“The Lord will
fight for you; you just need to be still” (Exodus 14:14, NIV).
Gravel crunched under my shoes. Deep in thought and with a heavy heart, I hiked along a sandy trail through the high desert near our home in Central Oregon.
I cried out to God. Please, please, Lord, bring our family home. Protect our grandchildren, and keep them all well.
Test
of faith
A planned three-month trip to Africa to adopt a precious little girl who had sickle cell, and had stolen their hearts, had morphed into a five-month test of faith.
My husband’s daughter and our son-in-law had felt led by the Lord to plan a trip to Uganda with our four grandchildren, ages six to fourteen, to meet their new sister-to-be. They would also minister to other orphans while they were there.
Unsettled
feelings
When my husband, Keith, and I heard of
the plan, my heart lurched.
Keith’s daughter, her husband (a
physician’s assistant), and our oldest grandson had already made two short-term
mission trips to the underdeveloped region of Northern Uganda to serve orphans
and provide medical assistance in the bush. We’d celebrated the stories of
blessings with them, but cringed at the dangers and difficulties they’d
experienced.
Prayer
plans
“I think we should pray about whether or
not we should offer to go with them,” I’d said. “Just having extra hands to
care for the children could help.”
But after prayer and several discussions,
we felt led not to go because of our age and health issues. Possibly our family
would end up taking care of us, an additional burden and concern. Our role
seemed to be at home, providing encouragement and prayer support.
Beginnings
and bonding
So, the odyssey began. Only two weeks
after our family’s arrival in Africa, doors seemed to open. They received court
approval to foster Daphine while they worked through the adoption process.
The family began to bond. Even washing clothes was a family event, all done by hand and on foot. Weeks passed. As they chose service and joy every day, our kids’ faith inspired us, expressed in pictures and in their slogan, #waiting well.
Health
problems
Health fears materialized when malaria
and typhoid struck our six-year-old granddaughter.
Typhoid. My only reference was memories of children succumbing to it as wagon trains rolled westward across our country, graves littering the trail. Fear raced through me, but panic subsided when I learned modern medical advances could now relieve these maladies in the early stages.
Our granddaughter responded rapidly to
treatment. Food choices were limited, safe and healthy options difficult to
find. Various digestive issues began to surface in the family. Even eggs had to
be hand washed thoroughly.
Crisis
Daphine suffered a major sickle cell crisis after the family traveled to the capital city of Kampala for the court hearing on the adoption. In Northern Uganda there had been no hospital with capacity to care for her, and only God knew that both her new parents could donate the blood she needed for survival.
With Daphine in extreme pain during a
three-day hospital ordeal, morphine, powerful antibiotics, and much prayer proved
necessary for recovery.
Turn
of events
In addition to this, the judge assigned to our family suddenly refused to take any cases involving adoption. Weeks passed before another judge agreed to hear the case.
Finally, the long-awaited day came. A
court hearing convened, and the family requested approval to adopt Daphine
based on her medical needs, the lack of adequate care for sickle cell in
Uganda, and the love of her new family for her. The judge asked some question
and took the information to review.
The wait began anew. Another month elapsed, and still no ruling. Repeated requests went unanswered. And the judge was now unavailable for another week, reportedly due to a funeral. Our family was discouraged, and we agonized with them.
Biblical
insights
As I walked, I pondered my morning devotional, a reminder that sometimes we are doing exactly what God asked us to do when trouble occurs. In times past, I have wondered, “God, did I hear You right?” when nothing but difficulties loom.
After the feeding of the five thousand,
Jesus told the disciples to go across the Sea of Galilee. They obeyed, all
getting into the boat and heading out, only to run into a terrible storm that
threatened their very lives. Was this what God had planned for them?
Still on the land, Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars and walked to them on the water. The result? The men saw His deity, grew in faith, and worshipped. His ways are mysterious, certainly above ours.
Gifts
from the Father
As I looked down, my ponderings momentarily halted. I spotted another heart-shaped rock laying by my foot, and stooped to pick it up.
Thank
You, Father.
I’d learned to see each heart rock as a
gift from my heavenly Father, a token from Him reminding me that I am His
beloved, a cherished daughter despite my mistakes, imperfections, and foibles.
I am loved just as I am.
Heart
rocks
Today was unusual. I’d previously seen
two large heart-shaped rocks along the trail, too big to bring home, and had
snapped a picture of each one. And then along the way I’d picked up several
little ones.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out
all the heart rocks. One, two, three, four, five small hearts lay on my palm.
And . . . two big ones earlier. One for each member of our family in Africa — mommy
and daddy and five little ones.
They were His beloved ones also. I felt
as if God was saying, “They are in the palm of My hand. I know what they are
going through. I’ve got this.”
Reminder
Tears filled my eyes.
As I looked up into the blue sky, I startled
to see a cross formed from two jet plane contrails. And I heard words in my
heart: It cost Me a cross.
Tears flowed as I considered the cost of
obedience Jesus had paid. He said that we must be willing to obey and bear our
cross — nothing in comparison to the price He had paid.
Hope
and victory
I smiled through my tears, for He promised to never leave us and to never give us more than we can bear, with His help. A prayer of gratitude flew upward.
Thank
You, Jesus, for sending a message of hope today. I know You hold them all in
Your hands, and I trust Your timing to be best. Give us all peace in waiting.
One month later, God brought our new
granddaughter and her forever family safely home — #victory!
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