Family faces challenges adopting Ugandan child

A Chubbuck family hopes to adopt and bring home a two-year-old Ugandan girl in time for the holidays — but they’re facing some major setbacks.

Josh and Jennifer Robinson first met the girl named Grace two years ago while visiting Uganda for humanitarian work.

When Grace’s mother died earlier this year, her father asked the Robinsons to adopt her.

“In his words, he said, ‘You can provide a life for her that I can never dream of,'” said Jennifer Robinson.

In Uganda, Grace lived in a dirt-floor shack with no electricity or plumbing. She was also surrounded by people who claimed to practice witchcraft.

“Unfortunately this family was part of a tribe that did practice witchcraft,” said Jennifer Robinson.

The Robinsons agreed to adopt Grace, but now find themselves facing major hurdles.

Josh Robinson, a pastor at Gate City Christian Church in Chubbuck, has spent the last seven weeks in Uganda working through the adoption process.

“It’s been an unusual adoption process because Grace is not in an orphanage,” said Jennifer Robinson.

The Robinsons have asked their local congressmen to get involved and expect to interview for Grace’s visa as early as next week.

Until then, Jennifer Robinson said the holidays won’t be complete without all of her family.

“It truly would be my own little Christmas miracle to have them back,” said Jennifer Robinson.

If Grace is adopted by the Robinsons, she’ll have two older sisters aged four and six.