"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."  Revelation 3:17

"Waiting"

"Skyping with Joel"

"Tubing at the Lake"

"Laurel and Shamria swimming"

Two days ago, my blended family was normal and I didn't even know it.  We had a routine.  We have traditions.  We work together to achieve a common goal, whether it's getting to an activity together on time, celebrating that we didn't get an 'opp's note' at school, etc.  Normal things that happen in every family that we have worked so hard to achieve have quickly become "our new normal".  We have worked through so much and it's really only been about 10 months.  This time last year, I dreamed of getting my two brown babies home safe and sound.  On Thursday, May 24th, 2012, two worlds collided, again.  I didn't know that was what was happening but guess who did?  The MAN upstairs... He knew because HE has brought two of HIS most precious children to Alabama.  Why did HE do this?  Because HE loves us...The meeting at the airport was again surreal.  It was not like when Joan and Derrick came home but it was ordained by God.  Their flights were not delayed.  I did not have the relationship with these children like I had with Joan and Derrick.  The circumstances are definitely different.  They are here for medical needs...that's what I told myself anyway.  That's what I prepared for by sending email after email...it's all about helping the poor, the fatherless...Right?  I didn't realize that I was "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked".  I'm going to journal as truthfully as I can because that is the only way I will be able to see truly how GREAT our GOD is.  As the girls were walking towards us, they had their heads down with "hoodies" on.  I couldn't see their faces.  I couldn't imagine their "excitement"...They looked exhausted and one of them looked scared to me.  I don't think she was but I would have been.  Maybe she was.   I reluctantly embraced them because they seemed so fragile.  I am a stranger to them.  They are a stranger to me.  They asked for two things before they left Uganda...Was there going to be ice cream on the plane and would Todd be at the airport waiting for them.  I don't know if they had ice cream or not but Todd was waiting for the girls at the gate and his excitement was contagious.  They were so happy to see him and Suzanne and we were all glad they finally made it safely.  We had a late lunch with Suzanne and a few others.  It was interesting to see the dynamics change immediately in my "new normal family".  I saw my brown children go back to Kabalagala.  Todd and I expected this.  If they were still living in Uganda, these 12 year old children would be my 5 and 7 year old children's care takers.  These 12 year old girls are considered "grown women" in their culture.   There is very little opportunity for them.  I'm sure they are in a bit of "culture shock".  So am I.   I will reluctantly share with you that Shamira will not look at me when she talks to me.  When I call her name, she sometimes runs from me and hides, even locked the door on me once...( I do know how to turn those locks around.  We had to do that with Laurel and Joanie :)  She is still on a different time zone and I'm sure that will get better quickly.  We are now teaching Joan and Derrick that  Shamira is "not the boss" of them and we are teaching Shamira that "Todd and I are the boss of her".  I can't imagine how conflicted she must feel.  She is not used to having a bed or a home like the one she's in now.  She has been protecting herself for 12 years...her entire life and now the "muzunga's" are trying to tell her what to do and what NOT to do...Maybe she'd rather be poor again but God said "NO".  He has blessed our lives with each other and I will obey HIM.  It will not be easy.  It is going to be exhausting but we will glorify the LORD with our suffering.  (I do think we are going to suffer.)  Unfortunately, God knows I drift if I'm not seeing HIS cross right in front of me.  I will see HIS cross through these precious children.  I pray that I can reflect the same unconditional love that HE has for me to them.  They are going to endure a lot.  There is no way they can comprehend this.  They are not supposed to.  I think it could be through the medical journey when they realize, "we need these muzunga's".  God has called our family to love them through it.  He knows we can and I pray that we will.  It will be a choice to love them well, not a feeling always.  We are trying not to look past today because that's all we have.  We took the girls to the lake.  They had never been swimming before and they were so excited.  They warmed up to the water as the day went on and they were sad to leave.  Every moment is a "disney world" moment to them.  They have had their first warm shower, ridden their first bike, eaten ice cream whenever they wanted, slept in beds, all things my prideful self think I deserve daily.  So, our Great Creator brought these girls to Eagle Valley Lane to once again reveal my pride because HE loves me and HE continues to pursue me.  I can't seem to talk HIM out of it :)

Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,

Amiee :)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

"HIS higher ways and HIS thoughts"

I usaually turn to this scripture for comfort when I am sad or when my flesh is weary because I have not gotten "my way". This morning as I am reading this scripture I'm reminded that I cannot comprehend the love the LORD has for me. Not only are HIS ideas that make my heart sometimes ache "higher than my ways" so is the joy that HE wants me to recieve. My children are proof of this. Today at 1:00, Coleman will no longer be a middle schooler but a "high schooler". Yes, I will be teary eyed when I pick him up. He was the most beautiful baby... He had the biggest blue eyes and yes, he was a "momma's boy". The LORD has given me Coleman to reflect the gentle spirit that the LORD has for me. Coleman is guided by a loving tone and he is not afraid to love others who are different from him. I cannot wait to see how the LORD will use Coleman for HIS glory.  Coleman, I'm so thankful God shared you with me.  Laurel will be a junior! Oh my goodness! I remember dropping her off at kindergarten with her little pink wire rim glasses and her beautiful blonde hair. God has given me Laurel to reflect HIS steadfastness in my life. She is loyal and she is constant. She is dependable and kind. Laurel doesn't waiver in her faith. The LORD is using her in a mighty way in my life.   I love you Lala!   Joanie, Joanie, Joanie... at 1:00 today, she will be a first grader! The child that had no language has run Mrs. B's kindergarten class this year. (Not really but she thinks she has.) God gave me Joan to remind me of HIS forgiveness of my sin. Even though she is still learning this concept (so am I by the way) I see glimpses of sin in my life of holding onto hate. Anything that is not love is hate. There is no grey area. As I walk beside Joanie through her trials, the Lord is continuing to show me my sin and through Joan, HE is teaching me to rely on HIM to meet all of my needs. She reminds me that my children are not my children...they are HIS and so am I. Derrick is my brown baby that NEVER stops talking. He says to me, "Momma, let me love your cheeks" then he pushes his little soft brown face to mine and holds me close. The LORD has given me Derrick to remind me that when I can't pray for myself, the Holy Spirit knows what I need and HE is interceding on my behalf. God gave me Derrick because Derrick is my unexpected mercy. When we said we would adopt Joan we didn't know that Joan had a little brother. God knew we needed Derrick and thankfully, we knew he was ours. Derrick brings laughter into our lives. He is the best dancer in the family! Today at 3:00, the Lord is bringing two more children into our lives. They are coming here so that their bodies can heal but I have no doubt, the LORD is bringing them to continue to heal my sinful heart. Please pray for Phionna and Shamira today. The LORD has prepared them for this journey.  I can't begin to imagine what they are thinking today. PLEASE lift them up as they come to the US for physical healing. Uganda is a looooonnnng way from here. I could make a long list of things that will be different for them. Our lives are about to change again and I'm thankful. God keeps moving me and stretching me.  I think that's where the wrinkles are coming from:)  I count everyone of them as a blessing.

Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,

Amiee :)

"Are we there yet?"

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

"Phionna and Shamira"

 We'll they are coming. I wonder if they have any idea where they are coming...how far apart we really are from Uganda.   Instead of asking, "Are we there yet?" on a trip Derrick asks "is it as far away as SOZO?". That trip makes every other trip seem easy. God does meet all of my needs...everyday. It's usually with others that HE meets my needs. Someone will send me a note that lifts my spirits and gets my focus off myself and reminds me of the glory that surrounds me. Someone stops by and prays for my children. Unexpected...that's what makes me smile. Unexpected...but shouldn't I expect it? Shouldn't I expect that "God will meet all of my needs according to HIS glorious riches in Chirst Jesus"? HE says HE will and I see it played over and over throughout my life. I have seen the glory of the Lord. I have no doubt where my blessings come from. I am called to "give it all away". As Coleman and I were talking the other day, I remembered that I am instructed to give away all that I have and all that I am. He didn't bless me abundantly with "things" for my pleasure. He gave it to me and commanded me to give "it" away. If I keep it ("it" is also "myself") I'm not being obedient. So, when Todd came home in January from Uganda and said, "Amiee, we have to help them. They are suffering and we have to help them." I had no idea what that was going to look like. I really didn't. The process started with praying...God will have to do this because I cannot. I must confess that deep in my sinful heart I didn't want to do it. Joan and Derrick have transistioned beautifully but ya'll, it's hard sometimes. It takes a lot of enerygy physically but also mentally. Is it worth it? Absolutely, but these girls have significant medical needs. Their wounds are deep. I can't wait to tell their stories to you. I've decided to wait until they are able to tell them to me and ask them if I can share with you. It's their news to tell. I'm hoping that they learn enough English that they can share their stories with you when you come by my house and meet them or meet us out for dinner:) God will reveal their testimonies and I can't wait! As the process of medical visa's began, HE put one person, then another person directly in my path and everytime I asked for help, the answer was "yes". Some of the people that have helped these girls get here I have never met. In fact, most of the doctors and nurses I have not met. They have seen photos of the children and read a few brief medical documents from Kampala. They don't know who I am or who the girls are but they know who HE is and they said "yes...of course I will help." Their enthusiasm was a "need" that God knew I had. I didn't have the energy to plead with people to help suffering children. God has brought together an amazing team of servants to help these girls. Get ready! We are about to witness healing through the body of Christ! Though the grace of God, I have witnessed spiritual healing in my life. The body of Christ is alive and well. I can't wait to meet the people that have agreed to be the hands and feet of Christ to these girls. By their obedience, they have healed my spirit...They have shown me once again that "I can't do it" but "HE can" and "HE will". 

Please lift up the girls this week, especially the faithful servant that is bringing them home. She's a college student that may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the responsibility of traveling with two extra companions but, our God is already working through that. We actually have a dear friend that will be on the same flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta with her so I'm hoping he can help them get through immigration. (I'm not sure we've told him yet that they will be on the same flight:) That was the most difficult part of our trip...getting back into the United States. Pray that they don't get motion sickness on the plane. I'm not sure if they have ever even ridden in a car. If they have, it's only been once or twice, maybe when they went to the doctor back in January with Todd and Suzanne. What perfect timing God has...they will be here the first day of summer. I will post more specific medical prayer requests when the time comes for testing and surgeries. The only thing I would ask for now is pray that they test negative for HIV. Whether they have it or not they will be treated but our prayer is that we can get them as healthy as possible before surgeries begin. HIV is treatable. I covet all of your prayers. That's what we need now. Pray for hearts to be prepared as we begin what God puts in front of us today.

 Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,

Amiee :)

"...It's complicated"

"And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness  before him all our days.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our Go whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace"  Luke 1: 67-79

What happens when two countries 8500 miles apart try to come together for the sake of children that are abandoned and need medical care?  It's complicated.  What happens when we are one document away from having medical visa's in hand?  It's complicated.  Yesterday, was complicated.  Today has already been more complicated than yesterday.  So many things went right but we didn't get the visa's.  We did everything we could but God said, "Not yet".  To me in my small, simple mind, it's complicated.  But as God has shown me time and time and time again, HIS ways are higher.  He's got this but tonight at 2:00 a.m. our time and 10:00 a.m. Uganda time it's complicated and I am tired.  I've lost track of the days and nights between Uganda and the US.  We are waiting on one document, one man, one travel companion and 2 visa's  so the girls can come to the US.  This really isn't that much but in Uganda, this one document could arrive within the next 5 minutes or the next 5 weeks.  You just never know.  Catherine and Jonathan did everything they could do to get these visa's.  We wouldn't be this close without them.  They were not able to change their flights.  Todd spent the entire afternoon trying to figure out a way that we could change their flights so they could all come home together but we just weren't able to work that out.  Our hope was that the girls would be on the plane home with them Thursday night.  Without the "one document" we could not be given the visa's.  The good news is, the girls will be granted visa's.  This document was not something listed specifically on the requirements.  It was not something that was asked for in the interview.  It was something that was asked for at the last minute.  We will get the document...no worries about that.  I'm thinking that God wants this process to touch a few more lives and I know HE will use this delay to refine my own sinful heart.  He has already brought new people into my path within the last 24 hours that I may have never known and I will use this delay for HIS glory.  The scripture above gave me so much hope as I am sitting her in my kitchen in the middle of the night asking God "why does this too have to be so complicated?"  I felt bitterness and resentment build in my heart thinking all day, "Now these children are finally going to get help and someone who has been a 5 minute boda ride from them wants to know whose been caring for them in Uganda???  Where have these people been during their suffering?  Now they want to protect them from doctors and people who will love them and care about them...Lord, I don't understand."  That was me, making this not about HIM. Those thoughts were me thinking my way was better than HIS.  That is a very good example of what me not trusting in Him and me standing up instead of kneeling down looks like....ugly!  Then God revealed the passage above to me.  "Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit..."  Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit.  The God of Israel"for he has visited and redeemed his people and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David...".  He's talking about me.  This is good news.  It's not complicated.  He claimed "we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us".  It's complicated because satan hates what is happening with SOZO and Rays of HOPE.  So, instead of feeling tired and weary tonight, I am going to claim that I have been saved.  Then, my favorite part, "to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days."  I will continue to serve HIM without fear and righteousness before HIM all my days.  I will confess my sinful heart.  Jesus has already gone before me and prepared HIS way, to give knowledge of salvation to HIS people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  God is shining HIS light though this.  These are HIS children and I know "HE"S got this!   It's not complicated to HIM.

Todd and I were talking today about the girls...trying to imagine if they can even begin grasp the surgical pain they are about to endure but also the different life experiences they are about to have.  S is always smiling.  Her smile is sooooo BIG.  She always looks happy.  When you see her scars, they are horrific.  There's no way to sugar coat that.  I asked Todd today, "how can she always find a reason to smile?  She is in constant pain?"  His answer, "she's alive".  With that statement, God humbled me again and I went back to the foot of the cross.  Please continue to pray for God's will to be done with these children.  I wish I could ask for more specific prayer requests tonight but that's all I think I need to ask for.  It's really not as complicated as I was making it.

Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,

Amiee :)

"HIS Rays of Hope"

"having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the work of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."  Ephesians 1:18-21

As I sit here not able to sleep, an unassuming person sitting in the American Embassy in Uganda is being prayed for by me.  I'm praying that she/he senses the presence of a MIGHTY GOD that she/he may or may not know.  I pray she/he knows HIM.  She has the choice today to send two precious fatherless children to America for much needed medical treatment.  I pray that her decision no matter what it is draws her closer to the Lord.  I pray that her heart has been touched by these children like my heart has been touched.  I pray that something comes over her that she recognizes is not herself but God.  I pray for the children that wait in anticipation of how different their tomorrow can look.  LORD, please let their tomorrow look different than their today.  Lord, you know what they need.  You are the Father of the Fatherless.  Lord, this will be another mountain but I've seen you move mountains.  I will not be surprised.  I will continue to do my best to be obedient and look for you in every situation and circumstance.

When we were in Uganda less than a year ago, I asked Joel, "who needs to come to America next?"  He named two girls that were older and have very extensive medical needs.  It is no coincidence that the school is called "Rays of Hope".  These girls are two more Rays of Hope.  They both have very different stories.  One has scars on the outside and they both have deep scars on the inside.  (Don't we all? Are they really that different from me?)  Their eyes and their smiles will melt your heart.  When Todd and Suzanne went to Uganda in January, they began the process of helping these Rays of Hope heal.  They visited specialists in Kampala and we began the process of obtaining medical visa's for these children.  I will wait until they get here to introduce you to them.  They have amazing stories of mercy and grace and I am humbled to be a part of their journey.  Please join me in praying for them to receive their visa's any moment.  Our hope is that they can leave Uganda in the morning at 9:30a.m. and arrive in Birmingham on Thursday.  Please pray for wisdom for the SOZO team as we walk beside these girls on their road to recovery.  I know what happens when you walk beside someone else expecting them to be healed... God heals the person that thinks they are helping the other person:).  I know that these girls will heal places deep inside of my heart and soul that I am not even aware that need healing.  Lord, I pray for every person reading this that our eyes and "hearts will be enlightened and that we know what the hope to which YOU have called us, what the riches of YOUR glorious inheritance in the saints and how immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the work of Your great might that worked in Christ when You were raised from the dead and seated HIM at Your right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."

I will update as soon as we hear something.  Thank you for interceding for these precious girls.   They are HIS Rays of HOPE!

To God Be the Glory, forever and ever,

Amiee :)