Believe

There have been many times in my life where I have thought, this week is the hardest week of my life. 

Then comes along another week to top that one. 

And now, these past 2 weeks have greatly surpassed them all;

living in a new culture, being white with a black child,

EVERYONE staring at you constantly, 

with things changing at the ladies program,

having to teach financial lessons at Sanyu Babies Home to 44+ people,

moving here in Uganda,

family and friends packing and moving everything we own to a storage unit back in the U.S.,

dealing with the police back in the U.S, LONG story,

grappling with the fact that we might get Jethro, then we might not, then we might,

I do not know if we are all going to make to my sisters wedding,

worrying about where we are going to live when we get back to Durango,

trying to figure out how we are going finalize the adoption without having a home,

realizing that we should have moved out of the house in Durango, that has been a money pit,

BUT, my faith has grown so much.

I had a dream before I left the States.

I was standing in a room all by myself

I was starting to get scared

I looked up and there were many demons swirling around my head 

They were chanting, nothing in particular

So, I started to cast them away saying, 

"In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave"

I was saying this over and over again but the demons were not leaving

They would just not go away

I knew I needed to say it and TRULY believe my Lord and Savior can do anything, 

including casting out the demons

So I said it one last time, 

with power,

with true belief,

and the demons were gone.

Then God appeared, pointed at me and said,

"NOW, you believe,"

and I woke up.

I though it was a dream to prepare me to cast out demons here in Africa

(and it still may be)

but I am realizing that God was talking to me and preparing me for what is going on now.

Things keep going wrong

and keep going wrong 

and keep going wrong

but I have to TRULY believe in my Lord and Savior

believe He can do anything

believe He is able

believe He will never leave me

believe He is always with me

David and Enoch at the land

Shafik, Damba and I washing clothes

Shawn with a boy at the street program

Thank you for my family.
Thank you for sending us to Africa and 

Thank you Lord for this lesson. 

 

Adoption court in Uganda

When we first started this journey I had no idea what anything would be like. I have been to Uganda before but it was with The Go Team.

If you follow along on my face book http://facebook.com/shawnrayferrell then you know how court went. For those of you that have been in suspense I am sorry but we went to the village and hung out with the boys for the weekend. We had a good relaxing weekend and are recharged and ready to tackle this week. 

As far as we can tell court went good. It is such a difficult thing. The judge will not give you a ruling the day you have court. He will set a date about 1-2 weeks later to give his ruling. At the first court date he can tell you no but luckily he did not do that. All of his questions where asked to Jethro's biological Mom. Sarah walked up and down the hall with Jethro and I sat there with a dumb look on my face because Lugandan is not my strongest language. I smiled when everyone else did and made up what I thought was being said.

Court in Uganda is not like on TV with Judge Judy. You sit in the judges office in a row of chairs on the back wall. The lawyer sits across from him and they do all the talking. He is addressed as "my lordship." If he gets a call on his cell phone then he is going to take it. if he wants to take a break and have tea you sit and wait for him to do what ever he wants. Why should I have thought anything different TIA (this is Africa).

Our court time was scheduled at 2:30pm. We arrived a bit late because that is normal here in Uganda. Jethro normally is taking a nap at this time so we kept him up in hopes that he would fall asleep the second we arrived. 

Wrong.

He was a ball of energy that would not stop. the good thing is we where not called into his chambers till about 4:30pm 2 hours later. At 5pm the judge decided to take a lunch break and would not tell us how long so we had to wait out in the lobby, this is when Jet finally took a nap. At 7pm we where called into his chambers(office) and had a court hearing for an hour. By the time we left the building we had been there for 6 hours with a hungry tired 32 and 2 year old. 

Next time more snacks and more naps.   

Time for Fasting and Prayer

I have claimed this week, "The Week of Jethro." I am putting the past in the past and am moving forward with God in front of me and my family on my side. We have had some struggles both here in Uganda as well as back in Durango.

I am living today for today.

Father son time, he truly blesses my sole.

What do I mean that this is The Week of Jethro?

I am putting my focus into our son and what needs to come from our court date on Friday. I am fasting from Monday till Thursday night from food during day light hours. I will be in constant prayer to seek what God wants from Sarah and I.

I have continued with my regular programs as well as some extra programs. This is going to be an awesome week and I am giving God the glory to all that has and will happen. He has moved so many walls the past 3 days already. 

Having fun at the grocery store. 

I want to challenge you to follow me in The Week of Jethro.

How can you do this?

How ever you want. 

Do you have to pray and fast for a week?

No, do what God lays on your heart.

On Friday at 5:30 MST we have court to determine if Jethro will get to come home with us or not. This is 2:30PM our time here in Uganda. We probably will not get a decision this day but this is when we get to plead our case, now for the third time. In specific of what is needed to be prayed for are these three main points.

• That the lawyer has everything in order and can get Jethro's biological Mother there (she is refusing to come now)
• That if we have to speak in front of the judge, The Holy Spirit will fill our mouths with the words God wants us to say.
• That Judge Mukiibi will give a positive and quick verdict and that we receive the written report without error.

We have never been so blessed