Lone Scout

Alex is so proud to be a Tiger Cub. We signed him up for cub scouts while we were in Tyler. He is called a Lone Scout because he does not have a pack. I am his leader and I have to say... we are having so much fun!
We toured the local police station and interviewed one of the policemen.
The two of us went on another outing to tour the king's palace. The man giving us the tour let Alex see the king's throne which is not open to the public. Alex learned all about the tooro kingdom and how family life has changed from the old days until now. How many cub scouts get an opportunity like that?

One of his next requirements is to go on a picnic. When I asked him where he would like to go for this, he said,"Let's go to the game park! That would be fun." He wants to have the picnic where he can watch the wild elephants.
I think that should meet the requirements. Don't you.

He also wants to visit the US embassy and meet the ambassador
I'm proud of my Lone Scout.

Way to go Alex!

We're Back.

All of the stress and pressure of our long trip went away as I pushed the cart through the airport door at Entebbe. We were welcomed with a big cheer and hugs. Ronald. David, Dick and Derrick had arrived at the airport at 4AM. Wow! We're back.
Doug and Destiny met us in the parking lot. They had gotten up while it was still dark to drive from kampala to Entebbe. They had a flat tire!
We went to the Baptist Guest House and spent a couple of days getting our feet under us. Jet lag is tough with little ones.
We paid bills in Kampala and did some shopping.
Ronald arranged to take our luggage and some things for Doug in a hired truck to Fort Portal. When they arrived to load the bags the driver wasn't real happy because he had gotten a ticket for overtaking. (passing in the wrong place)
They took off..
Not long into their trip they were stopped by the police who gave them a ticket for overloading. They were not overloaded at all! I hate injustice. (We're back)
Somehow we got home before our stuff did. I called Ronald and found out that the truck we had hired blew the engine!
The guys arranged for a small pickup to carry our stuff the rest of the way. (Now this truck was overloaded!)

WE ARE BACK!!!!

The power is off

Everything is covered in dust and dirt

The road in front of our house is blocked off at both ends

My shoes in our room are covered in mold

Our landline telephone is dead

Our internet phone is dead

The sink in our bathroom is leaking all over the floor

There are rat droppings in everything!....We're back.

We were told that the road licenses for vehicles has gone up. We wil have to pay $1600 a year for the road license on the Landcruiser alone. It is due next week. I have to check the dump truck (which will be more), the pickup, Cheryl's car and the motorcycle.

They have raised the price of work permits to $1000 per person per year. We will be paying more for work permits than rent!
(If we have to pay that much for dependants.)

There are a dozen other unforseen expenses.
Instant financial stress. Don't you love that kind of thing? (We're back)

The electricity was on for an hour the first day we were home and 45 minutes the second day. That's not even long enough to warm the water in the hotwater heater!

With all that said...WE ARE BACK.

The kids are having so much fun. All of the toys they forgot about!

The churches are doing well. It is fun to hear good reports.

We get to see our friends and get back to the work here.

It's nice to be home.

I'm going to go take a cold bath now that we're back.

Getting ready to go

Our bags are packed. Our to-do lists are done. We haven't slept much in the last three night but we did it! We were ready when Greg Grub and Jack Hooper arrived to help take our bags. (Thanks guys!) Now we are in Dallas at a hotel. We have our six trunks, six duffle bags and six carry-ons. We leave in the morning for Boston. From DFW to Boston our bags can only be fifty pounds from there on they can be 70lbs each. We will have to get all of our luggage when we land in Boston and make our way to the hotel. We'll spend the night there before flying to London. The flight to England is 8 or 9 hours. At Heathrow we have a 16 hour lay over so we have booked two hotel rooms for the day. We will board our next eight hour flight from London to Entebbe, Uganda. The Lord has given me amazing children. What is really amazing is my wife. We have quite a journey ahead of us.
Ronald told me on the phone that the whole church wanted to come and meet us at the airport in Uganda. Then I told him that our arrival time is 5:45AM. That may change the number of friends who come to meet us but we know they love us. We can't wait to see them either!
Ronald is going to meet us with a pickup that he will hire in Kampala to take our luggage. (Thank you Ronald) The airport is about five hours drive from Fort Portal. Doug and Destiny have graciously volunteered to pick us up at that early hour. (Thanks Doug and Destiny!)
Cheryl and the kids have started their devotional. Silas is praying ...he is so cute!
Thank you Lord for my precious family!