We were a family of three until October 2009 when God lead us down a path we never thought we'd take - international adoption! When I say we never thought we'd take, I really mean that. We were happy staying within the comfortable borders of our home here in the states. We wanted another child and had thought about domestic adoption. We never really wanted to travel beyond the US. Why? Fear, I guess, of the unknown. We both believe that God gets the biggest kick out of us humans when we start making up the rules on our own because just a few months later, we found ourselves in Uganda meeting our daughter for the first time! How did we make that jump? Because every time we came up with a reason why we shouldn't do it, God kept asking us Why Not? And, honestly, the first time heard about Fiona and laid eyes on the first picture we received, we knew she was ours. It's truly amazing the courage God can give you when you step out in faith!
During the first trip and on trips following that, not only was God opening our eyes the daughter He had chosen for us, but He was truly opening our eyes for the first time . . . to the real world . . . to the world WE live in. We realized that what we had known was only a small snapspot of His creation. Through the process of adopting Fiona, we were able to spend a lot of time in the country, and we started to really know and understand the needs of His people.
Since that first trip, we knew God was just beginning to open the doors of what was to come. In May of 2011 we brought Fiona home! Uganda was forever stamped in our hearts. Every day our hearts and minds were back there. These people we grew to love were real. Their needs even more real. And, we knew God did not open our eyes to just have us close them.
During the first trip and on trips following that, not only was God opening our eyes the daughter He had chosen for us, but He was truly opening our eyes for the first time . . . to the real world . . . to the world WE live in. We realized that what we had known was only a small snapspot of His creation. Through the process of adopting Fiona, we were able to spend a lot of time in the country, and we started to really know and understand the needs of His people.
Since that first trip, we knew God was just beginning to open the doors of what was to come. In May of 2011 we brought Fiona home! Uganda was forever stamped in our hearts. Every day our hearts and minds were back there. These people we grew to love were real. Their needs even more real. And, we knew God did not open our eyes to just have us close them.
We had the most amazing family take care of us while we were in Uganda. That family is now our family, not by blood, but by a bond that God created.
One of the first people we met was Livingstone. He has a smile and spirit that shines brightly. He is passionate about sharing the gospel with those that don't know God. Livingstone shared many of his dreams with us - what he felt God was calling him to do - and that was to help the broken and lost and share the good news of God's salvation through Jesus. The whole Lule family has taught us so much about faith - faith that runs so deep there is no end! It was incredible to witness!
Livingstone and many friends and family members join together every Saturday to conduct missions in nearby villages. They help with people's physical needs, whatever those may be. Their main goal is to just love people, to show those they come in contact with that someone cares . . . and most importantly . . . to share Jesus with those that need to meet Him.
One of the first people we met was Livingstone. He has a smile and spirit that shines brightly. He is passionate about sharing the gospel with those that don't know God. Livingstone shared many of his dreams with us - what he felt God was calling him to do - and that was to help the broken and lost and share the good news of God's salvation through Jesus. The whole Lule family has taught us so much about faith - faith that runs so deep there is no end! It was incredible to witness!
Livingstone and many friends and family members join together every Saturday to conduct missions in nearby villages. They help with people's physical needs, whatever those may be. Their main goal is to just love people, to show those they come in contact with that someone cares . . . and most importantly . . . to share Jesus with those that need to meet Him.