Just a few ways God has been at work

Proof that I have no idea what I'm doing - for some reason, the background of the bulk of this post is white and I have no idea how to change it back.  But I digress...To catch you up to speed, I've been sending a few friends emails with updates and prayer requests along the way.  Here is an email I sent May 23rd:

"Hey Friends,

Just wanted to let you know that Ben and I are officially finished with training!  It took a little bit longer than we anticipated, but now we are officially Hague accredited (US Law approved) for the adoption.  Now that the training is complete our home study should be in our hands by the end of the week.  Thank you for praying us through this.  Like I said, it's taking longer than expected, but I just have to keep reminding myself that it is in God's time.  (Remind me if I forget, K?)

Our next step is going through Immigration - that should take a couple months and will mean more paperwork and more fingerprinting.  However, we don't need that to be completed in order to move forward with our applications.  We've been in contact with an orphanage in Uganda that we are pursuing independently (without an agency).  Please join us in praying for God's clear direction - that if this is where God wants us that we would hear back from them soon.    

Please also pray for peace and protection from the lies that tempt me to stop this whole process.  Finally, with our home study completed we will be able to apply for financial assistance.  Please pray that God would provide in a crazy and abundant way for us.  I am such an in-the-box-thinker and I'm really trying to not limit God by putting him into my little box. 

Thank you again for faithfully praying us through this.  You've been an encouragement and a blessing."

The very next day - May 24 -after weeks of waiting we heard back from the orphanage.  We were able to apply and are now waiting on their decision.  

Other neat things happening... on May 31, I sent this email:

"I am getting so excited about the adoption.  (This is a high time on the adoption roller coaster - was down a couple weeks ago and now we're back up).  Just wanted to give you a little update - we have turned in our paper work for immigration and are just waiting to hear back on an appointment to get our second round of fingerprints taken.  

So I just have to tell you about some interesting ways God has been tying things together - 

The orphanage we applied to is in a little village right outside of Jinja, Uganda.  

Anyway, I started reading a book yesterday called "Kisses from Katie."  It's about a girl who goes to Uganda to teach for a year after graduating from high school.  She ends up falling in love with the beautiful country of UG, stays there, starts a non-profit organization that pays for children's school fees, and over time adopts 14! Ugandan girls.  And, get this, she lives in a little village outside of Jinja - she's literally a mile or two from where we hope to be.  Just for reference, Uganda's not huge, but it's not that little - it's about the size of the state of Oregon.  How amazing that of all the places in the world, we'll basically be in the same neighborhood.  I am excited to soak up this book and learn all I can about that region. 

Another amazing connection - just for fun Ben googled "Church of Christ" in Jinja.  There are a couple, but one in particular stood out to us - there's a congregation that meets in a coffee shop called The Source cafe.  Ironically, within the last couple months we had seen some sort of documentary on PBS or something where certain individuals are trying to provide a model for ethical business in Eastern Africa.  The Source cafe was featured on this documentary.  We had no idea it was in Uganda, let alone that it would be right where we might be staying - and now we may end up not only grabbing a cup of coffee there, but also worshiping there.  

God is proving himself so faithful - he's been preparing us in little ways and in big ways and he is providing for us every step of the way.  Some people have commented on what a wonderful thing we're doing for the child or children that come into our home.  We appreciate that sentiment, but really, what a wonderful thing God is doing in us - growing our faith and working in our lives in powerful ways.

To Him be the glory!"

After sending the email I found out that a friend of a few friends had actually traveled to Uganda last year and had dinner with Katie Davis, from the book "Kisses from Katie."  It is so fascinating to me how God weaves all these things together.  

If you've made it to the end of this post you should be officially caught up.  We will continue to post updates and prayer requests.  Thanks for reading!