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