Dec 1st Update

I'm finding it hard to remember what day is what here in the States. There was so much routine to my week in Budaka, and Mondays was always 1) phone call with Abby; 2) meeting with Rogers; 3) email all of you. The rhythm was great. Now I have great visits with all of you...but no rhythm. All of that to say sorry this email is 2 days late!!

I talked with Rogers yesterday to catch up on what's happening in Budaka. He will be sending pictures on Thursday and I will pass them along, but for now here's the info:

1. A woman from the apartments connected to where we meet for church came on Sunday to church. She is Muslim, but said she has been listening to our worship and preaching for these several months and decided she needed to confess Christ as her Savior. Praise the Lord!
2. The husband of a woman who has come periodically over the past months came on Sunday and wanted to get saved. This woman has come, but has been embittered about her husband leaving her, having no money to feed her kids, etc. She had lost faith that he would ever come around. Now they are back together and both walking with the Lord. Hallelujah!
3. David - I have attached a picture of him so you know who he is - had a worm in his knee, but they got it out and he is doing better. The picture shows him after his first experience painting. Thanks to Jullane who sent the art supplies and to Kirsten and the rest of the World Race Team who taught the kids to paint.
4. The chicks are still not there to begin the chicken/egg business. They were promised, we had paid over 1/2 of the cost as a deposit, but after 3 weeks now of waiting, they still aren't there. Rogers made a trip to Mukono (about 3 hours away) and put some pressure on the people - threatened to take them to the police if they didn't do what they promised - and sounds like we will have chicks within a week or so.
5. The kids are going "home" to their villages on Monday for 5 days. Their school is over on Friday. This is a requirement of the District government (to send them home for some time at the end of every term of school), and the kids do enjoy a short time visiting cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. They were very anxious (before I left) to be sure they would be able to be back to Cornerstone by Christmas. As a matter of fact, Margaret (age 4) gave me her request for Christmas dinner - "I want chicken, ice cream, cake and 4 porks." Not sure what 4 porks are, and pretty sure she won't have ice cream (has to be driven from Mbale!), but it was really cute. I need to explain to her that we are not a restaurant that takes orders...

Just a reminder to all of you in the Hillsboro area that there is a meeting next Monday night, December 6th, at 7pm where I will share more information of what is going on, show more pictures and several videos of the kids and staff. There's a video of the kids doing the Hokey Pokey - you don't want to miss that!!

Anyway, email me if you would like to come to the meeting and I will let you know where it's at.
God bless you today. Please remember to pray for our kids (Ronald, Charles, Emma, Ben, Junior, Johnson, Dovico, John, Peter, Isaac, Moses, Amos, Barthlomew, David, William, Stephen, Brenda, Hellen, Margaret, Charity, Natasha, Vanessa, Oliver and Christine) and our staff (Rogers, Betty, David, Stephen, Christine, Mary, Cephas, Geofrey and Rachel). Oh, and the church - sorry, can't list all their names. Pray for safety and that all their needs are met.

Thank you.

Laurie