What to do When The US Embassy Closes
Updated: Oct 20, 2021
Covid-19 is something super scary and threatening to a lot of people...
I have never taken threats like this seriously, SARS, SARS COV-2, Ebola, MERS Cov, or Covid-19. I have my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ and I know that whenever and whatever it might be when my time comes it is because Jesus is ready for me to dance my praise for him for eternity.
Personally I wanted to stay in a country where Covid-19 was truly not a threat. I live in a village hours from the city...recluse, quiet, small and safe. However the US Government decided to take actions to protect its employees and citizens by closing their embassies and recalling all employees and travelers abroad.
Once they decided to close the Embassy it left us to ponder different questions than "Is it safer to remain where we are with no cases, or to travel through countries riddled with cases and return to a city that had some of the first two cases of the virus in the US?"
The day after we left Hillsboro there were two cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Washington County (Hillsboro and surrounding cities). The day we left Uganda there were 8 confirmed cases.
The Lord is always watching over us, protecting us through things that we don't see or understand. I am reminded of a song from Sinach (made popular by Leland) that truly speaks to me in this time and has been my soundtrack of sorts for this time in Uganda.
The song is called 'Way Maker', and I will include the lyrics below:
"Way Maker"
You are here, moving in our midst I worship You I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You I worship You You are here, moving in our midst I worship You I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You I worship You You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are You are here, touching every heart I worship You I worship You You are here, healing every heart I worship You I worship You You are here, turning lives around I worship You I worship You You are here, mending every heart I worship You I worship You You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are
(Repeat) Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are (Repeat) Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are You are Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper Light in the darkness, my God That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are
(repeat)
The key phrase for our lives right now is the
"Even when I don't see it, You're working Even when I don't feel it, You're working You never stop, You never stop working You never stop, You never stop working"
He NEVER stops working for us, He NEVER abandons us and leaves us to wonder. He ALWAYS loves and cares for us.
Every step around the way we have been able to find safe passage and avoid dangers. We have not had an easy time in Uganda. In fact this time was beyond difficult.
But with the Embassy closing on Wednesday we had to consider the threat of food shortage, being white in a nation that views skin color as definition of wealth no matter how inaccurate and my ability to protect Robinson from harms unforeseen.
So we left on one of the last flights out Monday the 23rd around 11:35pm.
We will go into quarantine in the lockdowned state of Oregon for the next two weeks, I will start to look for a job as my job has laid everyone off during this time, and see how God plans to care for us while we are in this desperate time as a country. My savings will deplete rapidly in the States just due to food prices but at least in a few weeks after we are known to be safe Robinson will be able to hug his Oma and Opa again and feel surrounded by love.
Pray for us, Pray for the World and join us in celebrating The Way Maker as He continues to MAKE WAYS for us to praise Him in All he does for us!
Lord willing we will be in Oregon some time in the evening of Tuesday the 24th, 2020.
We will return to Uganda when funds have been replaced and it is safe and we are allowed to return...this was not a goodbye but a "see you soon" to all our loved ones there.
