Feb 28th Update

Abby (Laurie's daughter)

So many things happening...so little time left before returning to Uganda! (It's only 3 1/2 weeks till we get on a plane and head back to my kids. I'm so excited!)
Welcome to these Monday emails, those of you who are coming in August to do a camp for our kids. There are 6 students and 3 leaders from a church in Clackamas coming to love on our kids. Thanks to all of you!
Great news: Mutwahiru is doing much better. The infection is under control and his malaria is gone. Now we are awaiting the surgery which will happen tomorrow, Tuesday. (They are 10 hours ahead of us here on the west coast, so it will actually happen while we are asleep!) The doctor will be removing bone fragments and setting the bone...I assume putting a pin in it, although because of the difference in language, I'm not clear. What I understood Rogers to tell me was they were going to "cross strings." I have no idea what this means or if it relates in any way to anything we do here! But, we will pray, as they are, and I know God will heal this little boy and set him back on a good path of health and life. Thanks to the 2 of you who are financially underwriting this surgery! May God bless you as you are blessing this family.
I just got back from Burley, Idaho, where I got to meet with believers at The Bridge. What a great time we had together! Thank you to Jason and Shanin for opening up their home, hearts and church for people to get to know about Cornerstone and what is happening in Budaka.
The kids at the orphanage are doing great and enjoying SO MUCH having other children there for school. Rogers says there are some regular kid-kind-of-things (being territorial, fighting, name calling, etc.), but they are dealing with those things, just as we always have. Everyone except Moses is in school. There are 6 classes, which helps as we are able to split our kids up much more than last year when there were only 2 classes. The teachers are doing well, and have been there now for a full month. I'm excited to get back to meet all of them.
At church yesterday, 2 people got saved. There were 51 children and 81 adults. God is growing His church in Budaka! We hardly ever have a week go by that 1 or 2 people don't stand up and say they want to receive Christ as their Savior. Rogers said there was a testimony time yesterday and many stood to say their lives are being changed by our Father through their relationships with Cornerstone Christian Center. Hallelujah!
As you know, one of the hallmarks of Cornerstone is that it will be self-supporting in 2 years. I wanted to update you on how our businesses are going:

• I have just about sold all of the craft items I brought over, but still have a few batiks, some sandals, and few other assorted things. We have been able to realize a 300% profit, with all those profits going back into the ministry. (If you want anything that is left, just let me know!)
• The chickens are growing and in 4 months should start laying and then we will begin making money on the sale of the eggs. (We have 180 chickens.)
• We have just begun renting 2 acres of land on which we will be growing maize, beans and sweet potatoes. The season for planting begins as soon as the first rains start, any day now. We will eat what is grown, thus reducing our food costs. We will also sell the excess as another way of supporting the ministry.
• The school has begun and we have over 50 children paying tuition which goes to pay our teachers, thus reducing our costs for schooling our kids. In the coming years (2 at the most), this will not only reduce our costs, but will bring in income for the ministry.
• We have enough money to take back to begin the restaurant/bakery thanks to some generous donations during these past 2 months. Abby and I will be setting this up, and a team from Evergreen will be coming to help make the building ready. We have enough for the rent for a year, an oven, a refrigerator/freezer, a generator (for all those times when the electricity is not working) and enough supplies to get going.

For those of you who don't know, Abby is my daughter and has felt called of God to go back with me and work with the children, especially Moses (language acquisition and physical therapy), and to help with the restaurant/bakery. I am thrilled to have another westerner with me, and even more thrilled that it is my daughter!! I have included a picture of her so you can add her to your prayer list for all of us in Budaka.
God bless you all. Have a wonderful day, and praise the Lord with me about all that He is doing as we all work together in His Kingdom!
Laurie

Feb 25th Update (Mutwahiru update)

Update from Rogers this morning:
Mutwahiru is feeling better. They have cut the infection out of the back of his leg, and had to cut some of the flesh around it. They also have dealt with the malaria he had. He is feeling much better. The orthopedic specialist did not show up as they thought he would on Friday during the day (they are 10 hours ahead of us, so it is late Friday afternoon there as I am writing this). They have said he will be there on Sunday. He will be the one to tell how to deal with the broken bone in terms of setting it, putting a pin in or whatever. The mother is there with him in Mbale.
Thanks to all of you who are continuing to pray for him!
Laurie

Feb 23rd Update (Mutwahiru)

Rogers could not take Mutwahiru to Kampala as there is a lot of violence there right now due to elections. We were hoping to get him to K'la because the international hospital is there, where we know he would be well cared for. However, he is in Mbale at the Regional Hospital. The doctor has said he would need to remove all the "rotten meat" so Mutwahiru would live. Mutwahiru also has malaria, so they are treating that.
I will update you as I hear. Please continue to pray for this little boy and his family.
Thank you!
Laurie

Feb 22nd Update

Good morning, my friends!
I realize the picture I am sending I have sent before, but we need you to pray for Mutwahiru today. He is the 10-year-old (or so) who broke his leg last year and it was not set right, so the bone keeps going in and out of the skin. His mother called Rogers and said he was very sick - the infection has become really bad in his leg. Rogers will be taking him up to Kampala Wed morning. There is a hospital there that is used by many westerners (including me!) and he will get his leg fixed, thanks to 2 of you who have responded to the need. Please pray that Mutwahiru will make it on the trip and that the doctors will be able to help him. Rogers will be updating me as he goes, and I will update you. Thank you for praying. Our Father loves this little boy! (BTW - this is a Muslim family that came to the church because they live near Jessica's mom and she told them about Jessica's miraculous healing. The father has not yet come, but has allowed the mom and Mutwahiru to come.)
Welcome to all of you have just come on board to the weekly email updates! Most of you are from the Vancouver Friends Church. I had a great time with all of you this weekend - so fun to share with you what God is doing in Budaka. Thank you for your warm reception Sunday!
Update on the school: we now have 52 children along with our 23. The other 5 have not shown up yet...a typical occurrence in Uganda. They are watching to see how the school is doing before they commit their kids.
There is still undercurrent from the elections, so please continue to pray for peace and safety for all and that the Church of Jesus Christ will rise up in love during this time. Rogers said that on his trip into Mbale Monday morning, the taxi was stopped at 3 police/soldier roadblocks. Everyone had to get out and be checked, then back in. The distance is only 25 km, about 15 miles. But, he was able to get the food for the week for the kids.
Some of you have asked about how to support the Cornerstone work. You can send checks to Evergreen Christian Center, 4400 NW Glencoe, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Make the check out to ECC and put "Uganda" on the memo line. They wire the money to us each month. Thank you to all of you who consistently give to help the children and adults in Budaka. It's such a joy to join with you in this ministry! Even the smallest amounts make a big difference in Uganda. Thank you!
I will be in Burley Idaho beginning this Thursday for several days - looking forward to sharing what we are doing with a church there, and reconnecting with great friends!
God bless you all! Only 4 weeks and 2 days till I get to go back to see my kids!!!
Laurie

Feb 18th Update (excerpt from "The New Vision")

Just thought you all might enjoy this excerpt from The New Vision. What a difference from what would be considered a "dangerous weapon" here:

"Michael Odongo, the Police spokesperson for zone 13 based in Tororo
said the suspects were picked from various parts of the town
with dangerous weapons that included pangas, slashers, clubs, bows and arrows"

Feb 18th Update (voting day)

Just talked with Rogers and all is peaceful in Budaka. The hot spot in the country right now, though, is Mbale, about 25 km (15 miles) from Budaka. It's the place I go to get on the internet and where we shop for food each week. Rogers will not go there until it is peaceful again...hopefully Monday. He is monitoring the violence.
Thank you all who responded to prayer for our kids, Cornerstone Christian Center church and the school. God is indeed working and giving them peace inside. Please continue to pray as the results come out (should be 1-2 days). 
Rogers sends his greetings to all of you and thanks you for praying for them.


Laurie

Feb 16th Update (Prayer Request)

I just spoke with Rogers and he has asked us to pray for them. The elections are this Friday and there is violence around the country, although there has been none in Budaka this week. He said there are soldiers and policemen everywhere in town. 
The electricity has been out yesterday and today, which limits the ability of people to communicate, receive information, etc. People are blaming the government, others the opposition parties. It is causing people to think there is something hidden.
Please pray for peace in the country, as well as peace in peoples' souls. Pray for protection for Rogers and his family, our kids in the orphanage, and the church members. I will continue to update you as I hear from him.
A reminder that if you are in the Hillsboro area, I will be presenting pictures and videos and talking about the work in Budaka tomorrow night, Feb 17th, 7-8pm at Evergreen Christian Center, 4400 NW Glencoe Ave. in Hillsboro. We will pray for the Lord's comfort and protection together. I would love to see you there and be able to visit with you afterward. 
You all are a great part of the ministry as you pray and give financially. Thank you for your gifts of love!


Laurie 

Feb 8th Update

Greetings, Friends!
The school has been going now for a week and 2 days and things are going well. More children have been coming each day. Our kids are really enjoying having other children with whom to interact, the teachers are getting settled into their new jobs and there is a lot more activity around Cornerstone!
Peter is doing well - his arm is healing. He was playing with some of the kids on Sunday, though, and the arm got knocked and he was in a lot of pain. Those of you who have had broken arms or legs can relate, I'm sure!
The first picture I have included is of several of our kids peeling matooke. (You can see Moses sitting on the mat in the foreground - he is not peeling matooke!) This is a skill that they must learn as matooke is one of the primary foods they will eat. They peel the green bananas, which are put in a large pot and boiled for about 2 hours, then mashed to be eaten. I peeled it one time - very sticky! It's like having sap on your hands. It was very hard to get off.
The second picture is one which Rogers took when he had just told the children he was going to send a picture for all of you to see. As you can see, they love the thought that you will get to see them! Kids in the picture are, from left: Christine, Charity, Vanessa, one of the new school girls, Oliver and in the shade is Isaac.
The election is next week, Feb 18th. The government has asked all secondary schools to be closed for the week in case there is violence. They have not required it of primary schools (like ours), but Rogers said some of the parents will be keeping their children at home during the week for fear of violence. Our kids are safe, and if it looks like that changes, Rogers and the staff will take them out to one of the remote villages where they will be away from any violence. Please be in prayer that there will be peace and the election will be held fairly and all parties will lay down their animosity and get behind the person who is elected as president.
A reminder of places and dates if you would like to see more pictures/videos and hear more of what's happening at Cornerstone. Just email if you would like to know times and locations.

Feb 17 - Hillsboro, OR
Feb 20 - Vancouver, WA
Feb 27 - Burley, ID
Mar 6 - Hillsboro, OR
Mar 13 - Olympia, WA
Mar 20 - Eugene, OR

Thank you all for your prayer and financial support - you are making a difference in the lives of these children, and many in Budaka. God bless you!
Laurie

Feb 1st Update

Dear Friends,
There is a beautiful storm outside my window tonight. The wind is blowing the trees so hard they look like they might get up and walk away!
It's been a great visit here in Austin. I'm getting to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law, have reconnected with old friends, and later today get to show pictures and videos to a class of 3rd graders at a school here in town. It's great to be able to share with so many in so many places about what God is doing in Budaka, Uganda.
The Cornerstone school began on Monday and 30 of the 57 children showed up on the first day. This is typical in Uganda, and Rogers says they will be coming over the next 2 weeks. Also, others are watching to see if they want their children there and when they decide they do, those children will add in the middle of the term. We have room for 240 total, so with our kids (23) we have room for 160 more. Rogers feels they will come and we will be full by 2nd term. I will keep you posted. This is one of our money-making businesses, as the tuition of the other children will pay for our teachers, equipment and other school expenses, thus lessening the salaries Cornerstone has been paying this year. For awhile, it will be more expensive, but in 3-6 months, it should pay for itself and then some.
Last week I asked you to pray for our income as it was about 1/2 of what was needed for the month, and we only had 1 more week before it was wired to Uganda. The Lord moved as we prayed...thank You, Jesus, and thank you to all of you who prayed, and those who responded to His call. During the week we received a large check from someone who was moved by God. The Lord is moving in response to our prayers.
I would like to ask you to pray this week for Peter. I have included a picture so you know who you're praying for. Peter and Stephen were playing on Saturday and Peter fell and broke his arm. Rogers took him to the small hospital in Budaka, but they were unable to help him. So, he took him by matatu to Mbale. I asked if they had set his bone, but the language differences about medical procedures were too great. I do know his arm is in a sling. The bone that is broken is "near the elbow." Please pray that it will heal correctly and that Peter will be out of pain.
Another prayer request: a young couple from the church had their first child last week and the baby was born dead. This is the 2nd baby from the church in a month to not live through childbirth. In Uganda, the infant mortality rate is 64 deaths per 1,000 births. (In the U.S., our rate is 6 deaths per 1,000 births.) Please pray for at least these 2 things: 1) comfort for this couple. The wife's name is Miria. And, 2) that God will bring the people here with knowledge to help the medical personnel and all people with what is needed to lower this mortality rate so that the children will live.
Please remember, on Thursday, February 17th, there will be an information night about the work in Budaka at Evergreen Christian Center in Hillsboro, Oregon. If you are in the area, I would love to meet with you and share videos and pictures and tell stories about what God is doing in the children, the church and the school. It will be 7-8 pm at the church.
Also, I will be presenting Cornerstone in Vancouver, WA on Feb 20th, in Burley, Idaho on Feb 27th, in Hillsboro on March 5-6th, in Olympia March 13th, and in Eugene on March 20th. If you would like to be a part of any of those, email and I will give you times and locations.
Thank you again for partnering with God and with Rogers and I in this work in the people of Budaka, Uganda. Talk to you next week!
Laurie