Memory or Bust

We’ve exhausted the phones, emails, our Zambian and ex-pat contacts at this point.  It’s going to take some hands on in the field work now.  These are goals in this trip that would constitute a win in the order that we see they need to happen; therefore they are the focus prayer requests.  They are simple 3-4 word prayers you can pray throughout the day (1 Thess 5:17):

1. Find Memory.   If the US govt can’t find one person named Osama after 8 yrs, who are we to think that we can find one orphan child named Memory in Zambia.  It will be because the God, who searches the earth, knows where she is.  Pray 2 Chron 16:9 for Memory and God will guide us to her.
2. Diagnose Memory.  It is quite clear that she can’t come to the US if he has HIV or AIDS.  Pray for her health and safety.  She is quite vulnerable and diagnosing her will be tricky.  One of the tragedies of AIDS in Africa is the great fear that it produces in the hearts of the people. If one has AIDS they don’t want to know about it.  The fear grips them to the point that if a family member knows that they have AIDS and it becomes public knowledge they will be outcast from the family and treated like a leper would be in Scriptures.  Thus many choose to remain silent and continue to infect others.  If Memory is infected, I will need to spend time with her and educate her on the side and try to find a life work for her that she can sustain herself with that is productive for as long as she lives.  Our prayer is that she is free and clear that God has protected her.  Pray Psalm 18:2.
3. Blessing for Memory.  As God answers 1 and 2 (which are huge) the next bit of persuasion is to  spend time with the family reconnecting with them.  (Remember African’s have time, we have programs, calendars and agendas)  When they are in the driver’s seat of something they don’t like pushy Americans telling them what they need to do and when.  I will need to converse with the uncles who are “guardians” that have been treating her as a “slave” (using her words) that we can take good care of her and provide a good education and future for Memory.  We need the family’s blessing to release Memory to our custody.  Pray Isaiah 1:17 that we can “…seek justice and correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless…” Memory needs justice given to her.  She has been without her father and mother since she was 8 years old, she is now 17.  She needs a chance.
4. Zambia paper for Memory. When one is an orphan in Africa, you can only imagine the importance of keeping up with one’s own birth certificate  or national registration card ranks pretty low on the priority list verses finding a safe place to sleep or something to eat.  We need to get any Zambian paper work processed, approved, stamped, sanctioned, authorized, whatever other word you can add to the list that would free Memory up to travel to the states. After living in Zambia, I know how slow the process can take.  This is a is a big request to think that she can find and get all the paper work to clear to travel from her country.   Pray Matt 17:20.  Everything is possible when God’s in it.
5. US Immigration to grant Visa. There are so many visa’s out there to enter the states, I don’t even know which visa to pray for.  Pray that she can enter and live, learn, grow, work and become…whatever visa that is that fits these needs, that is the one we want.  As you can imagine, since 9/11 getting into the US is much more difficult.  I pray that the authority’s hearts would be swayed to see fit to allow Memory into the States to live under our care.  Pray 2 Samuel 19:14.  God can sway people’s hearts.  Pray He will.
6. Pray for Memory’s adjustment. As you already know America isn’t Africa and Africa isn’t America.  Each has its pluses and minuses.  There will be a lot more direction in how to pray once we get to this point.

These are the prayer requests in the order need.  I will be update my blog as I have internet access to keep everyone informed of developments in the story.  This is a lot to accomplish with only 8 full days on the ground.  Finding her may take ½ that time.  Pray fervently for all these needs.