May 28th Update

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Hey, all my friends:
Okay, you all are getting this update before Monday because of jet lag. I wrote all the stuff below at 3:30 in the morning when my body woke up and said, "let's go for the day!" Ha! So, now it is almost noon here and I am starting to get a little tired :-). But I'm sitting at the internet cafe and so won't sleep now.

• I have enclosed a picture of the staff with their new shirts (they were SO excited), as well as a picture of Margret this morning after bathing. Is she cute or what??
• The items I took with me were sold (almost all of them – there are still 2 framed batiks for sale and a couple of pairs of sandals). We made about $600 after our costs. I was very encouraged! As most of you know, this is one of the small business ventures we are trying. These business ventures will be what support the work in a couple of years. That brings me to my next point:
• I am praying for the Lord to give us someone in the States to handle our sales there. This person would receive craft items from Cornerstone and distribute them to various individuals and churches who have agreed to sell them. The person would then collect the money and channel it through ECC back to Cornerstone for the running of the orphanage, church and school. If you feel an inkling to be involved in this way, would you let me know?
• We begin 2 other business ventures this next week: 1) we have hired a part time person who will teach the children to make baskets, bead (paper) necklaces, and other traditional crafts. 2) we have hired a tailor who is coming to begin working to make clothing that we will sell here.
• As many of you know, I was in the States to begin a dialogue to raise funds to purchase land so that we will be able to expand our work and take more children, build a home and school for them and have a place for the church to continue to grow (last Sunday we had over 100 and have growing pains!). It was a great trip in beginning the dialogue with individuals and churches about the need here. Some of you asked how you can help, so if you, or someone you know, would like to contribute to this, you can send the funds to Evergreen Christian Center and they will make sure we get it. Just write “Uganda growth” on the checks so we can designate it from the regular monthly income for Cornerstone. The total need is about $178,000. This will buy the land and build the orphanage, school and offices needed to grow. (The church will meet in a large hall we will build at the school. At a later date, we will build a church building, as the Lord directs.)
• I know I'm back in Uganda - this morning when going to bathe, a mouse ran across my path. Ah, Uganda. Also, last night right after I went to sleep, I heard a little animal or something in one of the plastic bags on a shelf in my room. I used my flashlight and went over and a lizard came running out. Not only do I know I'm in Uganda, I know I've been here awhile as neither incident shocked or scared me.
• Thanks for the pedometer! I now know that I have walked about 3 miles a day when I don't go to the church or into town - just to the orphanage and back several times a day, one trip down to Wilta Inn, etc. Also, the church is 3/4 of a mile from the house - that means 3 times a week I walk 1 1/2 miles going and coming. So good for me! I actually missed walking when I was in the States.

Thank you all for your prayers, financial support and your emails of encouragement. It is great to continue working in God’s kingdom with you, even though we are so many miles apart. May the Lord bless you.

Laurie