An Encouraging Song

We have often found certain songs which really speak to us and keep our attitudes and motivations as an act of worhsip. One of our favorite songs which has undoubtedly helped us in this area is Sara Groves' "When The Saints." If you've never heard this song before, we hope you may take a moment a listen to it or read part of the lyrics below.

"I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awaken to the value of her soul


I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear


I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sister standing by the dying man's side


I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down that door


I see the man of sorrow and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load


And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
and when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them
I want to be one of them."

With less than 2 weeks left before we make the biggest move of our lifetime over to Uganda, we found this song all the more fitting in light of what God has called us to. We hope you find the lyrics to this song as ecnouraging as we have.

More of What It Looks Like to Move Overseas

Here's a glimpse of a few wild days of packing and storing! Only 7 days until we leave for Florida and 26 days until we launch for Uganda! We hope these pictorial updates bring you along with us as much as they can.

Even the cat is in the packing spirit!

Now that all the furniture is out....time to pack our boxes for Uganda!

Little big guy getting in on the packing action!

Tag-teaming it!

Packing never looked so good!

Can't forget all these voltage converters!

Each tote can be 51 lbs max! On this scale = all muscle + 1 tote

Packing the essentials... chocolate chips

Storage unit is becoming quite full!

UGANDA: Did You Know?

With any spare time I find, I've been trying to study and learn what I can about Uganda. I look forward to sharing with you some interesting hallmarks of this edenic in beauty country which we'll be calling home for the next year.

In the above picture, you'll see how the country is divided up. As Africa is made up of several differing countries, each country is divided into several different areas being a combination of municipalities, districts, counties, or some other form of designated land.

Uganda is divided up by over 100 districts! This is very similar to how each state in the US is structured. If you're reading this post and live in Florida, obviously you know that within Florida there are several cities. Within each city, there's differing counties. Even within differing counties, there's differing labeled areas.

Take Jacksonville, FL, for example (where I hail from). Within Jacksonville, there's Duval County and within Duval, there's the Mandarin area.

So, all that to say, Uganda may have several similarities to your neck of the woods!

District 29 is the Kampala District where Amber and I will be living.

Stay tune for more interesting tidbits about Uganda!

A New & Easier Way to Give

Most of you know we are in the process of raising support for a vehicle while in Uganda. We wanted to let you know we have recently uploaded a PayPal widget on our blog, making it easier for people to send in support as they feel led!

You can still send in cash or checks to our home church in Florida (For instructions click here.). However, we wanted to have an online option for people to give with more ease.

Also, we wanted to let people know that unfortunately, our home church in Florida will not be recording the names of people who send in support on our behalf. Therefore, it will not be possible for us to know who gave. We were not told this until just recently and want to sincerely apologize for this. We are so grateful to those who have sent in money for us and we want to thank you for your generosity though we do not know who you are!

With the online PayPal account your money will go to the same car fund and we we will be able to track who gives! It is very simple to use. Just click the "Donate" button below:

Drew & Amber Uganda Car Fund

Thank you to all those who have already sent in support for us to First Baptist!

It's Here!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Yesterday we received our I-171H - our "Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition" from USCIS!!! A long title with fancy words but the meaning is: our home study was approved, our finger prints came back clean, and we have the US approval we need to continue the adoption process once we get to Uganda!! This is GREAT news!

We know many of you were praying we would receive this form before we leave for Uganda. Thank you so much! The Lord saw it fit to answer our prayers positively and we feel so much peace knowing we have the I-171H in our hands and will be able to start the adoption process soon after we arrive.

We leave Michigan in two weeks and we leave for Uganda in one month!! WOW! Isaiah has been the Lord's greatest blessing to us thus far and we cannot wait to add more of these little blessings to our family!

Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

Isaiah 43:5

 

What does it look like to move overseas?

Ever wonder what it's like to move overseas? Our apartment may help render a subtle behind the scenes glimpse. We are packing everything up, putting it all in storage, and will quickly be saying bon voyage!

We hope to document our journey often and share it with you, seemingly bringing you along with us!

Our little packer!



Drilling and sealing these action-packers shut tight! No mice getting into our things while we're gone! 

The long hike down the stairs with one action-packer after another after another after another...

Safe and sound in a storage unit!

We have a large chunk of packing completed, but there's still plenty left to do! Stay tuned for more pictures to come!