May 21 – Monday

The girls are starting to really pick up on the culture and language here. Sam taught Lydia a song in Ateso the other day and she has been singing it ever since. She often asks Josh how you say something in “a language.” She learns like her Daddy. Grace now bows/squats when she greets people. How she picked up on that little detail I don't know. Kids are smart. It is really cute in church when the Pastor says Praise the Lord either Grace or Avalien says Amen or Alleluia.

The big news is Tim and Angie are adopting baby Moses! Wow, what a change of plans. They were things after July and going through an orphanage in Jinja now they may have Moses in a week and are working with Amecet here in Sorority. What happened was they had to have the probation officer here sign some papers and when they met with him he insisted they adopt from Soroty. He said there are people who will adopt in Jinja but who will adopt in Soroty. He told them about the great need and said he would help them. He also has been helping an American family go back to the States with their adopted child. That is an answer to prayer for Tim and Angie to have someone who knows the process and can help. He also deeply wants our mission to start an orphanage in Mbale for HIV children. They have the land for us and everything. So keep that in prayer for us and for the right people.

Anyways, so on Saturday they met him at Amecet with Els, the Dutch lady who runs the place. Actually we all went and played with the kids. We took Tabitha and she was great with the kids and held the babies. It has been fun getting to know the kids. We left early and when Tim and Angie came back they said that Moses and Grace where both in need of a home. Moses is
7 months old but only 8lbs. He was premature and hasn't been growing till recently. His mother died of AIDS but she loved him and took the right steps so that he remained HIV negative. Then Grace is 4 months. They are both beautiful babies! Because they said Moses is in the most need of a home Tim and Angie feel that is who God has brought to them.

Now Els will go to Moses village and speak with any remaining relatives, all the legal papers will be signed, and Moses will go home with Tim and Angie. Angie said it is hard to see him and not take him home now. She has trouble sleeping at night now. Josh asked them if they feel like they are going into premature labor. I am sure they have a mix of emotions but I know they are mostly excited.

On another note, we had a big termite hatch and everyone was scooping up bugs to fry and eat. Our backyard was crawling and so our neighbor send their kids to come and collect dishes full of flying termites. (Don't worry we have it all on tape and even picture.) Josh and Tim wanted to taste this fine treat and requested that they bring some when they were cooked. (Josh has wanted to try them since Nigeria where they also did it.) So they brought a bowl of cooked bugs over (YUCKY!) The worse part is that Grace and Ava lien loved them! The guys ate enough to say they did and be polite but they did not enjoy them. The girls on the other hand, we had to take them away from them. Avalien had bug parts all over her mouth. Lydia is just old enough to realize that it was and wonder why everyone was eating bugs. It was real life fear factor, yet the little girls had no fear. Wait till you see those pictures.

Tim, Angie, and Ava lien when to Mbale for a night away this past weekend. So we had a very quiet but nice weekend. We grilled hot dogs and even played a little baseball with the girls – with a curtain rod and ball. (Our yard is big enough for family whifle ball, wouldn't that be fun?!) Grace knows more word than I can remember to tell you know.