Sorry, it has taken me so long to do this post, but as usual life just gets in a spin and I am trying to keep my head above water ... As most of you saw on FB, we got our verbal ruling from the Judge (yeah) ... Waiting on the written ruling to take for our passports ... I am very thankful to the friends in Uganda helping me with this process from afar  ... YOU GUYS ROCK !!

Now on to Lesson #3  ... Many of you may remember the story of JaJa Grace on Katie's blog ... She is an elderly woman, who is lame, blind, and HIV positive ... She is a very frail looking woman ... Katie had moved her from her dirt hut closer to her home so she could look after her better and make sure she was getting food and water ... Katie soon found out that the laws prohibit her from doing this w/out the permission of JaJa's family.  Katie went to get permission from the family and it was denied by the daughter ... It was very sad for Katie's heart, but she had to take JaJa back and this time she was going to a niece's home and the prayers were that the niece would be loving and kind to JaJa ... So one day all of Katie's girls, myself, Kristin, and Katie piled in the van to go move JaJa to her new home ... There are moments in your life that are etched in your mind like a picture and this day was one of them ... I walked w/ Kristin into the place where JaJa was living and carried her and all her possessions to Katie's van ... JaJa had the sweetest smile on her face as we lifted her into the van ... Then we gathered all her belongings, which was a mattress, small tub, and Walmart size bag ... THAT WAS IT ... After a long life this were all of her possessions ... We drove probably about 45 minutes away and with each passing minute Katie realized that JaJa Grace was going to be so far away that their visits would be infrequent and she was sad ... Katie walk into the house of the niece as JaJa Grace stayed in the van w/us ... I turned around and rubbed her leg and she just moaned this sweet voice and she began rubbing my arm ... I could tell she liked the touch of my skin to her hand ... I mean how many of us in this world desire and long to be hugged, cuddled, touched, or just patted on the back ... WE LONG FOR TOUCH ... I just starred at her and sent up a silent prayer ... (At the moment so hard to process) ... I was thinking, God this is one of your children ... She has been a warrior much of her life !!! I was begging silently that JaJa's niece would be a place of comfort and safety ... The thought of JaJa Grace being mistreated or forgotten was more than my heart could take ...

Katie came back to the car and they took JaJa Grace into her new home ... I saw people from other homes coming over and going into the house ... After about 30 minutes, Katie and Kristin came back to the van ... Katie was so excited that the niece was welcoming, kind, and generally happy to care for JaJa Grace, plus her neighbors had come over to lend their support and a helping hand ... They talked of fixing meals for JaJa Grace and helping in other ways ... PEACE ... thank you LORD !!!

JaJa Grace is one of those people I can't wait to meet in heaven ... I want to hear all about her life and her love for the Father ...

JaJa Grace ... I will never forget your sweet moaning !!!


Kristin (angel on earth), Katie (my sister) and me of course ... I mean how cool do we look in our 147 Gear !!!  I adored staying at Katie's house and hanging w/ these two fabulous sisters !!!

What do you say when a child bows to you and thanks you for a plate of food ???  Just think on that a moment ... A child who may go hungry with out the help of ministries like Amazima ... They lined up all 300 plus of them and every single one bowed their precious head and thanked me for their plate of food ... I wanted to hold each one and thank them for giving me HOPE in a world that screams look out for number one ... I wanted them to know they were changing my life, my family, and the legacy we would leave behind ... I saw my spiritual sons and daughters in Africa ... I am called to love them and it was a pleasure to meet them finally !!!


 It took me about 3 days of looking at extreme poverty for God to impart some wisdom on me with regards to NEEDS versus WANTS ... I saw middle school boys wearing dresses that looked like something we wore to church in the 80s, I saw children in tattered dirty clothing, I saw bare scared feet, I saw flies swarming children's smiling faces, and I saw eyes so bright with joy that it made me jealous ... You see on day 3 God told me to stop imparting my way of life, my comforts, my judgements on what I thought was  a good quality of life and look into my sons and daughters faces ... That sweet boy in the dress didn't care !!! His needs were met !!! The children were leaving Saturday worship/feeding w/ Katie happy, a new story about Jesus, and w/ a full belly ...

Now don't get me wrong there are still NEEDS in their life that will need to be met and as our sons and daughters we need to do everything we can to love on them in that way ... I replaced so much sadness and pity that I had in my heart with LOVE and COMPASSION ... These children are truly warriors for Christ and they are changing the community around them with the JOY and LOVE for Jesus ...

When they prayed aloud their voices rung in my soul and I imagined heaven sounding a lot like the prayers I heard in Uganda ... DEEEAAA Jesus (oh that sweet sweet accent)

Enjoy the pictures and look into the faces of children you will see one day in Heaven !!!

I have been home less than 48 hours and I still can't believe I was just in Uganda ... I am going to take the next few days to record the things I saw and how God helped me to process it so I could see His deeper purpose for our family's life ...

Meeting the women who make our magazine bead necklaces is one of the all time highs of my life ... Katie and I drove to meet the women in this mud/stick hut church.   They meet every Tues/Thurs. to discuss prayer requests, bring their necklaces, and discuss the next step in their journey ... The week before Katie had told the women that I was coming and when each woman walked in they came to hug me and thank me (they called me THE VISITOR) ... I was immediately humbled and thanked them for their hard work ...

After all the women arrived we sat down and Katie had each woman share her story and how her life had been transformed by being a part of the bead making program ... It was at this point that I completely felt the power of the Holy Spirit engulf my heart ... Each woman shared how difficult her life was before and how feeding their children was next to impossible  ... When they shared of how they would dig in trash for food, dig in trash for things to sell so they could buy food, or how they had no hope in their future then Auntie Katie and THE VISITOR came along to change their life ... This picture became very real to me sitting there in the circle with them... It was seriously more than I could handle ... I turned to Katie at one point and said "I may no make it w/out a complete breakdown." BROKENNESS AND JOY !!!  I so wanted to hold my composure because I think my crying would have really interrupted the moment ... I wanted them to feel comfortable and confident in sharing ... We had one of the women translating for everyone and I so wanted to be able to understand them w/out the translator ... I wanted to meet them on a personal level ... I wanted them to know that I was their sister !!!!  One day in heaven we will all speak the same language ...

One thing I will never forget as long as I live is how each woman prayed for ME ... They asked God to keep me safe, to bless my family, and for God to find favor on our mission ... I could look around the room knowing that each of these women live in a one room dirt hut w/ no running water, no electricity, no kitchen and so many more NOs, yet the JOY and HOPE they now have is beyond anything I can describe ... They were proud of what they were accomplishing now by providing for their families ... They were joyful in the hope they can provide for their children ... It was an honor to meet them ... They inspired me as a child of the KING ...

It was a priceless day ... and as we were leaving 1/2 of the women jumped in Katie's van to go to the bank to make a deposit in their NEW accounts !!!  Katie and Tamara are teaching the women about saving ... When I say that Katie is helping these women on so many levels that is an understatement ... She isn't just buying necklaces and leaving ... She has invested into each family and is there to support them on so many levels ...  It is amazing to be a part of this relationship ... These are moms just like me wanting to show their children Jesus, hope, and provide for them ...

I just left w/ the amazing urge to sell necklaces to everyone in America ... I wanted to be able to show you a window into their life ... I want you to feel connected to these amazing sisters in Christ !!!

I am home in America, but a piece of my heart is still in Uganda !!! I am off to run errands today w/ Emily and Maggie (missed all those hugs and kisses) ... I will post tonight pictures, heart changes, and so much more ... This trip was definitely a NEHEMIAH experience ... FINDING A DEEPER MEANING IN THE PURPOSE THAT GOD HAS FOR OUR FAMILY and knowing other bricks He has called us to lay to help rebuild the wall  !!!

There is so much to share, but I have a feeling I will not do any of it justice ...

My precious Joseph and Daisy are doing so well ... The judge was there so court was a success ... We will receive our verbal ruling on April 23rd (coming home on the 16th) and will return when all the paper work is filed, passport is ready and consulate appointment is made (probably around May 5th or so) ... I can't tell you how hard it is to leave them each night ... They cry for me and I cry as I walk out of the gate ... They are w/out a doubt Oatsvall's ... Joseph loves to dance to the ipod and Daisy walks around singing or humming a tune ... They are so funny and love to have me chase them around ANY AND EVERYWHERE ... The trips to Kampla have been hard on them as they are so ultra stimulanted easily !!! I can't wait for them to come home and meet their Daddy (Daisy asks for him each day) and their brothers / sisters !!! So please continue to pray for all of our hearts as we continue this journey to bring our precious children home ...

Now on to Katie's ... WOW, where to begin - in just the few shorts days of being here I have meet and touched sweet JaJa Grace (see Katie's blog about her) and moved her to a new home ... As she rubbed my arm, tears just came down my face .... She is a precious God fearing, God loving elderly woman, who is lame, blind, and has HIV .... Katie has been taking care of her until we moved her to live w/ her niece ... Her eyes had a sparkle in them and I keep asking myself why with the hard, lonely life she has been living ! The answer is quite simple though ... SHE LOVES JESUS ...

We took all our children to church Easter Sunday ( yep, 17 children ... the Hannah's and Bobby went also) ... After church we headed to Renee's for the day ... She is another young woman changing the world one life at a time ... She runs a home for babies dying of starvation ... She brings them into her home and helps them to gain weight, get healthy and educates their mothers ... When they are at the right birth weight they go home ... I held, loved, cuddle and cried over Beckem and Sarah that day as Joseph and Daisy played w/ all the kids in the yard ... These angels were 14 months and 18 months old weighing about 8lbs each  ... I just walked outside as I cried and called Scott ... I was so emotionally overwhelmed by being w/ Joseph and Daisy, taking JaJa Grace to church and then holding these babies that I just couldn't hold it in ...

A huge highlight of my days is hanging w/ Katie's girls ... They sing in the van, give amazing hugs, and their sweet sweet accent is to die for ... They all pitch in around the house and let me tell you it takes all of them to keep this ship running ... Dinner time is comical !!!! I am proud to be their Auntie !!!

Tomorrow I will be going to visit the Karamojong women who make the necklaces we sell at 147millionorphans.com  ... I feel like it will be the trip of a lifetime ... I can't wait plus we will be visitng the feeding program for the children ... I just keep praying for God to teach me all He has for me and to keep my heart focused on Him ... To say I have seen poverty is an understatement ... I am not sure I could ever process it all, but I know if we all do something then God will take it and use it for His glory !!!

Katie (plus Tyler !!! who rocks) is truly making a difference and not just in the feeding, teaching, and helping, but in the hearts of the people in Uganda ...

I have enjoyed getting to know the Amani staff, volunteers, and mamas ... Walking in each day to pick up Joseph and Daisy is the highlight of my day !!! They run to me w/ big smiles and grab my hand to go ... Not sure if they truly are in love w/ me yet or just want to go get a Fanita drink !!!! hee hee ... I know I have kissed them about a million times and I pray God shows their heart how much I love them and how excited I am for them to come home !!!

Big Huge Shout Out to my main man !!!! Scott thank you for always saying the right thing when I call or text ... You are my ROCK in this world and I apprecaite you holding the fort down w/ Nana (who also ROCKS).... Miss you Jeremiah, Elijah, Emily, and Maggie !!!

More tomorrow !!!

I talked with Gwen today. She is doing great and has visited with Joseph and Daisy and fallen more deeply in love with them. Please pray that everything goes well for her court date on Tuesday. Here is a sneak peak at the video of them in Uganda. Love and Blessings. click the link below to see video. Please  pray for coach O as I defend home court without my star player.

Scott

 I am sitting on the cutest quaint little front porch you have ever seen eating breakfast waiting for our driver to arrive to take us on the 3 hour trip to see our children !!!  I arrived safely last night after over 30 hours on a plane and sitting in terminals  !!!!   I simply can't believe the moment has arrived ... I am praying Psalm 144:2 and would love for you to join me !! I promise to update you as soon as I can ... I can't thank you enough for all your prayers and phone call ...

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ... I feel like I could scream I am so excited !!! Today so many dreams come true ... Seeing my sweet Joseph  and Daisy, hugging Katie, meeting her girls, walking the streets and seeing all God has for me !!!

My cup runneth over !!!! Scott, Jeremiah, Elijah, Emily, Maggie and Nana I LOVE YOU ....