Due to the nature of
adoption in Uganda (and, frankly, the occasional craziness of the Ugandan
adoptive community), I chose not to share any details on our blog about our
adoption while we were still in process. But because this blog is the story of
our lives... I want to go back and fill in those empty spaces.
I'm backdating these...Today is 2/28/2012. But I'm dating this post from the day we got our first exciting adoption news...6/1/2011. The following is an email I sent my family that afternoon with
the subject line "NEWS."
****
It's fun to have some
news to share.
Last Wednesday we sent
our home study and other paperwork to Ug*anda to our babies' home (via Federal
Express, which is the only reliable way to post things, from what we've heard.)
I've been trying not to
be anxious, knowing that it should get there sometime this week (the 30th or
31st), and watching my email for a notice from the Babies' Home that our
paperwork is received, so we can be on the waiting list.
We've been in contact
with the babies' home since January or so - we knew they had a waiting list,
but also that not many families on the list are open to toddler/older boys so
we probably wouldn't be on it for too long: 6 months at the most. So I was
expecting to hear from them, "Paperwork
received, you’re on the waiting list.” It was also our understanding
that they do not do referrals or match families with children until you make
the first trip.
We heard from them this
morning.
They have all of our
paperwork, we are approved. And they would like to know when we would like to
come to Uganda to meet our child and begin the process. EEK! And YIPEE!!
** Additionally – we are
not going to make the following public knowledge yet. But they also have
matched us with a child. Here’s what the director of the Home said:
“ I therefore
have the pleasure to inform you that we have a healthy boy called Marvin
Kiggundu- 2 years old that we would like to match to your family for
adoption.”
We are completely
shocked. But my friend Brooke met Marvin when she was at the babies home for her adoption, and was able to show me a couple of pictures
of him that she took last year when she was there. Here's my favorite:
So apparently, and
obviously: LORD WILLING... in late July or early August Matt & I will be
flying to Ug*anda (that's about as early as we can imagine getting it together
to go...plus almost all of our college staff is out of the country until
mid-July.) To meet our SON.
Please pray:
- For CALM. This is
surprising to us, but not to the Lord.
- For WISDOM: When
to go, how to work out the logistics of travel, care for our boys, etc.
- For my passport:
We applied for renewed passports a long time ago, but I sent in a
copy of our marriage license instead of certified copy or the original.
Don't know what I was thinking... But we just heard from the passport office
yesterday that we need a certified copy - so I need to get a certified copy
from Brazos County, turn that in, and who knows how long it will then take them
to process it. Matt's came last week. :(
- For finances:
We've been working and saving like crazy, and the Lord has provided JUST what
we needed each step of the way. But for this first trip, we need between $7K
and $8K - $4K for travel, and another $3-4K for legal fees to get the
adoption/legal guardianship process started.
I could get totally
freaked out about that, but I'm determined to trust the Lord. He has provided,
and He will provide. And the timing of our saving/working/raising funds is
completely in his hands.
Thanks in advance for
your encouragement and prayer! LOVE LOVE LOVE you all!
