JH Residential heads to Uganda

This doesn’t have much to do with buying and selling homes, but we thought this was the easiest way to keep you up to date on our comings and goings!

I picked up a new Ugandan friend last week to take her to an apartment complex where refugees from many war torn countries have recently resettled in Austin. She speaks swahili and so could translate and share with the other swahili speaking Africans.

On the way there, I ask “How many children do you have?”

“I have 3 children. I adopted one of the children after my sister died of HIV. In Uganda, when parents die, it is expected the siblings will adopt the kids left behind.”

“Really?” I say. “We are praying about adoption right now.”

“Wow, won’t you think about adopting one of my nieces? Their dad died of HIV and their mother is now sick with HIV as well. When she dies, I don’t know how I will be able to take care of all of these children. You could go visit and meet them when you go to Uganda.” This was definitely an interesting start to our conversation!

We arrived at the complex and she immediately greeted the Burundi women and some newly arrived refugees from the Congo. I soon met a smiling Iraqi woman who has been in Austin for only 2 weeks. She worked  for the US army and they are now assisting her, her husband, and 2 children to resettle in the US.

“I have seen crazy things that no one should see,” she said.  “I have been bombed 4 times. My son was targeted by the militia on the way to school and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. No one knows where we are now. We couldn’t tell anybody because then they would know that I have been working for the US and my family would be threatened. This is the first time for me to feel safe in years. To walk the streets without wondering if I will die. Maybe I could help tutor the kids here at the apartments. I have a physics degree.” I ask, “Where are you interviewing for a job this week?” “Sewing clothes for a hotel,” she replies.

She is 34, has a 9 year old and 12 year old and has spent the major part of her life in fear with violence a normal reality.  We both cried and talked and exchanged phone numbers before saying goodbye.

I get back in the car with my Ugandan friend. “How was your time?” I ask. “It was very good, Jezca. The men from the Congo shared about how he watched his father get shot to death. His mother and siblings fled and he still has no idea where they are. It was a good time for people to share their stories and grieve together.”

10 minutes from our house are people with stories, with souls, with real needs. They aren’t stories from the news or the internet, but they are right here in our backyard, looking for friends and for Hope.

Being involved in people’s lives so different from our own stretches our hearts and awakens our souls. God is stirring Joe and me here in Austin and on February 25th- March 9th, we get to travel to Uganda to be stirred as well. We will be visiting our good friend who works with Watoto. Jessica will volunteer at a home for abandoned premature babies and Joe will work with youth in a carpentry school. We will also visit our friends the Micklers who empower the poor through businesses and entrepreneurship through Econation. Both sets of grandparents will be taking care of Amelie and Holden while we are away.

Before we planned this trip, Joe and I began to ask God, “Do you want us to adopt?” We believe that God has shown us that He does and ask Him for continued guidance. We are currently praying about what direction to go (local or international, baby or toddler, ect). We hope God may answer some of our questions on this trip to Uganda since we will have time and space to pray and ask and seek Him on this.

Would you please pray for us?

• that God would plan this trip to maximize His glory
• that God gives grandparents energy to be mommy and daddy to Amelie and Holden and that the kids would honor one another and their grandparents!
• Wisdom and continued confirmation in regards to adoption and God’s purposes for our lives… that we would count everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Him!
• Protection over our health and travels

Blessings!

Jessica, Joe, Amelie, and Holden Honegger