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Monday, December 13, 2010

Headed to Uganda, Be Right Back

I planned it all out last night. I was going to take a break from all my doom and gloom adoption posts and write something nice, light and fluffy. I was going to tell y'all about the really cute, fun Christmas wreath I made with my kids. I was going to share about the all of the inexpensive, yet fun, non-toy Christmas gifts that we've rounded up for our children this year. Thought I might even throw in a few pictures of the cookie swaps and all the cookie baking fun over the weekend. Alas, that post is not to happen -- because now we've got more news.

Ever since I returned from Uganda, Dan has felt uneasy about neither of us being present for our court ruling on December 16 (that's this Thursday). When we last met, our attorney assured us that this was fine -- it would be perfectly acceptable for her to appear in court on our behalf to receive the ruling. Since then, we've talked about it and prayed about it and late last week we even sent two emails and a text message to our attorney just to make sure. So that was that... we were pretty certain that we'd all just stay together in our nice, cozy home in Atlanta and await the ruling from the judge. And Dan would return to Uganda once everything was nice and neat and all the embassy appointments were set up and he'd come home with Hannah and Joseph and we'd all cheer in the airport and then go home to our nice, cozy home in Atlanta and live happily ever after...

And then we woke up.

Our Ugandan attorney emailed us early this morning. Her message was brief but clear -- basically, "I've changed my mind, I think you really need to appear in court on Thursday." And that was all the confirmation Dan needed. Flights are already booked for today or else he'd already be gone. He's leaving tomorrow evening and arrives in Uganda on Wednesday night, just twelve hours before he has to appear in court. And here's the hard part -- he'll be back when he's back. We really have no idea how long everything will take to complete this time. Obviously we cannot continue to travel back and forth to Africa every other week. So on this trip, Dan will have to stay until it's done.

By "it's done" I mean one of two things... Either the judge says no and Dan packs it up and comes home alone. Or the judge says yes and Dan stays in Uganda, wades through the US embassy process of getting visas issued for Hannah and Joseph (the timing for us will be extremely tricky because the embassy will be closed for Christmas for a period of time) and eventually makes the 24 hour trip home with two small children who have never even heard the word "airplane" before. By the way, a few friends have generously offered to fly to Uganda and help Dan fly back with Hannah and Joseph so he doesn't have to do that part alone.

So that's the latest. If you want to pray for us, here are our top prayer requests:

1) For no flight delays or issues for Dan. He basically has no margin in his travel itinerary and he must arrive in Uganda on Wednesday night in order to get a little sleep and sit in court all day on Thursday.

2) That the judge would rule in our favor and would quickly issue his written ruling (often there can be a week or more of lag time between a judge's verbal ruling and receipt of a written ruling).

3) That the US Embassy would show favor in quickly scheduling Hannah and Joseph's appointments and would easily issue their visas.

4) That somehow Dan, Hannah and Joseph would all make it home by Christmas Eve. It would take a true miracle but how awesome would that be??

5) That our Lord Jesus would be glorified by our family -- in all that we say and do in this crazy and faith stretching time for our family. That He would use us to spark a spirt of adoption among our family and friends.

Blessings and merry Christmas to all. Dan will be blogging from Uganda -- either here or on the SixtyFeet site so check back with us. Thanks so, so much to all our dear friends and family for your offers to help, for your love, your messages, your support, for just standing with us! We cannot imagine doing this alone.

11 comments:

Alison said...

WOW!! Praying for ya'll!!

Julie said...

Praying!!!

brooks said...

we are praying for all of the details! trusting that the Lord has His hand in every one! love you all!

Joshua Goodling said...

Definitely praying God will work everything out to His glory!

Jane said...

Praying , praying , praying for God to show mercy and amazing speed in all that is going on.

Taylor Wise said...

Go Dan. So glad he listened to the Holy Spirit nudging him about going to the court date. He was ready to go when it was time. I will be praying!

Jennie said...

Uniting with you in prayer...

Unknown said...

Praying for these things specifically! Oh I am so excited for you guys! Godspeed and peace and love beyond measure!

Nancy said...

Praying with you!

Anonymous said...

Dan you and your whole family are in my prayers. Safe journey. Beth St Paul

Tracy B said...

Still praying Nehemiah 1:11 for you!!