Day 1 - Travel & Arriving in Uganda

Today was a day like no other. It started with a blessed experience in the London airport and a flight where unlike last year, I was actually able to sleep. During our 11 hr layover I remembered these 5 leather couches in the middle of the terminal...and sure enough they were all occupied by sleeping passengers when we first scoped them out. I was chatting away (surpise) when Katie Rae who was facing the crowd, saw someone making a move and bolted for the couch. That one simple couch gave all 3 of us some much needed rest, as we took turns over the next 9 hours. On our final flight from London to Entebbe, I woke up with 1 hr 30 min remaining until we landed. I turned on some music and just became completely overwhelmed with the feelings and knowledge of walking through an answered prayer that has been on our hearts for almost 2 years. I worshipped the Lord right there on the plane with a grateful heart for all He has done and is doing through our adoption of Fred and Nulu.



Our faith has been stetched and grown so much during this time. After we arrived at the Entebbe Airport we found a shuttle driver waiting for us (we were 30 min late). He was holding a sign that made us laugh. It said, Mandi Johnson (x2 pass) and underneath it read:

(Wiz a lot of luggage)

 tee hee

We had 10 total. We made it to the guest house where Kim and Josh spent Thursday night and freshened up while we waited to be picked up by all the beautiful people who run Sonrise Baby Home. We had no idea if ours or Josh and Kim's children would be coming with them to pick us up. In a little while they arrived.. I looked out the window and saw Rebecca the volunteer mission team director, then I heard Damali's voice. As my gaze fell lower, seeking little people...there they were, Fred and Nulu.


You could tell they had made a long journey, the 3+hrs to reach our location. They also looked blank and scared. I knelt down to hug them, and they were very still and unresponsive. They were very unsure of what was happening. They never travel to meet the numerous teams of mzungus (white people) that visit each summer. They are used to white people coming bringing donations and treats, giving lots of hugs, playing games and then before you know it they are off again.

I knelt down to put my arms around Fred and wasn't there long before I realized he was soaking wet.  Not being used to the long ride, he'd had an accident in his jeans AND spilt water all down his sweatshirt.  So what would have been really uncomfortable turned into an immediate moment to parent and care for our son and meet his needs.  We had new underwear and clothes in our bag and got him all cleaned up and ready to go.  So uncertain, not sure of what each moment would hold....then slowly as we began our 3 hourbouncy ride in the matatu, something began to happen.  Giggles (Fred still has one of the most beautiful laughs in the world) and smiles in the car, having to tell Fred to put his arm back inside the van (he was not happy about this "who were we to tell him what to do :), so the passing cars didn't take it off...that is a reality on the roads of Uganda..no yellow line :).  Next we stopped for lunch, and it was just like a meal with our kids back home, Jeremy and I between them serving their food and cutting their meat.  

I don't even know what was next, but as evening fell it became time for bed time.  They did not resist or seem fearful to be with us.  A volunteer mission team that had been here for 2 weeks was staying in the guest house with us.  They commented that they could see a change in Nulu.  They said she was so happy.  And she stayed right by my side.  Just precious and my daughter has a smile that will light up the world.  She is shy at times, she covers her smile with her hands..but her upturned mouth peeks out and the joy escapes to warm my heart.  We gave them baths and placed them and our friends' boys in the room that was prepared for the 4 of them.  By the end of the day, they were occasionally called us Mama Mandi and Daddy.  They were not sleeping with us, which seemed logical because that is what they are used to.  However the Moody brothers actually gave up minimal crying quickly and drifted off...in a little bit crying was heard and when I saw the grown-ups they said, it was Nulu and it was a pitiful cry.  I went in and got her down and took her to my bed.  Not 10 min later Fred was crying.. I mean come on  we couldn't let the big ones wake up the toddlers.  So Fred got in daddy's bed.  With our 5 days notice before flying over here...they prepared our room with twin beds.  Which worked out great because they can each sleep with one of us.   I'm sorry even with older kids, this is the most important and precious bonding time.  They have never had someone regularly cuddle with them.  Day One ended with another accident (we fed them late, drank too much) but again, precious time to be gentle and meet their needs.  I've never been so grateful for the things we get frustrated with at home.  I must go to bed... all I can say is that Day One doesn't hold a candle to Day 2.  I will write and post as soon as possible. 

This is the Before...

just in case you were wondering what it looks like when you try to pack for 2 adults and 2 children and a possible trip time of a month in owww
FIVE DAYS!!!
I count it a blessing!  God answered our prayers in a profound way...
and then He said, "NOW RUN!!!!" 

No, we do not need that much stuff.  The containers are filled with supplies for the Sonrise Baby Home.

Spent 3 hours, checking and double checking and labeling our paperwork.

It's magnificent but messy, this journey.

This is a look at my night stand, and our children.

This one, is special to my heart.  This is for all who wait with a longing in your heart...wondering is God really saying this to you...is He really planting a completely unexpectedly longing in your heart for adoption.

This dress for my daughter, has been ironed, matching headband hanging with it,

on my curtain rod,

just like this for 2 months.

It was painful to look at sometimes, not knowing when, if ever the next steps in this journey would come...

but other days, it was my symbol of HOPE.

Hope that my daughter would one day wear this to court, to be given a new name, to be grafted into our family..forever.

That day is here.

Love,

Mandi

P.S. I'll do my best to update from London.

Thank you in advance for praying over our whole family...all SEVEN of us :)

God is in control...

of the Madness at my house, Hallelujah!

Just a quick update:  We drive away from our home on Wednesday morning at 10 am.

We fly out of Atlanta on Wednesday night at 9:15pm.

I have 2 days to get it all together...God is strong when I am weak. 

Even though my mind dances across the line of anxiety and and subtle nervous pit in my stomach remains....I reel myself back in..

I shall have no fear. 

 God just moved a Mountain for my Family!!!!

 A MOUNTAIN!! 

He has a plan for this timeline in July and He's not going to let little ole Mandi mess it up. 

One moment, one thought, one step at a time. 

Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I do not take this lightly...I FEEL your prayers.

Your prayers matter.  They will pray us to Uganda and home again.

Thank you for lifting our growing family up to our Heavenly Father.

It is for the love of Christ that we go.  Pray we are able to share the Gospel.

This is His plan, His story for our family, it is about regeneration.

We are so blessed to be surrounded by your love, support, and prayers.

I am so thankful for the gift in this life, of the Body of Christ.

"Ohhh, How He loves Us!"

MIRACLE answer to Prayer!!!!!

Okay, I should not be on here... Typos beware...no time to do anything.
Here's the lowdown:

6am Jeremy (my hubbie) opens email that says yesterday in court we learned that your case will be heard on July 1st at 230pm.  Jeremy says, "Mandi WAKE UP!"  Dude, I was up and crying after that.  The post sharing with you what I'm feeling and what's happening in my relationship with the Lord leading up to that moment will have to wait for the plane ride...plenty o' time to blog.   not to mention my 11 hr layover in London.

Okay, so If you've been following the J*dges take a break in July, supposedly the 15th, but it's not in stone, they can take off on vacation whenever they like, just like Americans.  Now to size up this miracle...this is happening at the 23rd hour, so there is no other explanation than this was God's timing for our family.  Our dear friends started their adoption process 5 really 6 months before us, and God has caught us up to within a DAY!!! 1 DAY my people!  We go to court 1 day after our friends and fellow parents of Sonrise babies.  These precious children (all 4 of them - and hopefully more one day) will grow up KNOWing each other and sharing a family tree.  Okay I better hurry this up...so the gift on top of all the goodness of this timing for my family is that I get to share this journey, adventure, a month in Ug*nda with my best friend.  It doesn't get any better than that!! God was just showing OUT when He got to that part. 

We had two choices, arrive with 2 days to spend with our kids before court, or.....
DRUMROLL............................
.........................................
My
ONLY
other
Option
Was to arrive the exact same day as our friends & fellow Sonrise adoptive parents.  Tought decision.  :) Yep, when we get there they'll be waking up at the hotel from arriving the night before. 
God is Good. (And yes, I do proclaim that even when He chooses not to bless me this way)

So, that's why I only have 4.5 days now to pack and prepare... our flight leaves June 22nd late evening from Atlanta.  Jeremy will be with me for 2 weeks and then return home to work and be with kids.  I will come, Lord willing 2 weeks later with our son and daughter, bringing all FIVE of our kids together.  But that is all a moving target and only the Lord knows the final timeline. Hallelujah!!

Prayer requests:
for July 1st to be a firm court date

for the j*dge to have a heart for adoption and to rule favorably and swiftly for our family
(please pray all these things for us and the Moody family)

for our children (N and F) to have an unexplainable connection and longing for us, that God has planted in their hearts.

for our children at home (Joel, Isaiah & Lucy) to be at peace, in good health, comforted while  Dad is away 2 wks and Mom a month.

for our parents, the best grandparents in the world, who without their love and support NONE of this would be possible.  We are a picture of, it takes a village.  they will be taking turns with the kids 2 weeks each.  specifically pray for my mom, she is doing better but, she is recovering from sickness that wiped her out (the enemy has gone after all the family). she needs a mighty and swift full recovery to be 100% by the time the children come to her home in 2 weeks, God again will be her healer and He will be right on time. 

for the medical tests, appointments, investigations, all the logistics to go smoothly....but more importantly that we will take each bump in the road in stride, leaving all the details in God's hands...the only place they will be successful.

for us to have time to visit with the extended families of our children.  to invest in learning about their heritage, their family history and stories, their culture, to share our hearts and the love of Christ with them, which is what it is all about. 

Thank you now, for praying over all these things for the next month.  There is nothing more important during this journey than prayer.  As we have seen, crying out in faith and waiting on the Lord, is the only thing that works...no effort of man could have brought us to this point, at THIS time....it just ain't happening.  And it breaks my heart to say it isn't and hasn't happened for many who have been waiting longer than us... Please pray for all the familes who wait to place precious U*gandan orphans in their forever families. 

I must go to bed.  We've packed our oldest for church camp next week.  And now my littles will join the grandparents on Sunday night, so we can pack Mon and Tuesday.  So this increases my potential seperation time from my 3 here at home (hard, scary, yes)....I'm trusting God will be carrying us all through.  I know He is and will be.  He's done too much to get us here... I will trust....And everytime the enemy rears his head (And he already is tonight), I will go back to 6am this morning, when God moved a MOUNTAIN!!!!! And I will take the next step with a greater faith than yesterday's faith, which was greater from the previous miracle He gave our family....and so on and so on as we look back at our journey with Jesus.


BIG Love from the most grateful daughter of the King,

Mandi

PS:  If God lays it on your heart to contribute and support Sonrise Baby Home.. we will be taking 4-5 large suit cases each with 50 lbs. of supplies for the home where our children have been loved and cared for over the last two years.  If you will be in LaGrange, GA this weekend, or anywhere between LaGrange and Savannah along an interstate....or anywhere along our route Wednesday from Savannah to Atlanta...we will be taking donations to Ug*nda to restock the necessary supplies at the home.  Or if you want to send $$ so I can grab some stuff at Walmart, that'll work too, just use paypal and comment that it is for the donation bags..  Jeremy and I will only be using 1 suitcase for us and the kids.:) So, COPY and PASTE this portion of my blog post and SHARE with ANYONE you like.
This is so last minute, so we'll just take whatever comes in...you hate to waste the opportunity...it is so hard and expensive for them to get certain supplies.

Twin Bed Sheets
Towels
Baby Formula new or expired
Children's Ibuprofen and Tylenol
Children's liquid vitamins (vi-ta-sol, i think)

Sonrise Children' Home has just opened a clinic (to even help the community) and hired a nurse...at this time the shelves need to be stocked with much needed antibiotics and malaria meds.  A life giving gift would be money, that you specify for this purpose.  The medicines can be purchased at local pharmacies there in Ug*nda without prescription for reasonable prices.

If you have any questions email me at: mandij75@yahoo.com

Thanks for EVERYTHING!!!!!

Ohhh, promise last sidenote (the squirrel effect)...Please respect the PRIVATE nature of this blog.  Emailing this to others, could jeopardize our case.  Now, I'd love to share and have more prayer warriors lifting us up.  If you get pumped, just send me their email address, tell me who it is and I will gladly add anyone to the private blog list.  Thanks for helping me with this. 

Keep Praying!!! So Close.....so close...

Let me just tell you, this week is intense.

 It is riddled with spritual attack, but OH the blessings and encouragement that comes with it.

  Emails from strangers that read,

 "I don't know what's going on with your family, but Hang In There!!" 

 Random phone call from Worldvision rep. (they've never called before in 3 yrs) and then she says she wants to pray with me for our family and our adoptions. (tears)

  Oh sweet love of Jesus, you take whatever form you wish, and you lavish it on us.

  All the kind words of prayer warriors, praying and believing with our family that this IS God's time for our family to travel and go to court, keep us encouraged. 

And then there is God's promise of provision for what He has asked us to do.

  Just this week, another phone call, a check is in the mail. 

It will be right on time, God's perfect time.

Today is 2 weeks, since our case was filed in court.

  Now, my dear friend who leaves next week, got the call for her court date EXACTLY two weeks after her filing in court.  Not that we expect anything to be the same from one family to another...cause it never is :).  Just sayin, lots of excitement in my heart from Monday to today.

  Monday as I prayed, I asked the Lord again

 if my desire and prayers were in accordance with His Will.

  I asked him to give me encouragement to keep praying this way, somehow.

  That afternoon we learned that 2 families with a different attorney

 got their court dates for June 24th and June 27th!! 

Very much before the break, in fact, that one family has 10 days to get their butts on a plane and get over there :).  Needless to say, I rejoiced for them and continued to pray for us.   

Now...how do I know we are Sooooo Close?????

I was on the phone with my Dad just an hour ago, and he asked again,

 "Now Mandi, with the time difference,

 remind me...it's too late to hear from them now, right?"

As I began to respond, I also opened my email to check.

I had just finished saying,

 "Yea, they usually come early in the morning and I wake up to find them. 

But there has been a rare occasion or two where I've gotten one late in the afternoon,

 like 8pm their time."

"Dad!!   I've got one now!!"

(catching my breath, I read)

Hello Mandi,

We were at court today but didn't get a hearing date.

 We go back tomorrow at 10:00a.m. We'll soon know.

Victoria

So precious prayer warriors, lift up our case before the Lord anytime tonight,

but that will be 2am AL time and 3am GA time :)

Please pray for a court date late June/early July.

PLEASE pray for a favorable Judge... (most critical part of this entire journey)

the one that God has selected to fulfill His plans for our family.

I'll leave you with a treat for now....I found this just recently...

A video of our son, tucked away from our mission trip last July.

We had NO idea he would one day be a Johnson.

(yes, I hate my voice on video (so I really love ya to share this ;)

 and even goofier I think I was talking with a different accent)

We'll soon know.  We'll soon know.



Oh Father

Oh Father...

 

Flies, wasps, ants,  they all chase after me

Fears, worries, anxieties,  I give them all to Thee

The power of the wind, reminds me you are near

In you alone I trust, whom shall I fear?

My children of the pearl, I know nothing of their hearts

Our lack of communication, is tearing me apart

Praise God it's only temporary

for it's His plan you see

One day my precious children

will finally be with me

With Great Attack...

comes great victory. 

Insane spiritual attack the last few days, and today was the kicker.  I love as another blogger put it..."Satan is so unoriginal."  And yes, I recognized the madness of it all because I've read so many first hand accounts of unimaginable events/chaos at the last steps in their adoption process. 

And all of this comes exactly as Jeremy and I have really begun to pray specifically for a miracle court date assignment, against all odds, BEFORE the July 15th break.  Afterwhich the courts are not hearing cases for a month+ (like summer vacation) until down in August.  When I say, it will be a miracle...like there are already families being given dates of August 16th and beyond, and there are many families that have been waiting for months :(.  Please pray for all these families and the children who wait for them.

I was about to take my kids to the beach with my Mom and had a complete uneasiness about going.  My husband confirmed that I needed to stay home and prepare for what we are believing.  So we picked up our anti-malaria meds and anti-travelers' diarhea meds...nice huh?  Actually, really amazing stuff that keeps you from getting it :)

So, hubby took kids this evening to a jumpy place, I scored a half price deal with a Groupon (love those).  I was to  have 2.5 hours to sew. Seriously, 1 bizarre phone call with a cherished family member, (tears), hit my knees...hung up with a friend and the doorbell rings...prospective (slick-willy)roofer is repeatedly insulting me, talking in argumentative circles...says, "let me just EXPLAIN it to your HUSBAND!!!"  (yea, those of you that know me real well are going, "oooooo, no he didn't?!?!)....I actually had to slam shut the door abruptly to make the insanity end.  Lord, what is going on?  Oh yea, I know we are about to walk the path you have for us, two orphans will be orphans no more...and Satan will do anything to crack us at this point. 

Now after all that drama, and my dear husband returning home to "hear" about it....can I just say I LOVE MY Husband!!!!  He said, "Girl, God is about to turn this mutha out!!"  MC Hammer 80s song...clean reference I promise :)
We are praying and hanging on. 

And just hours later, 30 minutes ago in fact, I learn that someone has given us $4000 for our adoption fund!!!!  Aiyiyiyyiyiyiy!  God is getting us ready to go...and whenever it is...we will be ready.  Well, sort of, you can never be fully ready for this..that's why we must have FAITH. 

We go to meet with a US attorney in the morning, to make sure we have all our ducks in a row...no surprises once we are home.  I will sleep well tonight.  God is good.

Thank you for sharing this journey with us,
Mandi

Ups and Downs....

of both emotions and fundraising.

Well, I'm excited to say that we received our first 5 orders for adoption dolls in the last 4 days!! Whoo whoo, those are the first orders of anything since the launch of www.FaithSteppin.com.  That is a huge praise.  It also really helps to keep me going by having my hands and mind wrapped up in the tiny details and precision of sewing dresses for dolls. :)  Now, for those of you keeping an eye on our fundraising thermometer....watching God fund what He favors...you will notice two things this evening:
    1) It reflects the recent sale of 5 dolls, because we had already paid (months back) for the shipment of $10 dolls in full and since that money is long gone, we are counting all of it as profit. :) 
    2) Next you will see that our overall goal has gone up.  :(  I know, it is a bummer, but it is the reality check we got when friends of ours began to purchase their tickets.  We discovered that there are NOT half-price tickets for children.  And we certainly won't be getting much discount when we purchase the one-ways only 3-4 days before flying.  Welcome to the completely unpredictable timeline of Uganda adoption.  We had also budgeted for the grown-up tickets, based on the suggestions of adoption agency outlines for Uganda of ($1500)....well, they budget on an average and July is actually the peak season for Uganda and therefore has the highest ticket rates of the year...yes, score one for the enemy on the ole pocketbook.  We over budgeted, using $2000, but not the actual of $2500.  I know very boring details, but for inquiring minds wanting to understand the finer details of this journey...there you go. 
    3)  We are actually getting pumped, because even though our goal post moved...God blessed our efforts this past month to eat WHATEVER was in the cupboard (not winning any nutrition awards) and try our best NOT to go back to the grocery store, no eating out, and going nowhere...and we've scraped a whopping $1000 from our budget to add to the goal.  We southerners would say to my kids, "Bless their hearts".  In reality we've actually grown to like Zatarains Beans and Rice mix and it is preparing us to enjoy the staple meal that our kids eat in Uganda.  Now one of my priorities is to learn how Auntie Loyce makes it at the baby home, cause Zatarains can't even touch the real thing she makes.

Now for the emotions part of this...and I use that loosely.  Emotions do get involved sometimes, but really I mean the details that effect the heart.  There is a daily yo-yo effect of negative news on the ground in Ug*nda from families there in the midst of the process (which is unusual).  There are many extenuating circumstances, many "unprecedented challenges" facing the active cases in country at this moment.  There are fb groups comprised entirely of families that have and are adopting from Ug*nda.  It is like most things of information, a completely double edged sword.  On one hand, it is one of the resources that gives any crazy fools, like us, the confidence to embark on an "independent" adoption with no agency, no guide to the ever winding, complicated process.  And on the other, when the reports are not good, and you have a large group of speculating parents with a huge heart calling...it is a recipe that the ENEMY loves to wreak havoc with (as you can easily imagine).  I'm doing okay, with not giving the enemy an inch...at the moment. 

In fact, I feel insane.  Who do I think I am, to deserve a miracle over the other families that have been "waiting" for a court date for months?  Why do I deserve to get from homestudy to waiting for a court date in 4.5 months??  I don't...and I don't.  I must tell you, if God had not been opening the doors that He so miraculously has thus far...I would never have the boldness to ask.  And yet, here we are.  How can I not ask...do I not have the faith that He is a mountain mover?? No, WE DO!  We have personally seen him move mountains in our lives, we have seen his miraculous hand in the very lives of our children, MORE THAN ONCE! And most importantly, we have his WORD, where He tells us, over and over about the prayer of faith, that by faith He answers.   We are down to what I "feel" like is a two week window, if we base our thoughts loosely on what has actually happened for another teeny group of folks recently.....in order to get that call that we have been assigned a court date somewhere between June 30th and July 15th.  So what I am trying to express is the struggle between having the faith to ask, because he tells us "you have not, because you ask not"...and feeling like a spoiled brat wanting things to hurry.  I really don't, want things to hurry.  I give myself a heart/gut check regularly.  I've walked with the Lord long enough to know that I don't want anything He has for me, for us, for our family, before the hour, the moment the He has chosen to place it in our lives.  I've also lived it, time after time, when He delays, when it seems disappointing at first...in the end when His promise is fulfilled I can see His hand and I see the blessing of the delay.  So because of those hard places, I trust. 

Then there are the realities of day to day life, while you are praying BELIEVING, and yet remaining peaceful that it may not happen.  IF I believe He is about to part the red sea of Ug*ndan adoption for us, then should I be preparing??...like making sure my kids have clothes, that I have my malaria medicine, that we've done all we can to not have debt when it comes time to purchase airline tickets, that we have childcare for our kids, that Jeremy's work schedule will still work with our moving target, knowing that when we get THAT CALL, we will have about two weeks notice to prepare.  Or does it seem I am getting the cart before the horse?  Am I getting myself all worked up for disappointment?  Or am I remaining full of HOPE(not doubting in my heart) to the bitter end, knowing how my Heavenly Father loves to bless us when our requests are in the center of His will?  Aahhhh, this is the nature of the struggle. 

I have not heard anything from my attorney since last Thursday....and from what we are hearing, I don't want to bother her.  So we pray, to the only one who has any control over these things, our Abba Father.  And we ask you to pray with us.  That whatever plays out in the next 2-3 weeks that He give us the strength and peace to endure.  And until the door is closed for this opportunity we hold GREAT HOPE...

Romans 5:3-5, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;  and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

I will stop for tonight...someone on FB is having a Summer Reading Bible Challenge and there's nothing like a little competitive accountability to keep me in the word as I wait.  There's nothing else that I need actually.  Most overdue blog post is next...to really cover all the thoughts, feelings, fears, of why I feel like a mad woman to be praying for something to happen quicker, that is the HARDEST thing we have ever faced.  My husband and I wrestle with these thoughts, feelings, and beliefs through tears...and at the end of the day the only answer is obedience and love.  The greatest love of all, the love of Christ that he has given us and filled us with, that poured out from Calvary's tree. 

One day and prayer at a time,
Mandi