Sep 17th - Monday in...Kampala??

Wow - things happen fast around here sometimes! Just a short review of the past 4 days:

Wednesday

• We get news that the ambassador and 3 others were killed in Libya.
• Pray for the families of these and begin checking the news to see if this affects us (Uganda and Libya have strong ties - Kadhaffi gave billions of shillings to Uganda to build mosques here several years ago)

Thursday

• We send samples to Elia in Kampala so he can find business for Cornerstone Bakery there
• The U.S. embassy in Kampala sends out an "urgent" email to not go to Kampala 
• One of the Peace Corps workers comes to get bakery goodies and tells us the Peace Corps has contacted all it's people in Uganda and they are not to travel to Kampala for any reason until further notice
• Continue checking the news to see if we are safe

Friday

• A text comes from the embassy, reminding me to not go to Kampala
• Abby, Ellen and I are behind a locked gate at all times - no American goes anywhere alone, even to the orphanage, day or night. All movements outside the house (even within our "compound") must be with another person
• We send (through a Ugandan) 60 cupcakes to Kampala, where we have someone (Elia) finding business for Cornerstone Bakery
• The cupcakes don't arrive at 4pm on the bus
• The cupcakes don't arrive at 8pm on the next bus 
• The cupcakes finally arrive at midnight on the final bus of the day
• Elia calls and has 3 other places that want cupcakes. One supermarket wants 100 cupcakes for each of its 2 locations.

Saturday 

• I begin worrying about how in the world we will make 260 cupcakes extra a week and transport them with unreliable transportation
• Elia calls to say that 7 of the 60 cupcakes were ruined when the bus company crushed a part of the box and plastic containers they were in 
• I worry more. We made 64 cupcakes this morning and it took 4 1/2 hours (our oven is quite small). How will we keep up?
• The Lord speaks to me from Psalm 23 - He leads me beside quiet waters...He MAKES me lie down in green pastures...He restores my soul...He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. I am back at peace 

Sunday

• We have one of our biggest Sundays at church. Pastor Rogers teaches on the motivational gifts in Romans 12. People respond - it is the first time for many to hear that the Holy Spirit gives gifts. Over 2/3 of the congregation in both services stand in response to the invitation to all the Holy Spirit to do His work through them. Amazing. 
• Pastor Rogers and I realize we need to go to Kampala and see/visit with the managers, as well as help Elia in reasonable orders for where we are at now. We know we must go on Monday. Is it safe for me, an American, to go?

Monday

• In the wee hours of the morning, some flying insect gets in my left ear, buzzing and flapping its wings. I'm up most of the night worrying about bugs in my brain...oh, the things our minds do in the middle of the night...
• We leave at 6am for Kampala. We plan to spend the night.
• We get to Kampala about 9:30 and begin going to businesses. After 7 places, Elia is comfortable enough with the products, we know we can go back today instead of tomorrow. 
• We go to the market to get new baking pans and cupcake liners, as well as packaging sleeves, vanilla and new containers.
• We finally get lunch at 3:45pm and now we will leave to head home, stopping in Jinja at a supermarket that wants to carry our products. Should be home by 9 or 10, tired, but at least in Budaka not Kampala

Hope you enjoyed a little of my past few days. This doesn't include the times at the orphanage playing "air jump rope" with the kids (picture included!) They play this, not because they don't have jump ropes, but because the little ones can't jump in time. This way they can. Each girl at the ends holds small sticks which they turn as you would a jump rope. Clever!

Also included a picture of the group at our house this weekend. Abby and Ellen read, played and worked with the group this week while I repaired 20+ uniforms on the sewing machine. The boys in the picture are, from left, Mutwahiru, Charles, Dovico and Emma.

Got to go to the store and pick up a few things before we leave. Talk to you all again next week - hopefully all will be calmer!

Thank you to those who are praying for us (have a had a few emails and FB postings of people woken up in the middle of the night to pray - thank you for listening!). We feel loved and supported by all of you! Have a wonderful day!

Laurie