Dec 10th - Tuesday morning update

Good morning, friends!

It's a cool morning...here in the hotel in Mbale. There's an air conditioner that gives a bit of cool air. I think it was meant for a room about 1/2 this size, but at least it keeps it from being overly hot in here ;).

Cornerstone Bakery

I am going back and forth to the new bakery so much this week that we decided it was best if I stayed in Mbale for a few days. We are training our new employees to bake. Last week they sold what we had baked and brought from Budaka. On Sunday we moved all the equipment here to the new shop. By the end of the day yesterday, people were coming wondering what the great smell was. Bingo! That was one of the targets. (The smell was cinnamon rolls and banana bread baking...).

The day began with the realization that the oven was not working - something in the move jostled parts loose. So, after 1) sending Gerald to get a new canister of propane (on a motorcycle taxi), 2) sending Gerald back to have the hose checked, 3) sending Gerald back to have the regulator checked and 4) sending Abby to the shop where we bought the oven to get the right people to work on it, we had 2 repairmen for a couple of hours in the back of the bakery trying to find the problem. Finally, we began baking around 1pm. All the dough and batter was in the refrigerator since we had already begun the process.

Oh, and the electrician was there for 4 hours putting in 2 new outlets for us (there was only one, which was at the farthest place possible from the baking area...). So, we mixed, kneaded and baked amid 3 workmen, 2 employees and Abby and I. It was quite comical. But, in the midst of all of it, we had customers coming and buying our goods. So cool.

I awoke at 3:30 am this morning and realized we had never put the cinnamon in the cinnamon rolls! Oops. I guess we'll call them sweet rolls...

Cornerstone Children's Home

So excited to tell you that the Lord opened a door for us to be able to build our kids a home that will not be with the new school. I have sent a picture so you can see the beginnings. It's too long a story to tell you in an email, but let me summarize:

1. The building we are building that you have seen pictures of is ultimately going to be a school building, but because of land and money issues, we had decided to have our kids get 2 of the school rooms as their home until we could buy more land and build them a home some distance from the school.
2. Enter one of Rogers' younger brothers who is selling us the plot of land we currently use as a playground and kitchen. 
3. A couple in the States felt the leading to send us some money to get our kids into their own home. (We assumed we would just work on the one we are building for the school, but realized that even when we put this money towards that building, we would still have some ways to go before the kids could be there.)
4. As we were praying, talking, considering this dilemma, the Lord showed us this amazing solution: we could build our kids a simple home at their current playground with the money we have...and it will be done around the first of the year.

The builders dug the foundation yesterday and are laying the first bricks today.

The kids are SO excited to have their own place. And, I am thrilled - one of the things I felt the Lord showed me earlier this year was that the kids home would be completed by the end of the year. Didn't see how that could happen, but now we are seeing it unfold. Thank you to all of you who pray, encourage and give to Cornerstone - you have been used by God to see that these orphans have a home of their own.

Okay, got to get to the bakery! Pray that I remember all the ingredients today! Oh, and I added a picture "for free" for you - this is Vanessa and Lisa right outside the bakery 2 weeks ago as we were prepping the room. They were on their way to swimming with Teacher Abby. Just thought you'd enjoy seeing 2 of the great kids God has given us.

Love you all!

Laurie