Thursday, July 23, 2015

Intro - Shakirah's Story

I have never "blogged" before, but we decided to start this as a way to keep everyone up to date on the status of our international adoption, and to post fundraisers and status of money for those that have already generously donated.  For those of you that don't know, Jason and I are in the process of adopting a 10 year-old little girl from Uganda named Shakirah.  Jason and I have already been blessed with 5 kids (4 together and he has a son from his first marriage); so you might be wondering, "Why in the world are we looking to adopt #6??" Jason is going to tell this first part of the story...

Two years ago I took off on my first “…and to the ends of the earth” mission trip.  This was not your ordinary mission trip, I would soon find out, due to going into some areas that seemed very volatile.  I was amazed at the Ugandan’s rich culture and was deeply moved by their great love for God!  One time when I was ministering in a church I came to the end of a prayer line.  At the end of the line were about 15-20 children.  I was then moved to bless them in the Name of Jesus Christ, anoint them with oil and kiss their forehead.  The bible says to treat people how you want to be treated and this is what I do to my children at home; I bless them, anoint them and kiss them.  During this time while I was going to each child I was on my knees.  I then started to realize there must be more children than what I thought earlier because the line kept growing.  I learned later that the children were not used to this love and after their blessing would run out of the church and go find more children and bring them back to be blessed.  I was greatly moved by this…….. Children running to the church to be loved!  Wow… This started the journey of our Shakirah. 

One day in between ministering I went for a walk to get a soda.    On my way back I was walking through a village with mud-huts and saw a little girl with a mat rolled out (meaning “welcome”).  As I approached she said, “Musumba…Musumba…please…sit, sit….”  I sat down and she had made me something to eat.  It was some cold rice, small piece of chicken and some tea in a pink cup.  After I sat down she said, “Musumba….you pray…you pray” while grabbing my hand.  I then asked God to bless the food and this precious little girl…and HE did!  A week later she came with me to visit other church plants and when we would be walking through the bush she would often hold my hand.  It is then God gave me a vision of her.  I saw Shakirah no longer 9 years old, but in her 20’s.  She was still holding my hand walking through Africa translating for me as we spread The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this vision I also knew that my wife and I had adopted her and she grew up in North Texas with us and our 5 children.  Since I was new to having visions I was at first reluctant to know if this was really what I was seeing and as soon as the vision stopped, my friend from Nigeria spoke it out loud!  What?!  I saw it and he spoke it right when it was over.  I knew then that God had answered that prayer over that small meal, “Lord… Bless this precious little girl.”  HE wanted to do that by having my family adopt her and bring her home to Texas.




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