Nov 21st update - It's Thanksgiving week! I'm thankful...

It's a week to reflect and be thankful for all we have. Although Thanksgiving isn't celebrated here in Uganda, I am truly thankful for so many things at this season. Just take the example of this week:

• We began having 2 services on Sunday mornings due to the lack of space for both the children and the adults in our present rental building. We expected maybe 10 people at the first service as it is at 8:30am. When we got there, there were already 20-30 people waiting. By the end of the service, we had 75 adults. There is a picture I took of the service 30 minutes into it. There were 28 kids at that service. Second service (10:30), then, we anticipated being smaller. But, it was almost the same size - there were 68 adults (taking away those that stayed 2 services) and 75 kids. So, this is our biggest attendance yet...246 total. God continues doing amazing things in Budaka! A woman (Rogers said an "old woman" - she was in her 50s...hmmm) came to get saved. She said a friend of hers got saved at Cornerstone 2 weeks ago and she kept asking her, "Why are you so happy now? So many bad things have happened to you, but you always are smiling and happy." The friend told her about Jesus, so she came to get saved too.
• In the past 3 weeks, we have begun having people coming from Naboa (about 10 km - 6 miles - from Budaka). One woman heard that we would pray for her and her marriage. Rogers prayed with her, her husband called that night and reconciled with her. She called the next day and wanted to get saved since Jesus is so powerful. The next Sunday, she brought her mother (they walked) who wanted to get saved after seeing what God could do for her daughter.
• A man was in town from Tirinyi, about 25 km (15 miles) for business and a businesswoman in town told him about her church, Cornerstone. He attended on Wednesday night and gave his life to Jesus. This was about 3 weeks ago. He comes every service now, walking and catching rides with a boda bicycle (taxi by bike - you ride on the back). He came out of a cult there in Tirinyi, and his family is still involved, so he is afraid to go to church in town. He is really on fire for God!
• We bought a refrigerator, stove and generator on Friday!! I'm so excited to get to start baking for Cornerstone! They are all in the other half of my duplex (the ministry office and guest house) and we will try to get them set up today or tomorrow. My goal is to start baking on Wednesday. Don't know if that will really happen - nothing is as quick as I think here ;).
• Thursday, Thanksgiving for all you Americans, I am taking the day off and I have invited 3 Peace Corps volunteers who live in or near Budaka to come and celebrate with me. I am going to Kampala tomorrow (to take Mutwahiru for a check up) and will shop at one of the expat stores there...hoping to find Stovetop Stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin filling and butter (for mashed potatoes). Whatever they have that even resembles any of that, I will get! The 3 Americans are Aubrey, Caroline and Ryan. So excited to play games, make "American" food and visit for the day!
• The 2nd picture is of Natasha with her new shoes on. You can see she loves them!! They have 3 little buckles...so cool! She is one of the kids who kept their shoes very well and so was rewarded with a "new" pair of shoes when I came back. 
• This Saturday is our Open Day - that's the day at the end of the school year when parents come to see how their children have done all year. There is music, dancing, singing and speeches. According to Rogers, it will be 5-6 hours long...yawn...but, I will try to stay cheery! I have to make a speech, but I guarantee you mine will be quite short! And I will talk about all of you, our supporters!
• A rumor is going around that our chickens have died...not so! We have not lost one. We are so glad!! Within about 6-8 weeks, they should begin laying. Then, the fun begins.

Just one more thing: I wanted to report great news: since January, we have taken in an average of Shs1,000,000 (about $370) per month from our various businesses. This represents about 9.25% of the needed monthly income. I am thrilled that we have come so far in this year, especially with the death of all our first chickens, the ruining of some of our crops by hail, others by cows and even termites. We have learned many things in these past 2 years about what will and won't work here in Budaka. Thank you for being along on the ride with us! And thank you to all of you who have given regularly and those who have given occasionally since we began. May the Lord bless you for your faithful giving. We are still heading toward the goal of being self-supporting. Thank you for joining us in this endeavor. Please keep praying with us that the Lord will give us wisdom as we proceed. Thank you.
In His great and awesome love,
Laurie