As of yesterday, we are back in Kampala for the week. We finally have reliable Internet so I will try to catch you all up on some pictures from last week (though I am still posting from my iPad and it is quite a bit more of a hassle than a computer...but I'm very thankful for it!)
Today was an adventure! Andrew and I went out our own to navigate Kampala. I'm not gonna lie, I was nervous and told Andrew so as we walked out on the main street to catch a taxi bus. The babies home we were going didn't have an address and we weren't sure if we could find it, but it all worked out great, and we found it! On the way home we got caught in a CRAZY thunder/rain/wind/lightning/hale storm. So we went to the first restaurant we saw- Greek food, which normally we love but I'm just praying I don't get sick from the chicken (at least andrew thought it was chicken...it tasted more like what I would imagine someone's bum to taste like...oh well. It's all about the experience! :-)
Before the storm, we went to a baby orphanage called Loving Hearts Baby Home. It is for babies under two who are abandon and usually brought to them by the police. I found out about this home because one of my dearest friends Amy's younger sister spent a couple months there this summer taking care of a sweet preemie named Ray. She sent a beautiful blanket with me to give him and instructions to take lots of pictures. It was such a joy to meet him and many of the other 14 babies there! Honestly, there were quite a few that stole our hearts! If we were living here right now, we would probably try to adopt very soon (it is much cheaper to adopt when living here, but if God provides us money to do so from the states, than we would be so happy to!) Andrew is so great with babies and is going to be a fantastic dad! We played with the little ones for a few hours and, if our busy schedule gets freed up at all, we might go back. I only heard a few of their stories, but they were heart breaking! My soul aches for what their birth mamas are missing out on and the circumstances and sin that led them to feel like they couldn't care for their babies. Jesus is desperately needed to transform the culture here just as much as he is needed to transform the culture of not valuing life in the US.
Here are a few picture of sweet baby Ray:
Oh wow. Thank you so much for posting these pictures and sharing your heart. I can't imagine how hard it is to see children that are abandoned on the street. You should bring them all home :) It reminds me of the passage in Ezekial 16 where God describes picking up the child left in its blood and caring for it as His own. Adoption is such a beautiful picture of what God has done for us through the blood of Christ. We are praying for you! Love you both!
ReplyDeleteAck. WP stole my comment. Was just saying that we're in the process of adopting 6 and 7 year old sibling daughters from Ghana. While we are THRILLED to add them to our family, we are so cognizant of the huge loss that makes international adoption a need. Blessings on your trip and on future family expansion. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my word this was so precious! Takes me right back to my little ones! You guys are totally in your element! Enjoy the cuddles and love...hopefully you get to go back again! :) Love you lots and am praying for you! <3
ReplyDeleteStacy, you are such an encouragement. I can't wait to talk when we get back. I need to pour out my heart to you!!! So much is going on in my heart in regards to adoption!
ReplyDeleteGretchen, oh my, that is so wonderful to hear that you are adopting! What a blessing those little girls will bring to your family! How is the process going, will you bring them home soon? I would love to pick your brain sometime and hear about your journey!
Jen, I love that you get this. We need a coffee date or a walk and talk when I get back!!