Ethiopia...

I'm going there. October of this year.

Check out the Lobsters in the Rough blog for more info... And start praying...

Last week while packing for San Diego, I opened the top zipper of my large suitcase, and found a pair of flip flops. Nothing special. Brown, from Old Navy. I'm sure I got them for next to nothing. I thought about why they were there...I took them out and took a look. It wasn't until I turned them over that I realized they were the shoes I wore the whole time I was in Africa. I knew because of the dirt. The dust. I threw those flip flops in at the last minute. I bought a pair of shoes specifically for the trip (which I never wore, of course), and those were an "in case" pair.

They saw miles of Ugandan dirt paths and roads. Fields where we danced with children, held them, made them laugh. The hut where my life was changed. The bus where countless hours were spent talking and laughing and crying.

I don't know what to do with them. I can't throw them out. I can't wear them. If I wear them the dirt and dust will come off, and the reality that I'm not in Africa, but here, will be that much more real. So, I took them across the country in my suitcase. I brought them back. And they are still there, in the zipper of my big suitcase. Maybe someday I'll do SOMETHING with them, but for now, I want to preserve the memories they hold for just a little longer.

Hey Jude...

Meet Jude.

I met him in the second to last village we went to. We were tired. And hungry. And the things we saw were just plain hard. (I know, woe is me, right??) Then we came to his village, Kabermaido. Anyone (that I know) will tell you that children in Africa are, hands down, the most well-behaved children you will ever see. These were no different. After we got off the bus, they had seats waiting, and the village "director" gave a pretty good speech about what these children need, etc. Then we all introduced ourselves.

Jude sat right in front of me. The whole time, except when he prayed (see above photo), his eyes NEVER left mine. I didn't know what to do. He was older than any child I had connected with on the trip. I waved him over, still unsure what exactly I'd do when he got to me. He stood RIGHT next to me. His tiny leg touching mine.

So, I did what any momma would do, I lifted him up and sat him on my lap. And he didn't move an inch. When the time came for Amy and I to go back to the bus to get the donations, he stood outside the window of the bus and stared at me. His little eyes never left me.

And they still haven't. I see him everywhere. He comes to me in my sleep. I wonder what he's doing in tiny Kabermaido, Uganda, while my children watch "G-Force" and play in the snow.

I pray that he's provided for. That his belly is full. That he knows love. I miss him, wish to see him again someday.

He'll never leave me.

Isaia,63:9

Aponi kiticanai nges kaiticaniokec kere,

Koyu kes koimalaikaneke,

Abu kolaku kes kotoma aminake ka akeitim da,

Kodakenenei kibwokenenei da kes aparasia kere nukasonya.

(This is the Ateso translation of Isaiah 63:9...our pastor spoke on it Sunday and it was the verse I needed to speak to the feelings I've had since our return from Uganda...

Isaiah 63:9

In all their affliction He was afflicted,

And the angel of His presence saved them;
In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them,
And He lifted them and carried them all the days of

old.

I miss the sound of your voice....

Not a day goes by when I don't miss something about Uganda...it hits me in weird ways, not always the same thing...

I miss these huts where my life was changed...

I miss these tree where villages do community...

I miss the dirt roads of Uganda...and the bumpy bus rides, and talks and tears and laughs....

I miss these faces!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO full of joy in the middle of desperation that most people can never imagine...

I miss the sights along the road, as hard as they were to see sometimes....

I haven't blogged much...ok, at all....about my experiences there. They are still a raw wound (in a good way) on my heart. I want to keep these memories just mine for a while...

Just the beginning...

We are back from Africa. My apologies for not blogging while we were there. The internet was spotty, at best, and I didn't want to use too much of it by uploading blog posts (*cough* Amy :) ). I have so much to say, so much that I saw and did, but also so much that I am still processing. However, I thought I'd share this sweet story as a teaser...

If you know my sweet Ava at all, you know she sucks her thumb. And has to have her mamie (blanket) in order to do it. (In fact, when I wash it--which is rare--she cries "HOW am I opposed to suck my sumb????) She has had two mamies since birth. One is "regular" and one is "poppy" (see photo). She never really differentiated between them until recently, when the regular one is preferred. But, if I should have to break down and wash it the poppy one works in a pinch.

So, she loves her mamie and has a very hard time giving them up. While preparing for our trip, I had a huge suitcase in the middle of the living room with donated items; pencils, underwear, toys, etc. Katie Davis lives there with her AMAZING 13 (14 currently) girls that she is adopting. Amy and I decided it would be nice to spoil them, so we divvied up the number of toys needed for her girls, and collected things for them. This said suitcase was in the living room for 4 or so days, open, for the kids to see. They sometimes got upset because I was putting in it some of their toys that they don't play with, and that were still close to brand new. One day, Ava collected her poppy mamie and, as I packed and rearranged the items, placed it on top and said "I want a baby girl in Africa to have my poppy mamie." I was stunned, proud and more stunned. This is like a smoker giving up his last cigarette. She loves these blankets. I explained to her that if I took it that it would be very far away and she would not get it back. She said she knew that, but she has another one, and likes it, and that "a baby girl in Africa doesn't have any poppy mamie's. " For a minute she got sacrifice better than I did.

So, the poppy mamie flew to Africa with us. Neatly folded, it journeyed over three continents, waiting for a sweet baby girl's love.

We went to Katie Davis'. She has 14 of the most beautiful, well-behaved, amazing girls I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Her newest (temporary??) addition, Baby Patricia, captivated my heart from the second we got off the bus. She is nearly a year old, and weight about 6 kilos (~12 pounds). She has the sweetest face ever. EVER. And, she loves Katie, and would NOT let me hold her. Cried for everyone but Katie. As she was gently lulled to sleep in Katie's arms, it struck me that THIS was the baby girl in Africa that should get Ava's poppy mamie. Katie put her down in her little Moses basket and covered her with her current, not-so-soft, polyester blanket. I told Katie the story about Ava and the blanket and asked her if it would be ok to give it to Baby Patricia. OF COURSE, was her response. I went in the quiet house, to the basket in which she quietly slept, and gently covered her with it.

Dan or I (can't remember) put the above photos of Patricia with mamie on Facebook, and the next morning as Ava woke up, Grandma showed them to her. She immediately exclaimed "there's my poppy mamie!! I told my mom to give it to a baby girl in Africa!!!"

FYI....

In case you hadn't heard, I am going to AFRICA tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! With Amy, and Ben and Dan and some other AMAZING people. We are visiting orphanages, carepoints and an AIDS Hospice. I truly covet your prayers while we are gone. Prayers for: our children (I think everyone on this trip has children), their safety while we are gone; for our team to gel and get along, to be able to have a blast and be real amidst what may be very difficult situations; for our flights to be smooth, and us to meet all our connections with time to spare AND to be able to sleep on the flights. But mostly, for God's will to be done in each of us.

Thank you!! Check back for updates.... Love to you all!!