Saying Good-bye

   Today was a good day. Sadly, my dad could only stay in Tororo for 1 day. So today was the day we took him and Alex back to the Tororo airfield. First thing in the morning we went straight to Smile Africa so that my dad could spend some more time with the kids and Pastor Ruth.

   While we were there, my dad and the team wanted to see the slum nearest to Smile Africa. The majority of the children come from this slum. Since I had walked through this slum many times, it was very familiar to me. No matter how many times I walk through it though, it still touches my heart. It is hard to believe that the children that go to Smile Africa, come from such extreme situations. All of these children are worshipping Jesus with all their heart. It reminds me that no matter what situation I might be going through, I can still find joy and I should still be praising my savior.

   As we were walking through the slum different memories began to flood my mind of the different events that had happened here. I walked through the same place where Bogere’s mother had asked me to take him so that he would be safe, I saw the place where we buried Bogere’s mother, I saw the place that used to be a huge trash pit where Bogere once slept. It was a walked through memory lane, hard memories, but also memories of pure redemption, grace, and God’s mercy.

   As we were walking back to Smile Africa, there was one little girl who just stood in the middle of the road. She may have been about a year old and she was one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen.

   Once we arrived back at Smile Africa we really only had enough time to pack up everything and head to Pastor Ruth’s house. Ruth had prepared a farewell lunch for my dad and the team. We all enjoyed the time together and then it was time to say good-bye.

   We all drove to their airfield and said our final good-byes to each other. I would see my dad and the team in just 1 week, but Pastor Ruth and the rest of our Ugandan family will not be seeing them for at least a few months.

   All the kids loved playing on the small airplane while we were packing up the bags. Then finally, it was time to go. Lisa and I said good-bye, Alex said his good-byes to Caleb, my dad and I said good-bye and then the plane was off. Pastor Ruth and I stayed to watch the small plane take off. Now…it’s just me. There is no telling what could happen now! Let the adventures begin! J

“Thank you Jesus for a great day. Thank you allowing my dad and the team to get her safely. Thank you for City of Lights Baby Home. I pray that you will watch over my dad and the team as they travel. I pray that the rest of my time here in Tororo will be very productive for City of Lights Baby Home! I pray that we get a lot accomplished! I love you! Amen.”

City of Lights Baby Home

   I can’t even completely describe all the joy from today. Today was the dedication of the baby home! The day had finally arrived! After so much preparation, hard work and dedication, City of Lights Baby Home is officially open! First thing in the morning I went to the Tororo Airfield to pickup my dad and Alex Jones-Moreno. I was so glad that they could make it! I did not want to do this day without them. Building this home is something that my dad had encouraged me and helped me financially with building, so I really wanted him to be here to open this beautiful home.

   As we arrived at Smile Africa I was overwhelmed by the beautiful set up that they had arranged for the dedication. There were many people there to support us with this home, the senator and the mayor had even shown up to the dedication to see City of Lights Baby Home. I was so honored that they came to show their support.

   Many people spoke really encouraging words about Pastor Ruth and myself. It was so nice of the speakers to say such nice things about the work that God has done in Tororo, Uganda. When it was my turn to speak…for the first time in my life, I was speechless. I could not believe what was happening right in front of me. I have dreamed of this baby home for 7 years and now it has come true! Finally I was able to speak and I thanked everyone for coming. I am pretty sure I thanked everyone for coming about 5 times because I was so blown away at the amount of people who came to support, and that this home was finally being opened!

   Today was also my dad’s birthday. I loved being able to spend this day with him…doing what we love most, in a country we both adore. It was perfect. I am so grateful to have a dad who serves other people, loves other people, and believes in me. I am able to accomplish what I have accomplished because I grew up with a father who always told me that I could do anything that I set my heart to do.

   After my dad and I spoke, we were able to finally cut the ribbon, officially opening City of Lights Baby Home! Tears were flowing from my eyes as the nannies carried the babies into their new home. I saw the babies and toddlers laughing and running around their new home. There is huge play area in the center of the home and the children found all the toys and began playing with them. It was everything that I dreamed it could be.

   I am so happy and so overwhelmed with all that God has done. I am looking forward to making this home even better. As time goes on and finances allow, we will be able to furnish the baby home even more. I am so grateful for this new home. I am so excited to watch all of the babies who grow up in City of Lights Baby Home go out and change the world.

"Thank You Jesus for all that you have done! Thank you for this beautiful baby home that will be home to many babies. Thank you Jesus for putting this dream in my heart. Thank you for giving me a family who loves me and supports my dreams. I pray that you will protect these children and help this baby home flourish! I love you! Amen!"

Protecting the Innocent

   Today we had to go to town and purchase more things for the baby home. Today was the last day to buy things and get them ready for the big dedication day. I was so happy that things were getting accomplished. I went through the town buying the necessary things and checking off the list. It really felt like things were coming together. Just as we were in town, we ran into Pastor Ruth, who was also buying things for the dedication day and for her home. We met with her and continued our journey with her.

   While we were riding in the van, Ruth got a phone call that someone we know very closely had given birth to a little boy. We immediately rushed to the hospital to check on the mother and the baby. As soon as I entered the hospital room I was amazed to see the mother smiling and happy and she had literally just given birth 5 minutes prior to our arrival. The mother handed me the baby and I held him closely. This boy was so beautiful. The mother already has a 2-year-old son, which she told me to name, so I named him Peter. Now this little boy in my arms she had asked me to name as well. I named him Daniel.

   I went to go bring the father to see his new son and he was so rude to the baby and to the mother that had just given birth. I was heart broken. How could a father just reject his son like that? That baby is innocent. In order to protect the mother’s feelings and her heart, and the heart of that baby, I told the father to go. The baby doesn’t have a voice, but I do, so I should use it. I again went and kissed Daniel good-bye.

   I was so happy that baby Daniel was born safely and that he and the mother are both healthy. It was a very exciting morning. After visiting the baby we went to City of Lights Baby Home to continue setting up the necessary things. That pretty much took as us all day. We were running back and forth cleaning and organizing everything.

   Toward the end of the day we were organizing clothes for the children when one of the nurses came to me and told me that baby Faith had a very high fever and they wanted to take her to the hospital. I immediately packed diapers and a bottle for the baby and left with the nurse. After an hour of waiting and asking different doctors to help, I decided to make a fuss about the lack of attention my 7 week old with a very HIGH fever was getting. I went to the main office and explained the problem and pleaded that they see this baby NOW. They finally agreed. So after a few hours and different tests, we found out that baby Faith has malaria, and she is only 7 weeks old. My heart broke for my sweet baby. We got the medicine that she needed and drove back to City of Lights Baby Home.

   The whole car ride I was praying for baby Faith. I prayed that her fever would break and that God would bring health back into her tiny, little body. I believe He will do it, He loves those babies more than I ever could.

  Today was a day of protecting the innocent. If I am meant to do anything in this world, it is to be the voice for the voiceless. That is who I am, who I was meant to be…and what a great job it is.

“Thank you Jesus for this day! Thank you for sending me to be the voice for these precious babies. Thank you for bringing baby Daniel into the world safely. I pray that You will watch over these precious babies. Please, Jesus, heal baby Faith quickly. Please take away all her pain. I thank you that you are Healer!” I love you! Amen!”

Kill Them With Kindness

   Fist thing in the morning we were preparing to go to town and buy things for the baby home that they were needing. Lisa and I stopped by Pastor Ruth's house first to see what her plan was for the day, then we were going to straight to town to purchase necessary items like, mops, buckets, clothes bins, etc. It took us a long time to get all the things we needed. By the time we got to Smile Africa it was around noon. Lisa and I unpacked all the items and started to organize the baby home a little more. In the back of my mind I was still really concerned about Bogere. I knew that these people could have easily kidnapped him from school. As we organized the babies things, I just prayed quietly.

   I looked out the window and saw children from Bogere's school coming back home to Smile Africa. I saw one child after another, but not MY child. 30 minutes had passed, every single child that was in Bogere's class had arrived, except for him. I got worried and went to tell Pastor Ruth. She told me that she was also watching for him and had grown nervous as well. We asked the other school children where he was and finally one little boy told us that he had gotten in trouble at school so the teacher made him sweep the classroom floor. I was so relieved.

   Even though my nerves had calmed down a lot, I was scared of what might happen to him if I am not around. Bogere's aunt and step-father can easily kidnap him from school any day, so we wanted to tread lightly with these people and be as kind as possible, so that they will cooperate with us. Not any easy thing to do, but we had no choice, we needed to "Kill Them With Kindness".

  Even though the little boy told me where Bogere was, I still wanted to make sure I saw him come through the gate with my own eyes. Instead of seeing Bogere come through the gate, I saw 2 other people…Bogere's aunt and step-father. My heart sunk to my feet. I ran and grabbed Pastor Ruth and we all sat down outside her office. I looked into that man's eyes, which used to make me fill with fear, but now it's like this "mama wolf" personality comes out. That man killed Bogere's mother, told me he wanted me dead, and threatened to kill Bogere 3 times, well 3 times that I know of for sure. 

   I am looking at this man wondering why he thinks that he can just kill people and get away with it. The God I serve says, "Vengeance is mine." So I will let God deal with him, and to be honest, God will hold this man to higher consequence than I ever could. So I find peace in that. I am looking at this man and I can tell by the way he is looking at me that he knows I know what he did. He knows I know the truth. I stare at him intensely until he looks away from me. I then look at the aunt…wait a second…I KNOW THIS LADY! Pastor Ruth is talking to them in Swahili, so I need to be quiet and let her speak, but my heart is pounding 100mph. I can feel myself getting hotter and hotter.

   THIS IS THE LADY WHO TRIED TO PUT ME IN JAIL! This was the lady who told the police that Bogere's step-father did NOT beat this woman to death, that actually I was the one who killed her. There was so much emotion running through me but you wouldn't have been able to tell. I sat perfectly still. Then I thought to myself, "You have got to be kidding me! They want me to give my children to a man that killed their mother, threatened to kill Bogere and myself, and to a lady who tried to put me behind bars for helping these children! This has got to be a sick joke!"

   Bogere's aunt is the sister to Bogere's mother, and she looks just like her. I could never understand why she would try to protect the man who killed her own sister, but there are a lot of things I will never understand. Just then I looked up and saw Bogere walking through the gate from school. I jumped out of my chair and ran to him. Bogere was smiling at me and I picked him and held him so close. I carried him back to my seat where the 2 family members were seated. Bogere is afraid of that man, and I don't blame him, so he sat on my lap and stayed close to me. I wanted him close to me so I could easily protect him.

   Bogere's aunt then asked that we build her home so she can take care of Bogere and his siblings, which we obviously said no. Then Bogere's step-father asked that we pay his rent for one month, which we again said no. We finally said good-bye to these people and told them that we would again speak with them on Monday. We were trying to be as nice as possible. Once they left I asked Pastor Ruth, "How can this lady claim that she is able to take care of these children and then in the same sentence ask us to build her home? If she was able to take care of them, she would not need our help." Ruth simply agreed with me, she too could not understand what they were thinking.

   We then had a staff meeting about how the dedication was supposed to go on Friday. We had a lot of things to organize and to plan. IF everything goes according to plan, the dedication will run smoothly and be a successful event. I am so excited for Friday! AND my dad comes on Friday!! 

   Finally the day was over and Lisa and I went back to our hotel. I had to take a quiz for school, which was due on the day of the dedication, so I wanted to complete it early. Once I finished the school work, I laid down in my bed, tucked in my mosquito net, and prayed…hard. Bogere has come such a long way. When I first took this boy under my wing, he was hurting other children, running away, ditching school, throwing stones at the teachers, cussing people out, beating his siblings with sticks, and he was only 6 years old.

   Now, this same boy LOVES people, prays over the food, and prays for people hurting. Bogere also helps his little siblings, including the babies that aren't really his sibling, like baby Caleb. Bogere tells people not to hurt other people and is becoming a great leader. I prayed that these people wouldn't take him and allow him to go back to his old behaviors. I am so proud of Bogere and how far he has come. I love my son. 

   

Please,Don't Take My Son

   Even though I am working hard here in Tororo, I am still working hard to graduate college next year. I am currently taking 2 online classes and the due dates for quizzes, forums, etc. are starting to approach. I decided that this morning I would spend time working on some homework assignments so that I can meet all the deadlines that are coming up. As soon as I finished some work then Lisa and I went to Smile Africa to pick up Caleb and baby John.

   Caleb had a little heat rash on his neck and arms so I wanted to take him to get good soap for his skin and some good cream. After we picked up the babies, we went back to the hotel so I could bathe Caleb and give him a bath with the good soap for his skin. Caleb insisted on bathing himself also. He would take the cup of water and pour it on his head and burst into laughter. It was the cutest thing ever! I spent the first part of my day with Caleb. After I bathed him, I got him lunch and put on “The Lion King” for him as I finished some more of my school work.

   Just as we are getting ready to leave to head back to Smile Africa, I get a phone call saying that I should come to Smile Africa right away. I was told it was urgent. I quickly packed up my things, including Caleb, jumped on a boda (a motorcycle taxi) and went to Smile Africa. The whole ride over I was nervous about what was going on that was so urgent. The only thing I could think of was my son, Bogere. I was worried that something had happened to him. I was praying the whole way as we were driving. I just prayed that nothing had happened to my boy.

   As soon as we arrived I ran to the office to see what was going. There was a group of people sitting down around the office. Pastor Ruth then told me that there was a lady, who is claiming to be Bogere’s aunt, that wants to take Bogere and his 2 younger siblings back to her home in Mbale, which is a few hours away. When I was told this, my heart sank to my feet. My first thought was “No, no. You can’t take them.” Then I also found out that this lady came with very man who killed Bogere’s mother.

   My first reaction was fear. I was afraid that this was some plan to hurt these children. After all, this man had threatened to kill Bogere a few times. I wanted to cry, but I did not. Pastor Ruth did the right thing and sent these people to the police to discuss what they wanted to do. That way they will first need permission from the police before they take away my children.

   I am a little scared, a little worried, and a little sad, but I am trusting God with the life of His sweet children…even if it’s hard.

“Thank you Jesus for all that you do. I know that no matter what, you are in control. My heart is heavy, but Your plan is better than I could ever even imagine for these children. I pray that you protect them and keep them safe. Thank you for your unfailing promise. I love you and I trust you. Amen”