I will not share much of what my heart longs to share today. When living in a third world country it is NOT ok to speak negatively about the governm*nt or pol*ce, and so today for my safety I will keep quiet, though my spirit is angry and saddened and wants to cry out against injustice.

Please continue to pray for God to show up. Please continue to pray for healing, forgiveness, and freedom from corruption and the lies of evil for the Ugand*n people and the world.

"You said, ask and you will receive whatever you need. You said, pray and I'll hear from Heaven, and I'll heal your land. You said, Your glory will fill the earth, like water the seas. You said, lift up your eyes, the harvest is hear; the Kingdom is near. You said I'll give the nations to you. Lord, that's the cry of my heart. You said distant shores and the islands will see Your Glory as it rises on us. OH LORD WE ASK FOR THE NATIONS, we ask for the nations."

Oh, Lord, I ask for the nations.

*

Though I cannot tell you about my sorrow, I WILL tell you about my joy.

Around Thursday of last week I felt prompted to pray for something very specific. The only problem was, I didn't know what this specific thing was! I would try to sleep and find myself reaching for my Bible. I would wake up in the morning and not be able to leave my bed without reading pages and pages. I would wake up in the middle of the night to pray. Don't get me wrong, I pray quite frequently and sometimes pretty intensely. This was different. There was something VERY specific I was to pray for. Finally on Sunday the Lord spoke. "Your next child's name is Sarah." I was a little confused. Back in August, the Lord brought me a beautiful daughter named Sarah. "Lord, I already have her?" But as He does, He whispered again, "You next child is Sarah." Ok, Sarah. So I began to pray for Sarah, wherever she was. I prayed and prayed. Yesterday, a little girl in out program, Tibita, came to my house, her face swollen to double its size on one side. Her tooth had abscessed, I'm guessing days before; I took her to the dentist, made her some soup and she spent the rest of the day resting at our house. I sent one of our employees to the grandmother's house to tell her that Tibi would spend the night here so I could monitor her swollen cheek and keep her rinsing with salt water to prevent infection.

As I mentioned, yesterday was full of frustration, and I fell in to bed tired. "Lord, this is TIBITA. You said SARAH. Where is Sarah? Who is Sarah. Did I hear you wrong? Lord, you know what my heart can handle. Please know that my heart CANNOT handle knowing that there is a child out there who needs me to be her mom and not being able to help her. I believe that you spoke Father. If you need me to be Sarah's mom, I need you to bring Sarah to my front door. PLEASE"
I slept hard for the first time in days. At 8 there was a knock at the gate. It was Tibita's jjajja (grandmother), carrying Tibita's little sister, a little girl of about 3 who I have only seen once before. I gasped that the grandmother had walked all the way to our house (it is at least 7 miles from her home). She had carried the child the whole way as there is something wrong with her legs and she cannot walk. I took the little girl from her and smiled as she snuggled her head into my chest. "What is her name?" I asked. SARAH. Chills. Tears. The grandmother got on her knees. "Please help me," she begged,"I would never ask for this, but the Lord told me to get up and come here. He said you can help this child. She is three and she has never walked. I don't know what is wrong with her, but there is no money to visit the hospital. You have done so much for Tibi and I do not want to ask for more, but please. Help Sarah." And I am not kidding you, right then and there Sarah's little hand grabbed hold of mine and she looked up at me and called me Mama. The grandmother and I looked at each other with wide eyes. We laughed and cried. I realized we were still standing in the driveway and asked her to please come inside.

I asked the jjajja to please make herself at home and stay for lunch. I needed to pray and wait for my kids to come home; I never bring a new child into the house without first having a family meeting and praying and and talking about it with my kids. My precious children never say no. In fact, they asked for Tibita too! Having recently experienced what I did with Sumini and her sister, I decided that yes, it was best to take both of them; after all, their jjajja had been experiencing some chest pain and I remember thinking when we went for their last home evaluation that soon we would need to look for a foster home for these sweet girls.

It is an extraordinary feeling to pick up a precious child, bathe her in warm water for the first time, wash her little feet, wrap her in a snuggle-y towel, dress her, feed her, and cuddle her in your arms as you tell her "You are MINE. I am your Mommy. FOREVER." Each time I am in awe that God would entrust me with such a blessing. Each time I fall to my knees with tears of thankfulness.

I will start interceding today for Sarah's legs. I ask you again to join me. I am not worried, My God is a HEALER and protector and I know how much He loves the orphans. After Sarah has adjusted to her new home, I will take her to the International Hospital in Kampala and see what they have to say, but for now we will just pray; the Lord may have other plans.

I cannot that HIM enough for my beautiful children. I cannot thank YOU enough for your continued prayers. Oh, Lord we ask for the NATIONS.

"Yes, I am the woman who stood here praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked. So now I will give (her) to the Lord, let Him be the Lord of (her) life." 1 Samuel 1:26-28