Thursday, May 28, 2009

Uganda or Bust

Wow - what a couple of days it has been! This is Shonni's husband, Steve, guest blogging for her while she and Kalyn are away! To say their Uganda adventure began as a trial would be putting it mildly. The plan was for them to leave Wednesday night. They were all packed and ready. We showed up at the check in desk, all eight kids in tow, full of excitement, only to be hit with the unexpected-Kalyn was not going to be allowed to travel. Her US passport, which was still good for two more months, would not be accepted by Uganda. Uganda, like a handful of other countries, has a requirement that a passport be good for six months after a visit to their country. There was no way around it and there was no way Shonni was going without her so we prayed, begged, pleaded and rescheduled their trip to leave Thursday night. Our only hope was to go to the US passport office in Denver, first thing Thursday morning and see if they would give Kalyn an emergency new passport. There was no guarantee.

So we put the ladies up in a hotel for the night in Denver (needless to say there were very discouraged). Me and the rest of the brood headed home. I got an email prayer request out and got all of the necessary documents together. Driving back to Denver early the next morning, with a van full of very tired kiddos, we headed to the passport office. Thankfully all went amazingly smooth and we had Kalyn's new passport by 11:30am. We could breath easy! We got the word out to everyone and even reached the rest of the team, who was already in London. After lunch it was off to the airport, early, to make sure there would be no more problems!

They left last night at 8:30 and are in London now (I have not heard from them, but I know they are there!) Tonight they will fly to South Africa and then make a connection to Uganda on Saturday. They are arriving a day and a half behind the rest of the mission team, but they will get there! Sorry for the lack of photos, but I promise to have some the next entry, along with tales of the mom minus the momms and big sister. As I get word from Shonni and Kalyn I will update on them as well. Bless ya'll!

7 comments:

  1. So glad to hear they got the passport problem figured out!! Whew! I've been praying!!

    Blessings,
    Jenn (mom to Lexie on Uganda trip!)

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  2. Steve, thanks for all the details. Details are important,ya know. :) Let Shonni and Kalyn know that we are praying for them...and the team. So exciting!!

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  3. Goodness, what a remarkable trip the Lord must have planned for them to meet such resistance. Thanks for the reminder, we head back to the mission field in a week and our boys' passports are in the same situation. We might need to call and make sure we have no hassles.

    Hugs for your day,
    Sarah Dawn

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  4. I didn't know about the passport snafu until after it was resolved, but thanks be to God for taking care of it so Shonni and Kalyn are now with the team.

    I am praying for both of them, as well as the rest of the team, that God will use them as His servants while they are in Uganda. I am praying that they will be condiuts of God's love and mercy to the people they meet, and that God will bless each of them in amazing ways. I think they will fall in love with the people of Uganda. I will also be praying for you as you care for your family while Shonni is away.

    I will be checking back for updates. Can't wait to hear what God will be up to!

    Kathy (Mom to Uganda team member Justin, @ http://the-go-journey.blogspot.com/)

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  5. Hi Steve;

    I just stopped in to see how it was going...and I am amazed. Not for the trouble, but because the Lord had told me to pray that Shonni wouldn't be discouraged. He kept impressing on me that discouragement would be riding her.

    Now it all makes sense. Isn't our God amazing.

    I will continue to pray. May God richly bless all of you.

    Kimmie
    mama to 7
    one homemade and 6 adopted

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  6. I agree... what a great trip they are in for... just goes to show you Who is in charge... God is good and the enemy has been defeated! I can't wait to hear how everything is going via blog or facebook... so exciting! Good luck Steve with the kiddos, got a handful there, but some really great kids to help you out! Praying for Shonni, Kalyn, you and Caresse!

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  7. PS: Shonni did remember her camera... right?

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