Dec. 17 - They grow cotton there

 Ministry Partners,

Today was a travel day and I did not have to be ready until 9 to go for breakfast. Of course a day when I could have slept in, I was awake at 5 but stayed in bed until 6 when I finally got up.

I was reminded this morning that yesterday, at the last prison where we held a crusade, a guard showed me proof that they grow cotton there.

We arrived at our hotel late last night and I had a hard time finding something I could eat for dinner but finally settled for spaghetti bolognaise. The other items I would have liked were no available and originally the restaurant said All they had was goat and chicken. And my experience with those foods have not been good. Restaurants where we have gone have been so interesting. They give you a huge menu but as you choose something almost nothing is available. Alfred and Aaron had the chicken stew and did okay. When they brought my spaghetti, I was more than pleased but could not eat it all even though I only had a couple of cookies with peanut butter, for protein, on them and a few fries last night. The plate was large with lots of spaghetti and a large portion of meat and sauce in the middle. I was too tired last night to remember to ask for cheese on top but it came with plenty of melted cheese on top. My tummy was happy and full as I ate all the meat and cheese and a bit of the spaghetti. It was so good, the best I have had since I have been here!

My room had a toilet with a seat, hot running water and a tub, unusual for here, so I did not have to bath in a bucket or be afraid of falling on the wet tile floor. Here the bathrooms are small and contain a toilet (sometimes with a seat) or a pit toilet, a shower-head and a sink. So, when you shower the water goes everywhere. I learned a long ago, not to take my fresh clean cloths into the bathroom.

I was not sure I was going to make it up all the stairs to the second floor with my sore back and hip but I went very slow and made it. Alfred had them bring our meals to us so I did not have to navigate the stairs again to go to the restaurant.

After our meager cold breakfast, they said they would heat it in the microwave if we wanted it hot. At 10am, we headed to Kampala and arrived at the very clean guesthouse we rent at 1:30. Right where we turn off the main road onto a dirt village road to go to the guesthouse is a huge mosk. It has become a joke as we all voice how anxious we are to see our most “favorite” mosk, meaning we are home.

The woman who owns the guesthouse that we rent also owns a huge hotel. On a previous visit, she received Christ as her Savior when I shared Jesus’ love with her. And the rent she charges us is way less than what we pay for any other places we stay. We have 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen and storeroom. There are no air-conditioners but I have a fan in my room. We have stayed here the last few years so it really feels like home when we return from doing crusades. The guys and I prefer staying in a family setting as apposed to being in hotel rooms.

The help here is wonderful and one lady heard about a highway accident while we were gone and called Alfred to make sure we were alright.

 We still have 7 prison crusades to do here in Uganda but the next couple of days are for getting things ready to go out again, have the van checked, packing things to be stored at Alfred's house and hopefully resting.

Thank you for continuing to pray.

That none would be lost,

Arlene