My heart is heavy. I feel like I can’t breathe. I have gotten “bad news” before with this stuff, but this is legit. This is law and embassies and visas and parliaments. This is life-changing.
Today there was a meeting with some governmental embassies- including the U.S.- and with some judges, layers, and legal “high-ups.” What was decided might change our life. Right now, we would obtain legal guardianship of Moses and adopt him in the U.S. This is a loophole that allows us to not have to live in Uganda for three years before adopting him. Basically all of us families are applying for legal guardianship and NOT adoption. If you apply for adoption you have to live here and foster these kids for 3 years. The Embassy is now asking that when a judge gives a ruling he/she words that legal guardianship is granted AND that they can adopt the child internationally in their new country. Right now it does NOT state that he/she can adopt the child in their new country. Well the American Embassy has decided that must change. The judges must either reword the rulings to state that we can adopt these kids, or we have to start over with an “adoption” proceeding. New court, new everything. But the problem is that legally, we cannot adopt these kids unless we foster them first for three years while we LIVE HERE.
So now what? Our attorney will meet with the judges in the next couple days to see if they are willing to reword our rulings. Luckily, I haven’t received mine yet. Those who have already received there rulings must start over from square one. Completely over. New court, new waiting, new everything. My judge is on the high court, not the family court. He is just helping because they were backed up… For him to decide that he will just reword something so legally binding overnight… It would take a major move of God, let me say that.
What if that doesn’t work? We have to START OVER with an adoption case, and pray that the judge will allow us to adopt without the three year fostering here. That would mean months here. And that probably won’t work, because the law clearly states what’s required, and we don’t meet it.
So… if none of that works… we have to either move here or leave Moses behind forever. I am not called to live here- I know that. I don’t know why God would say YES all this time and then shut the door and let Moses and these other kids be orphans forever. I don’t know why he would have had us pray about this for years, raise and spend thousands of dollars, and come here and tell Moses he’s coming home with us, all to just terminate it. Why? I don’t know how I will go home without him, knowing I’ll never see him again. Walking by his room everyday, seeing his clothes and his bed and the toys we got just for him. How can that happen? How is that God?
We are going to spend all night praying and crying out to God. We are going to fast. We are going to believe God to move. Will you join us? Will you treat this as if it was your family? Will you help us? I can’t do this alone… I am so overwhelmed. I am sick. The judge must agree tomorrow to reword our ruling, or our life will be forever changed as we know it.
oh, girl….. praying praying praying!
Meghan can I have permission to share this with our attorney McLane? http://www.equalityforadoptedchildren.org …. She is our fierce advocate in D.C.!
Maybe we can get better clarity on the situation!
Carolyn
yes yes yes!!! contact anyone who can help make anything happen!!!
Um, whoa. Praying…
heartbroken for you, for me, for all the orphans of uganda… praying and asking our huge God to do huge things.
anna
Praying right with you and for you. Keep us posted!
PRAYING!!!!!!! GOD CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!! LORD MOVE IN THE HEART OF THIS JUDGE!! HAVE FAVOR ON THE MATT’S FATHER GOD!!
Praying—not stopping—praying hard!!
So much love being sent your way *hug*
God is good—so good.
Keep us posted!!
Just sent you a text… we are IN. I’m commited with prayer and fasting… I’ll be talking with my husband here in a few minutes. Consider us standing with you. *prayers* xo
Praise God for He is wonderful and mighty and able to do ANYTHING. NOTHING is impossible for Him!!! We are most certainly praying very specifically for this situation. I know that there are more than 2 or 3 praying, so He is definitely there with you. We love you guys and are standing with you!!!
tears in my eyes as I know this effects you and so many others there and possibly many of us waiting to go…i will pray! God still works miracles, God still moves mountains! Lets believe together and pray/fast/seek the Lord concerning this!
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers!!!
Meghan, I’m praying. God is doing something. I know we don’t know each other, but adopting from Uganda is one of my dreams. Hearing this is a bit disheartening, but, I know God is willing & able to move mountains. Can I suggest you read Jamie Ivey’s blog? She just brought her son home from Haiti. Their story is incredible. When man tried everything – when nothing else would work – God moved heaven and earth to bring Amos home. (http://dreamingbigdreams.net)
Also, remember you are battling something that is not flesh & blood. God has awakened in his people a realization of the plight of the orphan, and Satan isn’t happy about it. You’re absolutely right: God’s heart for these children is NOT to be orphaned. His word says the lonely will be set in families. His word says we are called to love the orphan. You are doing both. Satan knows this. He will try and throw anything at you – he will try and whisper any lies or suggestions to those in power to prevent the possibility of these precious children finding loving homes. I claim victory in your court proceedings, and a peace to wash over both you and Moses. God is at work. Stand firm.
I’m standing in the gap for you, sister. Please keep us updated.
I’m sitting here with a pit in my stomach and a huge lump in my throat. God is God…I have no question what His heart is for adoption–for you, for your family, for Moses. So I’m going before God to ask for a miracle; That somehow the heart of your judge would be softened and tender and that his eyes were opened during your hearing to just how much Moses loves you…and how important it is for Moses to go home with a mommy and a daddy who love him fully.
I’m going to share this tonight with a group of women that I’m speaking to. We will stand in the gap for you. Hugs and prayers…
~Kirsten
Psalm 33:21-22~”For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You.”
This made me cry. I will TOTALLY be praying for you and your family. I can NOT imagine what you are going through. In the name of Jesus, you will bring your son home with you!!! I meet with a group of young, Christian moms for a Bible Study. We will all gather and pray SPECIFFICALLY for you!!! Moms don’t mess around when it comes to their babies!!! Just an encouraging word…Last week we all met and prayed with/over a girl that is pregnant and it’s not a really good situation as far as the baby’s health is concerned. She was going to have to make a REALLY tough decision-one that could harm the baby no matter what she decided. We prayed over her and the NEXT DAY she went to the Doctor and he was SHOCKED!!! He condition was completely reverse and he said it was a “medical miracle.” We know there was nothing “medical” about the miracle!!! Anyway, I said all of that to say that we will all gather and press in for you and your family!!! Were two or more are gathered…we will gather for you!!!
Hi Meghan. Do you have a lawyer that is new in processing American gaurdianships? This is not new wording they are asking for. For the past four years we have made sure our petitions,rulings, or orders have made it clear that the children are going to America for final adoption. Your main problem may be if you have already had your hearing and then have to go back and ask them to change the ruling if it was not in the petition. Sometimes it is hard to convince a lawyer here that even though a High Court Judge grants Gaurdianship to a family we still have the American legal part to get through and is it not a shoe in just because we have that Order. You may be seeing that with some Canadian families also. They don’t have the same laws as Americans and can’t adopt the way we can. There are lawyers in Uganda telling them it is possible but it is not the correct legal process for Canada. I pray your Lawyer will understand this and is willing to take into account the importance of having the American ducks in a row along side Uganda’s.
All these legal steps do not normally work against us, we just have to dig deep to make sure we are following them or we get these surprise road blocks. Thanks for being one of the few willing to go through this I am sure Moses knows he is loved and that is what it is all about.
Meghan, we are praying HARD for you. Our agency posted what they know about this situation on their blog. Our agency’s lawyer in Uganda is going to the embassy today or tomorrow to see what he can find out, and they will blog another post tomorrow telling what the lawyer found out. Here is the link at the end of this comment. (It may look like this link doesn’t work at first… try it again later. They must be getting an overload of traffice.)
GOD IS IN CONTROL. It doesn’t matter what circumstances look like. Evidence against God’s work means NOTHING. God is moving. Faith is the evidence of things UNSEEN, and we have faith on your behalf, and on the behalf of all of God’s sweet orphaned children in Uganda.
http://lifelineadoption.blogspot.com/search/label/Uganda
oh my. I am praying for the judges/lawyers for the meeting today/tomorrow. That this would be resolved soon so you can bring your sweet son home!
I’m at a loss for words. Many prayers will be going up tonight.
Praying!
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8
Wow, I will be praying for sure! I had gotten wind recently that it could happen this way but didn’t know it would be so soon. I hope they change it in our favor because we really wanted to adopt more from Uganda. I wonder if this will affect our adoption in anyway now that we have our daughter in the states (still working on the adoption part)….. I’ll keep posted to hear what you find out. We are praying for you guys!
I am praying… I received an email from our adoption coordinator about this and my heart is heavy for you and the families in Uganda right now.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
I just posted on my blog about this. I hope that’s ok. I will be praying and fasting tomorrow. I am urging others to join me. The verse the kids and I are memorizing this week is from I Sam 17:47. All about David fighting Goliath. Excellent verse for this situation:
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
The battle is the Lord’s. Moses is yours. He WILL come home. Promise!! God loves the orphan far more than all of us put together…He will triumph and we will shout His praises. xo
It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14)
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)
Praying and then praying some more.
Hoping God can move mountains, not only to bring Moses home but also make a path for all of us to bring our children home from Uganda.
If anyone knows specifically who to contact or what we can do to help God move mountains, please let us know.
Have FAITH.
found your blog while searching friend’s blog….
i know your pain… i know what it is like to leave your child behind and to possibly never bring them to his forever home. we are stuck in a bad situation in Gautemala…. our son is now 2.5 years old. we do not know if we will ever bring him home, but he is still our son. It is so hard to understand why our God would allow this to happen… I have asked and asked…. BUT my answer is always the same…. God is in control. He loves me, he loves my son. His plans are not our plans, his plans are better. SO hard to understand……..
praying with everyone for this to be resolved QUICKLY and to allow these families to be joined forever!!!!!
Meghan, …with God nothing is impossible…
Trust the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your paths (Prov 3:5-6).
I’m praying…
Yes, Meghan, I will treat this as if it were my family. When I was in Uganda in September and October, I spent time at Sanyu, and I met Moses. What a delightful child! I was at Sanyu getting to know Isaiah, who just came home from Sanyu in November to join Shauna and Justin’s family. I am his grandma. So you see, if it had been just a little later, it could have been my family. When I heard about this yesterday, I was heartbroken and angry at the situation, because I cannot see the morailty of the situation. But I believe our God is still in the miracle-working business, and I am storming heaven on behalf of Moses and your family, as well as all the orphans of Uganda waiting for families. I will contact everyone I can think of who can make a difference. Don’t give up hope! God loves the children of Uganda! And He is GOD!
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