the soap, she was fine. She loved being a helper! I am thankful that my sweet daughter has such a generous spirit.


If anyone would like more information or is interested in sponsoring a Rwandese child through our ABC program, please visit our website at: http://www.abcrwanda.org/

He is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

Dorie and I came to Rwanda to celebrate Easter with all of my "family" here. It has been a precious time for me to be back here after a year and a half. Everyone is so excited to meet Dorie, too!

Dorie got her first plane ride--just 45 minutes, so it was a nice introduction to flying. She loved it! She's so dramatic I really thought she might play it up a bit, but she didn't. She was just plain excited. It was fun for both of us!

Pastor Francis and his family have welcomed us into their home and we have been enjoying his beautiful kids. I can't believe how much they've grown. Dorie is excited to have such fun new friends, too! They are correcting her English and really having a nice time together. I love it!

I can't post photos yet, but I will later.

Please be in prayer for some things that are coming...praying that God still parts that Sea!