Over a year ago, a friend talked to me about the possibility of adopting a child from Royal School and Orphanage in Mityana, Uganda. Being single and the primary care giver for my aging parent, I struggled mightily with the idea and then -got busy with life. The thought of being a mother was hard for me. Like most women, I longed for a child, but it was not to be- not biologically. There were many personal issues that silently, but relentlessly ate at my core as reminders of the many babies that came and left -never to mature to birth. A deep and hollow internal pit that I avoided at all cost. I found other outlets with family, sports and friends, but there was a deep longing to nurture and love a child. Always there, no matter how busy I kept myself.
So my friend kept talking to me and introducing me to other very busy women who have adopted children. She and her husband adopted 3 children from the RSO last November and now they have a family of 7. All of these truly amazing women have large families, busy careers and enormous hearts to do more for the least of these. Most importantly, they have tremendous faith- they believe Father God will make provision for their families and these new children. Truly a walk of faith.
Prior to the trips to Uganda to adopt her 3 children, my friend had a vison of an African girl playing in my backyard with me and Mom. She knew that child was to be mine. The girl was wearing an antique pink summer dress. You can imagine my surprise when the phone rang at the office and my friend started telling me about this vision of the child. She described the dress and that my mother was in the vision.
Mother had been gravely ill and required several hospitalizations over the proceeding months. To hear someone say that this was from God and Mom was part of the vision, was really testing my faith. For my friend, this was confirmation from God that Mother would meet this child and I would be her parent. A few weeks later, she heard God tell her the child's name would be Grace. Now remember this friend has never met the child and there are 100s of children at RSO. All of the proceeding she told me and a close friend in the weeks prior to leaving for business in Uganda.
Upon returning from her trip to Uganda, she called me and said - I have to talk to you and show you pictures. We met for lunch. What happened next still makes my heart skip. My friend told me a lengthy story about meeting with the Head Mistress at RSO and asking if there were any girls there named Grace. There were two which were brought from the dorms to the guest house at RSO. The night my friend met Grace, she was wearing an antique pink dress. These children only have a few change of clothes and other clothes are donated. Somehow in a box of donated clothes, Grace picked out a pink summer dress and that is what she wore the night she was introduced to my friend. You can see the picture above.
Grace is 10, probably close to 11 now. I only have pictures of her and she has one of me. Thankfully, my friend took some things to her last November. At 15 without a sponsor, Grace will have to leave RSO to figure out life on her own. She has no family to help her or guide her through the remainder of her teenage years. She will be vulnerable. It is my heart's desire to bring her to my home and provide a loving environment as she finishes high school and college. Also, to help her mature into a confident, productive young woman with a heart to help the least of these. The thought of Grace trying to live out her teenage life on the streets in a country with millions of orphans and no chance of completing school is difficult.
This blog is intened to keep the story going as we begin the journey of bringing Grace home. Many of you have asked how you can help. Prayer is the most important contribution. Gifts or loans will enable me to make the trips to Uganda, pay for processing the necessary adoption paperwork and pay attorney fees. Passing this blog link on to others who will be interested in reading the story or helping with this mission of love is appreciated.
