Jane’s Story
Maybe, there really was more than just one Garden of Eden. If so, surely, Western Uganda would have been one of them. We will never know, but God surely has blessed this part of the world with incredible natural beauty, and with some of the most wonderful people that were ever created.
At the very epicenter of this story is a little girl, a teenager this year, raised in the small village of Kaihura, Uganda. Her name is Jane. At a young age, she lost her father to AIDS. A year later, her mother and her sister died, in a horrific attack on her family, over a land dispute. She was critically injured. She finds herself in a hospital in Los Angeles, California for reconstructive surgery. Her story and her picture travel around the world, and the story begins, some call it the "Jane Train".
Not much after Jane was born, a self proclaimed "grumpy" old Jewish man by the name of Steven Cobin comes to Uganda to see the Gorillas in the Mist. (The truth is that Steve is not grumpy or old. He has a heart the size of all of Uganda. And whether Jewish or Christian, our God is an awesome God who is doing some awesome things) He falls in love with the people and the country. He interacts with the Rotary Club of Kampala East by bringing refurbished wheelchairs to Uganda. He finds out about Kaihura, and he becomes Papa Steve, somewhat of a patron of the village. Faith Kunihira is the director of "Bringing Hope to the Family", and Jane's legal guardian. Eventually, Steve meets Jane, and escorts her to the U.S. for medical care. Jane spends several months in California. Many others help along the way.
Steve and his wife Sue continue to support Kaihura. At the same time, they also want Jane to be safe. A web of relationships ensues. Eventually Will Bredberg, a retired L.A. dentist and his wife Sandy become Jane’s prospective adoptive grandparents. The adoption of Jane through their children Brian and Tracey Lane becomes unattainable. But Will continues to be burdened for this little girl. He tries to understand what his role in her life should be, and what the bigger picture is supposed to become. Will and Sandy meet Cindy Marrelli of Raleigh, NC, in Amsterdam, unrelated to everything else. Eventually, Cindy ends up with Jane's story and her picture.
On a day in early January, 2007, Cindy has lunch with Paige Hamp of Wake Forest, NC. The conversation touches many subjects. Dirk and Paige Hamp had talked loosely about adoption, but had never pursued it. One thing leads to another, and soon the Hamps are talking to the Bredbergs, the Bredbergs are talking to the Cobins. The Hamps meet the Bredbergs and the Cobins. Papa Steve talks to Faith Kunihira in Uganda.
In June of 2007, the Hamps and the Bredbergs travel to Uganda to meet Jane, and Faith, and the village of Kaihura. Steve Cobin meets them there. Pastor Michael Okwakol and his family help us to navigate the country. Hannington, our driver becomes another member of the family.
Grace Jane Kemigisa becomes Jane Grace Hamp.
The story does not end, it is just beginning.
How can we adopt Jane and not adopt her country, her people, the 2.3 million orphans who also need to be loved?
The story of a little girl has become our story.
Enter "Embrace Uganda".