The Road To Grace
Check out the above link for updates on Grace.
Thank you.

Happy Birthday!

Today in a small village a child was born seventeen years ago.    

Happy Birthday Apoko Grace Okwera!  

We love you.

A "TURN" IN THE PATH LESS TRAVELED.

This morning began with Oyet on the line.  He murmured that "it was unsuccessful!"  Being 3 o'clock in the morning and my melatonin was still in effect, I had him repeat the words again.  He said that Grace's interview was unsuccessful!  I said "UN??"  really loud.  Pretty sure that Brian's jerk out of his sleep was due to my gasping the (half) word. 
That was it, Grace went in the Embassy and did her best but our Consulate Officer did not see "enough."  She was told that her denial was due to not enough financial paperwork showing that she could be supported by the sponsor family. 

In defense of the paperwork, there was a 2010 federal income tax document showing an entire year's worth of earnings, not just the "monthly statement" that was reason this time for a denial.   Seemed as though "Team Grace" did not have an issue with that!  There's that "discretion" again.

So there began our day.  Talking with Oyet, Grace and our kids about the denial.  Trying not to put blame on individuals but just being sad and talking.  

We are looking forward to celebrating our Savior's birth.  We will be celebrating!  Not mourning.  Our God reigns!  He has gone ahead of us, he will guide us. 
We are sad for the chance to live with Grace here but we know that there is a better place to look forward to.  Heaven.  We believe that there won't be any Consulate Officer denying her entry!  She is a daughter of the King!  Entry was paid, she is free! 

EMMANUEL!

P.S.  We realize that this has been a very public struggle. We ask for a couple of days to put it into perspective and see what it is that God is calling us to do.  Thanks.

Latest update

Grace went to the Embassy as instructed for an appointment only to find that she did not have one.

She was told to make an appointment and then she could enter the Embassy.  That fueled many calls from Oyet on how to proceed.

The Embassy closed at noon so not much could be done by then between our Representatives office and the Consulate.

There is a bit more information but I am not sure how to sort it out, and I have to get ready for my day.

I spoke to Grace after all this and she is fine now.  She said that she will wait for Monday to come and then proceed how the Embassy advises her.

Thank you for the prayers.  It was a long night and we are still hopeful that there will be a positive resolve to this visa!  

Still believing in a powerful God!

Have a great weekend!

Peace be with you, Grace!

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."   -John14:27

The Devil is in the Details!

It wasn't worth getting upset over, so we didn't.  The package with all the originals came up missing for two days.  There were several calls to the Tracing Agent (at FedEx) all hours of the day to stay involved in the process of locating the documents.  It seems as though it fell off the face of the earth somewhere in London.  Where you surprised??? I think not!
We knew that the details were not worth worrying about.  It was just another feeble attempt by the Devil to take the focus off of Grace.  Nope!

Now...

Such a delicate dance will take place for everything to play out.  The package should arrive as we sleep tonight at the Guest House we stayed at back in August.  (They have an actual address that we could use to FedEx the docs.)  Grace will then call to let us know, after she travels across town to retrieve them.  A phone call will be made to our contact at Rep. Upton's office which she has forwarded to her home.  She will then call the Embassy in Kampala to inform the Consul of the need to schedule the appointment on Friday morning. 
We have a travel agent on standby for the ticket purchase to attempt to have Grace here by her birthday, December 25th.  The airline is aware that she will be traveling alone and will need an adult to accompany her the entire way. 

No worries!
Really!  

It has been wrestled with for so long and we honestly feel that this is good.  The reason we are sharing these details with everyone is to show that there is NO way for this not to be a miracle!  If it is to happen, it's not because we worried, or "made" it happen.  It's by His hand, our Father in Heaven, who set this in motion! 

Nothing more, nothing less!

We appreciate the prayers.  God is listening.

Divine Appointment!

The call came in today!  This is the call that gave us calm release because it seems this has been put before Grace again for a reason.  The Embassy wanted to have Grace within the walls of the compound tomorrow morning.  Our first instinct was, "she will be there!" then we thought, oh crap!  She doesn't have the original documents that we sent.  Having these documents is of strategic importance to the battle!  The appointment was then rescheduled for Thursday morning.

I called Grace to tell her the news.  She has grown accustomed to my talking in half-time.  She knows that I will repeat the conversation (at least) three or four times to make sure she understands.  She laughs at me when she knows I'm crazy-excited! She says, "ok, ok, I will do it!"  

~Worst-Case Scenario~

She expects that she will have to talk the whole time she is in the 4'X4' interview room.  She will not let this attempt at her visa slip by. 

Arrival time at the walls of the Embassy will be midnight (Michigan time), early Thursday morning.  That is when she waits.  Her number will be called & she will leave Oyet on the outside  to enter for processing. 

If you have been through a visa interview, you know.  It is nothing short of the most difficult exam you will ever encounter.  Many futures are denied there.  The oxygen has been sucked out of our lungs in this very same waiting room before.  After her first denial, we cried over her going in alone for the next. 

I have told Grace that there will not be anyone in that room with her except God.  She said, "Yes, we have been praying for this!"  

YES! We have!

The spirit of this child will not be quieted.  She has hope in her voice.  She can do this! 


Tomorrow we will shop for airfare for Grace.  Our hope is that we can bring her back to Michigan accompanied.  The ability for her to travel 8000+ miles alone seems difficult to fathom.  This question seems so insignificant right now.  We can't worry.  That has mistrust written all over it!   
Just like Thomas, there is a need to feel Jesus close to know He is here.  Jesus says, "do not be faithless, but believe!"

 We are.

Overthrowing the tyranny of low expectations!

The "theme" of low expectations yielding low experiences is hard to shake.   In our heart, we have been praying for God to take this situation and make it His but knowing that our human failings are going to ruin this opportunity.  We have been doubting what God can do for all too long.   Just like Thomas doubting Jesus...we will never learn!

Only God can take an orphan from the middle of no where in Africa and put her on a path towards her dream of becoming more.  There is just no reason for her to be in our life or our family to have such love for her or a need to come and experience this culture and our community! 

Hope. 

A beautiful package of legal paperwork has been sent to the US Embassy in Kampala, Uganda.  I just wish that this paperwork could speak to the one holding it!  It would speak of the journey from the hands of a brother who now lives in heaven to an attorney in Kampala to an old woman that has no more than a finger print to offer as a signature.  It would say how incredibly wrong the first decision was to assume that this orphan would leave her family she loves and "run away" to a foreign country.  The miles and miles of broken road traveled should show in the wrinkles fixed now on it!  There are so many stories that speak louder than the legal words printed.  If the paper could only talk! 

We are told that there will be an answer by next week regarding her visa.  You will know when that happens.  Why?  Because you will hear the screams of joy coming from our home!  

Pray.  

Believe.

Grace will have all the originals to help her cross through the walls of the Embassy to US soil, once again.  Before the papers leave our hands, they will be prayed over by our family.  We will not let low expectations creep into this sealed package!   

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?"  -Jeremiah 32:27

Hold on Grace~

Grace has stopped calling/texting us.  She is now coming to the painful awareness that she will probably not have a chance at finishing this school year in the USA.   Maybe in next school year, but we don't know.  
We have had lots of questions asked of us like, "What is next?"  We spent lots of time with Grace in August after her denial.  We discussed with her the possibility of the next attempt not being positive.  She knows that our commitment to her is strong.  We love her and want her to be the best she can be!  She knows that our commitment to seek out an education to help her achieve her goal is not bound by the same restrictions as our government.  That we love her and this means w/o restriction!  She will have the highest level of education that she wants to finish.  If that is a high school degree (which she has said is not the case) then that is great or if it is a doctorate degree, we are there.  It is not the level but the commitment!  She is a member of this family and that fact can not be removed. 
We just wish for the sake of quality that it would be here, in the USA.  There are so many opportunities that she can be provided in a nursing education.  Plus, she would have my mentoring in that process. 
We are meeting as a group tomorrow in Upton's office to discuss the "snag" in this process.  We are hoping to "un-snag" the problem and move ahead.  We are asking for prayers for heaven to open eyes! 

Our meeting is at 9:30am.  Please join with us in praying for the gates to open for Grace. 
Thank you.

Brian, Sue, Emma, Allen and Grace

Our hope is in Christ, not in man. 

News from Africa

Grace called today.  She wanted to tell us that her latest round of Typhoid Fever has somewhat cleared up.  She said she feels "Fair."  She told Emma she is staying with her "Sister-Cousin" while she waits for the interview at the Embassy in Kampala.  She does not want to leave Kampala and be away when the Embassy sets an interview date.  Leaving means a 7-8 hour bus trip back to the city.  She will go and visit Grandma after she talks to the Embassy.
We explained to her that today is a Thanksgiving holiday for our country.  That the offices are closed and we celebrate as a country our abundant blessings.  She compared it to Independence Day, and I told her she was correct.  She wished us a wonderful holiday and please tell the family of her gratitude.   (She actually does understand the holiday!)  
We all had a chance to talk to her and tell her how we have prayed over her health and so happy that God answered our prayers.  She was laughing and happy which made our day!  After a great conversation with her, we sat down at the breakfast table and prayed.  We each had Grace in our prayers.  She is a big part of our family. 
 
The thoughts, prayers and little expressions of compassion are cherished.  We have such a deeper understanding of the bond that holds our community of believers together. 
We are gearing up for the next visa interview to determine Grace's student status.  Thank you for the prayer support.  

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  -Galatians 6:9 NIV

P-LEASE!

O.K. I know it's not about us here but this is such a crazy way of life. 
We have a child in Uganda that is literally waiting day by day to hear if she has another shot at her visa to study here & another complication slowed us again.  Her school closed down two weeks ago due to a food shortage and the children were sent away.  Now she sits in the capital of Uganda. 
I can say that Grace is not going to understand the details here but there is a hold up in her visa paperwork.  We are waiting to have all our documents in order before presenting them to the Consulate in Uganda.  There is one detail that is very critical and we are waiting for clarification on from an attorney.  I know she won't have any comprehension of our complicated process but I will call her tomorrow and let her know. 

Our window of opportunity is quickly closing.  We were hoping to bring her to the US over Christmas but as it stands now, we will miss that mark.  There is no "good" time to go and get her but if her visa did get approved, we would make that happen.  That being said, I (Sue) am entering into the busiest time of my nursing school career.  I dread the load of work ahead in school let alone the poor timeliness of a trip to Uganda.  Grace will not sit there if it is God's will to have her here.  We will just need a community of volunteers helping Brian and the kids acclimate her to life in Michigan.  (We pray for that problem!)
We are asking for your prayers.  God has a firm grasp of this situation.  I have been in a knot all week until I realized that it won't help.  My stomach burning does not make her get here any quicker nor does it light a fire under the complication. 

Today, many of you know that I went to Upton's office to talk about the urgency of the visa process.  I vented to a very compassionate friend that gave me sound advice to pass on to Grace.  She has lots of training and experience in visa's.  She also made the statement that she will make this a priority.  Those words have such a powerful peace to them.  I am grateful for her listening ear and also her commitment to help in anyway she can.  I know that many reading this are not politically pulled in any direction but Fred Upton's office has people who genuinely have the interest of the people they serve, in mind.  We made several calls to the "other side" of the aisle while we were in Uganda for help and then followed up after we arrived home and the only calls we have received thus far are fund-raising calls or flyers--seems we are now on the mailing list.  Seriously.   Enough of politics.

Please help us pray for this issue to just break loose and things to move again.  We have always said that if it's not moving forward then we will stop and evaluate her options.  God has been very clear to continue & we feel that we have moved forward at every prompting. 

Thanks.
P.S. Pray for Grace's safety as she waits.  I can not imagine. 

ANOTHER roller coaster!

This week Grace's paperwork will go to the Embassy for another attempt at her F1 Student Visa.  This process is difficult to explain but I'll try. 
Grace's visa packet will go to Rep. Fred Upton's office (from the attorney's office) and then be forwarded to the US Embassy in Kampala for review.  We are sending the paperwork via Fed Ex and also Fax to the Consulate Officer that is in control of who may or may not obtain a visa to enter the USA.  This is a tough job to discern who is more deserving and also less of a burden on the country and may enter. 
Grace is asking for entrance into the country as a high school student totally supported by our family while she learns.  We hope that this will come through in the affidavits & supporting documents. 
We are asking for prayers for this to happen. 

Our crazy thought of her getting her education to return a well prepared young woman with skills that will improve her family's living conditions just might happen.
What if it did? 
We went for a walk tonight and tried to settle our nerves (again).  Having the same appointment and knowing the potential outcome is looming over us.  We told Grace (and our children) that we will not give up on this as long as we have listeners.  We are so grateful for the work of a few professionals that have listened.  

Grace is incredibly grateful.

 

This risk is well worth the effort.  Having a healthy, young woman return to her country to lift up those she can touch is her dream.

It's our command by faith.

In Jesus name!

(Click on this to read the entire post.)

Tomorrow Grace's attorney is presenting the packet of information to the Embassy for another attempt at her student visa.  Please, please, please, pray for the Consulate Officer(s) that are looking at the information.  Grace has worked hard to put together information showing her family and community.  She is in Kampala and is anxiously waiting word on the outcome.
God knows what's best for her.  We hope to be used to help with her education~should it be God's will.
We can not begin to thank a few special people who have helped in this process.  There are four "main players" that have combed over this case to present it with clarity.  They have listened to our cries from Uganda over the phone and frustrations after we returned empty from our trip.  They gave us hope after we felt it was lost in a small cubical in an Embassy on a Thursday morning in August.
We can not repay these people for their generosity.   There is not any way to show our appreciation for the compassion they have given to us.  God will have to repay you for the hearts of servants.  Amazing.



Thanks!
Brian, Sue, Emma, Allen and Grace

Phillip's passing.

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Phillip yesterday. 
He was very gracious as we were tired travelers in Nebbi and found

great fellowship with him & his family. 
We will continue to pray for healing and peace.

Romans 15:13

 Click on this link to check out the photos of Grace and her family.  She is blessed with a loving family that supports her fight for an education!

Grace's Family Photos!

Text from Oyet

Thank you for the prayers for our family.  We feel strength through God's grace.
Oyet text'd me today and it reads, " Hi Sue-Brian, I was discharged this afternoon but my body is still generally weak.  Thank you and God bless."  We will connect with Oyet & check on him to see if he has any needs. 
We are so glad he is not in any danger.  What a fragile way of life in so many parts of this world.  We take for granted clean water and food that will not kill us if not washed.  
We did get our scanned copies of the affidavits from Albert.  The originals are all ready on their way to Kampala via the Ugandan postal service.  Please pray that they make it safely. 
Once they arrive, we have a friend (of a friend) that will be receiving them and forwarding them on to the USA by Fed-Ex.  Thank you Simon and Kelly!!! What angels they are!

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.

(Oyet is standing in front of Brian in the photo.)

Click on this post to read all of it.
This walk to bring Grace to the US for her education is exhausting!  I now see that the effects are draining on our family.  A large amount of stress looms in our house constantly.  Brian is not sleeping but 3 hours a night.  Physically that puts a huge stress on his system.  
I spoke with Grace this morning.  She says that Oyet James, her friend that met us in Kampala and has advocated for her with us, is in the hospital with Typhoid. 
The reason we have been looking for him is because we are trying to get those affidavits from Nebbi Town to the USA.  We do not trust the postal service to handle documents that can not be duplicated. 
I spoke with Oyet this morning and he has been at the college's hospital for four days.  (Forgive me if I heard wrong.)  He sounded very ill and not willing to talk about the process yet.  I told him that obviously this is not our concern.  His returning to good health is truly what matters.  I asked him if I could pass on his being ill and he asked that I did.  
What is so humbling is that he asked how my day is.  He is such a sweet man.  Never asking for anything!  Ugh.  I called for something...

We are on the hunt for help in getting these papers to us.  Albert as I write is scanning them to us so we will have electronic copies before we send them through the mail.  (Praying them through!!)
We are developing a plan to mail them regular mail to a friend in Muyenga, Uganda who might then send them on to us via FED EX.


I think I am going to write a book.  The stories in this one make no sense.  Why is this so difficult???
We have no interest in this other than bringing Grace to her education! REALLY!


Would you pray for Oyet?  Thanks.

There are angels among us!

We have to say, that Satan has his hands wrapped tightly around this situation!  We have been through lots of trials here.  Through these trials, we see that God warms the hearts of those willing to help.  Praising God for that!!!  Thank you!
Grace will be on her way to Northern Uganda to reconnect with her family over the weekend.  She was so excited to hear that we are sending her to visit her family.  She misses them.
I appreciate her enthusiasm.  She replies to the texts with lots of happy greetings.
Please keep Grace in your prayers for safety as she makes the long trip to her home.  She knows the way but it has never been a safe journey for a young girl. 
Thank you.

Ugandan Jewelry Multi-Colored Necklace

Single Necklace $10.00 2 Necklaces $20.00 3 Necklaces $30.00 4 Necklaces $40.00 5 Necklaces $50.00

Multi-Colored Bracelet

Single Bracelet $2.50 2 Bracelets $5.00 3 Bracelets $7.50 4 Bracelets $10.00 5 Bracelets $12.50

Paper Bead Earrings

One Pair $5.00 2 pair earrings $10.00 3 pair earrings $15.00 4 pair earrings $20.00 5 pair earrings $25.00

Colors

Purple Green Red White Blue

Please add what color!

Update:

We have been in communication with Grace quite a few times over the last month.  She is doing well and has taken her national placement exams.  She continues to keep at her studies to maintain her grades in school.  She said it is important to show the US government that she is serious about her education. 

Thank you for the prayers for this process.  We continue to work toward another opportunity to show our country that Grace's education in the US is an investment in her country!  We have all the confidence in the attorney and legal staff that are working on her case.  There is lots to be grateful for.  We have kept Grace informed on all the movement in the process.  Communication is key!  She needs to know that we are praying and believe that this will work out for the best. 
She still continues to hope to be here for her birthday, December 25th.  We would love nothing more than to welcome her into the house to finish her freshman year at Portage Central High School.  

Check out the Ugandan Jewelry we are selling to help cover the cost of bringing Grace to the US for her education.  Purchased directly from the artist, Jackie in Kampala, Uganda.  Great gifts for the holidays!  (Teacher gifts, mail(wo)man, grandmother, girlfriend...)

There will be a link soon to purchase online but meantime, you may email Sue @ suevandenbrink@yahoo.com for inquiries.  Thank you.