How quickly things change

We had not told hardly anyone that we had rescheduled Allan's flight for yesterday. Tiring of having to give so many people disappointing news time and time again, decided this time we would wait until we had good news to share. The network between here and Uganda has been really terrible the past week or so and it's been incredibly difficult to get through to Jamil. I had spoken to Jamil about two hours before the flight was to leave and he assured me that Allan would be on that plane. We waited and waited, closer and closer to 2:00 p.m. when the plane would depart and no phone call came. We never could get through, trying and trying until 5:00. I called KLM to see if they could verify if Allan had gotten on the plane. To our elation they confirmed he had! We called again two hours later and again were told that "yes, he is on the plane." We told the children, made numerous phone calls and went to bed in an utter state of peace.

We really wanted to hear from Jamil though and we finally did at 1:00 a.m. Allan was NOT on the plane. I could tell the moment I answered the phone from Jamil's voice that it was not good news. We were crushed! Weeping, we sat in disgust wondering how on earth this could have happened. I have paid an additional fee for KLM to monitor Allan while flying and did not remotely understand how they could have told me he was on the plane when in fact he was not. Jamil was at the airport when he called and told me that if I could reschedule he'd get Allan on the plane. We chose to try again, just not knowing when or if we'll ever be able to say, no. The last two times we've rescheduled the airline has not charged us.

Today, we waited and waited and finally got through to Jamil, explaining with all the courage we could muster that this was it. If Allan was not on that plane we really did not know what we could do. I called Jamil right before I went to work and he told me that Allan was at the doctor for his stomach. I panicked thinking he might have malaria again and he assured me that was not the problem. He said that his stomach just ached.

I discovered about three hours later after talking to Jamil again that Allan had not eaten for three days! They have not had any money to buy him food and he's just been drinking water from the local well. I was in total shock. I have sent money before for Jamil to buy him food but he had not asked in several weeks so I just assumed he was getting what he needed. I spoke to Allan a little bit and he just cried and cried saying his stomach ached. I cried right along with him and said, "baby, please just get on that plane, they'll feed you soon and once you're here you'll have all the food you need." That was the last contact I had with them today. We have been unable to get through for the last 5 hours and still have no idea if Allan got on the plane although I would have to say my heart tells me no. I cannot obviously check with KLM since their information yesterday was grossly wrong.

Ella, MT and I just returned from HEB where we spent $145 on groceries that more than likely will last us for the next 3 days or so. As I wandered up and down the aisles, tears came to my eyes several times, just trying to grasp a life where food was not readily available. My children have no concept of true empty stomachs, they are able to literally walk into a walk in pantry that is always full of food, maybe not always with what they're craving at the moment but there is always food in the pantry and food in the refrigerator.

My heart is just so full of sorrow right now. I came home from work and laid down on the bed by Mark and just wept. I just don't know how much more of this we can take and yet the thought of giving up seems equally unbearable. How can we say "no more" to a child who needs so much and rightly deserves a chance to lead a life that holds promises God desires for all his children?

Hard day at work

I have been so blessed to have been given a wonderful job since we moved to Beaumont. Shortly after we moved here, it became apparent that I would need to get a job to help make ends meet. Mark and I had always desired for me to be at home while the kids were little and we successfully completed that goal. Ella goes to pre-school at the church and when she's done Mark picks her up and comes home to wait for the boys. I follow shortly after and we all have dinner together and then begin our nightly routines, of dinner, homework and extra acitivities.

I began looking in the paper the week before the kids were to start school here and saw an advertisement for an opening at a school supply store working in the invitation department. The computer programs listed were ones I had used since I was in high school and I have always designed my own invitations for the kids and my own parties. So, I thought, why not. Well, I went to interview and was hired on the spot. Manning's is a family owned business and Corrine, the owner, was very nice to listen to all of my concerns about starting to work after being home for 10 years. She assured me that they encouraged me to maintain that commitment and I was more than welcome to set my own hours. So work began. I really do like my job. It keeps my creativity flowing and I get to help people with some of the most major events in their lives, weddings, baptisms, birthdays, etc.

I have felt blessed ever since I began working in September. In November Corrine and Richard offered the use of their frequent flyer miles to purchase Allan's ticket and have consistently asked me for updates on him. So today, while working we got the news that Richard had died in his sleep. A complete shock to the entire store, some took it harder than others. I feel a deep sense of loss tonight for Corrine and their two grown children, whom I also know. They are an amazingly close family and the grief that is to follow will be palpable. Please keep them all in your prayers during this difficult time.

Update

We have continued to be in contact with Jamil this week. He called early Thursday morning to tell us his grandmother had died. They were going to be burying her yesterday. When I spoke with him yesterday he said that there was a lot of beautiful music and dancing taking place. When I told him that we would be praying for his family he cried. We are still hopeful that Allan will be joining our family very soon. It's been hard for us to constantly update everyone because often the news is now what we want to pass along. We simply have to remain confident that in God's timing Allan will fly to be with us. We look forward to letting each of you know when that happens.

Jamil gave Mark a pretty major hair cut this summer. Every few weeks while the children were on tour, they would get their heads shaved. Even the girls. Mark usually keeps his short anyway but this was definitely a close cut. Jamil had a great time including "Uncle" in this experience.

Allan with Ben and another one of the boys who stayed with us, Sunday. Mark Thomas is below with Isaac. Our bonds with them were so sudden and unexpected. All of our children, instantly became friends with them. We think of them all the time and hope that their futures are full of God's promises.

It all ends at the airport

Entebbe International Airport

The runway we need Allan to be on

Last view of Lake Victoria

We have been unable to get Allan on a plane again today! The frustration is absolutely maddening. There was apparantly somone who wanted $200 from Jamil and I had only sent an $100 from the other money that was requested day before yesterday. He has explained to me that they pay fees at every entrance point in the airport and they won't tell you from one point to the next how much will be asked. He has assured me that it's $200 on one side of the gate and $200 on the other side. There were two soldiers who would not permit Allan to board today despite Jamil's pleas and assurances that he would return tomorrow with the additional $100.

I know to many of you including us at times, this sounds so unrealistic. We have been fortunate enough to have a new family worshipping with us at the church. Joseph and his wonderful wife, Tiffany and their two young children have been attending our church since early December. Joseph was raised in Cameroon and has been so helpful and encouraging to us along this journey. God has provided them to offer us validation of the corruption in Uganda. Joseph left Cameroon at 15 and encountered numerous delays along the way as well. And Tiffany told me this morning that when they were preparing to be married, it was very difficult to arrange transportation for Joseph's mother to travel to the states.

We are at a loss for discernment on what to do next. We simply cannot give up on Allan. But we also want to know that God is opening doors and not closing them. Please pray that Mark and I would have assurance that we are walking down the right path.

False Labor

All of us are so ready for Allan to be here! Every day, we gather together as a family and pray for the days events that somehow end up unfolding the exact opposite of our desires. We have now rescheduled his flight 7 times. I know all the airline numbers by memory and can whiz right through all the telepromts. We sleep with our cell phones by the bed each night and often awake to Jamil calling around 2 or 3 a.m. My Dad has been more than gracious not to even mention the phone bill, but I know it can't be pretty. Thanks, Dad! As if preparing to go to the hospital each day that we know a flight is scheduled, we get so excited and then count down the mintues until we know the plane will be leaving, just waiting to get that phone call that Allan is on board. But yet, each time, to no avail, we pace back and forth, back and forth knowing in our hearts something must just not be right. Then mentally, it's an about face and we're back to square one.

Yesterday was another one of those days. We were so confident that he would fly! And then early yesterday morning we received a phone call saying that a man in the airport who checks the visas had asked for $90. Jamil self admittedly told me that he didn't know why he needed it but that it was such a bad problem over there that even if somone wanted a $1 they would ask for it and not allow you to board without it. So I quickly money grammed him double the amount, just in case someone else who was exploiting Allan's departure would ask for some. We paced and paced waiting to hear from Jamil. He finally called at 2:15 p.m. and said that he had waited in line for nearly 5 hours but did not get the money in time!

Mark and I were just devastated. Again, we knew the children would be coming home from school soon and we would have to explain once again what had happened. I had taken the day off of work just because it's been so hard for me to be there concentrating on days when we expect him to fly. The children were very upset, especially Max. He ran out into his new room where I was working and said, "Mom, this just sucks." I looked at Mark with a look of disapproval and said, "aren't you going to correct him?" to which he quickly replied, "well, it really does!" Obviously not a response I always want my boys to have but at that moment it summed it all up.

Jamil called this morning to say that he had gone to the airport very early to get in line to get the money, and now has it in hand. I have once again rescheduled his flight for tomorrow. They are staying with a friend who lives less than 5 miles from the airport so will get there very early tomorrow morning to get in line and process all the paperwork. I hope and pray with all my heart that the next posting I place on here will happily inform each of you that our sweet boy is on a plane headed to Texas.

Hopeful

We have been experiencing difficulties the last few days in regards to Allan's travel plans. Another group of children coming to the states to perform, not Childcare Worldwide, had agreed to allow Allan to travel with them. This decision was made last week without us knowing about it and although we were frustrated we were glad he would not have to travel alone. The problem with that was we were now exposed to 16 other children's paperwork and their adult chaperones which caused delays. They were supposed to fly last week, but could not because of a child's visa paperwork and then just yesterday as we were again hoping they would fly, a special signature had not yet been obtained by the mayor for the entire group. I awoke alone, Mark left Thursday night for his Emmaeus Walk this weekend and I cried and cried wanting to be able to talk with him. It was difficult hearing yet again that Allan would not be flying yesterday.

I spoke with Jamil this morning and he asked me if I would be willing to send money for the mayor to sign paperwork for Allan so that he would be able to travel alone. Without Mark being here, I prayed about it and just felt that it would be better not to have Allan tied to that other group so would agree to send money for something I had already paid for weeks ago. If it meant Allan could fly tomorrow the risk was worth it. The money has been wired, Jamil assured me that once I rescheduled the flight for tomorrow that he would make sure Allan was on it. Allan told him yesterday, "please, Uncle, I do not want to wait for these people anymore, I want to fly alone to be with Auntie and the boys." So, later today, I will make the flight arrangements. The airline is researching his flight because I have had to change it so many times. But that shouldn't be a problem, I pray; and once that's done, Allan should be flying tomorrow evening.

Jamil told me he wanted to call Mark tomorrow night and surprise him telling him that Allan was on a plane and since Mark is gone, this weekend, he doesn't know about any of the events that have occured. I don't know if I'll be able to keep a secret tomorrow or not but I can only imagine the look on his face when we hear the news we've longed to hear for weeks. He also told me today, "Aunt, when I put Allan on that plane tomorrow, I will go to bed and not get up for TWO days" laughing. I know he's telling the truth. He has worked so hard to make all this possible, day in and day out traveling and taking care of procedural things. Essentially putting his life on hold, I have to remind myself at times to ask him what is going on his life, because our conversations revolve so much around Allan.

Please join us in prayer that this will be the last leg of the journey before Allan joins us here in Texas. We know that the journey will simply continue as we enroll him in school and he begins his adjustment to our culture but we simply desire for him to be here with us so that we can move forward with his life, entertwining it with ours. We'll be anxious for each of you to meet him someday soon. Thank you so much for all your encouraging words of support and other gifts we've received. It's truly been a testament to God's love for each of his children, no matter where they are in the world!

Ash Wednesday

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and we held a service at church. At dinner time we were all sitting at the table and Mark explained to the kids why we hold a service for Ash Wednesday and the symbolism behind the ashes. Later in the evening I headed out to church with 4 children in tow, not ever an easy feat. I suppose I should be used to it by now, but being married to a minister means my Sundays and special services are just not what they used to be. I feel thankful if I walk away having heard just a piece of the message.

Well, upon arrival we were handed dried palm branches from Palm Sunday last year and a piece of paper that we were to write down a confession or something we wanted to give to God. When it came time in the service to do that I wrote down what I wanted to say, Ben wrote down what he wanted to say, and then wrote down what Ella dictated to him she wanted to say and I then turned to MT, who was sitting on the other side of me. I said, "Do you want to write something on the paper?" and he said to me, with this goofy little grin, "Like being bad?" and I said, "You can write down whatever you want" and he said, "Can you give me a few choices?"

Just when my children totally exasperate me, they do something so amazingly cute. I know God's given me wonderful children and I try all the time to slow down and enjoy the little moments, just like everyone tells me to, because they'll be gone quickly, I know. But being a mother to 4 busy children under the age of 10 and hopefully one that we're praying will be on a plane tomorrow is certainly not an easy job. But they each love the Lord and Mark and I see in them all the time a better understanding of their faith and a desire to learn more.

Utter frustration

I feel the need to update our blog, although I honestly have no encouraging words to post. This past week has been so difficult for our entire family. We seem to be riding this continuous roller coaster of emotion and frankly, we're ready for the ride to end. We fully expected Allan to get on that plane on Wednesday, and at the last minute another change prevented that. A drama group that Allan has performed with before in Kampala will be traveling to Houston and we were told on Wednesday that Allan had been asked to travel with them to the states so he would not have to travel alone; their flight was scheduled to leave on Saturday. This decision was made without our knowledge and we were incredibly upset at having already paid 6 change flight fees of $50 a pop. The concept of him being with other children so he would not fly alone was totally fine and we all honestly felt better at that but it was just one more delay in the timing of his arrival. Having reconciled ourselves to that, we were again preparing for him to leave tomorrow but this morning received a phone call that a child's visa paper work had not been properly completed and now the group would not be leaving until next Wednesday. We are so emotionally drained, financially too. We continue to trust that God will see us through to the next page but it's a hard process mentally.

We were both so frustrated this morning and as the boys were walking out the door to head to school, both Ben and Max said, "please can't we just reschedule one more time?" They want Allan to be here so badly! As do we and we just hope and pray that his arrival will be soon.

Please continue to pray for our family. Pray that we remain faithful to God's calling and his desires for our family. We want to be in accordance with his will.