May 16th - Lovely May to you all!

Greetings, Friends and Family!

It's been a wonderful weekend of electricity. The first picture is our first light that began working. This is in our living room - gotta love the electrician without a shirt, eh? But, when you think he was in the attic when it is 100 degrees outside, I guess the shirt off isn't bad. Poor guy! So, we have 4 overhead light bulbs that are working, 3 that are not yet working, 3 outlets that work and 1 that doesn't. (Yes, here in Uganda 4 outlets in the whole house is a LOT!) There is not an outlet in the kitchen area, but there is an overhead light. Be thankful...be thankful...be thankful. Keep reminding yourself, Laurie, last week you didn't have electricity. Other "fun" things about getting electricity:

• the electricity has gone out 4 times (in 48 hours) since we got hooked up - 2 times for a brief time and 2 times for more than an hour
• the electric company guys cut our barbed wire fence for no apparent reason (Shs95,000 for a roll of barbed wire - that's about $40) 
• they showed up with no tools to do the work (except, apparently, wire cutters for the barbed wire), so we had to supply the tools
• they put the pole in the wrong place
• they cut down our laundry lines which were across the yard from where they were working (no need to cut)
• they used new Luganda words Abby had never heard - our staff was embarrassed for her
• after the crew hooked up power to the house, it was found that the electrician had not wired the house correctly...new electrician called
• electrician gets some outlets and overhead bulbs working, will come back later for others "on Monday" which, in Uganda, means way off in the future, maybe never
• electrician needed a ladder, so borrowed one from a neighbor. That's the 2nd picture - inspires confidence, doesn't it??

Okay, there are other good things going on, too! I will list them so as to be somewhat succinct:

1. Moses is doing SO well - he is standing for good periods of time by himself and pushing people away who want to help him. He is so proud of himself! Yesterday, Abby had him down at the house and we showed him a video of himself at Saturday School, singing. He started laughing and waving to himself and babbling about what was happening, then singing the song with the video. He watched the video 6 times - Abby has taught him sign language while his verbal skills develop, and he kept signing "again." We just sat and laughed watching him enjoy the video. This little boy, you will remember, was brought back from the brink of death by our Father, who loves him so much and has great plans for his life. 
2. Last week, we got back late from Mbale - it was already dark, so it was after 7pm. We bring back the fish the kids are to have for dinner, so their dinner was delayed (they usually eat at 7). When Abby and I went into the orphanage while the food was being unloaded, the kids were all talking, and they came running over and said, "Oliver says we're not going to have dinner tonight. Is that true? Are we going to bed now?" My heart broke for them - they have been used to that kind of life. Sometimes there is food and sometimes there isn't and if not, everyone just goes to bed hungry. Even though they have been with us over a year, they still feel at any time it could go the other way. We assured them they were getting dinner, but they weren't convinced until the cooks came through with the food. 
3. We are beginning this week to get 6 more orphans. Both Rogers and I have felt the Lord say to fill up the beds we have. Our staff is doing well...we have good people in place...we can easily now take the 6 more and have our current kids be leaders as new ones come in. I'm excited to walk through this. I will send pictures and news as we find the little ones God is rescuing at this time in this way. Please be in prayer for us. 
4. Abby and I are experimenting with recipes for the café. Yesterday I made millet pancakes. Learned a lot :-). Like, you have to let the millet flour soak for awhile in the liquid or they come out grainy and not very appetizing. I served Abby hers first and she was not impressed. By the time I made mine, though, the flour was great and the taste is good and earthy...milletty, I guess you'd say. 
5. This week we will pick up the stove, refrigerator, microwave, furniture and microwave for Cornerstone Café and Bakery. We went shopping for them 2 weeks ago in Kampala, and had the rattan furniture made - even watched the guy making it. All will be ready by the end of this week. 
6. Chickens begin laying in a couple of weeks. Crops are growing great (we've had GOOD rain and sun for this) and within a month or 6 weeks we will be harvesting our maize, g-nuts, eggplants, and beans. We will store what we can and sell the balance. John, who is in charge of our agriculture and poultry projects, has planted over 100 tomato plants in our yard, so when those come to fruition, we will be using them for cooking, as well as selling the extra of those. It's so exciting to have these business ventures finally begin to make money. Thanks for those of you praying for my patience!! 

Okay, this got really long - sorry! Our kids continue to pray for you as we talk about those who are helping us at Cornerstone to have food, clothing, education, etc. We all love you and thank you for your support in this work that God is bringing to Budaka, Uganda. As we all are doing our part, God is bringing a great harvest in His Kingdom. May He bless you!

Laurie