This is our last blog that doesn’t have much to do with real estate (in case you found this by googling it)! Although, while in Uganda, we were advised that buying properties and building homes on it would be a good investment right now. That would definitely make for an interesting occupation!

We are coming home changed which is what we had prayed. Before leaving,  parenting a strong willed 3 year old and active 19 month old was emotionally wearing on me. I was so intense on my kids’ obedience and behavior (or lack thereof!). After spending time with over 100 children who have NO ONE to say, “Mommy” or “Daddy” to, my perspective towards parenting is more grace filled. Like I know everything is going to be all right with my kids because at least they have us.  They have the same two people in their lives every day telling them the same thing, following the same routine, loving with the same consistent love. This is called parenting and there is nothing very romantic about it on most days of the week. But millions of children around the world don’t have anyone parenting them (about 150 million to be more specific).

I have been to Africa several times and volunteered at orphanages, but never as a parent. The injustice of it all touched me in new places this time. I spent a few days at one babies’ home with 40 children under 2. 40 cribs in one room sleeping, 40 kids in one room eating, 40 kids in one room playing. The mommy in me would just pick up any crying baby and by the end of the first day, it felt like a blur of children. I had to be very intentional about imagining each child as an Amelie or Holden. Only then would compassion flow  more freely. I was told there were over 100 homes in Uganda like this.

The new Watoto babies’ home had JUST opened- before there were 80 kids in one home. Watoto has one of the best reputations in Uganda and the homes were filled with love, toys, and cleanliness. I think the kids got bathed more than mine! Their vision is to raise up the next generation of leaders in Uganda. When the kids turn 2, they go to live in a home with 8 other children and one mother, in a Watoto built “village”. It is breathtakingly beautiful. While I applaud this organization for taking a more sustainable approach to the orphan crisis, it was still heart breaking to be in a “village” of 2,000 children without a mother and father. Joe got work side by side with Ugandans building cabinents and cribs for another Watoto baby home opening in northern Uganda.

Bethany and Moses, who I blogged about previously are pictured below. Bethany has a more mild form of cerebral palsy (I think with therapy she could talk and possibly walk), but because she is an orphan in Uganda, she lives in a babies’ home with very little specialized therapy. Moses, abandoned at the hospital when he was three with progressive hydrocephalus, is also bright. He played some of Amelie’s preschool applications on my iphone one day- puzzles, memory, letters, ect.  Their smiles brought so much joy to me! But all I could think about was my friends’ kids who have special needs that get therapy multiple times a week in their home, school classes just for them, and I even just read of a theme park in San Antonio created only for kids with special needs. I long for Moses and Bethany to have the same sort of care. If you or some one you know is considering adopting a child with special needs, please let me know. Although Watoto does not adopt out, they are considering finding families for these amazing kids! By the way, there were many other kids with special needs there, but these 2 grabbed my attention perhaps because they are so high functioning and would be living a drastically different life some where else.

We LOVED getting to spend time with our friend, Laura, and see all that she is doing for Watoto and Uganda. We also got to spend some lunches and dinners with the Micklers, who have been in Uganda for 4 years with their 5 children. I think they were secretly trying to recruit us because Downie kept telling me how amazing it was to live in Uganda and raise young kids there! If only the internet wasn’t soooooooo slow and impossible!!! We had so many conversations throughout the week with many different people about adoption, sustainable development, Ugandan government, business, orphans, and oil (the largest discovery of oil in sub saharan Africa was made in northern Uganda last year). “We received a baby today found in a toilet. We received a 2 year old last week abandoned by his grandma because he had parasites in his feet.” Life in Uganda is wonderfully intense and the conversations reflect that. Some days, I would just start crying under the intensity of it all.

The ability to adopt children from Uganda is difficult right now due to some wording in the law that is in the process (hopefully) of being changed. Through many conversations during the week, we felt that trying to adopt from Uganda is not the best idea at this time. However, our last weekend in Uganda, we traveled to a town call Jinja, about 1 hour away (well, in our case it was three but that is another story!) We white river rafted in the Nile on grade 5 rapids and this Mama was feeling young again! We also visited a children’s home who DOES adopt and that made our hearts confused all over again.

So regarding adoption, we do feel that we are going to move forward, but we are still unsure about when and how. Being surrounded by so many children and such need did two things for me. I started to count the cost of adoption more. The reality of orphan life and raising a child out of that brought many questions to mind. At the same time, being surrounded by that much need, made Joe and I realize we HAVE to adopt. I know adoption may not by the long term, sustainable solution to the orphan crisis. I, personally, loved hearing about programs that were getting moms on the proper HIV medicine, giving job training and restoring dignity to broken lives. When you save the parents, there is not an orphan crisis. However, because there are orphans and because we will one day come before our Father in Heaven who is going to ask, “What did you do for the least of these?”, Joe and I want to have an answer. We want to have an answer because we answer to a loving Father, who Himself adopted us when we were not looking so pretty. Please continue to pray for us in the journey! And if you know some one looking to buy or sell real estate in Austin, send them our way! Adoption has a high price tag!

Please see more of our photos on Facebook

Samuel, Joe, and I at a children's home. Samuel was abandoned 3 weeks ago by his grandmother

Moses and Bethany

Laura, showing off one of her designs, being sewn by HIV positive women who are being empowered through learning skills.

Claire, HIV and TB positive, being transferred to new children's home. No carseats necessary!

The staff of EcoNation, the business started by the Micklers to empower the poor

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