Here are two photos of my friend Florence. She made this, her first quilt project ever, as a lap quilt for her mother, who is 80. Her mom used to teach tailoring to ladies in the village, but Florence never took up the activity then. Now she studies patterns in the books we have. She has a friend who gives her cotton fabrics to use in the quilts. A different set of fabrics each month, what a blessing.

Now Florence is working on her 3^rd top!!! She will put the ones she has finished together soon and will have a new quilt for herself or for her kids. One daughter is already asking for one for herself. Guess I'd better get going and finish the two I have started and make one for Moses. Nothing like a little nudge to keep moving.

Learner Ali

Some of you may know Ali, the man who does gardening and night guarding for me. He began going to school to improve his English about two years back. Last year he began attending adult education classes at Makerere University.

He graduated well from the introductory class and now is enrolled in the two year program aimed at helping adults achieve their O level certificate. After so many years without having formal education, he is now learning mathematics, geography, history, English, physics, chemistry and science.

He has done really well and is understandably proud of himself. I think his family members are all proud of him too. I know I am.

Small business, Uganda style

Some of you may be wondering if I had lost my mind, buying a boda (motorcyle) and others may have thought I've come a long way.

Actually both may be true. I bought the boda so that a young friend of mine, Nasser, could begin his own business. He is buying the boda from me and will likely own it by this time next year. He works very hard, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless it is pouring rain. (If the rain is light and the passenger willing, he works even then.) He is managing to save money towards the car he wants to buy as his goal is to be a special hire (taxi) driver.

Nasser has named his boda "God's Glory" a much better name than any I ever gave to my cars. He takes really good care of it. Our contract gives me free rides whenever I want. A really good deal for me.

This is the photo of him on the boda a few days after we bought it.

God is Good

Have you looked at things that happen, wonderously, and think it was just luck? Me too....until I understood some of how caring and creative God can be. He arranges "luck" to happen just when we need it, nudging us to make a call, request at just the perfect moment for blessings to be shared, healing to happen, or growth to occur.

My friend, Melody, called me Monday to ask me to take some money to Emmanuel as her car was broken and he needed rent money. I agreed, since I was already out and about and had some cash. It was to be, in British terms, a one-off. When I found him, I reminded him of that. But an hour later, he called Melody saying he needed a bit more, as his landlord would not accept what he had. I then sent my boda driver to meet him and top up the amount.

The next day, Emmanuel called Melody again, requesting more money. Melody and I agreed that she would send all his messages to me and not return his calls. I asked our church charity committee if we might be of some help to him in his need. They agreed to a short term loan.

In prayer, I and others were given the discernment that Emmanuel was not to be trusted and we did not need to help him. He continued to pester Melody by message and calls, using different cell phone numbers, seeking more funds. When I finally met with him at his home, going with my boda driver, he introduced me to his friend, said his family had had to go to the village and that he still needed money for food. He was willing to sign for the loan as he has a good job. I went over the terms and conditions with him.

When we left the place, the boda driver told me he had talked with the children in the area. None of them knew Emmanuel, had not seen a wife or kids, but they knew the friend, who lived in that place.

Good enough, God's wisdom from prayer was proven out. Good enough, because her car didn't work, Melody was able to not be the one dealing with Emmanuel and was able to hand over this problem without giving away all of her funds. Good enough, my emerging skills in discernment are being used and verified.

God is good all the time. Just have to keep talking and listening to the One who knows what is the best next step to take.