Now THAT's Church!!

Yesterday, we had a great church service in a small village. There was a lot of worship and singing and dancing and offering and teaching (by Pastor Dwight). I loved it. The little church was packed. People just kept coming! And there were hundreds of kids. We started sitting them on our laps because there was no more room.

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After Dwight taught, we invited folks to come forward to pray. Sarah and I prayed together for at least half a dozen women. The first woman that approached us was a sweet woman who appeared to be in her 50s or 60s, but after I met her children later, I'm not so sure. I asked her, "what do you want prayer for?" All she said was, "AIDS." Bam. That hit me like a load of bricks. As she started to weep, I started to bawl. How do I pray for someone with AIDS, Lord? Help! I know the answer, and I prayed like I've never prayed before. For healing from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. I prayed and prayed. And she wept. It was powerful and wrenching. I will never forget her and I will pray on.

Days one and two

Internet is sketchy over here, to say the least, so I'm not even going to try to upload pictures until I get home. We got to Uganda on Friday afternoon and all of the luggage made it (praise the Lord!) with the exception of Emma's guitar. UGH! But we are thankful for all of the other supplies that did make it.

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We left the airport and headed to our first hotel. At the airport, we were greeted by the African Hearts team who we are working with this week. I'm so impressed by the work they are doing with street children and to help orphans in Uganda. The "My Journal" blog on the right is written by Jess, one of the workers here. She rocks!

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The ride from the airport was a great way to see Uganda. Took about an hour and was beautiful. Uganda is lush and green and the people are stunning. It reminds me of many third world countries like India or Costa Rica or Tijuana. The Ugandan people are extraordinarily kind and friendly. It makes walking around (or riding) a load of fun. :-)

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We had a great dinner at a place close to the hotel and hit the sack. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep much more than two hours for the second night in a row, so I feel the weariness coming. Also, if you could say a prayer or two for Pastor Dwight, he is very sick and we need him well!!

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Today, we worked at African Hearts -- building a building and planting trees. Lots of mud and fun. The boys that stay at the house where we were working are complete dolls. Former street kids who have found a home at African Hearts. They took my camera for an hour or two so I'm filled up with adorable pictures of each of them and our hard work. Can't wait to show you. God is really working there.

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From there, we went to visit a new orphanage started by some Americans. They have 12 (?) kids or so who range in age from about 6 - 12. Suffice it to say, I have a seven year old that I'd like to bring home with me. They will be approved for adoptions in about two months. Pray.

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Then, the baby home (orphanage). It's almost too much to write about here. They have probably 50 kids and the conditions are not great. That's an understatement. I hated it there. And loved it. So, I have about fifteen other kids ranging from new born to 7 that I want to bring home. Oy. I jest, but only a little. After seeing where these children are, it is hard not to feel moved. It is hard not to think that I need to move mountains to bring these kiddos home to forever families. Let's face it, it's just plain hard. We can't take pictures there and I understand that. On the other hand, I had this idea about orphanages -- and it wasn't any utopia -- but seeing it and working in it and snuggling in it. . . . . That's a completely different story. The kids all called me "Mama." That doesn't help. People, they need homes. Consider it. Do something about it. If you aren't called to adopt, GIVE. So someone else doesn't face the financial burden of doing so without help.

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Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm sure I'll have more to say, but not now. Mosquitos are waking up and it's almost time to eat. Things are great here and, as you can see from Seth's blog, http://sethcameron.blogspot.com, things are great there too. Hope to post again tomorrow night.

Safe

We are safe in Uganda. All is well. Can't wait to say more but we are off to bed.
Blessings!
Deb

Leaving on a jet plane

It's time to pack and get on my way. Seth was busy trying to "help" me, as only a two year old can. (sigh) It was his bedtime as well, and he often gets in silly mode around that time.

First he put himself here:

Then, he tried to figure out what a mosquito net is:

I could tell he was thinking, "Is this a choo-choo of some sort?" Oh brother.

Then I wanted one picture without the night-time paci. And the games began!

Oh how I love and will miss my munchie poo. :-)

There are no black people here

When I was 20 and 21, during college, I nannied for an African-American family in California during my summers. I worked for a great couple and their two wonderful kiddos. The first year I was there, Niki was 8 and Deric was 5. What fun we had!!

I remember one family outing -- riding a train North from the Bay area to a museum or a park or something along those lines. While I don't recall the purpose of our trip, I will always remember what five-year-old Deric said. We were sitting in the train station, watching people mill around, when Deric declared, "There are no black people here". Hmm, I thought as I quickly looked around. He has a point. We were in a pretty lilly white area. I told Deric that I agreed that in this area, there weren't many people with brown skin like him. Observant little buggar!

I've thought about that story a lot lately. In a few short hours, I leave for Uganda. I've wondered on this blog about living and working in Africa. That would make white skin the minority and Seth's beautiful brown skin the norm. But whether we move to Africa or not, Deric taught me an important lesson twenty years ago: in general, we are most comfortable relating to people who are like us. It's just the way it is. And like it or not, skin color still matters in this country. As Seth's mama, I need to keep this issue forefront in my mind, always working to keep Seth in places where he sees people like him and doesn't always have to feel different. Until we reach heaven, where all of this will seem so trivial. :-)

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"for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, [black nor white] for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:27-29

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

From one crazy duo to all of our friends!

Modern Day Prodigal Son

I hope you will take the time to read this inspiring story of a real-life prodigal son, written by a young woman living and serving in Uganda. I wept as I read this amazing story of hope and faith and answers to prayer!

http://ti-blan.livejournal.com/40310.html

Thank you, God, for hearing the cries of this mother!

And while you're at it, read this one too. God's ways are not always ours.....

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2010/05/marie-lourdes.html

Hmmm

I spend most of my days, now, getting ready for Uganda and dreaming about what this long-awaited trip might hold for me. Mom told me a few days ago that it has been more like 25 years since I first expressed a passion about Africa. So, this has been a long time coming!

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I have been a lawyer for 12 years. That just seems weird to me. It doesn't seem nearly that long. And as I explained to a friend over lunch today, I've had a wild ride of a career. I started as a Federal Prosecutor shortly after I finished law school -- Federal jury trials, investigations, appellate arguments, working with agents. It was a whirlwind of a great job! Then it was off to the newly created Inspector General's office where I was the number two in an office of (eventually) 46 employees, conducting investigations around the State and advising the Governor. After that, I joined Latham (my current firm) where I work on criminal defense and internal investigations for companies. All around, another great position.

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But over these 12 years, I've often felt my heart being drawn toward other things. Toward non-profit work or back to government work. Something that matters. Something that makes a difference. That journey led me to International Justice Mission (IJM) which is based in DC. You can check them out here: http://www.ijm.org/. It's a great organization with many lawyers who share my background! I've applied a couple of times for positions in DC and was told they really want me to go overseas for a couple of years first. (Darn, I thought, I'm not called to move overseas!)

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As my heart has been more and more pricked by God on these topics, I've become more open to other opportunities. I always keep my eye on IJM and what openings they have -- just in case.

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So yesterday, I was at my desk and thinking, "Hmm. I haven't checked up on IJM lately. I should see what openings they currently have. I wonder if they work in Uganda. If they had a posting for an attorney in Uganda, that might just be a God thing." I went to the website, and BAM. There, staring me in the face, is a posting for a Deputy Director in Uganda. Immediate opening. Hmmm.

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I'm not even sure where to put that or what to say about it, but I'm starting to pray now. I can create my list of reasons why I "can't" move to Uganda (or anywhere out of the country) and some of the reasons are good -- like our family is here and Seth needs to be close with Grandma and Papa. That's just the first in a long list.... But I also know God is bigger than all of that so I'm trying to trust that His plan is better and we'll see where it all goes.

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Lead on, Spirit, lead on.

More Adoption Thoughts

Is it semantics? Or is it a problem? I ask myself that a lot about adoption issues, particularly when the typical strange adoption questions or statements arise: How much did he cost? (Duh!). Where is he from? (Um, Chicago, where we live). Seth is so blessed; I'm so glad you saved him! (Really?!?!). This is Deb's adopted son, Seth. (Can he just be "my son?")

You see, I struggle with semantics because I think each of these issues can be addressed in a different (and more respectful) way: Can we discuss the fees associated with adoption? (Sure. I can point you to some helpful websites). Is your son adopted? (Yes, he is). Where did you adopt from? (The good ol' U. S. of A.). You and Seth must be a real blessing to one another. (You betcha!!)

I think the worst of the above may be this idea that I saved Seth. If you read the news these days, there is some fodder about Sandra Bullock "saving" her newly adopted son. I think that African-Americans in particular cringe at this "white savior" mentality that can get foisted on a family who adopts transracially, and I understand their concerns! It's not that I don't think Seth's life is different than it otherwise may have been, or that International orphans aren't better off here with forever families rather than in an orphanage with dozens of other children. Of course those things are true. I think my objection is that saying I "saved" Seth or that Sandra saved her son is that it somehow places us above others -- particularly others of a different race. It should not. At base, I think it is a remnant of the racial strife this country has faced, and I'm very concerned about inadvertently perpetuating that stigma. God commands us to care for orphans. We abide. Does that make us special? Or "saviors"? Nope. It makes us obedient. Does following God's other commands somehow elevate our position over others? Worthy of being called a savior? I think not.

Adoption can be a touchy thing. I don't want it to be. But the reality is that as Seth gets older, he will understand some of these comments and they could hurt him. If he thinks I "purchased" him, he may think I paid his birth mother enough to get him. Or that he is "valued" at some identifiable number. Ick.

Or what if Seth thinks I saved him? Or that he's "sooo blessed" that I adopted him? It might mean that I'm not broken. Maybe even that I don't need a Savior! Couldn't be further from the truth.....

So I appreciate people who try to use the right language and try to be loving to Seth and me, speaking respectfully of our family. We have no interest in being a spectacle. We just want to be a family.

:-)

Facts about Uganda

Here's some fun stuff I'm learning about Uganda.

• Uganda was named the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill.
• Because it was a colony of Great Britain until 1962, they speak English in Uganda and drive on the left side of the road.
• The world's third largest lake, Lake Victoria, is partially in Uganda.
• The Nile also cuts through Uganda.
• Coffee is the largest agricultural crop and Uganda's primary export.
• The country of Uganda is roughly the size of the State of Oregon.
• Five countries border Uganda including: Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania.
• Uganda's official motto is My God and My Country.
• Uganda is 84% Christian.
• Soccer is Uganda's most popular sport.
• The currency is called a shilling.

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Now to go see for myself! :-)